Abstract:
A P2P printing system and method is disclosed. The printing comprising a system computer readable storage medium, storing instructions that, when executed, cause a printing device to perform a method. The method comprising establishing communications between one or more other printing devices, each printing device capable of sharing files with the other printing devices via a P2P file sharing network.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   Traditionally, some printing systems include the transfer of a print file from a computer device, such as a personal computer or server, to a printer through a network or other connection between the computing device and the printer. Other printing systems utilize a Multi-Functional Device (MFD). The MFD includes the scanning of a document and printing of a document all within a stand alone unit. In addition to operating as a stand alone printing system, some MFDs can communicate with a server or other computer to receive print files and print these print files. 
   The server or computer associated with the traditional printing system described above, can store a print file associated with a scanned document or application program such as word. To print a document associated with the print file, requires a user to interface with the server or computer via a terminal or other device. The print file is transferred to a printer and a document is printed. To print this same document at another future time, the user must repeat these steps and the computer or server will transfer the print file to the printer for printing. Other variations of this printing system include a multiple printer network where a specific printer can be selected by the user for printing. 
   INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
   U.S. patent application publication No. 2005/0216473 A1, by Aoyagi et al., entitled P2P Network System, published Sep. 29, 2005, discloses a P2P Network System and is hereby totally incorporated by reference. 
   PCT International Publication Number WO 03/075168 A1, Net2Printer, Inc., discloses “A System for Peer-to-Peer Transport of Documents”, published Sep. 12, 2003 and is hereby totally incorporated by reference. 
   U.S. patent application publication No. 2003/0182428 A1, by Li et al., entitled “Peer-to-Peer (P2P) communication System”, published Sep. 25, 2003, discloses a P2P Network System and is hereby totally incorporated by reference. 
   U.S. patent application publication No. 2003/0063771 A1, by Morris et al., entitled “Network-Based Photosharing Architecture for Search and Delivery of Private Images and Metadata”, published Apr. 3, 2003, discloses a P2P Network System and is hereby totally incorporated by reference. 
   BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
   In accordance with one aspect of this disclosure, a printing apparatus is provided. The printing apparatus comprising a computer readable storage medium, storing instructions that, when executed, causes a printing device to perform a method. The method establishing communications between one or more other printing devices, each printing device capable of sharing files with the other printing devices via a P2P file sharing network and each of the said one or more other printing devices comprising a storage medium housed within the printing device and operatively connected to the P2P file sharing network. 
   In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, a printing system is provided. The printing system comprising one or more printing devices. Each printing device comprising a computer readable storage medium, a document scanner; a P2P file sharing network; and a computer, wherein the one or more printing devices and the computer are operatively connected to the P2P file sharing network. 
   In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, a P2P method is disclosed. The method comprising storing a digital representation of a document on a computer readable storage medium housed and operatively connected to a printing device. The method establishing communications between the printing device and one or more other printing devices, where each printing device is capable of sharing files with the other printing devices via a P2P file sharing network. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a printing system and method according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure; 
       FIG. 2  is a flow chart illustrating a printing system and method according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure; 
       FIG. 3  is a sequencing diagram illustrating the operation of a printing system according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure; and 
       FIG. 4  is a sequencing diagram illustrating the operation of a printing system according to one exemplary embodiment of this disclosure. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   As discussed in the Background section of this disclosure, traditional printing systems and methods require the use of a central computer or server to provide multiple printers access to a specific print file representing a document to be printed. Stand alone MFDs can include a storage medium to provide a user with the ability to print a previously scanned document from the originally scanning MFD. 
   This disclosure provides a printing system and method to provide a user with access to a network of printers, without the need for the printers to communicate with a network server. This printing system and method includes a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) network which enables direct file sharing between all printers connected to the printing network. In other words, a user can access all printing files stored on each printer from any printer or computer connected to the printer P2P network. The printing system and method disclosed eliminates the need for a central server for routing print files to network printers. 
   With reference to  FIG. 1 , illustrated is a diagram that illustrates a printing system  1  and method according to one embodiment of this disclosure. 
   The printing system includes multiple printers P 1   2 , P 2   4 , P 3   6 , P 4   8  and P 5   10 . The printers are interconnected via network hardware  40  and communicate via the network hardware  40 . In addition to the printers, a computer S 112  is interconnected via the network hardware  40  and can communicate with printers P 1   2 , P 2   4 , P 3   6 , P 4   8  and P 5   10 . 
   For illustration purposes, user A  24 , user B  26 , and user C  28  are positioned at printer P 4   8 , computer S 1 , and printer P 3   6 , respectively. As will be discussed further below, each printer includes a hard drive or other internal memory device and a document scanner. Specifically, printer P 1   2  includes a hard drive  14  and is associated with document DOC 1   30 , printer P 2   4  includes a hard drive  16  and is associated with document DOC 2   32 , printer P 3   6  includes a hard drive  18  and is associated with document DOC 3   34 , printer P 4   8  includes a hard drive  20  and is associated with document DOC 4   36  and printer P 5   10  includes a hard drive  22  and is associated with document DOC 5   38 . 
   In addition to the printers described a computer S 1   12  is connected to the network  40 . The computer  12  provides access to files stored on the respective printers. 
   To provide P2P file sharing among printers P 1   2 , P 2   4 , P 3   6 , P 4   8  and P 5   10 , a P2P file sharing protocol is executed by each printing device. This P2P file sharing software is stored and executed by each printing device, independently from the others. One system to implement a P2P network includes a Linux based printing device utilizing a P2P file sharing service based on Gnutella file sharing technology. However, other P2P file sharing service technologies are available, such as Napster, Freenet and Groove. 
   The operation of the printing system  1  and method described with reference to  FIG. 1  is now described with further detail. 
   As an example of an exemplary embodiment  FIG. 1  illustrates one possible configuration of multiple printers operatively connected via a P2P network. In operation, user A  24  scans document DOC 4   36  into printer P 4   8  which stores the DOC 4   36  data file to the printer hard disk  20 , other users (not shown) subsequently scan document DOC 1   30 , document DOC 3   34  and document DOC 5   38 , which files are stored on their respective hard disks housed within the respective printers P 1   2 , P 3   6  and P 5   10 , respectively. 
   It should be noted that in addition to scanning and digital storage of the documents, a user may choose to print the document. For example, user A  24  may scan document DOC 4   36  into printer P 4   8 , printer P 4   8  subsequently printing DOC  4   36 . 
   Subsequent to the scanning of DOC 1   30 , DOC 2   32 , DOC 3   34 , DOC 4   36  , and DOC 5   38 , user C  28  is stationed at printer P 3   6  and requires a print of DOC 4   36 . User C  28  will then query the printers via printer P 3   6  installed software to retrieve the DOC 4   36  print file from any printer or computer connected to the P2P network  40  which has the DOC 4   36  print file stored on hard disk. The P2P printing system  1  illustrated in  FIG. 1  enables printer P 3   6  to access and retrieve the DOC 4   36  print file from printer P 4  hard drive  20  via the P2P network  40 . Moreover, the P2P printing system  1  enables document DOC  4   36  to be retrieved and printed at any printer, P 1   2 , P 2   4 , P 3   6 , P 4   8  and P 5   10 , which is operatively connected to the P2P network  40 . In addition, a user B  26  can retrieve document DOC 4   36  and view document DOC 4   36  via the computer S 1   12  and associated terminal. 
   The P2P file sharing network disclosed provides file sharing capability among printing devices and other computer devices, without the need for a centralized server to manage the file sharing among these devices. 
   With reference to  FIG. 2 , illustrated is a flow chart  50  which provides an exemplary method of operation, as related to a P2P printing system. 
   A user, stationed at one of a plurality of printing devices which are integrated via a P2P network, is able to command a printing device via a controller, to 1) scan the disk  52 ,  2 ) retrieve a file from the P2P network  56 , and/or 3) print a file from the P2P network  60 . 
   The operation of scan to disk  52  scans the user fed document and stores  54  the file on the respective P2P client disk, i.e. the printer hard disk associated with the scanner. 
   The operation, of retrieving  56  a file from the P2P network, queries  58  the P2P clients, i.e. printer hard drives, to determine the print files associated with each P2P client. Subsequently, the user requested print file is retrieved  62  from the appropriate P2P client and subsequently retrieved  64  from the associated P2P client disk. 
   The operation of printing from the P2P network, includes initially executing a command to retrieve  56  the relevant print file from the P2P network as described above. After the print file is retrieve  56 , the print file is printed at the user requested printer. 
   To further illustrate the P2P printing system and method as disclosed,  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  provide examples of user initiated instructions for operating a P2P printing system as discussed with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
   The printing system  70  illustrated includes one or more users  84 , printer P 1   72 , printer P 2   74 , printer P 3   76 , printer P 4   78 , printer P 5   80  and computer  82 . 
   The operations executed are as follows: 
   User scans document  86  at printer P 1   72 , and printer P 1   72  stores  88  the scanned document file on the printer P 1   72  hard disk or other digital storage device. 
   User scans  90  document at printer P 2   74 , and printer P 2   74  stores  92  the scanned document file on the printer P 2   74  hard disk or other digital storage device. 
   User scans  94  document at printer P 3   76 , and printer P 3   76  stores  96  the scanned document file on the printer P 3   76  hard disk or other digital storage device. 
   User scans  98  document at printer P 4   78 , and printer P 4   78  stores  100  the scanned document file on the printer P 4   78  hard disk or other digital storage device. 
   User scans  102  document at printer P 5   80 , and printer P 5   80  stores  104  the scanned document file on the printer P 5   80  hard disk or other digital storage device. 
   Subsequent to the storage of the scanned documents on their respective printer hard drives or other digital storage device, the possible sequence of operations illustrated in  FIG. 4  is executed. 
   The operations  110  include: 
   A user stationed at computer S 1   82  executes a search and retrieve command  126  from computer S 1   82 . Initially, the computer queries printer P 1   72  hard drive via the P2P network, then printer P 2   74  hard drive via the P2P network, and then printer P 4   78  via the P2P network. 
   Printer P 3   76  and printer P 5   80  are then queried via printer P 4   78 , the user requested print file found on printer P 5   80 . 
   Subsequently, computer S 1   82  sends a retrieved file request to printer P 5   80  which sends the file via the P2P network to computer S 1   82 . Computer S 1   82  stores the file to an associated hard disk or other digital storage device. 
   Other possible user initiated commands executed by the P2P printing system include a select and retrieval function  128  which reports  130  a list of files available from the P2P network. Also illustrated are a select and print (DOC 4 )  132  and select and print (DOC 5 )  134  instruction sequencing operation. The select and print (DOC 5 )  135  executed subsequent to printer P 5   80  being turned off  136 . 
   It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.