Lock printing based on distance from client to printer

A server device, comprising:

• means for receiving, from a client device, a request to print a print job at a printing device;
• means for automatically determining a distance between the client device and the printing device based on signal power levels of a plurality of beacons detected by each of the client device and the printing device, the beacons being transmitted by a plurality of wireless access points;
• means for setting a print mode corresponding to the print job to one of a locked print mode or an unlocked print mode based on the determined distance between the client device and the printing device;
• and
• means for sending the print job and the corresponding print mode setting to the printing device.

A system for setting a print mode of a printing device, comprising:

• a client device configured to send, to a server device, a request to print a print job at the printing device;
• the server device including
• means for receiving, from the client device, the request to print the print job at the printing device,
• means for determining a distance between the client device and the printing device,
• means for setting a print mode corresponding to the print job to one of a locked print mode or an unlocked print mode based on the determined distance between the client device and the printing device, and
• means for sending the print job and the corresponding print mode setting to the printing device;
• the printing device configured to print the print job in accordance with the corresponding print mode setting;
• a plurality of wireless access points configured to transmit a plurality of beacons, wherein
• the client device includes a first signal power detecting part configured to detect signal power levels of the plurality of beacons received by the client device,
• the printing device includes a second signal power detecting part configured to detect signal power levels of the plurality of beacons received by the printing device, and
• the means for determining includes means for automatically determining the distance between the client device and the printing device based on the detected signal power levels of the plurality of beacons detected by each of the client device and the printing device.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having embedded therein instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for setting a print mode of a printing device, the method comprising:

• receiving, from a client device, a request to print a print job at the printing device;
• automatically determining a distance between the client device and the printing device based on signal power levels of a plurality of beacons detected by each of the client device and the printing device, the beacons being transmitted by a plurality of wireless access points;
• setting a print mode corresponding to the print job to one of a locked print mode or an unlocked print mode based on the determined distance between the client device and the printing device;
• and
• sending the print job and the corresponding print mode setting to the printing device.