Printer location aware detection and printing
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorsAmir Najari, Christopher Wu, Gerhard Bork
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for identifying a printer and printing is provided. The method includes transmitting, from each of a plurality of printers, a wireless beacon. The method includes receiving, at a printer, an instruction from a mobile device to print information, wherein the instruction is received via a wireless network, the mobile device determining, based on radio signal strength of wireless beacons, which of the plurality of printers is closest to the mobile device and selecting and coupling to the printer via the wireless network to send the instruction to the printer. The method includes printing, at the printer selected by the mobile device, the information in accordance with the instruction.
Claims20
A method for identifying a printer and printing, comprising:
- transmitting, from each of a plurality of printers, a wireless beacon;
- as part of a registration process for a printer-service, receiving, in turn, at each respective printer in said plurality of printers, a request from a computing device for printer identification information (printer ID) uniquely identifying the respective printer, after the respective printer transmits the requested printer ID to the computing device, the respective printer receiving from the computing device printer-service registration information that assigns, to the respective printer, device location information of the computing device irrespective of a location of the respective printer;
- after completion of the registration process, receiving, at a target printer selected from among said plurality of printers, an instruction from a mobile device to print information, wherein the instruction is received via a network, the mobile device selecting, based on radio signal strength of wireless beacons, which of the plurality of printers is closest to the mobile device and selecting and coupling to the closest printer as the target printer via the network to send the instruction to the target printer;
- and
- printing, at the target printer selected by the mobile device, the information in accordance with the instruction;
- wherein in response to the mobile device responding to the wireless beacon of the target printer, the target printer selectively transmitting to the mobile device marketing information localized to the assigned device location information of the target printer.
A system with printer location aware detection and printing, comprising:
- a printer having wireless connectivity and a wireless beacon;
- as part of a registration process for a printer-service, the printer receiving a request from a computing device for printer identification information (printer ID) uniquely identifying the printer, after the printer transmits the requested printer ID to the computing device, the printer receiving from the computing device printer-service registration information that assigns, to the printer, device location information of the computing device irrespective of a location of the printer;
- the printer configured to couple, after completion of the registration process, using the wireless connectivity, to a mobile device responsive to the mobile device determining, based on radio signal strength of wireless beacons, that the printer is a closest printer, of a plurality of printers, to the mobile device;
- and
- the printer configured to receive, via the wireless connectivity, from the mobile device, information to print, and print the information;
- wherein in response to the mobile device responding to the wireless beacon of the printer, the printer selectively transmits to the mobile device marketing information localized to the assigned device location information of the printer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.