U.S. patent application number 12/783775 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-02 for system and method for printing books by book identification.
Invention is credited to Marianne L. Kodimer, Amir Shahindoust, Peter HN TRAN.
Application Number | 20100220360 12/783775 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34808357 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100220360 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TRAN; Peter HN ; et
al. |
September 2, 2010 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRINTING BOOKS BY BOOK IDENTIFICATION
Abstract
A system and method for efficiently copying books. According to
the system and method, a user inputs a book identification into a
peripheral device to cause the peripheral device to access an
electronic version of the book. Upon so accessing, the peripheral
is adapted to print the electronic version as specified. The book
identification may be any suitable identification, such as a book
ISBN number, a bar code, a title, etc.
Inventors: |
TRAN; Peter HN; (Garden
Grove, CA) ; Kodimer; Marianne L.; (Huntington Beach,
CA) ; Shahindoust; Amir; (Laguna Niguel, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TUCKER ELLIS & WEST LLP
1150 HUNTINGTON BUILDING, 925 EUCLID AVENUE
CLEVELAND
OH
44115-1414
US
|
Family ID: |
34808357 |
Appl. No.: |
12/783775 |
Filed: |
May 20, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10770612 |
Feb 2, 2004 |
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12783775 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
358/1.16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 707/99936 20130101;
G06F 16/93 20190101; Y10S 707/99943 20130101; G06K 15/005 20130101;
G03G 15/5075 20130101; G03G 2215/00109 20130101; Y10S 707/99933
20130101; G06K 15/02 20130101; G03G 15/502 20130101; G06Q 30/0633
20130101; G06K 17/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
358/1.16 |
International
Class: |
G06F 15/00 20060101
G06F015/00 |
Claims
1. A system, implemented through a peripheral device, for printing
electronic files comprising: a document processing device including
a printer and a user interface; an identification receiving unit
operable to receive data representative of book identification
information via the user interface; a processor included in the
document processing device operable to search for an electronic
file in an associated local storage device and a remote storage
device responsive to the received book identification information,
the electronic file being representative of at least one selected
book; the processor further operable to generate a thumbnail image
on the user interface corresponding to at least a cover portion of
the electronic file; an input unit operable to receive user
confirmation input via the user interface corresponding to
acceptance of the electronic file in accordance with the thumbnail
image; and the processor further operable to prepare the electronic
file for printing thereafter and commence a print operation of at
least one page of the electronic file by the printer in response to
the acceptance in the input unit.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further operable
to sequentially search the local storage device and the remote
storage device responsive to the received book identification
information.
3. The system of claim 1 further comprising: an input operable to
receive, from an associated user via the user interface, data
corresponding to at least one page number representative of a
user-selected set of pages of a hard copy book corresponding to the
book identification information for reproduction via the document
processing device; and wherein the processor is further operable to
commence the print operation from the electronic file for the
selected set of pages.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the thumbnail image includes
publication data corresponding to a publication of a hard copy book
corresponding to the book identification information.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the identification receiving unit
includes a keypad input operable to receive numeric data
corresponding to an ISBN identifier of a publication corresponding
to the book identification information.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the identification receiving unit
includes a scanner operable to scan visible indicia on a hard copy
publication corresponding to the book identification
information.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the visible indicia includes a bar
code, and wherein the scanner is further operable as a bar code
reader.
8. A method, implemented through a peripheral device, for printing
electronic files comprising: receiving data representative of book
identification information via a user interface of an associated
document processing device; searching, via a processor of the
associated document processing device, for an electronic file in an
associated local storage device and a remote storage device
responsive to the received book identification information, the
electronic file being representative of at least one selected book;
generating, via the processor, a thumbnail image on the user
interface corresponding to at least a cover portion of the
electronic file; receiving user confirmation input via the user
interface corresponding to acceptance of the electronic file in
accordance with the thumbnail image; and preparing, via the
processor, the electronic file for printing thereafter and
commencing a print operation of at least one page of the electronic
file by a printer associated with the document processing device in
response to the acceptance in the input unit.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the search of the local storage
device and the remote storage device responsive to the received
book identification information is performed sequentially.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising: receiving, from an
associated user via the user interface, data corresponding to at
least one page number representative of a user-selected set of
pages of a hard copy book corresponding to the book identification
information for reproduction via the document processing device;
and commencing the print operation from the electronic file for the
selected set of pages.
11. The method of claim 8 wherein the thumbnail image includes
publication data corresponding to a publication of a hard copy book
corresponding to the book identification information.
12. The method of claim 8 wherein the data received representative
of book identification information is numeric data corresponding to
an ISBN identifier of a publication corresponding to the book
identification information.
13. The method of claim 8 further comprising scanning visible
indicia on a hard copy publication corresponding to the book
identification information.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the visible indicia includes a
bar code.
15. A system, implemented through a peripheral device, for printing
electronic files comprising: means adapted for receiving data
representative of book identification information via a user
interface of an associated document processing device; means
adapted for searching, via a processor of the associated document
processing device, for an electronic file in an associated local
storage device and a remote storage device responsive to the
received book identification information, the electronic file being
representative of at least one selected book; means adapted for
generating, via the processor, a thumbnail image on the user
interface corresponding to at least a cover portion of the
electronic file; means adapted for receiving user confirmation
input via the user interface corresponding to acceptance of the
electronic file in accordance with the thumbnail image; and means
adapted for preparing, via the processor, the electronic file for
printing thereafter and commencing a print operation of at least
one page of the electronic file by a printer associated with the
document processing device in response to the acceptance in the
input unit.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein the means adapted for searching
of the local storage device and the remote storage device
responsive to the received book identification information include
means adapted for sequentially searching of the local storage
device and the remote storage device.
17. The system of claim 16 further comprising: means adapted for
receiving, from an associated user via the user interface, data
corresponding to at least one page number representative of a
user-selected set of pages of a hard copy book corresponding to the
book identification information for reproduction via the document
processing device; and means adapted for commencing the print
operation from the electronic file for the selected set of
pages.
18. The system of claim 15 wherein the thumbnail image includes
publication data corresponding to a publication of a hard copy book
corresponding to the book identification information.
19. The system of claim 15 wherein the data received representative
of book identification information is numeric data corresponding to
an ISBN identifier of a publication corresponding to the book
identification information.
20. The system of claim 15 further comprising means adapted for
scanning visible indicia on a hard copy publication corresponding
to the book identification information.
21. The system of claim 20 wherein the visible indicia includes a
bar code.
22. A system for printing electronic files comprising: a document
processing device including a printer and a user interface; an
identification receiving unit operable to receive data
representative of book identification information via the user
interface; a first processing unit included in the document
processing device operable to search for an electronic file
representative of at least one selected book relative to the
received book identification information and generating a thumbnail
image on the user interface corresponding to at least a cover
portion of the electronic file; an input unit operable to receive
user confirmation input via the user interface corresponding to
acceptance of the electronic file in accordance with the thumbnail
image; and a second processing unit operable to prepare the
electronic file for printing and thereafter commence a print
operation of at least one page of the electronic file by the
printer in response to the acceptance in the input unit.
23. The system of claim 22 wherein the first processing unit is
further operable to sequentially search the local storage device
and the remote storage device responsive to the received book
identification information.
24. The system of claim 22 further comprising: an input operable to
receive, from an associated user via the user interface, data
corresponding to at least one page number representative of a
user-selected set of pages of a hard copy book corresponding to the
book identification information for reproduction via the document
processing device; and wherein the second processing unit is
further operable to commence the print operation from the
electronic file for the selected set of pages.
25. The system of claim 22 wherein the thumbnail image includes
publication data corresponding to a publication of a hard copy book
corresponding to the book identification information.
26. The system of claim 22 wherein the identification receiving
unit includes a keypad input operable to receive numeric data
corresponding to an ISBN identifier of a publication corresponding
to the book identification information.
27. The system of claim 22 wherein the identification receiving
unit includes a scanner operable to scan visible indicia on a hard
copy publication corresponding to the book identification
information.
28. The system of claim 27 wherein the visible indicia includes a
bar code, and wherein the scanner is further operable as a bar code
reader.
29. A method for printing electronic files comprising: receiving
data representative of book identification information via a user
interface of an associated document processing device; searching,
via a first processing unit of the associated document processing
device, for an electronic file representative of at least one
selected book relative to the received book identification
information and generating a thumbnail image on the user interface
corresponding to at least a cover portion of the electronic file;
receiving user confirmation input via the user interface
corresponding to acceptance of the electronic file in accordance
with the thumbnail image; and preparing, via a second processing
unit, the electronic file for printing and thereafter commencing a
print operation of at least one page of the electronic file by the
printer in response to the acceptance in the input unit.
30. The method of claim 29 wherein the search the local storage
device and the remote storage device responsive to the received
book identification information is performed sequentially.
31. The method of claim 29 further comprising: receiving, from an
associated user via the user interface, data corresponding to at
least one page number representative of a user-selected set of
pages of a hard copy book corresponding to the book identification
information for reproduction via the document processing device;
and commencing the print operation from the electronic file for the
selected set of pages.
32. The method of claim 29 wherein the thumbnail image includes
publication data corresponding to a publication of a hard copy book
corresponding to the book identification information.
33. The system of claim 29 wherein the data received representative
of book identification information is numeric data corresponding to
an ISBN identifier of a publication corresponding to the book
identification information.
34. The method of claim 29 further comprising scanning visible
indicia on a hard copy publication corresponding to the book
identification information.
35. The method of claim 34 wherein the visible indicia includes a
bar code.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 10/770,612, filed Feb. 2, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is directed to a system and method for
printing, and more particularly, the present invention is directed
to a system and method for printing books by a book
identification.
[0003] Books and other monographic publications are frequently
copied on copy machines. The current method of copying books is
time intensive, laborious and inefficient. A user must first open
the book to the desired page, flip the book upside down and place
the page on the copier surface and then copy. If a copy of more
than one page of the book is desired, this entire process must be
repeated until all pages are copied. If copies of multiple pages
are desired, the process can require a great deal of time to
complete. Thus it is desirable to have a system and method for more
efficiently and easily copying books and other monographs.
[0004] Books and other monographic publications typically include
identification information. For example, books typically have a
title and an associated author. If either or both the title and
author information are known, the respective book can be located
electronically (e.g., in a database) or physically (e.g., in a
library). Books usually have additional identification information
such as an ISBN (International Standard Book Number). The ISBN is a
unique identification number that marks any book unmistakably. The
ISBN can be used just as the title and author information in
searching for a book. In fact, the ISBN is often considered a
superior identification in searching for a book, as there can be
confusion with other titles and author names. The ISBN may be
provided as a number, as information encoded in a barcode, or
both.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
a system and method for printing books by a book identification. It
is desirable to have a system and method for more efficiently and
easily copying books and other monographs.
[0006] In accordance with one aspect, the present invention teaches
a system, implemented through a peripheral device, for printing
electronic files. The system includes identification receiving
means adapted for receiving data representative of book
identification information; electronic file retrieving means
adapted for retrieving an electronic file, responsive to received
book identification information, wherein the electronic file is
representative at least one selected book; print job creation means
adapted for preparing the electronic file for printing thereafter;
output means adapted for receiving print request data
representative of a desired output of the print job; and means
adapted for commencing a print operation of the electronic file in
accordance with the print request.
[0007] In accordance with another aspect, the present invention
teaches a method, implemented through a peripheral device, for
printing electronic files. The method includes the steps of
receiving data representative of book identification information;
retrieving an electronic file, in response to the received book
identification information, wherein the electronic file is
representative of the book; creating a print job by preparing the
electronic file for printing; receiving print request data
representative of a desired output of the print job; and commencing
a print operation of the electronic file in accordance with the
print request.
[0008] These and other aspects, advantages and features of the
invention will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art
upon a reading and understanding of the specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part
of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the present
invention, and together with the description serve to explain the
principles of the invention. In the drawings:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a view of an example peripheral user interface of
the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a view of an example copying user interface;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a view of an example ISBN entry user
interface;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a view of an example electronic book access user
interface;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a view of an example print setting user interface;
and
[0015] FIG. 6 is a view of an example print job status user
interface.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] The present invention is a system and method for copying
books that overcomes the inefficiencies of conventional book
copying systems and methods. An efficient copying system is
achieved by adapting a peripheral device to access and utilize
electronic versions of books to print copies of the books. To make
a copy of a physical book, a user inputs an identification of the
book into the peripheral, the peripheral accesses the electronic
version of the book and prints the book as specified. Thus, a user
is not required to manually place a page of the book on the copier
surface, copy and repeat the process to copy each desired page. The
system and method are generally implemented in a peripheral device.
The peripheral device is any of a suitable plurality of devices,
such as a copier, a printer, a multifunction peripheral, etc, and
suitably is a stand-alone device, interconnected to other devices,
or to a network.
[0017] According to an example embodiment of the invention, a user
first inputs an identification of the book to be copied into the
peripheral device. The book identification is any identification
suitable to unambiguously identify the book, such as a book ISBN
(International Standard Book Number), a book title, a book bar
code, etc. The identification is input into the peripheral device
by any suitable means, such as through a screen-like control panel
and keyboard associated with the peripheral, a touch-pad
screen-like control panel associated with the peripheral, a
keyboard or keypad associated with the peripheral, etc. The
identification input means need not be directly associated with the
peripheral, such as a computer connected to the peripheral through
a network, an Internet-accessible web page or user interface in
communication with the peripheral, etc. Additionally, the
identification input means suitably includes a bar code reader
adapted to electronically capture and input book identification
information encoded by the bar code typically placed on an exterior
surface of the book.
[0018] Upon entry of the book identification, the peripheral device
will access an electronic version of the identified book. The
invention contemplates that electronic versions of books, such as
PDF files, Microsoft Word files, etc., will be stored and
accessible in storage devices. The invention additionally
contemplates at least three types of storage devices, such as a
local storage device, a remote storage device and an
Internet-accessible storage device, etc. In general, the storage
devices are suitably any device, such as a hard disk drive, RAM,
ROM, a removable disk drive, a USB-DSD (Universal Serial Bus Data
Storage Device), etc., adapted to store electronic versions of
books. The local storage device is suitably any device contained
within, directly wired to, or in general data communication with
the peripheral. The remote storage device is suitably any storage
device located remote to the peripheral, such as a computer, a
server, etc., connected to the peripheral through a network or
other suitable means. The Internet-accessible storage device is
suitably any suitable World Wide Web page accessible to the
peripheral. The peripheral suitably is in data communication with
some, all, a portion of, or additional storage devices through any
appropriate communication means, such as through standard port
communication, over a network, over the Internet or wirelessly
(e.g., through a communication such as BlueTooth.TM., IR,
802.11-type system, etc.). Additionally, accordingly to an
alternate embodiment, the electronic version of the book is
advantageously supplied to the peripheral by a user, such as
through a floppy disk, CD-ROM, USB-DSD, etc.
[0019] Once the peripheral accesses the electronic version of the
book, it will be ready to print hard copies of the book. The user
is suitably presented with the option of printing all of the book
or only certain user-specified pages. The user is advantageously
also provided with an opportunity to set or change print settings
that control the format of printing. Once the user is satisfied
with the pages and the settings, the pages print as specified.
[0020] The peripheral suitably includes a set of computer-readable
instructions for accessing the electronic file. Such instructions
advantageously dictate that the peripheral first search a local
storage device for the desired electronic file. If the local
storage device does not contain the electronic file, the
instructions suitably then dictate that the peripheral search a
remote storage device. If the remote storage device does not
contain the electronic file, the instructions suitably further
dictate that the peripheral search the Internet-accessible web page
or user inteface. In connection with the Internet search, the
peripheral suitably includes instructions that point the peripheral
to access to a specific Internet URL (Uniform Resource Locator)
that maintains a web page storing the desired electronic file, or
suitably contains instructions for accessing an Internet search
engine to locate the electronic file. The Internet instructions
advantageously additionally include a sequential set of
instructions for first accessing a specific Internet URL and then,
if the specific URL does not contain the electronic file, for
accessing an Internet search engine.
[0021] An example method for implementing the present invention
will now be discussed. It is to be understood that the following is
an example only, and that the invention may be implemented through
any suitable method as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill
in the art. With reference to FIG. 1, illustrated is an example
view of a peripheral user interface 100 that a user suitably
encounters when attempting to access the peripheral to begin the
book copying process. The interface 100 advantageously is provided
in any of the aforementioned manners in connection with the
peripheral. The interface presents at least one operational option
to the user, such as a scan option 104, a print option 106, a view
print jobs option 108, an administrative tool option 110, a help
option 112, etc. According to the present example, the user will
first activate the print document option 106 on the user interface
100 to begin the book copying operation.
[0022] Upon selecting the print document option 106, a copying user
interface 200 is displayed (FIG. 2). The copying user interface 200
presents at least one option for inputting a source location of an
item to be printed. Such options suitably includes a book option
204, a local or network folder option 206, or other document
storage repository 208, such as a TopAccess Composer repository.
The copying user interface also advantageously includes a help
option 210, an option 212 for returning to the first graphical user
interface 102, such as a "back" button, and an option 214 for
canceling operation, such as a "cancel" button. To print at least a
portion of a book using the book's ISBN number, the user will
select the book option 204. It is to be understood that the book
option 204 is adapted to be modified to accommodate alternate
identification means of the book, such as allowing for a bar code
reader to read the book identification.
[0023] Upon selecting the book option 204, an ISBN entry user
interface 300 is displayed (FIG. 3). The ISBN entry user interface
300 suitably contains a keypad 308 for entering the book's ISBN
number. As the ISBN number is entered, it is suitably displayed in
a window 306 in order to ensure that the entered number is
accurate. A "clear` button 310 is provided to erase the entered
ISBN number and to enable the user to reenter the correct number.
Once the user is satisfied that the displayed ISBN number 306
matches the desired ISBN number, the user will select the
"continue" button 316.
[0024] Upon selecting the "continue" button 316, an electronic
version access user interface 400 (FIG. 4) will cause a status of
the peripheral's action in accessing the electronic file that
corresponds to the ISBN number of the subject book to be displayed.
The user interface 400 suitably displays such information as the
ISBN number being accessed 404 and the state of the access 406. The
interface 402 suitably additionally includes a "cancel" button 408.
The electronic version access user interface 400 may suitably be
preceded by a user interface that is adapted to receive user input
regarding a location in which the desired electronic version is
stored.
[0025] Once the peripheral has located the electronic file, it
initiates a download of the electronic file. Upon a successful
download, a print setting user interface 500 (FIG. 5) will initiate
a display of such information as necessary to enable the user to
confirm that the downloaded electronic file corresponds to the
desired book. Such information suitably includes the title 506 of
the book, an image 504 of the cover of the book, and additional
book-related information 508, such as the publisher, ISBN, etc.
[0026] The print setting user interface 500 suitably also includes
print setting information 510 and an option 518 (e.g., an "edit"
button) for changing the print setting information 510. The print
setting information 510 suitably includes such information as paper
size, orientation, number of copies 512, etc. Additionally, the
print setting information 510 suitably includes the pages 514 of
the book to be printed. The pages 514 to be printed is an feature
that advantageously can be edited in the edit option 518. For
example, if a user wants to print only pages 10-20 of a certain
book, the user can specify through the edit option 518 that only
pages 10-20 of the downloaded book will be printed. The user
interface 500 suitably additionally provides information 516
related to the estimated time to print the selected page(s). Once
the user has verified the downloaded book and is satisfied with the
print settings 510, the user will instruct the peripheral to print
the selected items, such as by selecting the "print book" button
524.
[0027] Once the user has instructed the peripheral to print, a
print job status user interface 600 (FIG. 6), suitably displays
status information, such as whether the book has been sent to the
printer 604, the title 606 of the book, and the ISBN number 608 of
the book.
[0028] It is to be appreciated that the foregoing discussion of
entry of ISBN numbers is by way of example only and that other
methods for identifying the subject book are contemplated. For
example, the user suitably inputs the title of the book.
Additionally, the peripheral is adapted accept limited information
regarding the identity of the book from the user and generate a
list of possible related books based on the input information,
whereupon the user suitably selects the desired title.
[0029] It is to be appreciated that the foregoing discussion of
multiple graphical user interfaces is by way of illustration and
example only. The essential steps of inputting a book
identification, downloading an electronic file corresponding to the
book and printing at least a part of the book, is suitably
implemented through any means practicable, including the graphical
user interfaces described above, a portion thereof, or with
additional graphical user interfaces. Additionally, a graphical
user interface suitably need not be used and the peripheral simply
includes a keypad for inputting the ISBN number and an automated
function for accessing, downloading and printing the associated
electronic file.
[0030] Although the preferred embodiments have been described in
detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions
and alterations can be made therein without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims. It will be appreciated that various changes in the details,
materials and arrangements of components, which have been herein
described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the
invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the
principle and scope of the invention as will be expressed in the
appended claims.
* * * * *