Method and apparatus for printing remote images using a network-enabled printer
Techniques are disclosed for coupling a printer to a communications network (such as the a Plain Old Telephone Service network), downloading printing information (such as a digital image) to the printer over the communications network, and using the printer to print output based on the printing information. A user may use the printer 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. Downloads of printing information to the printer may be interrupted and subsequently resumed from the point of interruption.
1. A method for downloading and printing information stored on a remote print server that is accessible by a modem equipped printer via a POTS telephone line which is shared with a user's voice communications telephone having call waiting service enabled, said method comprising steps of:
(A) initiating a connection between the printer and a printing server over a POTS telephone network by dialing a telephone number associated the printer server;
(B) at the printer, performing steps of:
(1) downloading printing information from the printing server through the connection; and
(2) printing the printing information
(C) interrupting step (B) (1) if an interrupting signal is detected on the connection between the printing server and the printer including terminating the connection with the print server when an interrupting call waiting signal is detected thereby allowing the user to establish a voice conversation with a party associated with the call waiting signal;
(D) following the termination of the voice conversation, automatically re-establishing a connection between the printing server and the printer; and
(E) at the printer, resuming download of the printing information from the printing server through the re-established connection.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the printing information comprises processed printing information, and wherein the method further comprises a step of:
(F) prior to the step (B), modifying source printing information based on capabilities of the printer to produce the processed printing information.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the printing information comprises a graphical image, and wherein the step (B)(2) comprises a step of printing the graphical image on an output medium.