Patent Application
20210092251
This application relates generally to printing. The application relates more particularly to seamless integration of concurrent control of document processing operations via user interfaces of multiple devices.
Document processing devices include printers, copiers, scanners and e-mail gateways. More recently, devices employing two or more of these functions are found in office environments. These devices are referred to as multifunction peripherals (MFPs) or multifunction devices (MFDs). As used herein, MFPs are understood to comprise printers, alone or in combination with other of the afore-noted functions. It is further understood that any suitable document processing device can be used.
Document processing operations, such as printing, scanning, and faxing, are typically configured by the user via a front panel user interface on the MFP.
Various embodiments will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings wherein:
The systems and methods disclosed herein are described in detail by way of examples and with reference to the figures. It will be appreciated that modifications to disclosed and described examples, arrangements, configurations, components, elements, apparatuses, devices methods, systems, etc. can suitably be made and may be desired for a specific application. In this disclosure, any identification of specific techniques, arrangements, etc. are either related to a specific example presented or are merely a general description of such a technique, arrangement, etc. Identifications of specific details or examples are not intended to be, and should not be, construed as mandatory or limiting unless specifically designated as such.
In example embodiments detailed below, an MFP user interface handoff is made between devices to provide continuity across an MFP, smartphone, tablet computer, notebook computer or workstation. This allows users to start steps involved in commencing and setting up a document processing job on one device and shift setup to a different device at any time. By way of particular example, a user can select a document for printing on their smartphone, and start setup of the print job to their specifications. The user may, for example, select a number of copies desired while on their smartphone. As the user approaches the MFP, the user can put their smartphone aside and immediately resume their job setup on the MFP's touchscreen which reflects the settings at the state that appears on the user's smartphone.
An interface handoff provides continuity across two or more devices. This allows, for example, a user to complete a task on an MFP that was started on their smartphone, or vice versa. User interfaces, along with a position in the workflow, is shared such as via a network cloud, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or any other suitable means of data communication.
Because some tasks may be more easily configured from mobile or other computing devices than they are on the MFP interface, or vice versa, the option to begin on one device and complete on the other provides significant flexibility. Further, time and effort is not lost by initiating a task on one device and completing on the other if the user is interrupted and must be continued later. Alternatively, the user interface can be synced between multiple devices and control shifted among them. Applications may be synced where one executes on an MFP and the other executes on another device, such as a mobile computing device, wherein settings, workflow, position within one application is mirrored on the other. This provides continuity between working on the MFP and another computing device. User preferences, such as settings, address book, and other personal data can be maintained locally and transferred or “synced’ as needed on an MFP.
In accordance with the subject application,
MFP 104 includes a user interface 124 including a touchscreen display 128. Digital data devices 106 include respective user interfaces, such as touchscreens 132 of smartphone 108, touchscreen 136 of tablet 116 and keyboard 140 of notebook computer 120. Digital computing devices of
Turning now to
Processor 202 is also in data communication with a storage interface 208 for reading or writing data with storage 216, suitably comprised of a hard disk, optical disk, solid-state disk, cloud-based storage, or any other suitable data storage as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.
Processor 202 is also in data communication with a network interface 210 which provides an interface to a network interface controller (NIC) 214, which in turn provides a data path to any suitable wired or physical network connection 220, or to a wireless data connection via a wireless network interface, such as WiFi 218. Example wireless connections include cellular, Wi-Fi, wireless universal serial bus (wireless USB), satellite, and the like. Example wired interfaces include Ethernet, USB, IEEE 1394 (FireWire), Lightning, telephone line, or the like. Processor 202 is also in data communication with a hardware monitor 221, suitably amassing state data from subassemblies, sensors, digital thermometers, or the like, and suitably including digital state date including device codes, such as device error codes. Processor 202 can also be in data communication with document processor interface 222, BLUETOOTH interface 226 and NFC interface 228 via data path 212.
Processor 202 can also be in data communication with any suitable user input/output (I/O) interface (not shown) which provides data communication with user peripherals, such as displays, keyboards, mice, track balls, touch screens, or the like.
Document processor interface 222 is suitable for data communication with MFP functional units 250. In the illustrated example, these units include a copy engine, suitably comprised of copy hardware 240, a scan engine, suitably comprised of scan hardware 242, a print engine, suitably comprised of print hardware 244 and a fax engine, suitably comprised of fax hardware 246. These subsystems together comprise MFP functional hardware 250. It will be understood that functional units are suitably comprised of intelligent units, including any suitable hardware or software platform.
Turning now to
Processor 304 is also in data communication with a storage interface 306 for reading or writing to a data storage system 308, suitably comprised of a hard disk, optical disk, solid-state disk, or any other suitable data storage as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.
Processor 304 is also in data communication with a network interface controller (NIC) 330, which provides a data path to any suitable network or device connection, such as a suitable wireless data connection via wireless network interface 338. A suitable data connection to an MFP or server is via a data network, such as a local area network (LAN), a wide arear network (WAN), which may comprise the Internet, or any suitable combination thereof. A digital data connection is also suitably directly with an MFP or server, such as via BLUETOOTH, optical data transfer, Wi-Fi direct, or the like.
Processor 304 is also in data communication with a user input/output (I/O) interface 340 which provides data communication with user peripherals, such as touch screen display 344 via display generator 346, as well as keyboards, mice, track balls, touch screens, or the like. It will be understood that functional units are suitably comprised of intelligent units, including any suitable hardware or software platform.
Once job input is received, progress is made to block 420 wherein a job workflow sequence is initiated. As will be detailed below, a job workflow sequence may include receiving user settings, such as numbers of copies, page finishing options, collation, hole punching, stapling, paper type, color/black-and-white, and the like. A user makes one or more selection in a sequence, such as first selecting a stapling option, and then selecting a collation option. Each action suitably comprises a step in a workflow, followed by job execution, such as printing or faxing.
Once a workflow sequence has been initiated at block 420, a current workflow step is executed at block 424, and the user's device user interfaces is updated to reflect the user's selection at block 428. Next, the user's selection is synchronized with one or more external devices at block 432 such that their respective user interfaces will reflect the current user interface on the user's device. A test is made at block 436 as to whether the workflow sequence has been completed, such as by initiation of a document printout. If completed, the process returns to block 408. If not, the workflow sequence is incremented at block 440. A test is made at block 444 to determine if any input has been received from the current user device interface. If not, a test is made at block 448 to determine whether input is received from a networked device. If not, the process returns to block 444. Thus, the system is maintained in look 452 until such time as user input is received at any synced device. Once input is received, the process returns to block 432.
It will be seen from the flowchart of
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the spirit and scope of the inventions.
