U.S. patent application number 11/820601 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-27 for printing system, apparatus and method for automatically printing records of electronic transactions.
Invention is credited to Yuki Uchida.
Application Number | 20070299729 11/820601 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25216964 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070299729 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Uchida; Yuki |
December 27, 2007 |
Printing system, apparatus and method for automatically printing
records of electronic transactions
Abstract
A method and system for automatically printing a hard copy of
transaction information relating to a transaction conducted
electronically between a user-side and a supplier side. A control
apparatus performs an operation of identifying a selected aspect of
information regarding the electronic transaction to thereby
generate a print apparatus which is sent to a printing apparatus
which prints transaction information in response to said print
request. In addition, a printer for use with the method and system
is provided.
Inventors: |
Uchida; Yuki; (Wayne,
NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COOPER & DUNHAM, LLP
1185 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK
NY
10036
US
|
Family ID: |
25216964 |
Appl. No.: |
11/820601 |
Filed: |
June 19, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09815134 |
Mar 22, 2001 |
|
|
|
11820601 |
Jun 19, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/00 20130101;
G06Q 20/209 20130101; G06Q 10/00 20130101; G07G 5/00 20130101; G06Q
20/382 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/024 |
International
Class: |
G07G 5/00 20060101
G07G005/00 |
Claims
1-10. (canceled)
11. A system for automatically printing, without a need for user
action, a hard copy of transaction information relating to a
transaction conducted electronically between a user-side and a
supplier-side comprising: a controller configured to automatically
identify, without reliance on any user action, a selected aspect of
information regarding said electronic transaction to thereby
generate a print request; a communication circuit coupled with said
controller for communicating the print request; and a printer
coupled with said controller for printing information regarding
said electronic transaction in response to said print request.
12. The system for automatically printing of claim 11 further
comprising: a storage apparatus coupled with said controller and
configured to store the information regarding said electronic
transaction.
13. The system for automatically printing of claim 11 wherein said
controller comprises: a notification unit configured to notify of
communication between the user-side and the supplier-side; a
monitoring circuit configured to monitor the communication; a
recognizing circuit configured to automatically recognize, without
reliance on user action, a selected aspect of information regarding
the electronic transaction; a print request generator configured to
generate, when said selected aspect of information is recognized, a
print request to be sent to the printer.
14. (canceled)
15. The system for automatically printing of claim 11, wherein said
controller configured to automatically identify is at the
user-side.
16. A system for automatically printing a hard copy of transaction
information relating to a transaction conducted electronically
between a user-side and a supplier-side comprising: a controller
configured to automatically identify, without reliance on user
action, a selected aspect of information regarding said electronic
transaction to thereby generate a print request; a communication
circuit coupled with said controller for communicating the print
request via a local area network; a printer coupled with said
controller for printing information regarding said electronic
transaction in response to said print request.
17. The system for automatically printing of claim 16 further
comprising: a storage apparatus couple with said controller and
configured to store the information regarding said electronic
transaction.
18. The system for automatically printing of claim 16 wherein said
controller comprises: a notification unit configured to notify of
communication between a user-side and the supplier-side; a
monitoring circuit configured to monitor the communication; a
recognizing circuit configured to recognize, at the user-side,
without reliance on user action, a selected aspect of information
regarding the electronic transaction; a print request generator
configured to generate, when said selected aspect of information is
recognized, a print request to be sent to the printer via the local
area network.
19. (canceled)
20. A printer for automatically printing, without a need for user
action, a hard copy of transaction information relating to a
transaction conducted electronically between a user-side and a
supplier-side comprising: a receiver for receiving instructions
from a controller, wherein said controller automatically
identifies, without reliance on user action, a selected aspect of
information regarding said electronic transaction, to thereby
generate a print request to be sent to the printer; and printing
means to print information regarding said electronic transaction in
response to the print request.
21. The printer apparatus of claim 20 wherein said controller
comprises: a notification unit configured to notify of
communication between the user-side and the supplier side; a
monitoring circuit configured to monitor the communication; a
recognizing circuit configured to recognize, at the user-side,
without reliance on user action, a selected aspect of information
regarding said electronic transaction; a print request generator
configured to generate, when said selected aspect of information is
recognized, a print request to be sent to the printer.
22-23. (canceled)
24. The system of claim 11, wherein said controller monitors
electronic communication conducted between said user-side and said
supplier-side via the Internet, to identify automatically said
selected aspect of information regarding said electronic
transaction.
25. The system of claim 11, wherein said controller monitors
electronic communication conducted between said user-side and said
supplier-side via the Internet, and generates, without a need for
user action specifying, said print request.
26. The system of claim 11, wherein said selected aspect of
information regarding the electronic transaction includes invoice
information.
27. The system of claim 11, wherein said selected aspect of
information regarding the electronic transaction includes a
confirmation number.
28. The system of claim 27, wherein said information printed by
said printer in response to the print request includes said
confirmation number.
29. The system of claim 11, wherein said selected aspect of
information regarding the electronic transaction includes a
password.
30. The system of claim 11, wherein said selected aspect of
information regarding the electronic transaction is set by a
standard.
31. The system of claim 11, wherein said selected aspect of
information regarding the electronic transaction is set by
contract.
32. The system of claim 11, wherein said selected aspect of
information regarding the electronic transaction includes a print
command from the supplier-side to the user-side.
33. The system of claim 11, wherein said selected aspect of
information regarding the electronic transaction is communicated by
the supplier-side to the user-side via the Internet.
34. The system of claim 11, wherein said print request is
automatically generated by said controller and communicated by said
communication circuit to said printer, without a need for user
action specifying said print request.
Description
FIELD
[0001] This patent specification relates to a method and system for
automatically printing information relating to electronic
transactions between a user side and a supplier side based on
identification of a selected aspect of information regarding the
electronic transaction, and to a printing apparatus for
automatically printing a hard copy of transaction information
relating to a transaction conducted electronically between a user
side and a supplier side.
BACKGROUND
[0002] FIG. 1 represents a typical arrangement of customers and
suppliers engaging in transactions electronically. Various
suppliers 3 make their products and services available
electronically via supplier servers 3a. Users, or customers,
communicate electronically with the suppliers 3 using personal
computers 1 or computer terminals 2 (which can also be personal
computers) connected as part of a local area network (LAN) 4. These
personal computers 1 and computer terminals 2 generally have access
to a printing apparatus that will print data when the user requests
such printing. In the case of a personal computer 1, the printing
apparatus 6 is generally directly connected to the personal
computer, while in the case of a computer terminal 2 in a LAN 4,
the computer terminal 2 is generally connected to a shared printing
apparatus 6a via the LAN 4. Printing only takes place when a user
manually requests that data be printed.
[0003] Increasingly, customers are purchasing more and more of the
products and services they desire through suppliers making their
products available through electronic transactions performed in the
environment displayed in FIG. 1. These transactions should be
recorded and tracked in order to ensure that customers receive the
goods and services that they have purchased. Such tracking is
commonly accomplished through the generation of confirmation
numbers by the suppliers 3 which allow customers to track the
status of their purchases and serve as a confirmation that a
transaction actually took place. It is desirable necessary to
communicate such records generated by the suppliers to users so
that users can maintain a record of their electronic
transactions.
[0004] Several methods are used to communicate this information to
users presently. In one method, record information is generated,
e-mailed to the user and then manually printed by the user via a
manual direction to print the record on a printing apparatus on the
user side of the communication. In another method, the record
information is printed as result of an instruction on the supplier
side of the communication, with the paper copy of the record being
mailed to the user subsequently. Alternatively, the transaction
record can be transmitted directly to the user as part of the
information displayed on the user screen. The information can then
be printed by the user using a manual request to print the data on
the screen. The common problem shared by all of these methods, is
that they are all subject to error when either the user or supplier
fails to manually request printing of the transaction information.
If no manual request to print is made, the transaction information
may be lost and users would be left with no record of their
transaction.
SUMMARY
[0005] One object of this patent specification is to provide a
method of automatically printing transaction information regarding
a transaction conducted electronically that is not subject to
errors that may occur when a user or a supplier fails to manually
request that transaction information be printed.
[0006] Another object is to provide a system for automatically
printing a hard copy of transaction information relating to a
transaction conducted electronically that is free from the above
mentioned errors.
[0007] Yet another object is to provide a printing apparatus for
automatically printing a hard copy of transaction information
relating to a transaction conducted electronically free from the
previously described problem.
[0008] A method of automatically printing a hard copy of
transaction information relating to a transaction conducted
electronically between a user-side and a supplier-side is provided.
First a step of automatically identifying, at the user side,
without reliance on user action, a selected aspect of information
relating to the electronic transaction and thereby generating a
print request is performed. In a second step, the print request is
sent to a printing apparatus where, in a third step, the printing
apparatus prints information regarding the electronic transaction
in response to said print request.
[0009] According to a second embodiment, a system for automatically
printing a hard copy of transaction information relating to a
transaction conducted electronically between a user-side and a
supplier-side is provided. The system includes a control apparatus
for automatically identifying on a user side, without reliance on
user action, a selected aspect of information regarding the
electronic transaction and thereby generating a print request. A
communication apparatus transmits the print request to a printing
apparatus, and the printing apparatus prints information regarding
the electronic transaction in response to the print request.
[0010] A printing apparatus for automatically printing a hard copy
of transaction information relating to a transaction conducted
electronically between a user-side and a supplier-side is also
provided. The printing apparatus includes a receiver for receiving
instructions from a control apparatus, where said control apparatus
automatically identifies, without reliance on user action, a
selected aspect of information regarding said electronic
transaction and thereby generates a print request to be sent to the
printing apparatus. The printing apparatus further includes
printing means for printing transaction information regarding the
electronic transaction in response to the print request received
from the from the control apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a representation of an environment in which
electronic transactions occur.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of a
method for automatically printing transaction information regarding
a transaction conducted electronically between a user-side and a
supplier-side.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating operation of step S1 in
FIG. 2.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a system for automatically
printing a hard copy of transaction information regarding a
transaction conducted electronically between a user-side and a
supplier-side.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a block diagram demonstrating construction of a
control apparatus included as part of the system displayed in FIG.
4.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a flow chart demonstrating operation of the
control apparatus of FIG. 5.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a block diagram demonstrating construction of a
printing apparatus for automatically printing a hard copy of
transaction information regarding a transaction conducted
electronically between a user-side and a supplier-side.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] A first embodiment provides a method of automatically
printing a hard copy of transaction information relating to a
transaction conducted electronically between a user-side and a
supplier-side and is explained with reference to FIG. 2. At step
S1, a selected aspect of information relating to the electronic
transaction is identified automatically without reliance on user
action, and a print request is automatically generated thereby
without requiring a user action seeking printing. The print request
is then sent to a printing apparatus 5 at step S2. A hard copy of
the transaction information relating to the electronic transaction
is then printed by the printing apparatus 5 at step S3. Steps S1-S3
occur automatically without the need for user intervention, and
therefore, avoid any complications that may arise when a user fails
to request printing of a hard copy of transaction information.
[0019] Step S1, automatically identifying a selected aspect of
information regarding the electronic transaction and thereby
generating a print request, is further explained with reference to
FIG. 3. At step SS1 a determination is made as to whether
notification of communication between personal computer 1 and a
supplier 3 has been conveyed. The supplier 3 maintains or otherwise
has access to a server 3a allowing customers to connect
electronically to the supplier 3. A customer using a personal
computer 1 with a web browser accesses the supplier server 3a of
the supplier 3. The customer activates a "submit" function using
the web browser to submit the customer's order to the supplier 3.
Upon activation of this "submit" function, notification is made of
communication between the personal computer 1 and the supplier
server 3a. Where no notification has been provided, the process
continues to wait for notification. After notification has taken
place, the process continues to step SS2 where communication
between the personal computer 1, or user, and the supplier 3 or
supplier server 3a is monitored. At step SS3, it is determined
whether a selected aspect of information relating to the electronic
transaction sent as part of the communication is recognized. The
selected aspect of information may include but is not limited to,
for example, a confirmation number, password, or invoice
information. Any indication that transaction information desired by
a user of the personal computer 1 should be printed could be used
as the selected aspect of information. If no such recognition
occurs, monitoring continues. If recognition occurs at step SS3, a
print request is generated at step SS4. The print request may serve
to request printing of the selected aspect of information itself,
or any transaction information regarding the electronic
transaction. For example, if the selected aspect of information
recognized in step SS3 is indeed a confirmation number, printing
the confirmation number itself would be useful. If, however, the
selected aspect of information recognized in step SS3 is for
example, a standard encoded signal sent by a supplier to indicate
that transaction information should be printed, the encoded signal
itself need not be printed. In such a case, the print request would
request printing of the transaction information only.
[0020] While a preferred embodiment of a method for automatically
printing a hard copy of transaction information relating to a
transaction conducted electronically between a user side and a
supplier side is disclosed above, other examples are within the
scope of this disclosure. For example, a computer terminal 2
connected as part of a LAN 4 may be substituted for the stand-alone
personal computer 1. In such an embodiment, communication between
the computer terminal 2 and a supplier 3 or supplier terminal 3a is
monitored in order to identify the selected aspect of information.
Any print request generated is sent to a printing apparatus 6a
connected to the computer terminal 2 via the LAN 4. A step of
storing the printed information regarding the electronic
transaction in a storage apparatus 9 can be added to the above
described method. This results in both a hard and "soft" copy of
the desired transaction information being automatically
generated.
[0021] FIG. 4 demonstrates a general configuration of a system for
automatically printing a hard copy of transaction information
regarding a transaction conducted electronically between a user
side and a supplier side.
[0022] A user uses a personal computer 1 to establish communication
with a supplier 3 or supplier terminal 3a electronically. Control
apparatus 5 monitors communications between the user and supplier
and attempts to automatically identify, without relying on user
action, a selected aspect of information relating to the electronic
transaction and thereby generate a print request. The control
apparatus 5 then sends the print request to the printing apparatus
6 via a communication apparatus. The printing apparatus 6 prints
transaction information regarding the electronic transaction. Using
the above system, transaction records are printed without user
intervention whenever an electronic transaction is made. Hence, the
problems associated with user or supplier failure to request
printing of transaction records are avoided.
[0023] In order to facilitate interaction between the control unit
5, printing apparatus 6 and communication with suppliers 3 it may
be useful for printing apparatus manufacturers and the suppliers 3
to establish a contractual relationship as indicated in FIG. 4. In
this manner, the selected aspect of transaction information to be
automatically identified so that a print request may be generated
can be mutually agreed upon or standardized.
[0024] FIG. 5 represents a block diagram of the control apparatus 5
included in FIG. 4. Notification apparatus 10 is notified that
communication is occurring between the personal computer 1 and a
supplier 3. Notification apparatus 10 is connected between a
customer using personal computer 1 and the server 3a of the
supplier 3. When the submit function of the web browser on the
personal computer 1 is activated as described above, the
notification apparatus 10 identifies and receives a "post" command
sent from the personal computer 1 to the server of the supplier 3a
indicating posting of the customer's order to the supplier 3 and
providing notification of communication between supplier and
customer. The notification apparatus 10 can then cache the html
data sent by the supplier server 3a of the supplier 3 to the
personal computer 1 of the customer. Upon notification, monitoring
apparatus 11 monitors the communication including the data cached
in the notification apparatus and recognizing apparatus 12
recognizes a selected aspect of information relating to the
electronic transaction. Only when such recognition occurs, does
generating apparatus 13 generate a print request. The control
apparatus operates without a need for user intervention, and
therefore produces a print request whenever a selected aspect of
information is identified regardless of whether a user manually
makes such a print request.
[0025] The selected aspect of information regarding the electronic
transaction may include, but is not limited to, for example a
confirmation number, password, or invoice information. The selected
aspect of information identified by the control apparatus 5 need
not itself be printed. Where the selected aspect of information is,
for example, a confirmation number, it would be desirable to create
a hard copy of the confirmation number. However, any data or signal
that can be recognized and indicates that desired transaction
information should be printed can be used as the selected aspect of
information recognized by the control apparatus S. Where the
selected aspect of information is, for example, merely a standard
encoded signal used by the supplier to indicate that desired
transaction information should be printed, there is no need to
print the actual encoded signal, only the desired information.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a flow chart representing an operation of the
control apparatus 5 which is substantially that of the identifying
step S1 as described in FIG. 3 and therefore, the description of
that operation will not be repeated.
[0027] The preferred embodiment of a system for automatically
printing a hard copy of transaction information relating to a
transaction conducted electronically between a user-side and a
supplier-side has been described above, but the disclosure is not
limited to this embodiment. The personal computer 1 may be replaced
by a computer terminal 2 serving as part of a LAN 4. In such a
case, the printing apparatus 6a is connected to the computer
terminal 2 via the LAN 4. In addition, the control unit 5 can
monitor communications between the computer terminal 5 and the
supplier 3 via the LAN 4 and sends the print request to printing
apparatus 6a via the LAN 4. Another embodiment of an automatic
printing system includes a storage apparatus 9 in which the
transaction information to be printed can also be stored. In such
an embodiment, both a hard and "soft" copy the transaction
information are automatically generated without need for user
interaction. The storage apparatus can be directly connected to the
personal computer 1 or connected to the computer terminal 2 via the
LAN 4.
[0028] FIG. 7 is a block diagram representative of a printing
apparatus for automatically printing a hard copy of transaction
information relating to a transaction conducted electronically
between a user side and a supplier side according to one embodiment
of the present invention. The printing apparatus is of the type
likely to be used in the above described system for automatically
printing a hard copy of transaction information. The printing
apparatus includes a receiver 7 for receiving directions from a
control apparatus 5 and printing means 8. Control apparatus 5,
automatically identifies without reliance on user action, a
selected aspect of information regarding the electronic transaction
and thereby generates a print request to be sent to the printing
apparatus 6 and received by the receiver 7. The printing apparatus
then prints information regarding the electronic transaction using
printing means 8.
[0029] Control apparatus 5 is analogous to the control apparatus
shown in FIG. 5 and operates according to the method described in
FIG. 3. Therefore, the description of the construction and
operation of control apparatus 5 of the printing apparatus will not
be repeated.
[0030] In an alternative embodiment, the user can use a computer
terminal 2 connected as part of a LAN 4 to communicate with the
suppliers 3. In such an embodiment, the print request from the
control apparatus is sent from the control apparatus 5 to the
printing apparatus via the LAN 4. Th printing apparatus is
represented by printing apparatus 6a in FIG. 1, but can have the
same construction and operation as described above. A difference
would be that directions from the control apparatus 5 received by
the receiver 7 would be communicated via the LAN 4 rather than a
direct connection.
[0031] Several embodiments have been described above, however, it
should be clear to one skilled in the art that variations
encompassed by the appended claims are possible and such variations
are intended to be included in the scope and spirit of this
invention.
* * * * *