# US 2014/0153049 A1 · Authenticating printers prior to pairing with portable electronic devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0153049 A1 - Document ID: US20140153049A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/176,860 - Filed: 2014-02-10 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-02 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Howard A. Miller; Michael R. Sweet; Tito Thomas - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153049A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/1296: {Printer job scheduling or printer resource handling} - G06F 3/1204: {resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data} - G06F 3/1225: {Software update, e.g. print driver, modules, plug-ins, fonts} - G06F 3/1232: {Transmitting printer device capabilities, e.g. upon request or periodically} - G06F 3/1236: {Connection management} - G06F 3/1285: {Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server} - G06F 3/1292: {Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing} - H04N 2201/0036: Detecting or checking connection - H04N 2201/0039: Connection via a network - H04N 2201/0041: Point to point (H04N2201/0039 takes precedence) - H04N 2201/0044: Connecting to a plurality of different apparatus; Using a plurality of different connectors - H04N 2201/0055: By radio - H04N 2201/006: Using near field communication, e.g. an inductive loop - H04N 2201/0072: Detecting the status of a connected apparatus - H04N 2201/0096: Portable devices - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates the execution of a print job. During operation, the system receives, at a printer, a signal from a portable electronic device indicating the printer has been selected for the print job. Next, in response to the selection, the system generates an output that facilitates identification of the printer by a user of the portable electronic device. The system also provides a mechanism for confirming physical access to the printer by the user. Upon confirming the physical access to the printer by the user, the system establishes a connection between the portable electronic device and the printer, wherein the connection is subsequently used by the portable electronic device and the printer to perform the print job. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: in a printer, performing operations for: receiving a signal from a portable electronic device indicating that the printer has been selected; confirming physical access to the printer by a user of the portable electronic device by detecting a push of a button on the printer; and upon confirming the physical access, establishing a connection between the portable electronic device and the printer, wherein the connection enables the portable electronic device to use the printer to perform a print job. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: in the printer, performing operations for: generating, in response to the signal, an output that facilitates identification of the printer by the user. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the output is at least one of a beep, a custom sound, a flash, and a message. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the connection comprises a structured network connection. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the structured network connection comprises a Wi-Fi network connection. ### Claim 6 A method, comprising: in a portable electronic device, performing operations for: sending a signal to a printer, the signal indicating that the printer has been selected, wherein the signal is configured to cause the printer to confirm physical access to the printer by a user of the portable electronic device by detecting a push of a button on the printer; and establishing, based on the confirmation of the physical access, a connection between the portable electronic device and the printer, wherein the connection enables the portable electronic device to use the printer to perform a print job. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising: in the portable electronic device, performing operations for: receiving a selection of the printer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the selection is received from one of: a user; and the portable electronic device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the connection comprises a structured network connection. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the structured network connection comprises a Wi-Fi network connection. ### Claim 11 A method, comprising: in a printer, performing operations for: receiving a signal from a portable electronic device indicating that the printer has been selected; confirming physical access to the printer by a user of the portable electronic device by detecting an entry of an identifier on the printer; and upon confirming the physical access, establishing a connection between the portable electronic device and the printer, wherein the connection enables the portable electronic device to use the printer to perform a print job. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: in the printer, performing operations for: generating, in response to the signal, an output that facilitates identification of the printer by the user. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the output is at least one of a beep, a custom sound, a flash, and a message. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the connection comprises a structured network connection. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the structured network connection comprises a Wi-Fi network connection. ### Claim 16 A method, comprising: in a portable electronic device, performing operations for: sending a signal to a printer, the signal indicating that the printer has been selected, wherein the signal is configured to cause the printer to confirm physical access to the printer by a user of the portable electronic device by detecting an entry of an identifier on the printer; and establishing, based on the confirmation of the physical access, a connection between the portable electronic device and the printer, wherein the connection enables the portable electronic device to use the printer to perform a print job. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: in the portable electronic device, performing operations for: receiving a selection of the printer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the selection is received from one of: a user; and the portable electronic device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the connection comprises a structured network connection. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the structured network connection comprises a Wi-Fi network connection.