Abstract:
A printer display which allows users to access and edit a document may resolve some problems traditionally associated with the publication process on network printers. This may be accomplished by providing a GUI at the printer at which a user may access, display, and edit a document originally saved to the user&#39;s PC. The GUI may allow users to make changes to the document while they are present at the network printer instead of forcing them to return to their PC to make the changes. Additionally, restricting access to the printer display may provide a secure printing environment for the user by controlling who may access a document at the printer or view printed results. Further, limiting GUI and document access may also reduce or eliminate the potential for lost or stolen printed documents.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     Documents often require many revisions before they are ready for final publication. In many home and business environments, a writer will edit his document at a personal computer (PC) and print the document to a remotely-located, network printer. The writer must then travel to the printer to retrieve the printed document or have the document delivered to his location. During the revision process, the writer will often print what he thinks is the publication copy of a document only to find minor errors that are visible once it is in tangible form. For example, documents with headers and footers are often edited such that these parts of the document are not visible until printing. If the printed document contains header and footer formatting errors, the writer must first travel to the printer to retrieve the printed document, notice the errors, travel back to his PC to correct those errors, print the document again, then travel back to the printer to retrieve the corrected, printed document. Correcting these minor errors wastes both time and resources. Furthermore, once the writer sends his document to a conventional shared network printer, the printer prints that document as soon as the file has made its way through the printer queue. Consequently, others may be able to view or gain possession of the printed document before the writer has a chance to retrieve it.  
         [0002]     Previous methods and devices have included graphical user interfaces (GUIs) at the printer, but none have addressed the particular problem associated with the publication process and security nor have they enhanced the tedious, back-and-forth revision process described above. For example, printers are known to allow a user to first print a reduced version of image files associated with digital imaging to prevent printing full-sized copies of unwanted photos. Other devices include printing interfaces which allow a user to apply formatting changes to a portion of a document without changing the original file and to print a copy with those changes. Further printers will display information about mismatches between a printer&#39;s resources and the file in a user interface or allow manual or automatic changes to a document based the compatibility of the document content with printer resources. Still other references disclose methods for secure printing which employ data encryption/decryption techniques and the use of SMART cards.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0003]     A printer display  200  which allows users to access and edit a document  430  may resolve some problems traditionally associated with the publication process. This may be accomplished by providing a GUI  200  at the printer  196  at which a user may access, display, and edit a document  430  originally saved to the user&#39;s PC  110 . The GUI  200  may allow users to make changes to the document  430  while they are present at the printer  196  instead of forcing them to return to their PC  110  to make the changes. Additionally, restricting access to the printer display  200  may provide a secure printing environment for the user by controlling who may access a document  430  at the printer  196  or view printed results. Further, limiting GUI  200  and document  430  access may also reduce or eliminate the potential for lost or stolen printed documents. 
     
    
     DRAWINGS  
       [0004]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a computing system that may operate in accordance with the claims.  
         [0005]      FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  are embodiments of a printer with a user display.  
         [0006]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart explaining an embodiment of a control process for printing a document using the printer display.  
         [0007]      FIGS. 4   a  through  4   d  illustrate the control process of  FIG. 3  as seen from a user&#39;s perspective.  
         [0008]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart explaining another embodiment of a control process for printing a document using the printer display.  
         [0009]      FIGS. 6   a  through  6   e  illustrate the control process of  FIG. 5  as seen from a user&#39;s perspective.  
         [0010]      FIG. 6   f  illustrates an embodiment of a remote desktop invitation.  
         [0011]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart explaining another embodiment of a control process for printing a document using the printer display.  
         [0012]      FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  illustrate the control process of  FIG. 7  as seen from a user&#39;s perspective.  
         [0013]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart explaining an embodiment of a control process for scanning and printing a document using the printer display.  
         [0014]      FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b  illustrate the control process of  FIG. 9  as seen from a user&#39;s perspective. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]     Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the legal scope of the description is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims.  
         [0016]     It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined in this patent using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘______’ is hereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term by limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning. Finally, unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph.  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a suitable computing system environment  100  on which a system for the steps of the claimed method and apparatus may be implemented. The computing system environment  100  is only one example of a suitable computing environment and is not intended to suggest any limitation of the scope of use or functionality of the claimed method or apparatus. Neither should the computing environment  100  be interpreted as having any dependency or requirement relating to any one or combination of components illustrated in the exemplary operating environment  100 .  
         [0018]     The steps of the claimed method and apparatus are operational with numerous other general purpose or special purpose computing system environments or configurations. Examples of well known computing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable for use with the methods or apparatus of the claims include, but are not limited to, personal computers, server computers, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, distributed computing environments that include any of the above systems or devices, and the like.  
         [0019]     The steps of the claimed method and apparatus may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, being executed by a computer. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The methods and apparatus may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote computer storage media including memory storage devices.  
         [0020]     With reference to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary system for implementing the steps of the claimed method and apparatus includes a general purpose computing device in the form of a computer or PC  110 . Components of computer  110  may include, but are not limited to, a processing unit  120 , a system memory  130 , and a system bus  121  that couples various system components including the system memory to the processing unit  120 . The system bus  121  may be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation, such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus also known as Mezzanine bus.  
         [0021]     Computer  110  typically includes a variety of computer readable media. Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by computer  110  and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes both volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can accessed by computer  110 . Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer readable media.  
         [0022]     The system memory  130  includes computer storage media in the form of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory such as read only memory (ROM)  131  and random access memory (RAM)  132 . A basic input/output system  133  (BIOS), containing the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within computer  110 , such as during start-up, is typically stored in ROM  131 . RAM  132  typically contains data and/or program modules that are immediately accessible to and/or presently being operated on by processing unit  120 . By way of example, and not limitation,  FIG. 1  illustrates operating system  134 , application programs  135 , other program modules  136 , and program data  137 .  
         [0023]     The computer  110  may also include other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media. By way of example only,  FIG. 1  illustrates a hard disk drive  140  that reads from or writes to non-removable, nonvolatile magnetic media, a magnetic disk drive  151  that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile magnetic disk  152 , and an optical disk drive  155  that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile optical disk  156  such as a CD ROM or other optical media. Other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media that can be used in the exemplary operating environment include, but are not limited to, magnetic tape cassettes, flash memory cards, digital versatile disks, digital video tape, solid state RAM, solid state ROM, and the like. The hard disk drive  141  is typically connected to the system bus  121  through a non-removable memory interface such as interface  140 , and magnetic disk drive  151  and optical disk drive  155  are typically connected to the system bus  121  by a removable memory interface, such as interface  150 .  
         [0024]     The drives and their associated computer storage media discussed above and illustrated in  FIG. 1 , provide storage of computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for the computer  110 . In  FIG. 1 , for example, hard disk drive  141  is illustrated as storing operating system  144 , application programs  145 , other program modules  146 , and program data  147 . Note that these components can either be the same as or different from operating system  134 , application programs  135 , other program modules  136 , and program data  137 . Operating system  144 , application programs  145 , other program modules  146 , and program data  147  are given different numbers here to illustrate that, at a minimum, they are different copies. A user may enter commands and information into the computer  110  through input devices such as a keyboard  162  and pointing device  161 , commonly referred to as a mouse, trackball or touch pad. Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit  120  through a user input interface  160  that is coupled to the system bus, but may be connected by other interface and bus structures, such as a parallel port, game port or a universal serial bus (USB). A monitor  191  or other type of display device is also connected to the system bus  121  via an interface, such as a video interface  190 . In addition to the monitor, computers may also include other peripheral output devices such as speakers  197  and printer  196 , which may be connected through an output peripheral interface  190 . Additionally, the printer  196  may be connected via the network interface  170 .  
         [0025]     The computer  110  may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer  180 . The remote computer  180  may be a personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above relative to the computer  110 , although only a memory storage device  181  has been illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The logical connections depicted in  FIG. 1  include a local area network (LAN)  171  and a wide area network (WAN)  173 , but may also include other networks. Such networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets and the Internet.  
         [0026]     When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer  110  is connected to the LAN  171  through a network interface or adapter  170 . When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer  110  typically includes a modem  172  or other means for establishing communications over the WAN  173 , such as the Internet. The modem  172 , which may be internal or external, may be connected to the system bus  121  via the user input interface  160 , or other appropriate mechanism. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the computer  110 , or portions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. By way of example, and not limitation,  FIG. 1  illustrates remote application programs  185  as residing on memory device  181 . It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing a communications link between the computers may be used.  
         [0027]     Generally, and with reference to  FIGS. 2 through 10   b , the present invention embodies a method and apparatus to allow for editing and printing a document through a printer GUI. More specifically, on a printer  196 , the method and apparatus may allow a user to access a document originally stored on a remote PC using the access functions of a printer GUI  200 . This access may permit the user to have complete control of the editing and printing process while physically located at the printer. With reference to  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , a sample printer  196  of the type envisioned by this apparatus may include a user interface area  210  which includes a printer GUI  200 . In one embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2   a , the printer GUI  200  may allow a user to make any changes to a document by using only a stylus  220 . In this embodiment, the user may make all or some corrections on the displayed document  430  with the stylus  220 , and appropriate handwriting recognition software may make the changes to the text of the document  430  before printing. In another embodiment of  FIG. 2   b , the user makes all changes using a conventional keyboard  230  and a fixed pointing device  240 . Further, the printer GUI  200  may be a rich, color user interface which allows all desktop PC  110  functionality from the printer  196 . For example, the printer GUI  200  may be used to access video conferencing applications ahead of meetings where crucial documents are currently being printed by the printer  196  to tell meeting attendees of any delays or an estimated time for completed document delivery. Further, the printer GUI  200  could warn the user of device malfunctions and provide interactive videos at the printer  196  to guide the user to resolve the problem. Also, a user could perform personal tasks by accessing his desktop PC  110  from the printer GUI  200  such as sending e-mails, checking task calendars, or updating individual or project tasks as soon as the print job is complete. The printer GUI  200  may also be multi-functional according to the capabilities of the underlying printer  196  for all document processing tasks.  
         [0028]     With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4   a  through  4   d , a user may remotely access a document saved on a PC  110  from the printer  196 , make any desired changes to the document while at the printer  196 , and print the document.  FIG. 3  may illustrate one process using the invention. At block  300 , the user may remotely access a PC  110  using the printer GUI  200  at the printer  196 .  FIG. 4   a  may illustrate an example of a printer GUI  200  with a Remote Access Login button  500  which, upon activation, may allow the user to remotely access a desktop. The printer GUI  200  of  FIGS. 4   a  through  4   d  is for illustration purposes only and may display additional information concerning the printer or a particular print job in addition to the Remote Access Login button  400 . Also, a Remote Access Login  400  initiated from the printer GUI  200  may include a number of authentication steps to restrict access to a user&#39;s desktop, thus enhancing the security of each print job.  
         [0029]     Assuming the user has completed remote access login, the printer GUI  200  may display that user&#39;s PC  110  desktop  410 . Using an input device such as the stylus  220 , keyboard  230 , or a fixed pointing device  240  or the like, the user may then find the icon  420  representing his document  430  to view it on the printer GUI  200 . At block  310 , the document  430  may be displayed on the printer GUI  200  and the user may inspect it for any further editing or last minute changes  310 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 4   c , the user may recognize that page numbers were not included in the header portion of his document  430 . At block  320 , upon recognition of the error, the user may decide whether document changes are needed. If the decision at block  320  is yes, at block  330 , the user may correct the errors using the printer GUI  200 , and control may pass to block  335 . At block  335 , the user may then decide whether to print or cancel the job. If the decision at block  320  is no, at block  335  the user may choose to print the document  430 . At block  340 , the user may remotely issue commands to the PC  110  to send the document  430  to the printer queue  440 . At block  350 , the PC  110  may then send the document  430  to the printer queue. At block  360 , the document may be delivered through the queue and may be received by the printer  196  where the printer  196  may transfer the document  430  onto a tangible medium as desired by the user.  
         [0030]      FIGS. 5 and 6   a  through  6   f  may illustrate another embodiment for accessing and printing a document from a printer display. At block  500 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6   a , the user at the PC  110  may send a print job to the printer  196  by selecting a print option  600 . At block  505 , through a prompt generated by an application running on the PC or through default settings, the user may decide to activate the printer GUI  200  for editing or security functions. The user&#39;s response may determine whether or not a remote desktop invitation is sent from the PC  110  to the printer  196 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 6   f  illustrates an embodiment of a remote desktop invitation. A remote desktop invitation is a file associated with a print job that is sent from the PC  110  to the printer  196 . This file may contain the IP address  650  and Netbios machine name  660  of the originating PC  110 . Also, the remote desktop invitation may include a reference, data file, or other representation  670  of the document  430 . The remote desktop invitation may provide the information necessary for the printer GUI  200  to remotely access the PC  110  that initiated the print control process. Further, a remote desktop invitation may allow the user to remotely access the PC  110  from the printer GUI  200 .  
         [0032]     If the decision at block  505  is yes, at block  510  the document  430  may be printed with edit/security options, and the PC may send a remote desktop invitation to the printer GUI  200 . At block  515 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6   b , if the printer receives a remote desktop invitation, then a user may activate the Remote Desktop button  610  on the printer GUI  200  to remotely access the PC  110  and retrieve a document  430  saved on a PC  110 . The printer GUI  200  of  FIG. 6   a  through  6   e  is for illustration purposes only and may display additional information concerning the printer or a particular print job in addition to the Remote Desktop button  610 . Also, a Remote Access  610  initiated from the printer GUI  200  may include a number of authentication steps to restrict access to a user&#39;s desktop, thus enhancing the security of each print job.  
         [0033]     At block  520 , the user may accept the remote desktop invitation at the printer GUI  200  by activating the Remote Desktop button  610  and may access his PC  110  desktop  620  from the printer GUI  200 . Using an input device such as the stylus  220 , keyboard  230 , or a fixed pointing device  240  or the like, the user may then find the icon  630  representing his document  430  to view it on the printer GUI  200 . At block  525 , the document  430  may be displayed on the printer GUI  200  and the user may inspect it for any further editing or last minute changes. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 6   d , the user may recognize that page numbers were not included in the header portion of his document  430 . At block  530 , upon recognition of the error, the user may decide that document changes are needed and, at block  535 , correct the errors using the printer GUI  200 . As shown in  FIG. 6   e , at block  540 , the user may remotely issue commands  640  to the PC  110  to send the document  430  to the printer queue. At block  545 , the PC  110  may then send the document  430  to the printer queue. At block  550 , the document may be delivered through the queue and may be received by the printer  196  where the printer  196  may transfer the document  430  onto a tangible medium as desired by the user.  
         [0034]      FIGS. 7 and 8   a  through  8   b  may illustrate another embodiment for accessing and printing a document from a printer display. At block  700 , the user may send a data file or document to a printer  196 . At block  705 , the printer  196  or an application running on the PC  110  may then prompt the user at the PC  110  to decide whether or not to allow this file to be accessed by the printer GUI  200  for editing and security purposes or to print normally. The user&#39;s response may determine the value of a flag in the data file. If the decision at block  705  is yes, at block  715  the printer may receive a flagged data file, the printer  196  may send the file to the printer GUI  200 , and the printer GUI  200  may be enabled for this job. If at block  705 , the decision is no, at block  710  the printer may receive an unflagged data file, the printer  196  may send the file to the printer queue, and at block  755 , the document may print normally. At block  720 , to process a flagged file, the user may access the file at the printer  196  on the printer GUI  200 .  FIG. 8   a  illustrates an example of a printer GUI  200  with a Printer Editing/Secure Printing button  800 . Upon activation of the Printer Editing/Secure Printing button  800 , the printer GUI  200  may display the user&#39;s file in the printer GUI  200  area as in  FIG. 8   a . The printer GUI  200  of  FIG. 8   a  through  8   b  is for explanation purposes only and may display additional information concerning the printer or a particular print job in addition to the Printer Editing/Secure Printing button  800 . Also, Printer Editing/Secure Printing  800  initiated from the printer GUI  200  may include a number of authentication steps to restrict access to the file, thus enhancing the security of each print job.  
         [0035]     At block  725 , the document  430  may be displayed on the printer GUI  200 , and the user may inspect it for any further editing or last minute changes. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 8   b , the user may recognize that he neglected to include page numbers in the header portion of his document  430 . At block  730 , the user may decide whether changes are needed. If the decision at block  730  is yes, at block  735  the user may decide that document changes are needed, and correct the errors using a document editing application at the printer GUI  200  using the input devices  220 ,  230 , and  240  or the like as illustrated in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b . If the decision at block  730  is no, at block  737  the user may print the document from the printer GUI  200  without changes. At block  740 , the user may activate the Print button  610  on the printer GUI  200  and the printer GUI  200  may issue commands to the printer  196  to print the document  430 . At block  745 , the printer GUI  200  may then send the document  430  to the printer queue. At block  750 , upon sending to the queue, the printer GUI  200  may send the file back to the original PC  110  and issue a prompt to the user to save or discard any changes made to the document  430  from the printer GUI  200 . At block  755 , the document may be received by the printer  196  to be delivered through the queue, and the printer  196  may transfer the document  430  onto a tangible medium as desired by the user.  
         [0036]      FIGS. 9 and 10   a  through  10   b  illustrate using the printer GUI  200  with other capabilities of the associated printer  196 . For example, many multi-function printers  196  are capable of a variety of tasks associated with document production and publication. At block  900 , using the printer GUI  200 , a user may scan a document at the printer  196 . The printer GUI  200  may then display a preview button  1000  which allows the user to review the scanned image  1005 . At block  910 , the user may decide whether to accept or reject the scanned image  1005 . If the decision at block  910  is no, at block  960  the user may choose to re-scan the image at block  900  or quit the process at block  960 . If the decision at block  910  is yes, at block  920  the printer GUI  200  may prompt the user for changes to the scanned image  1005 . If the decision at block  920  is no, at block  950  the printer may print the image. If the decision at block  920  is yes, at block  930  the user may make changes to the image  1005 . For example, the user may desire to reduce or enlarge the image, change the image quality, add other images to the scanned image  1005 , or forward the image to another user. At block  940 , the user may activate the print button  1010  on the printer GUI  200 , the printer display may then send the image to the printer queue, and at block  950 , the printer may print the desired image.  
         [0037]     Although the forgoing text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the scope of the patent is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment because describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims.  
         [0038]     Thus, many modifications and variations may be made in the techniques and structures described and illustrated herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present claims. Accordingly, it should be understood that the methods and apparatus described herein are illustrative only and are not limiting upon the scope of the claims.