Printer driver system for remote printing
The present invention is concerned with providing a computer printer system which is particularly adapted for printing to a remote printer in a client-server environment. In the practice of the present invention, a universal printer driver is installed on the host server which creates a compressed, transmittable file that can be interpreted and printed by any printing device. This eliminates the need for a myriad of printer drivers being installed on the host server and increases speed and efficiency of print file processing by decreasing the need for bandwidth. The system results in faster, more convenient and more reliable printing to remote printers in a client-server arrangement.
1. A server for connection to a client via a network; said client operable to transmit user-input to said server over said network and to receive user-output from said server over said network; said server comprising:
a network interface for connection to said network;
a processor coupled to said interface; said processor operable to remotely host execution of an application for said client; said application for receiving said user-input for said client from said network and for generating said user-output for transmission to said client over said network; said processor further operable to generate a universal printer file from said application based on a request for a file to be printed that is embedded in said user-input; said processor further operable to transmit said universal printer file over said network.
2. The server of claim 1 wherein said universal printer file is generated according to the Adobe Acrobat portable document format (“PDF”).
3. The server of claim 1 wherein said server and said client run cooperating versions of Citrix MetaFrame; and wherein said user-input, said user-output and said universal printer file are carried over said network via Citrix MetaFrame.
4. The server of claim 1 wherein said network includes at least one of a local area network; a wide area network and the Internet.
5. The server of claim 1 wherein said universal printer file is carried over said network to said client via email.
6. The server of claim 1 wherein said universal printer file is transmitted to said client for printing at a printer locally connected to said client; said client operable to interpret said universal printer file for said printer via a universal print file reader in cooperation wit a local printer driver complementary to said printer.
7. The server of claim 6 wherein said universal printer file is generated according to the Adobe Acrobat portable document format (“PDF”).
8. The server of claim 7 wherein said universal print file reader is Adobe Acrobat Reader.
9. A client-server computer system comprising:
a client operable to transmit user-input over a network and to receive user-output over said network;
a server connected to said client via said network; said server operable to remotely host execution of an application for said client; said application for receiving said user-input from said network and for generating said user-output for transmission to said client over said network; said server further operable to generate a universal printer file from said application based on a request for a file to be printed that is embedded in said user-input and to transmit said universal printer file to said client over said network;
said client further operable to receive said universal printer file; said client including a universal print file reader operable to interpret said universal printer file into a local printer file in cooperation with a local printer driver; and
a printer complementary to said local printer driver for connection to said client, said printer operable to print a document from said local printer file.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein said universal printer file is generated according to the Adobe Acrobat portable document format (“PDF”).
11. The system of claim 9 wherein said server and said client run cooperating versions of Citrix MetaFrame; and said user-input; said user-output and said universal printer file are carried over said network via Citrix MetaFrame.
12. The system of claim 9 wherein said network includes at least one of a local area network; a wide area network and the Internet.
13. The system of claim 9 wherein said universal printer file is carried over said network to said client via email.
14. A method of printing comprising:
receiving at a server a request for a file to be printed that is embedded in a user-input from a client remotely connected to said server via a network;
processing said print request at said server by corresponding said print request to an application hosted on said server in behalf of said client;
locating a universal printer driver on said server;
creating a universal printer from said application using said universal printer driver; and,
sending said universal printer file to said client over said network.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein said universal printer file is generated according to the Adobe Acrobat portable document format (“PDF”).
16. The method of claim 14 wherein said server and said client run cooperating versions of Citrix MetaFrame; and said print request and said universal printer file are carried over said network via Citrix MetaFrame.
17. The method of claim 14 wherein said network includes at least one of a local area network; a wide area network and the Internet.
18. The method of claim 14 wherein said universal printer file is sent from said server over said network to said client via email.
19. The method of claim 14 wherein said sending step includes transmitting said universal printer file to said client and said method further includes the steps of:
receiving said universal printer file at said client;
interpreting said universal printer file for a printer locally attached to said client;
printing said interpreted universal printer file at a printer locally connected to said client.
20. The method of claim 14 wherein said universal printer file is generated according to the Adobe Acrobat portable document format (“PDF”).