IP Library Granted Patent US 8,145,265
Granted Patent B2
US 8,145,265 · App. 12/330,620 · Granted Mar 27, 2012

Method and system for producing hard copies of electronic information employing a portable personal receiving device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,145,265
App. No.
12/330,620
Granted
Mar 27, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for producing hard copies of electronic information employing a portable personal receiving device includes the steps of selecting information to print and utilizing the receiving device to identify available printers based on the location of the receiving device for printing the selected information in hard copy form. The portable receiving device is connected to one of the available printers and the selected information is printed in hard copy form. A system for producing hard copies of electronic information employing a portable personal receiving device includes a portable receiving device having a program enabling selection of information to print. The portable device includes a program to identify available printers based on the location of the receiving device. A communications link connects the portable receiving device to an available printer. The receiving device may be a cell phone and global positioning satellite functionality and/or cell phone tower positions may be employed to determine the location of the receiving device.

Claims (47)

1. A method for producing hard copies of electronic information employing a portable personal receiving device comprising the steps of:

selecting information to print;

utilizing said receiving device to identify available printers based on the location of said receiving device for printing said selected information in hard copy form;

connecting said portable receiving device to one of said available printers to print said selected information in hard copy form; and

printing said selected information in hard copy form,

wherein said receiving device connects to said one of said available printers through the Internet.

2. The method for producing hard copies of electronic information employing a portable personal receiving device as defined in claim 1 wherein the receiving device is a personal digital assistant.

3. The method for producing hard copies of electronic information employing a portable personal receiving device as defined in claim 1 wherein the personal portable device is a cell phone.

4. The method for producing hard copies of electronic information received by a portable personal receiving device as defined in claim 1 wherein a complete communication is received by said portable device.

5. The method for producing hard copies of electronic information received by a portable personal receiving device as defined in claim 1 wherein said selected information is a complete communication and a portion of said complete communication are sequentially received by said portable device and passed through said receiving device enroute to said one of said available printers until said complete communication is printed.

6. The method for producing hard copies of electronic information employing a portable personal receiving device as defined in claim 1 wherein a notification of a complete communication is received by said portable device and said selected information is said complete communication and wherein said step of connecting said receiving device to said printer is by said receiving device implementing a remote transfer of said complete communication to said one of said available printers.

7. The method for producing hard copies of electronic information employing a portable personal receiving device as defined in claim 1 wherein said receiving device uses global positioning satellites to determine location of said receiving device with respect to said available printers.

8. The method for producing hard copies of electronic information employing a portable personal receiving device as defined in claim 1 wherein the locations of said available printers are known to a user of said receiving device.

9. The method for producing hard copies of electronic information employing a portable personal receiving device as defined in claim 1 wherein said receiving device connects to said one of said available printers through a WiFi type wireless communication and wherein said one of said available printers is a local network printer.

10. The method for producing hard copies of electronic information employing a portable personal receiving device as defined in claim 1 wherein said receiving device connects to said one of said available printers through a Bluetooth type local wireless communication.

11. The method for producing hard copies of electronic information employing a portable personal receiving device as defined in claim 1 wherein said receiving device connects to said one of said available printers through a hardwired connection.

12. A method for producing hard copies of electronic information employing a portable personal receiving device comprising the steps of:

selecting information to print;

utilizing said receiving device to identify available printers based on the location of said receiving device for printing said selected information in hard copy form;

connecting said portable receiving device to one of said available printers to print said selected information in hard copy form; and

printing said selected information in hard copy form,

wherein said receiving device uses cell phone tower positions to determine location of said receiving device with respect to said available printers.

13. The method for producing hard copies of electronic information employing a portable personal receiving device comprising the steps of:

selecting information to print;

utilizing said receiving device to identify available printers based on the location of said receiving device for printing said selected information in hard copy form;

connecting said portable receiving device to one of said available printers to print said selected information in hard copy form; and

printing said selected information in hard copy form,

wherein said receiving device connects to said one of said available printers through a cell phone tower.

14. A method for producing hard copies of electronic information employing a portable personal receiving device comprising the steps of:

selecting information to print;

utilizing said receiving device to identify available printers based on the location of said receiving device for printing said selected information in hard copy form;

connecting said portable receiving device to one of said available printers to print said selected information in hard copy form; and

printing said selecting information in hard copy form,

wherein global position satellite location information is combined with directory information to determine said available printers within a determined distance of the location of said receiving device.

15. A method for producing hard copies of electronic information employing a portable personal receiving device comprising the steps of:

selecting information to print;

utilizing said receiving device to identify available printers based on the location of said receiving device for printing said selected information in hard copy form;

connecting said portable receiving device to one of said available printers to print said selected information in hard copy form; and

printing said selecting information in hard copy form,

wherein an authentication code is utilized to prevent said printing until said authentication code is entered into said printer,

wherein said receiving device communicates said authentication code to said printer, and

wherein said authentication code is a barcode communicated by said receiving device to said printer.

16. A system for producing hard copies of electronic information employing a portable personal receiving device comprising:

a portable receiving device having a program enabling selection information to print;

said portable device having a program to identify available printers based on the location of said receiving device; and

a communications link for connecting said portable receiving device to an available printer,

wherein said portable device contains a program for generation of an authentication barcode which when communicated to said printer enables said printer to print selected information.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 19, 2025
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: PITNEY BOWES, INC.
Reel/Frame 070256/0396 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2025
From: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
To: PITNEY BOWES, INC.
Reel/Frame 070154/0532 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2023
From: PITNEY BOWES, INC.; PITNEY BOWES GLOBAL LOGISTICS LLC
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 064444/0313 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 1, 2019
From: PITNEY BOWES INC.; NEWGISTICS, INC.; BORDERFREE, INC.; TACIT KNOWLEDGE, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 050905/0640 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2008
From: PAWLECKI, J. BRENT; QUINE, DOUGLAS B.
To: PITNEY BOWES INC.
Reel/Frame 021942/0465 →