US 5,970,218 A · Private print

Abstract

A networked system having a plurality of workstations and a peripheral device, the peripheral device having a printing function, memory for storing a plurality of private print-ready jobs and input means for manually inputting information into the peripheral device. The peripheral device is also capable of accepting a private print job together with a PIN from a given workstation, placing the private print job into a queue of print jobs, converting the private print job into a private print-ready job, storing the private print-ready job in memory, and notifying the given workstation when the private job is print-ready. At any time thereafter, the peripheral device may accept a manually input PIN from a user physically present at the peripheral device, compare the PIN accepted from the given workstation with the PIN accepted from the physically present user and, if the PIN accepted from the given workstation corresponds to the PIN accepted from the physically present user, it selects the private print-ready job as the next job to be printed, and prints the print-ready job.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A networked system comprising a plurality of workstations and a peripheral device, the peripheral device having a printing function, memory for storing a plurality of private print-readyjobs and input means for manually inputting information into the peripheral device, the peripheral device also being capable of:

accepting a private print job together with a PIN from a given workstation,
placing the private print job into a queue of print jobs which have not yet been
converted into print-ready print jobs,
converting the private print job into a print-ready job,
storing the print-ready job in a private print buffer,
notifying the given workstation when the private print job is print-ready,
accepting a manually input PIN from a user physically present at the peripheral device,
comparing the PIN accepted from the given workstation with the PIN accepted from the physically present user and,
if the PIN accepted from the given workstation corresponds to the PIN accepted from the physically present user, selecting the private print-ready job as the next job for printing, and printing the private print-ready job after prior print-ready print jobs have been printed;
wherein, after the peripheral device notifies the given workstation, the peripheral device is capable of continuing to process other print jobs irrespective of the private print job being print-ready.

7 more elements

A process for providing private print jobs comprising the steps of:

(a) accepting a private print job together with a PIN from a given workstation;
(b) placing the private print job into a queue of print jobs;
(c) converting the private print job into a private print-ready job when the print-ready job reaches a head of the queue of print jobs;
(d) storing the private print-ready job in memory;
(e) notifying the given workstation when the private job is print-ready;
(f) continuing to process other print jobs irrespective of the private print job being print-ready;
(g) accepting a PIN from a user physically present at a peripheral device;
(h) comparing the PIN accepted from the given workstation with the PIN accepted from the physically present user;
and
(i) if the PIN accepted from the given workstation corresponds to the PIN accepted from the physically present user,
(1) selecting the private print-ready job as the next job for printing, and
(2) printing the print-ready job after priorprint-ready print jobs have been printed.

9 more elements

A peripheral device, capable of being networked, and having a printing function, memory for storing a plurality of print-ready jobs and input means for manually inputting information into the peripheral device, the peripheral device being capable of:

accepting a private print job together with a PIN from a given workstation,
placing the private print job into a queue of print jobs,
converting the private print job into a print-ready job,
storing the print-ready job in memory,
notifying the given workstation when the private job is print-ready, and
at any time thereafter,
accepting a PIN from a user physically present at the peripheral device,
comparing the PIN accepted from the given workstation with the PIN accepted from the physically present user and,
if the PIN accepted from the given workstation corresponds to the PIN accepted from the physically present user, selecting the private print-readyjob as the nextjob for printing, and printing the print-ready job after prior print-ready print jobs have been printed;
wherein, after the peripheral device notifies the given workstation, the peripheral device is capable of continuing to process other print jobs irrespective of the private print job being print-ready.

7 more elements

A storage medium having a program stored thereon, the program having instructions for:

(a) accepting a private print job together with a PIN from a given workstation;
(b) placing the private print job into a queue of print jobs;
(c) converting the private print job into a print-ready job when the print-ready job reaches a head of the queue of print jobs;
(d) storing the print-ready job in memory;
(e) notifying the given workstation when the private job is print-ready;
(f) continuing to process other print jobs irrespective of the private print job being print-ready;
(g) accepting a PIN from a user physically present at a peripheral device;
(h) comparing the PIN accepted from the given workstation with the PIN accepted from the physically present user;
and
(i) if the PIN accepted from the given workstation corresponds to the PIN accepted from the physically present user,
(1) selecting the private print-ready job as the next job for printing, and
(2) printing the print-ready job after other prior print-ready print jobs have been printed.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Private print

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Private print

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Abstract

Claims20