Method and apparatus for printing remote images using a mobile device and printer
View Patent ↗Techniques are disclosed for coupling a printer to a mobile communications device (such as a cellular telephone), downloading printing information (such as a digital image) to the printer over a wireless network through the mobile communications device, and using the printer to print output based on the printing information. A user may use the mobile communications device to connect to a printing server that serves the printing information. Prior to transmission of the printing information to the printer, the printing server may process the printing information to tailor the printing information based on the capabilities of the printer. The printing server may communicate with the printer using one or more printing protocols. The printer may be equipped with a controller for communicating according to the printing protocol.
1. A method comprising steps of:
(A) in response to completion of a transaction by a user with a transaction service over a first wireless network using a mobile communications device, transmitting printing information over a second wireless network wherein the mobile communications device has a first mode of operation in which the mobile communications device operates as a wireless telephone and a second mode of operation in which the mobile communication device operates as a modem and wherein the user completes the transaction while the mobile communications device is operating in the first mode of operation, and
(B) placing a telephone call to the mobile communication device to establish a connection to mobile communication device and to place the mobile communication device in the second mode of operation in preparation for receiving printing information transmitted over the second wireless network and, while the mobile communication device is operating in the second mode of operation, receiving the printing information from a port of the mobile communications device; and
(C) printing the printing information.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step (A) comprises steps of:
(A)(1) at a printing server, transmitting the printing information to the transaction service; and
(A)(2) transmitting the printing information to the mobile communications device.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step (A) comprises a step of:
(A)(1) at a printing server, transmitting the printing information to the mobile communications device.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the placing of a telephone call to the mobile communication device in step (B) is performed by the printing server.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the placing of a telephone call to the mobile communication device in step (B) is performed by the transaction service.
6. A system for printing remote digital images from the Internet using a mobile wireless communication device and a printer, the system comprising:
a server on the Internet, accessible via a wireless communications network, operable to provide web site information, including web based digital images, and image printing information for such images selected by a user for down loading; the web site information and the image printing information having different protocols allowing the web site and image printing information to be transmitted and received together without interfering with each other;
a mobile wireless communication device being operable in user selected modes including a voice mode for voice communications and an Internet mode for accessing the Internet server to obtain web site and image printing information, the mobile wireless communication device being operable by the user in the Internet mode to access web sites, select an image on a web site and send a PRINT command to the server to initiate downloading of image printing information together with current web site information, the mobile wireless communication device also including a port which echoes both web site and image printing information; and
a printer for printing a selected image in accordance with its image printing information, said printer including a controller having a printer port connected to the port of the mobile wireless communication device, the controller being configured to monitor and receive image printing information from the mobile wireless communication device which continues to operate in its Internet mode;
whereby such continued operation in the Internet mode allows the user to access web sites without interruption during image printing operations by the printer.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the server including means for processing a selected image so that its image printing information is compatible with characteristics of the printer, and the printer includes means for sending printer characteristic to the server though the mobile wireless communication device upon receive a request for such characteristics information from the server.
8. A method for printing remote digital images from the Internet using a mobile wireless communication device and a printer, the system comprising the steps of:
providing a server on the Internet, accessible via a wireless communications network, being operable to provide web site information, including web based digital images, and image printing information for such images selected by a user for down loading; the web site information and the image printing information having different protocols allowing the web site and image printing information to be transmitted and received together without interfering with each other;
providing a mobile wireless communication device being operable in user selected modes including a voice mode for voice communications and an Internet mode for accessing the Internet server to obtain web site and image printing information, the mobile wireless communication device being operable by the user in the Internet mode to access web sites, select an image on a web site and send a PRINT command to the server to initiate downloading of image printing information together with current web site information, the mobile wireless communication device also including a port which echoes both web site and image printing information; and
providing a printer for printing a selected image in accordance with its image printing information, said printer including a controller having a printer port connected to the port of the mobile wireless communication device, the controller being configured to monitor and receive image printing information from the mobile wireless communication device which continues to operate in its Internet mode;
whereby such continued operation in the Internet mode allows the user to access web sites without interruption during image printing operations by the printer.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the server including means for processing a selected image so that its image printing information is compatible with characteristics of the printer, and the printer includes means for sending printer characteristic to the server though the mobile wireless communication device upon receive a request for such characteristics information from the server.