US 6,184,996 B2 · Network printer with remote print queue control procedure

Abstract

The method of the invention enables remote control of a print queue in a network printer which receives print jobs over the Internet from plural client processors. The network printer includes a server procedure which enables transfer of files from the network printer over the network and a browser procedure which enables retrieval of files from client processors over the network. The method includes the steps of: establishing a queue of received print job identifiers; employing the server procedure to provide a first file to a client processor to enable the client processor to transmit a status request concerning the print queue; receiving a message including the status request and transmitting, in response, a second file with queue data to the client processor, the second file further including queue alteration choices; receiving a response message from the client processor with at least one queue alteration value; and altering the queue accordingly. The method further includes the step of responding to a received URL from a scanner, by employing the browser procedure to retrieve a text file identified by the URL.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method for enabling control of a network printer which receives print jobs over a network from plural client processors, said network printer including a server procedure for enabling transfer of files from said network printer over said network and a browser procedure for enabling retrieval of files to said network printer over said network, said method comprising the steps of:

a) establishing a queue of received print job identifiers;
b) employing said server procedure to provide a first web page to a client processor to enable said client processor to transmit a status message concerning said queue, at least some of said plural client processors having been previously provided with an assigned priority level;
c) receiving said status message and enabling said server procedure to transmit a response comprising a second web page with queue data to said client processor, said second web page further including at least a queue position alteration choice;
d) receiving a further response message from said client processor with at least one queue position alteration value and altering said queue in accordance with said queue position alteration value and said previously assigned priority level of said at least some of said plural client processors;
and
e) employing said browser procedure of said network printer to retrieve a print job listed on said queue by a print job identifier.

3 more elements

A memory media including procedures for controlling a network printer which receives print jobs over a network from plural client processors, said network printer including a server procedure for enabling transfer of files from said network printer over said network and a browser procedure for enabling retrieval of files to said network printer over said network, said memory media comprising:

a) means for controlling said network printer to establish a queue of received print job identifiers;
b) means for controlling said network printer to employ said server procedure to provide a first web page to a client processor to enable said client processor to transmit a status message concerning said queue, at least some of said plural client processors having been previously provided with an assigned priority level;
c) means for controlling said network printer to receive said status message and to enable said server procedure to transmit a response comprising a second web page with queue data to said client processor, said second web page further including at least a queue position alteration choice;
d) means for controlling said network printer to receive a further response message from said client processor with at least one queue position alteration value and to alter said queue in accordance with said queue position alteration value and said previously assigned priority level of said at least some of said plural client processors;
and
e) means for controlling said network printer to employ said browser procedure of said network printer to retrieve a print job that is listed on said queue.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Network printer with remote print queue control procedure

Life of this patent

Network printer with remote print queue control procedure

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12