IP Library Granted Patent US 7,180,616
Granted Patent B2
US 7,180,616 · App. 09/769,530 · Granted Feb 20, 2007

Printing system and printing method using the printing system

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,180,616
App. No.
09/769,530
Granted
Feb 20, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

It is an exemplified object of the present invention to provide a printing system for printing a Web page and printing method using the printing method that can initiates printing without requiring long wait after a print command is transmitted. The printing method as one exemplified embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of: a computer creating a print control number and print format information of a Web page that is provided from a WWW server, wherein the computer including a WWW browser through the Web page is viewed and monitored; the computer transmitting to a printer connected to the computer print information that includes the print control number and the print format information; the printer converting data of the Web page into imaging data; the printer storing the print control number and the imaging data in a memory in the printer; and in response to a print execution command from the computer, the printer printing specific imaging data corresponding to a specific print control number, wherein the specific imaging data is specified by the print execution command among the imaging data stored in the memory.

Claims (47)

1. A printing method comprising:

creating a print control number and print format information of a Web page at a computer, the Web page being provided from a WWW server, and the computer having a WWW browser, the Web page being viewed and monitored;

transmitting print information having the print control number and the print format information to a printer;

converting data of the Web page into imaging data at the printer;

storing the print information and the image data being connected to each other in a memory of the printer, the image data being specified by the print control number; and

printing the image data stored in the memory of the printer by executing a print command from the computer, the image data being specified by the print control number.

2. A printing method according to claim 1 , wherein the print information includes an address of the Web page, and the printer accesses the Web page and obtains the data of the Web page.

3. A printing method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

judging whether the data of the Web page being updated or not; and

notifying a result of the judging to a user.

4. A printing method according to claim 1 , further comprising deleting the print information and the image data stored in the memory of the printer, when the WWW browser is closed.

5. A printing method according to claim 1 , further comprising receiving the data of the Web page when the imaging data corresponding to the print execution command is not stored in the memory.

6. A computer comprising:

a memory including a WWW browser and a monitoring program; and

a control portion that is connected with the memory and operates according to the monitoring program,

wherein the monitoring program simultaneously starts operation with a launching of the WWW browser;

wherein the monitoring program monitors a Web page, and creates a print control number and print format information of the Web page; and

wherein the control portion transmits print information including the print control number and the print format information created by the monitoring program to a printer connected with the computer.

7. A printing system comprising a computer, a printer, and a network that connects the computer and the printer,

wherein the computer comprises:

a memory including a WWW browser and a monitoring program; and

a control portion that is connected with the memory and operates according to the monitoring program,

wherein the monitoring program simultaneously starts operation with a launching of the WWW browser;

wherein the monitoring program monitors a Web page, and creates a print control number and print format information of the Web page; and

wherein the control portion transmits print information including the print control number and the print format information created by the monitoring program to a printer connected with the computer, and

wherein the printer comprises:

a control portion that accesses a Web page based upon an address of the Web page that is provided from outside, obtains data, and converts the data into imaging data;

a memory that stores the imaging data; and

an image-forming portion that prints the imaging data in response to a print execution command that is provided from outside and specifies the imaging data.

8. A printing method according to claim 1 , further comprising creating the print control number and the print format information of a file displayed on the WWW browser by an application that is designed specifically for displaying the file and installed in the computer.

9. A printing method according to claim 8 , wherein application-to-application configuration as to whether to carry out a read-ahead printing is possible.

10. A printing method according to claim 8 , wherein configuration as to whether to carry out a read-ahead printing may be made for each file that the application opens.

11. A storage medium readable by a computer, the storage medium storing a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform a function for printing, the function comprising:

creating a print control number and print format information of a Web page that is provided from a WWW server, wherein the computer including a WWW browser through which the Web page is viewed and monitored;

the computer transmitting to a printer connected to the computer print information that includes the print control number and the print format information;

the printer converting data of the Web page into imaging data;

the printer storing the print control number and the imaging data in a memory in the printer; and

in response to a print execution command from the computer, the printer printing specific imaging data corresponding to a specific print control number, wherein the specific imaging data is specified by the print execution command among the imaging data stored in the memory.

12. A printing method according to claim 1 , wherein the image data to be printed is specified with the print control number from the computer or by inputting the print control number into the printer directly.

13. A printing method according to claim 1 , wherein the print format information can be changed by a user before the image data is printed.

14. A printing method comprising:

creating a print control number and print format information of a Web page at a computer, the Web page being provided from a WWW server and the computer having a WWW browser, the Web page is viewed by a user;

monitoring the Web page;

transmitting print information having the print control number and the print format information to a printer;

previously converting data of the Web page into imaging data at the printer; and

storing the print information and the image data being connected to each other in a memory of the printer, the image data being specified by the print control number, printing the image data stored in the memory of the printer by executing a print command from the computer, the image data being specified by the print control number,

wherein a process of monitoring starts with a launching of the WWW browser.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 27, 2003
From: FUJITSU LIMITED
To: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 013877/0741 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2001
From: MIYOSHI, TAKAHIRO; IGA, KENJI; SAWADA, KENJI; TAKAHASHI, SHINICHI
To: FUJITSU LIMITED
Reel/Frame 011481/0357 →