Abstract:
A method of printing information by a network kiosk which prints web page information, designed for printing on standard width paper, on narrower receipt paper. The method includes the steps of receiving a command to print information in a displayed web page, obtaining an address of the displayed web page, determining a format for printing the information on receipt paper using the address, creating a script to print the information in the format, and executing the script to print the information on the receipt paper.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to self-service kiosks and more specifically to a method of printing information by a network kiosk.  
           [0002]    Retailers have a desire to sell their products over networks, such as global networks which are a part of the World Wide Web (WWW or “web”) and which use the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP protocol). These retailers wish to provide Internet server web sites which offer the same features as Internet server web sites available to home shoppers who use their computers to connect to the Internet server web sites.  
           [0003]    Kiosks provide a publicly-accessible computing platform for displaying web pages from retailer web sites. Kiosks may be located within a retailer&#39;s transaction establishment or elsewhere, such as in shopping malls. Kiosks may be easily networked to retailer web sites using the TCP/IP protocol. Web pages from web sites may be displayed using known and available web software, such as Microsoft® Internet Explorer software.  
           [0004]    Printing of information displayed by a web browser software application is difficult on a kiosk. Kiosks typically include receipt printers or printers which take paper smaller than standard 8½″×11″ paper. Web pages containing transaction information are not formatted to print on smaller-size paper.  
           [0005]    Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a method of printing web page transaction information onto receipt paper.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a method of printing information by a network kiosk is provided.  
           [0007]    The method includes the steps of receiving a command to print information in a displayed web page, obtaining an address of the displayed web page, determining a format for printing the information on receipt paper using the address, creating a script to print the information in the format, and executing the script to print the information on the receipt paper.  
           [0008]    It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a method of printing information by a network kiosk.  
           [0009]    It is another object of the present invention to determine how much content of each web page is to be printed and how the determined content is to be printed on receipt paper.  
           [0010]    It is another object of the present invention to print other information, such as text and graphics, with web information on receipt paper. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates from the subsequent description of the preferred embodiments and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a transaction processing system including a network kiosk;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a kiosk;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a depiction of a printing configuration file; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating the printing method of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0016]    Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2, transaction system  10  includes kiosk  12  and network  14 . Kiosk  12  is preferably located within a transaction establishment, such as a retail store, or transaction environment, such as a shopping mall. Kiosk  12  may include an NCR 7401 computer.  
         [0017]    Kiosk  12  primarily includes processor  16 , touch screen  18 , memory  20 , and storage medium  22 . Kiosk  12  may additionally include a number of peripherals, including magnetic strip reader (MSR)  24 , printer  26 , and scanner  28 .  
         [0018]    To assist with execution of certain tasks performed by kiosk  12 , kiosk  12  includes a built-in time keeping device, commonly referred to as a system clock, which is synchronized with current time, in order to automatically execute the tasks at their scheduled times.  
         [0019]    Processor  16  controls operation of kiosk  12  and executes web browser software  32  and web wrapper software  36 .  
         [0020]    Web browser software  32  allows an operator to access information and purchase products from retailers through network  14 , which preferably includes World Wide Web (WWW or “web”) servers. Web browser software  32  may include commercially-available web browser software, such as Microsoft® Internet Explorer web browser software. Microsoft® Internet Explorer web browser software is configured into a kiosk operation using a “-k” command line option. This option hides toolbars and menubars to prevent operator access to those functions.  
         [0021]    Web browser software  32  retrieves and displays web pages  44  from network  14 , which includes a plurality of interconnected servers. Web pages  44  include web pages which display information about products and services offered by the kiosk owner as well as other web pages. Web pages  44  assist operators to find information about products sold by the kiosk owner and to complete purchases of such products. For this purpose, web pages  34  may include a start or “home” page which operates as a default page from which operation begins and to which operation returns when an operator is finished using kiosk  12 . Web pages  44  may be written using hypertext markup language (HTML) or other suitable web page language.  
         [0022]    Web wrapper software  36  provides security functions. During operation, web wrapper software  36  prevents an operator from accessing kiosk files, other applications, the operating system software, or basic input-output system (BIOS) firmware, and prevents the operator from causing kiosk  12  to reboot.  
         [0023]    Under the present invention, web wrapper software  36  additionally controls printing of web page information by printer  26 . Specifically, web wrapper software  36  determines how much content of each web page  44  is to be printed and how the determined content is to be printed on receipt paper  48 .  
         [0024]    Pages containing printable content and configuration settings to assist in printing may be coded into web wrapper software  36  or listed in printing configuration file  38  to allow a kiosk owner to control operation. Content and format for the content may be coded into web wrapper software  36  or listed in one or more printing format files  34  to allow a kiosk owner to control operation.  
         [0025]    The characteristics of receipt paper  48  could be hard-coded into web wrapper software  36 , instead of using configuration files  34  and  38 . However, use of such files  34  and  38  allows content and formatting of receipts  48  to be easily changed. Also, the number of files  34  and  38  may be one or a number of files.  
         [0026]    Touch screen  18  includes display  40  and input device  42 . Display  40  and input device  42  may also be separate units. Input device  42  may record personal information from an operator.  
         [0027]    Memory  20  is used by processor  16  to store executed program information, including web wrapper software information.  
         [0028]    Storage medium  22  stores software including web wrapper software  36 . Storage medium  22  also stores display content  34  and display configuration file  38 .  
         [0029]    MSR  24  reads loyalty, credit, debit, SMART, and/or other types of cards carried by an operator. MSR  24  may record personal information from an operator.  
         [0030]    Printer  26  prints information from web wrapper software  32 , including information from web pages  44  from network  14 . For example, printer  26  may print information relevant to a transaction completed by an operator using kiosk  12 . Printer  26  uses paper  48  narrower than standard 8½″×11″ paper. Also, paper  48  includes paper rolls instead of paper sheets.  
         [0031]    Scanner  28  reads bar codes on products to obtain product identification numbers. Kiosk  12  queries a transaction server with the identification numbers to obtain information about the product and displays the information.  
         [0032]    With reference to FIG. 2, an example of kiosk  12  is shown. Kiosk  12  is constructed as a pedestal, with bottom support pieces  52  and  54 , printer assembly  56 , and top support piece  58 . Other mounting arrangements are also envisioned.  
         [0033]    Printer assembly  56  includes aperture  50  through which paper  48  passes. Paper  48  for this example of kiosk  12  and printer  26  is about 3.25 inches to 4.5 inches wide. Paper  48  is also preferably a paper roll, and may be used to print content from web pages  44 , receipts, shopping lists, and other information that kiosk  12  provides.  
         [0034]    Turning now to FIG. 3, printing format files  34  and printing configuration file  38  are illustrated.  
         [0035]    Printing configuration file  38  includes record  46  for each web page  44 . Each record includes entries PAGE and CONFIGURATION.  
         [0036]    Entry PAGE identifies a particular web page  44 .  
         [0037]    Entry CONFIGURATION identifies configuration information to assist in printing of web page content by web wrapper software  36 .  
         [0038]    Printing format files 34 include a header configuration file  34 A, a footer configuration file  34 C, and a body configuration file  34 C.  
         [0039]    Header configuration file  34 A includes entries for store NAME, store ADDRESS, and store LOGO.  
         [0040]    Entry NAME identifies a store name.  
         [0041]    Entry ADDRESS identifies a store address.  
         [0042]    Entry LOGO identifies a store logo or graphic.  
         [0043]    All receipts will use this header information, thus, it can be printed as standard.  
         [0044]    Body configuration file  34 B includes entries for DESCRIPTION, PRICE, TOTAL, and METHOD.  
         [0045]    Entry DESCRIPTION identifies an item in a transaction.  
         [0046]    Entry PRICE identifies a price of an item.  
         [0047]    Entry TOTAL identifies a total price.  
         [0048]    Entry METHOD identifies a payment method, typically a credit card type or check.  
         [0049]    Footer configuration file  34 C includes entries for DATE, TIME, and KIOSK.  
         [0050]    Entry DATE identifies a date of a transaction.  
         [0051]    Entry TIME identifies a time of a transaction.  
         [0052]    Entry KIOSK identifies a particular kiosk.  
         [0053]    A formatted script may contain text and graphic web content. A formatted script in the form of a sample receipt is illustrated below with key identifiers or placeholders:  
                                                                                                   ON-LINE MART       2651 Satellite Blvd.       Duluth, GA 30096                %Desc   %Price   &lt;Repeat&gt;           Total       %TotalAmt                %MethodPayment            Thank You       For Shopping With Us                Date:   %D   Time:   %T   TID:   %K                      
 
         [0054]    where % D is a placeholder for entry DATE, % T is a placeholder for entry TIME, % K is a placeholder for entry KIOSK, % Desc is a placeholder for entry DESCRIPTION, % Price is a placeholder for entry PRICE, &lt;Repeat&gt; repeats the placeholders % Desc and % Price for each purchased item, % TotalAmt is a placeholder for entry TOTAL, and % MethodPayment is a placeholder for entry METHOD.  
         [0055]    This method allows for text and placeholders to be mixed together in the same format. At actual print time, the placeholders will be replaced with the corresponding information. A corresponding printed message in the form of a printed receipt would contain text:  
                                                                                       ON-LINE MART       2651 Satellite Blvd.       Duluth, GA 30096                Jacket       14.00           Shoes       22.00           Total       36.00                Visa 4784 xxxx xxxx xxxx            Thank You       For Shopping With Us                Date: 10/09/00   Time: 11:37 am   TID:2                      
 
         [0056]    In response to a print command, including print commands initiated by an operator, web wrapper software  36  compares an address of a displayed web page to entries PAGE in printing configuration file  38 . If the address of the displayed page is located within printing configuration file  38 , web wrapper software  36  enables printer  26 . Web wrapper software  36  reads entries CONFIGURATION to obtain configuration information. In the example above, Web wrapper software  36  determines configuration information associated with a transaction processing web page. Such configuration information indicates that the transaction information should be printed using content and formatting identified in printing format files  34 . Web wrapper software  36  creates a script by obtaining content identified in printing format files  34  and formatting it in accordance with format information in printing format files  34 . Web wrapper software  36  then executes the script to print the formatted transaction information on receipt paper  48  using printer  26 .  
         [0057]    Turning now to FIG. 4, the method of the present invention is illustrated in detail beginning with START  60 .  
         [0058]    In step  62 , web wrapper software  36  receives a command to print content in a displayed web page  44  from input device  42 .  
         [0059]    In step  64 , web wrapper software  36  obtains an address for web page  44 .  
         [0060]    In step  66 , web wrapper software  36  reads records  46  in printing configuration file  38 .  
         [0061]    In step  68 , web wrapper software  36  compares PAGE entries in records  46  with the address of the displayed page. If one of the PAGE entries in records  46  is the same as the address of the displayed page, operation proceeds to step  72 . Otherwise, operation ends at step  80 .  
         [0062]    In step  70 , web wrapper software  36  reads configuration information from printing configuration file  38 .  
         [0063]    In step  72 , web wrapper software  36  reads corresponding printing format files  34 .  
         [0064]    In step  74 , web wrapper software  36  creates a formatted script using placeholder and format information in printing format files  34 .  
         [0065]    In step  76 , web wrapper software  36  identifies placeholders in the script and obtains corresponding web content from web page  44 .  
         [0066]    In step  78 , web wrapper software  36  initiates printing. Printer  26  prints the script with the web content.  
         [0067]    In step  80 , operation ends.  
         [0068]    Although the present invention has been described with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, variations and modifications of the present invention can be effected within the spirit and scope of the following claims.