Automatic registration of receiving device on a remote printing application

A method for remote delivery of files over a communications network, said method comprising;

• registering a plurality of user accounts, each user account corresponding to a respective user, each user account comprising;
• a user identifer, identifying a said user;
• a receiving device identifier, identifying a receiving device to which documents are to sent for said user account;
• said method comprising;
• for each user account, registering at least one printer device for printing of document allocated to said user account,
• receiving and storing a plurality of documents intended for one or more said users;
• associating said plurality of documents with corresponding said user accounts;
• delivering said documents over a communications network to at least one receiving device;
• storing at least one receiving device identifiers, each identifying a corresponding respective receiving device;
• routing individual documents intended for individual said users to at least one corresponding receiving devices for printing at specified printer devices registered to said user account.

A printing service comprising the features of;

• registering a plurality of user accounts, each user account corresponding to a respective user, each user account comprising;
• a user identifier identifying a user;
• a receiving device identifier, identifying a receiving device to which documents are to be sent to for said user account;
• for each user account, registering a printer device for printing of document allocated to said user account;
• receiving and storing a plurality of documents intended for one or more said users;
• associating said plurality of documents with corresponding said user accounts;
• delivering said documents over a communication network to a plurality of receiving devices;
• storing a plurality of said receiving device identifiers, each identifying a corresponding respective receiving device;
• and
• routing individual documents intended for individual said users to corresponding receiving devices for printing at specified printer devices registered to said user account.

An algorithm for implementing file storage at a server computer device, and file distribution to a plurality of receiving devices, said algorithm comprising modules for:

• maintaining a list of unique receiving device identifiers, each said unique receiving device identifier assigned to a corresponding respective said receiving device;
• maintaining at least one user account, each said user account specifying a user and at least one said receiving device to which documents received for said user account are to be sent;
• receiving a plurality of incoming documents intended for a plurality of specified users;
• assigning each incoming document intended for a specified user to a corresponding said user account;
• and
• distributing each said incoming document to a said receiving device allocated to a corresponding said user account.

A computer program for managing document transfer to a receiving device hosting said computer program, said program comprising components operable for:

• sending a command requesting an identifier data;
• receiving an identifier data identifying said receiving device;
• generating requests for download of files intended for said receiving device;
• specifying a printer device to which receiving files are to be sent or printing;
• and
• receiving said files and routing said files to a specified said printer device.

A computer program for managing storage and distribution of a plurality of documents files, in conjunction with a computer device comprising a processor, memory, a data storage device, and a communications port, said computer program comprising components operable for;

• receiving a request for registration of a receiving device;
• generating a unique identifier data for identifying a receiver device;
• receiving a user account data identifying a user;
• receiving a printer identifier data identifying a printer device to which individual documents intended for said user account are to be printed on;
• a database for storing a plurality of said user account data;
• a component for identifying documents intended for a said user, and associating said documents with a said user account;
• component for sending a command to a receiving device and printer device associated with a said user account, upon receipt of a command from a said receiving device

A method of operation of a printing system, said system comprising:

• at least one server computer which acts to route documents intended for a plurality of users;
• at least one receiving device which acts to receive documents sent from said server computer;
• at least one printer device associated with said receiving device, for printing said documents;
• said system operating for:
• registration of a plurality of receiving devices at said server computer by creating a plurality of registration data entries which identify said plurality of receiving devices;
• each said registration data specifying at least one said printer device for printing a document addressed to a user;
• receiving interrogations from said plurality of receiving devices;
• in response to said interrogations, causing said server computer to identify one or more documents intended for said receiving devices;
• and
• sending said identified documents to said receiving device.

The program as claimed in 15, further comprising components for;

• sending an e-mail from said at least one server computer to a recipient for a job package, said e-mail comprising;
• a data field describing a package of one or more documents for printing;
• and
• a data field for containing information notifying a recipient that a new package has been received at said at least one server computer.

A remotely accessible interface display screen for displaying details of a package received at a remote printing service, said display interface comprising;

• a data field for containing a file identification data;
• a data field for containing a file name;
• a data field for containing a file size;
• and
• a thumbnail image describing a received image data comprising said package

A remotely accessible computer interface display screen for checking a status of packages sent to a remote printing service, said interface display comprising:

• a data field containing a file identifier data;
• a data field identifying a recipient name;
• a data field identifying a package name;
• a data field identifying a number of files comprising said package;
• a data field describing a date said package was sent to a recipient device;
• and
• a data field for describing a status of said package.

A server computer comprising;

• at least one data processing device;
• at least one data storage device;
• at least one communications interface;
• and
• a web server component, said web server component operable for:
• accepting documents for printing via said communication interface;
• generating a message indicating that a job is available for printing, and sending said message via said communications interface;
• receiving an acceptance message for accepting a job to be printed;
• responding to said acceptance message by sending said print job via said communications interface;
• generating a second message confirming that a job has been printed, and
• sending said second message via said communications interface.

A method of operation of a printing system, said printing system comprising;

• at least one server computer acting to route documents intended for a plurality of users;
• at least one receiving device which acts to receive documents sent from said server computer;
• at least one printer device associated with said receiving device for printing said documents;
• said method comprising;
• sending a job to said remote printing server, using a sender computer, said sender specifying an address of a job receiver for which the print job is intended;
• a job receiver receiving an e-mail notification requesting the job receiver to confirm whether or not the job receiver accepts the print job;
• accepting said print job;
• downloading said print job from said server computer to said receiving device;
• printing said print job