System and method for distribution of hard copy documents in pull print system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9826109-B2
Application number	US-201514873315-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2015
Priority date	Oct 2, 2015
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

A method and system for distributing documents comprises submitting a print job via a print client to a server. The document creator can submit a list of recipients to whom a hard copy document should be made available. This limits the distribution of the document to those persons included on the list. The method and system further comprises storing the print job in a queue associated with the server, transmitting the print job to a specified printer when one of at least one recipient requests rendering of the print job, and rendering the print job at the specified printer for one of the at least one recipients.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for distributing documents comprising:
submitting a print job via a print client to a server;
storing said print job in a queue associated with said server;
determining which of a plurality of printers is capable of processing said print job;
designating at least one of said plurality of printers as one or more candidate printers where said print job can be rendered;
transmitting said print job to one of said candidate printers when one of at least one recipient requests rendering of said print job at said candidate printer; and
rendering said print job at said candidate printer for said one of said at least one recipient wherein rendering said print job further comprises converting said source document to a print ready document, establishing a limiting number of said print ready documents according to a total number of said at least one recipient, assigning a unique number to each of said print ready documents wherein said unique number is associated with one of said at least one recipient, embedding said unique number in each of said print ready documents, and limiting the rendering of said print ready documents to said limiting number of said print ready documents.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said server comprises a pull printing server.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said print job comprises a print job ticket, a source document and a distribution list of said at least one recipient associated with said source document.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:
notifying said at least one recipient on said distribution list of said print job wherein said notification comprises:
a name of said print job;
a name of a person submitting said print job;
a list of said candidate printers; and
a confirmation number.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
deleting said print job from said queue when all of said at least one recipient has requested rendering of said print job.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
deleting said print job from said queue at the ending of a specified time period.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
authenticating said at least one recipient at one of said candidate printers selected by said at least one recipient.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
providing a pin number to said at least one recipient, wherein said pin number must be entered by said recipient at said candidate printer before said print job will be rendered.

9. A system for distributing documents comprising:
a print job provided to a server via a print client;
a queue for storing said print job associated with said server;
a candidate printer comprising one or more printers among a plurality of printers determined to be capable of processing said print job wherein said print job is transmitted to one or more of said candidate printers when one of at least one recipient requests rendering of said print job at said candidate printer; and
a rendering device that converts said source document to a print ready document and renders said print job at said candidate printer for said one of said at least one recipient wherein a limiting number of said print ready documents is established according to a total number of said at least one recipient, a unique number is assigned to each of said print ready documents wherein said unique number is associated with one of said at least one recipient, said unique number is embedded in each of said print ready documents, and said print ready documents are limited in number to said limiting number of said print ready documents.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said server comprises a pull printing server.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said print job comprises a print job ticket, a source document and a distribution list of said at least one recipient associated with said source document.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein said print job is deleted from said queue when at least one of:
all of said at least one recipient has requested rendering of said print job; and
a specified time period has elapsed.

13. The system of claim 9 further comprising:
a pin number provided to said at least one recipient, wherein said pin number must be entered by said recipient at said candidate printer before said print job will be rendered.

14. A system for distributing documents comprising:
a rendering device;
a server comprising a pull printing server;
a processor;
a data bus coupled to said processor; and
a computer-usable medium embodying computer code, said computer-usable medium being coupled to said data bus, said computer program code comprising instructions executable by said processor and configured for:
submitting a print job comprising a source document and a distribution list of at least one recipient associated with said source document to said server via a print client;
storing said print job in a queue associated with said server;
determining which of a plurality of printers is capable of processing said print job;
designating at least one of said plurality of printers as one or more candidate printers where said print job can be rendered;
transmitting said print job to one of said candidate printers when one of at least one recipient requests rendering of said print job at said candidate printer;
converting said source document to a print ready document;
establishing a limiting number of said print ready documents according to a total number of said at least one recipient;
assigning a unique number to each of said print ready documents, wherein said unique number is associated with one of said at least one recipient;
embedding said unique number in each of said print ready documents;
limiting the rendering of said print ready documents to said limiting number of said print ready documents; and
rendering said print job at said candidate printer for said one of said at least one recipient.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said instructions are further configured for:
notifying said at least one recipient on said distribution list of said print job wherein said notification comprises: a name of said print job, a name of a person submitting said print job, a list of said candidate printers, and a confirmation number.

Assignees

• Xerox Corp

Inventors

• Zehler Peter J

Classifications

• H04N1/0023 Primary

  Image pull arrangements, e.g. to a multifunctional peripheral from a networked computer · CPC title

• G06F3/1274

  Deleting of print job · CPC title

• G06F3/1287

  via internet · CPC title

• H04N2201/0094

  Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception · CPC title

• G06F3/1219

  with regard to consumables, e.g. ink, toner, paper · CPC title