Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Communication
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-22
2003-02-11
Coles, Edward (Department: 2722)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Communication
C358S001900, C358S001150, C358S400000, C358S518000, C358S001140
Reexamination Certificate
active
06519049
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique of transferring print data from one computer to another computer in a computer network, to which a plurality of computers are connected.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a known print data transfer system, print data is transmitted from a certain transmitter computer connected to a computer network to a receiver computer connected to the same computer network, so that a printer connected to the receiver computer (that is, a network printer) prints the contents of the transmitted print data.
The network printer may be connected directly with the receiver computer, connected indirectly with the receiver computer via another computer network, or integrated with the receiver computer.
In the prior art print data transfer system, it is generally necessary to install a printer driver exclusively provided for a network printer in the transmitter computer, in order to cause the network printer to print the contents of the print data. When there are a plurality of network printers available for printing, a plurality of printer drivers exclusively provided for the respective network printers should be installed in the transmitter computer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is thus to provide a print data transfer system that enables a printer connected to a receiver computer to print a color image based on the print data transmitted from a transmitter computer via a computer network, even if a printer driver exclusively provided for the printer has not been installed in the transmitter computer, as well as to provide a method of transferring print data and a computer program product for actualizing the method.
At least part of the above and the other related objects is realized by a first print data transfer system includes: a first computer; a second computer connected to the first computer via a computer network; and a printer which is connected to the second computer and prints contents represented by print data. In the first print data transfer system, the first computer includes a first memory that stores the print data, a first transmission unit that executes transmission of the print data, an input device, a display device, and a first controller that controls operation of the first computer. The second computer includes a second memory that stores user interface data, which is used to display a user interface for allowing a user to input print settings information for the printer, a second transmission unit that executes transmission of the user interface data, and a second controller that controls operation of the second computer. In the first print data transfer system, the first controller causes the first transmission unit to send an instruction for starting a transmission process of the print data to the second computer when receiving the instruction for starting the transmission process via the input device. The second controller reads the user interface data from the second memory and causes the second transmission unit to send the user interface data to the first computer when receiving the instruction for starting the transmission process via the second transmission unit. The first controller causes the display device to display the user interface for allowing the user to input print settings information based on the user interface data when receiving the user interface data via the first transmission unit. The first controller reads the print data from the first memory and causes the first transmission unit to send the print data and the print settings information, which is to be used in a printing process by the printer, to the second computer when receiving the print settings information and a transmission instruction of the print data via the input device. The second controller causes the printer to print the contents represented by the print data according to the print settings information when receiving the print data and the print settings information via the second transmission unit.
The present invention is also directed to a first transmitter for transmitting print data to a receiver, which is connected to a printer, via a computer network. The transmitter includes: a memory that stores the print data; a transmission unit that executes transmission of the print data; an input device; a display device; and a controller that controls operation of the transmitter. In the first transmitter, the controller causes the transmission unit to send an instruction for starting a transmission process of the print data to the receiver when receiving the instruction for starting the transmission process via the input device. The controller causes the display device to display user interface for allowing a user to input print settings information for the printer based on user interface data when receiving the user interface data transmitted from the receiver via the transmission unit. The controller reads the print data from the memory and causes the transmission unit to send the print data and the print settings information, which is to be used in a printing process by the printer, to the receiver when receiving the print settings information and a transmission instruction of the print data via the input device.
The present invention is further directed to a first receiver, which is connected to a printer, for receiving print data from a transmitter via a computer network. The receiver includes: a memory that stores user interface data, which is used to display a user interface for allowing a user to input print settings information for the printer; a transmission unit that executes transmission of the user interface data; and a controller that controls operation of the receiver. In the first receiver, the controller reads the user interface data from the memory and causes the transmission unit to send the user interface data to the transmitter when receiving the instruction for starting the transmission process from the transmitter via the transmission unit. The controller causes the printer to print the contents represented by the print data according to the print settings information when receiving the print data and the print settings information, which is to be used in a printing process by the printer, transmitted from via the transmission unit.
The present invention is also directed to a first method of transferring print data, which represents contents to be printed, from a first computer including at least a display device to a second computer, which is connected to a printer, via a computer network. The first method includes the steps of: (a) causing the first computer to transmit an instruction for starting a transmission process to the second computer, when the first computer receives the instruction for starting the transmission process of the print data; (b) causing the second computer to transmit user interface data, which is used to display a user interface for allowing a user to input print settings information for the printer, to the first computer, when the second computer receives the instruction for starting the transmission process; (c) causing the display device to display the user interface for allowing the user to input print settings information based on the user interface data, when the first computer receives the user interface data; (d) causing the first computer to transmit the print data and the print settings information, which is to be used in a printing process by the printer, to the second computer, when the first computer receives the print settings information and a transmission instruction of the print data; and (e) causing the printer to print the contents represented by the print data according to the print settings information, when the second computer receives the print data and the print settings information.
The present invention is also directed to a first computer program product that causes a computer including at least a display device to transmit print data to a receiver, which is connected to a pr
Coles Edward
Ghee Ashanti
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
Seiko Epson Corporation
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