Abstract:
A printer portal including a network connection arranged to transfer user voice command input and printer portal output, a telephony system arranged to receive user voice command input and generate printer portal output via the network connection, a printing device arranged to print information responsive to the telephony system based on the user voice command input, and an access module arranged to control user access to portions of the printer portal is described. The printer portal stores location information about the printer portal. A method for printing information at a printer portal is described. A user voice command input is received at a printer portal. The printer portal analyzes the command input using a telephony system. Information is printed at the printer portal if the command input includes a print request to print information at the printer portal.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a printer connected with an interactive voice response system.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     It is known in the art to use a printer connected to a computer system to print documents and to connect a portable hand-held device to a printer to print documents.  
         [0003]     Printing from telephones typically requires a telephonic device having printing capabilities, e.g., a smartphone class of phone facilitating the print formatting and print driver, i.e., a device resulting from the combination of a cellular telephone and a personal digital assistant. This requires special applications loaded into the phone in order to print on the printer. Additionally, telephones require either wired connections, e.g., USB, serial, or parallel, etc., or wireless connections, e.g., infrared or Bluetooth, etc. Problematically, not all phones are smartphones having IR or Bluetooth connectivity capability.  
         [0004]     A network printer in a public location, such as a print kiosk in a shopping mall, typically includes an IP address identifying the printer on the network. However, the network address, e.g., formatted as a period separated sequence of numbers such as 192.167.1.1 using Internet Protocol (IP) version 4 addressing and as a colon separated sequence of numbers typically including eight groups of 4 hexadecimal digits, such as 3ffe:6a88:85a3:08d3:1319:8a2e:0370:7344, is not conducive to entry using a typical telephonic device as neither a colon nor a period are typically found on telephone keypads. In particular, entry of these symbols requires additional user key presses.  
         [0005]     Additionally problematic, printer software appropriate for the network printer must be installed in the telephonic device in order to enable printing from the telephonic device to the printer.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     An apparatus aspect includes a printer portal including a network connection arranged to transfer user voice command input and printer portal output, a telephony system arranged to receive user voice command input and generate printer portal output via the network connection, a printing device arranged to print information responsive to the telephony system based on the user voice command input, and an access module arranged to control user access to portions of the printer portal is described. The printer portal stores location information about the printer portal.  
         [0007]     A method aspect for printing information at a printer portal includes receiving user voice command input at the printer portal. The printer portal analyzes the command input using a telephony system. Information is printed at the printer portal if the command input includes a print request to print information at the printer portal.  
         [0008]     Still other advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown and described, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein elements having the same reference numeral designations represent like elements throughout and wherein:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a high level block diagram of a system usable in conjunction with an embodiment according to the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a message flow diagram of an embodiment;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is another message flow diagram of an embodiment;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a high level block diagram of a printer portal usable in conjunction with an embodiment; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a high level block diagram of a server usable in conjunction with an embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]     In contrast with the above-described approaches, the mechanism of the present invention provides a printer portal having a telephony interface for receiving user voice command input via a telephone.  
         [0016]     In a first embodiment of a network printing system  100  according to the present invention as depicted in  FIG. 1 , a telephonic device  102 , e.g., a wireline telephone, a mobile or cellular telephone, a phone-based personal digital assistant, a network-based telephone, or other similar device, connects to a communication network  104 , e.g., a telecommunication network such as a cellular telephone network, a public switched telephone network, an internet protocol based network, etc.  
         [0017]     A printer portal  106 , e.g., a networked printing device (described below in conjunction with  FIG. 4 ), includes a printing device  108  such as an inkjet printer, laser printer, or other similar device and has a communication interface (not shown) for connecting to communication network  104 . Printer portal  106  includes a telephony system  110  for communicating with a user of telephonic device  102  and receiving user voice command input. In an embodiment, printer portal  106  further stores a document  112  for access and/or printing upon user command input received from a user of telephonic device  102 .  
         [0018]     Telephony system  110  interacts with a user by generating audio signals transmitted to the user via telephonic device  102  and receiving user voice command input from telephonic device  102  via communication network  104 . In an embodiment, telephony system  110  is an interactive voice response system providing a menu of options, e.g., services available, to a user and receiving user voice commands as input to cause the telephony system to, in turn, cause the printer portal to perform one or more of several tasks, as described in detail below. For example, a user using telephonic device  102  is able to obtain information from printer portal  106  regarding the portal&#39;s physical location and surroundings and/or cause the printer portal to print information, e.g., coupons, directions, maps, tickets, menus, movie listings, etc., relevant to the portal location, and/or documents accessible by the printer portal via the network  104 . Telephony system  110  may be implemented in either software, hardware, or a combination of hardware and software according to differing embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0019]     In another embodiment, telephony system  110  is an interactive voice response (IVR) system, for automated interaction with users via communication network  104 . According to such an embodiment of telephony system  110 , a user using telephonic device  102  dials the telephone number assigned to printer portal  106  and interacts with an automated system via voice commands and/or user input via telephonic device  102 , e.g., keypad input. In an embodiment, user input is via voice commands acted upon by printer portal  106  using telephony system  110 . In a particular embodiment, telephony system  110  as an IVR system performs voice recognition to receive user voice command input.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a message flow diagram  200  of an embodiment according to the present invention where telephony system  110  is an IVR system. Telephony system  110  of printer portal  106  receives a voice call  202  from a user of telephonic device  102 . During the course of voice call  202 , printer portal  106  accepts the call and audio signals are transferred between telephonic device  102  and printer portal  106  via communication network  104 .  
         [0021]     In an embodiment, the user speech at telephonic device  102  is transmitted to printer portal  106 . For example, the user verbally requests printing of a document  112  stored at printer portal  106 . Telephony system  110  recognizes the user voice command input, i.e., the user request for a document to be printed via printing device  108 , and causes printer portal  106  to format and print the document  112  during process  204 .  
         [0022]     In an embodiment, the user requests printing of a document  112  located at a server  114  accessible via network  104 . The user speech at telephonic device  102  is voice command input transmitted to printer portal  106  during voice call  202  to provide a document identifier, e.g., a uniform resource locator (URL) of a document available on a web site. That is, the user uses telephonic device  102  to call printer portal  106  and verbally request printing of a specified document identifier.  
         [0023]     Advantageously, a user at a location having a printer portal as described above is able to call the printer portal and request printing of a document using voice commands input via a telephone.  
         [0024]     In an alternate embodiment, printer portal  106  responds using audio signals to voice call  202  by providing a menu of available functions at the printer portal. For example, printer portal  106  can identify stored documents at the printer portal available for printing such as maps, tickets, menus, etc. Additionally, after the user is identified by printer portal  106  via an access module, the user is able to select previously transmitted documents queued at the printer portal and cause them to be printed.  
         [0000]     Location  
         [0025]     Printer portal  106  stores location information regarding the position of the printer portal itself, i.e., the printer portal includes location knowledge such as latitude, longitude, map-related positioning, etc. In a particular embodiment, further location information stored at printer portal  106  includes information regarding the immediate environment of the printer portal such as whether the printer portal is located indoors or outdoors, in a public location or a private location, at a transportation center such as a railroad, airport, seaport, bus stop/station, etc., at an entertainment venue such as a theater, a stadium, or at or near a combination of one or more of the preceding locations.  
         [0026]     In alternative embodiments, printer portal  106  obtains location information from one or more sources, such as an internal or external navigation system, e.g., GLONASS, GPS, etc., preset information assigned at system startup or during operation of the printer portal, and other mechanisms.  
         [0027]     In an embodiment, printer portal  106  receives location information from telephonic device  102  during or immediately preceding a voice call from a user of the telephonic device. Printer portal  106  compares the received telephonic device location information with the printer portal location information in order to determine proximity of the telephonic device to the printer portal. Based on the proximity of the telephonic device  102  to printer portal  106 , particular functionality of the printer portal may be selectively enabled and disabled thereby alternatively granting and denying access to particular functions of the printer portal by a user of the telephonic device. In a further embodiment, based on the proximity determination, telephony system  110  tailors the menu of services provided to the user of telephonic device  102 .  
         [0000]     Access  
         [0028]     In a further embodiment, printer portal  106  further includes an access module for controlling access to functionality and documents stored on printer portal  106 . Access module may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination thereof. The access module controls access by a user of telephonic device  102  to storage and functionality on printer portal  106  using one or more of a number of identification mechanisms, e.g., password request, user identifier and password verification, voiceprint recognition, etc. In a further specific embodiment, a user requesting access of access-controlled functionality or storage of printer portal  106  is challenged to provide an appropriate response. In an alternative embodiment, user voice command input itself is monitored in order to determine access ability of a particular user.  
         [0029]     In a non-limiting example, a user may use a keyboard attached to another computer such as server  114  to transmit a document  112  to a print queue at printer portal  106 . Transmission and/or storage of document  112  to the printer portal print queue may require the user to have permission to print to the printer portal or require the user to submit a password to be required later in order to allow the user to request printing of the document  112  at the printer portal. After document  112  is transmitted to the printer portal print queue, the user uses telephonic device  102  to provide voice command input including a document identifier and, for example, a password via network  104  to request printing of document  112  stored at printer portal  106 . After printer portal  106  verifies the password, the printing device  108  formats and prints document  112 .  
         [0030]     Additionally, a server  114 , e.g., a computer system (described below in conjunction with  FIG. 5 ), or other similar device, connects to communication network  104  and stores a document  112  in memory  506  or storage device  510  ( FIG. 5 ). More than one telephonic device  102 , printer portal  106 , server  114 , and network  104  may be interconnected; however, for clarity only one of each element is described. Further, as described below, document  112  is able to be stored at printer portal  106  and/or server  114 .  
         [0031]     A phone number is assigned to both telephonic device  102  and printer portal  106  enabling communication network  104  to transfer communication between the telephonic device and the printer portal. Telephonic device  102  is configured to enable transmission of audio communication, e.g., user voice command input, to a phone number of communication network  104  and receive audio communication from the phone number. For example, telephonic device  102  receives and audibly transmits sound prompts to the user, e.g., using a text-to-speech engine.  
         [0032]     Additionally, printer portal  106  is configured to transmit request messages, e.g., hypertext transport protocol (HTTP) request messages, file transfer protocol (FTP) messages, etc., and receive reply messages to/from server  114  using communication network  104 . In this manner, printer portal  106  is able to request document  112  from server  114  by transmitting a request message to the server and receiving the document from the server over communication network  104 . After receipt of document  112 , printer portal  106  proceeds to format and print the received document.  
         [0033]     Server  114 , e.g., a web server, a file server, or other similar devices, has a network address, e.g., www.hp.com, 192.168.1.23, etc., accessible via communication network  104 . Server  114  stores a document  112 , e.g., a word processing document, a spreadsheet, a web page, or other printable file. Server  114  is assigned a network address, e.g., an IP address, a uniform resource location (URL), etc.  
         [0034]      FIG. 3  depicts another message flow diagram  300  of another embodiment according to the present invention where telephony system  110  is an IVR system. Similar to  FIG. 2  described above, a user of telephonic device  102  initiates a voice call  202  with printer portal  106 . Printer portal  106  audibly provides a menu of available services to telephonic device  102 .  
         [0035]     The user provides voice command input to printer portal  106  via telephonic device  102  directing printer portal  106  to print a document  112  located at server  114 . Printer portal  106  determines the location of document  112  from voice call  202  and transmits a request message  302  to server  114  via network  104 . Request message  302 , e.g., a hypertext transport protocol (HTTP) message, file transfer protocol (FTP) message, etc., includes a document identifier, e.g., a URL, identifying a document  112  located on server  114 . After receipt of request message  302 , server  114  transmits a reply message  304  including the requested document  112  identified in request message  302  to printer portal  106  via network  104 . After receipt of reply message  304 , printer portal  106  formats and prints document  112  including in reply message  304  using printing device  108 . In this manner, the user is able to use telephonic device  102  to provide a document identifier, e.g., a URL, of a document  112  to be printed to printer portal  106  where the document is located on a server  114  connected to network  104  and accessible by printer portal  106 .  
         [0036]     Printer portal  106 , depicted in  FIG. 4 , includes a bus  402  or other communication mechanism for communication information, and a processor  404  coupled with the bus for processing information. Printer portal  106  also includes a main memory  406 , such as a random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device, coupled to the bus  402  for storing data, e.g., document  112 , and instructions to be executed by processor  404 . Main memory  406  also may be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions to be executed by processor  404 . Printer portal  106  further includes a read only memory (ROM)  408  or other static storage device coupled to the bus  402  for storing static information and instructions for the processor  404 . A storage device  410 , such as a magnetic disk or optical disk, is provided and coupled to the bus  402  for storing data, and instructions.  
         [0037]     Printer portal  106  may be coupled via the bus  402  to a display  412 . A printing device  108 , as described above, is coupled to the bus  402  for receiving commands and information, e.g., document  112 , to be printed.  
         [0038]     According to an embodiment of the invention, printer portal  106  responds to input received via communication network  104  from telephonic device  102  by processor  404  executing sequences of instructions contained in main memory  406 . Such instructions may be read into main memory  406  from another readable medium, such as storage device  410 .  
         [0039]     However, the readable medium is not limited to devices such as storage device  410 . For example, the readable medium may include a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, or any other magnetic medium, a compact disc-read only memory (CD-ROM), any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a programmable read only memory (PROM), an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave embodied in an electrical, electromagnetic, infrared, or optical signal, or any other medium from which printer portal  106 , e.g., processor  404 , can read. Execution of the sequences of instructions contained in the main memory  406  causes the processor  404  to perform the process steps described below. In alternative embodiments, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement the invention. Thus, embodiments of the invention are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software.  
         [0040]     Printer portal  106  also includes a communication interface  414  coupled to the bus  402 . Communication interface  414  provides two-way data communication, e.g., digital or analog data or voice communication. For example, communication interface  414  may be a cellular communication device, an integrated services digital network (ISDN) card, a digital subscriber line (DSL) card, or a modem to provide a data communication connection to a corresponding type of telephone line. As another example, communication interface  414  may be a local area network (LAN) card to provide a data communication connection to a compatible LAN. Wireless links may also be implemented. In any such implementation, communication interface  414  sends and receives electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals which carry digital data streams representing various types of information. Of particular note, the communications through interface  414  may permit transmission or receipt of print messages, voice calls, request messages, and reply messages. For example, printer portal  106  and server  114  may be networked together in a conventional manner with each using the communication interface  414 .  
         [0041]     Network link  416  typically provides data or voice communication through one or more networks to other devices. For example, network link  416  may provide a connection through communication network  104  to telephonic device  102  or printer portal  106 . Communication network  104  uses electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals which carry data streams. The signals through the various networks and the signals on network link  416  and through communication interface  414 , which carry the data to and from printer portal  106 , are exemplary forms of carrier waves transporting the information.  
         [0042]     Printer portal  106  can send messages and receive data, including program code, through the network(s), network link  416  and communication interface  414 . The received code may be executed by processor  404  as it is received, and/or stored in storage device  410 , or other non-volatile storage for later execution. In this manner, printer portal  106  may obtain application code in the form of a carrier wave.  
         [0043]     Server  114 , depicted in  FIG. 5 , includes a bus  502  or other communication mechanism for communicating information, and a processor  504  coupled with the bus  502  for processing information. Server  114  also includes a main memory  506 , such as a random access memory or other dynamic storage device, coupled to the bus  502  for storing data, e.g., document  112 , and instructions to be executed by processor  504 . Main memory  506  also may be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions to be executed by processor  504 . Server  114  further includes a ROM  508  or other static storage device coupled to the bus  502  for storing static information and instructions for the processor  504 . A storage device  510 , such as a magnetic disk or optical disk, is provided and coupled to the bus  502  for storing data, and instructions.  
         [0044]     Server  114  may be coupled via the bus  502  to a display  512 , such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or a flat panel display. An input device  514 , including alphanumeric and function keys, is coupled to the bus  502  for communicating information and command selections to the processor  504 . Another type of user input device is cursor control  516 , such as a mouse, a trackball, or cursor direction keys for communicating direction information and command selections to processor  504  and for controlling cursor movement on the display  512 . This input device typically has two degrees of freedom in two axes, a first axis (e.g., x) and a second axis (e.g., y) allowing the device to specify positions in a plane.  
         [0045]     According to an embodiment of the invention, server  114  responds to input received via communication network  104  from telephonic device  102  by processor  504  executing sequences of instructions contained in main memory  506 . Such instructions may be read into main memory  506  from another readable medium, such as storage device  510 .  
         [0046]     However, the readable medium is not limited to devices such as storage device  510 . For example, the readable medium may include a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, or any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave embodied in an electrical, electromagnetic, infrared, or optical signal, or any other medium from which server  114  can read. Execution of the sequences of instructions contained in the main memory  506  causes the processor  504  to perform the process steps described below. In alternative embodiments, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with computer software instructions to implement the invention. Thus, embodiments of the invention are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software.  
         [0047]     Server  114  also includes a communication interface  518  coupled to the bus  502 . Communication interface  508  provides two-way data communication, e.g., digital or analog data or voice communication. For example, communication interface  518  may be a cellular communication device, an integrated services digital network (ISDN) card, a digital subscriber line (DSL) card, or a modem to provide a data communication connection to a corresponding type of telephone line. As another example, communication interface  518  may be a local area network (LAN) card to provide a data communication connection to a compatible LAN. Wireless links may also be implemented. In any such implementation, communication interface  518  sends and receives electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals which carry digital data streams representing various types of information. Of particular note, the communications through interface  518  may permit transmission or receipt of print messages, voice calls, request messages, and reply messages. For example, two or more servers  114  may be networked together in a conventional manner with each using the communication interface  518 .  
         [0048]     Network link  520  typically provides data or voice communication through one or more networks to other devices. For example, network link  520  may provide a connection through communication network  104  to telephonic device  102  or printer portal  106 . Communication network  104  uses electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals which carry data streams. The signals through the various networks and the signals on network link  520  and through communication interface  518 , which carry the data to and from server  114 , are exemplary forms of carrier waves transporting the information.  
         [0049]     Server  114  can send messages and receive data, including program code, through the network(s), network link  520  and communication interface  518 . The received code may be executed by processor  504  as it is received, and/or stored in storage device  510 , or other non-volatile storage for later execution. In this manner, server  114  may obtain application code in the form of a carrier wave.  
         [0050]     It will be readily seen by one of ordinary skill in the art that embodiments of fulfill one or more of the advantages set forth above. After reading the foregoing specification, one of ordinary skill will be able to affect various changes, substitutions of equivalents and various other aspects of the embodiments as broadly disclosed herein. It is therefore intended that the protection granted hereon be limited only by the definition contained in the appended claims and equivalents thereof.