US 8,411,299 B2 · Approach for managing print errors using a print agent

Abstract

An approach for managing print errors using a print agent includes a spooler process initiating a print agent in response to receiving error data that indicates that a printing device cannot currently process print data. The print agent provides printing device discovery services that determine other printing devices that are available to process the print data and allow a user to redirect the print data to another printing device. The print agent may also provide error logging functionality that allows the creation of an error log. The error log contains information about the errors that prevented the printing device from processing the print data. The error log aids users and/or administrative personnel in diagnosing and/or addressing the errors. The use of a print agent in this manner provides users with more information about printing errors and also allows users to select an alternative printing device to process print data.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method for processing print data, the computer-implemented method comprising:

at a client computing device,
receiving print data from an application program, the print data conforming to a format supported by a printing device;
a spooler process sending the print data to the printing device;
the spooler process receiving error data that indicates that the printing device is not able to currently process the print data;
and
in response to receiving the error data, the spooler process initiating a print agent that is separate from both the application program and the spooler process and the print agent:
automatically discovers one or more other printing devices that are currently available to process the print data,
causes a graphical user interface to be displayed, wherein the graphical user interface includes one or more graphical user interface objects that correspond to the one or more other printing devices, and
in response to detecting a user selection of a particular user interface object that corresponds to a particular printing device, sending the print data to the particular printing device for processing;
wherein the print agent is separate from one or more print drivers that reside on the client device.

7 more elements

A non-transitory computer-readable medium for processing print data, the computer-readable medium carrying instructions which, when processed by one or more processors, causes:

at a client computing device,
receiving print data from an application program, the print data conforming to a format supported by a printing device;
a spooler process sending the print data to the printing device;
the spooler process receiving error data that indicates that the printing device is not able to currently process the print data;
and
in response to receiving the error data, the spooler process initiating a print agent that is separate from both the application program and the spooler process and the print agent:
automatically discovers one or more other printing devices that are currently available to process the print data,
causes a graphical user interface to be displayed, wherein the graphical user interface includes one or more graphical user interface objects that correspond to the one or more other printing devices, and
in response to detecting a user selection of a particular user interface object that corresponds to a particular printing device, sending the print data to the particular printing device for processing;
wherein the print agent is separate from one or more print drivers on the client device.

7 more elements

A client device for processing print data, the client device comprising a memory for storing instructions which, when processed by one or more processors, causes:

receiving print data from an application program, the print data conforming to a format supported by a printing device;
a spooler process sending the print data to the printing device;
the spooler process receiving error data that indicates that the printing device is not able to currently process the print data;
and
in response to receiving the error data, the spooler process initiating a print agent that is separate from both the application program and the spooler process and that:
automatically discovers one or more other printing devices that are currently available to process the print data,
causes a graphical user interface to be displayed, wherein the graphical user interface includes one or more graphical user interface objects that correspond to the one or more other printing devices, and
in response to detecting a user selection of a particular user interface object that corresponds to a particular printing device, sending the print data to the particular printing device for processing;
wherein the print agent is separate from one or more print drivers that reside on the client device.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Approach for managing print errors using a print agent

Life of this patent

Approach for managing print errors using a print agent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12