Method for transmitting print data, server and mobile terminal

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for transmitting print data, a server (120) and a mobile terminal (100). The invention further relates to a corresponding computer-readable storage medium. In the method, steps are carried out which include receiving the print job, conversion into the printer-specific format, saving the printer-specific format on another server (130), informing the mobile terminal (100) of the completed conversion, reporting the completed conversion to the user and, after confirmation from the user, transmitting the print data to the mobile terminal (100), in order to forward the print data in a last step to a printer (200) connected to the mobile terminal (100).

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A server comprising an application installed and executed on the server, wherein the application is configured to display a graphic user interface for the application on a screen of a mobile terminal, wherein the application is controlled by the mobile terminal by way of keyboard or a pointing device of the mobile terminal for generating first data in the context of the application to be stored on the server or for modifying first data stored on the server in the context of the application and to generate from the first data on the server from within the application print data for printing on the printer, wherein the application is unable to access second data stored locally on the mobile terminal, wherein the server or another server notifies the mobile terminal, after the print data have been generated, that the print data are available for forwarding, via the mobile terminal, to a printer connected to the mobile terminal.

12. The server of claim 11, comprising a virtual printer installed on the server, wherein the virtual printer is configured to generate from the first data the print data in a format selected from PDF, PCL and PostScript.

13. The server of claim 11, wherein the print data are supplemented with additional print-related information.

14. The server of claim 11, wherein the print data are stored on the other server and the mobile terminal is also notified via an address of the other server.

15. The server of claim 11, wherein when the application is called, the mobile terminal registers with the server or transmits an ID of the mobile terminal to the server, or both, and the mobile terminal is informed of the availability of the print data based on the registration or the transmitted ID of the mobile terminal.

16-20. (canceled)

21. A method for transmitting print data, comprising: registering a mobile terminal with an application executed on a server or transmitting an ID of the mobile terminal in conjunction with setting up a session of the application, or both, controlling the application by a user of the mobile terminal to generate, in the context of the application, first data to be stored on the server or to modify, in the context of the application, first data stored on the server, wherein the application is unable to access second data stored locally on the mobile terminal, initiating by the user a print job for the first data in the application, forwarding the print job to a virtual printer installed on the server, generating the print data with the virtual printer from the first data, storing the print data, notifying the mobile terminal that the print data are stored, establishing with the mobile terminal a connection from the mobile terminal to the server, and forwarding the print data from the server via the mobile terminal to a printer connected with the mobile terminal.

Description

DRAWING

[0022] Embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawing and the following description, wherein:

[0023] FIG. 1 shows schematically and by way of example a process flow of the method according to the invention.

[0024] Embodiments of the invention relate to a method for the transmission of print data, components, and an arrangement for the realization of the method, a corresponding computer program and a corresponding computer-readable storage medium (computer program product) on which the computer program is stored. In particular, the method makes it possible to print from a terminal server session or a virtual desktop session, which is controlled by an optionally mobile terminal, data generated and/or modified in the context of the application, for example a document, on a printer that is connected to the mobile terminal. Examples of mobile terminals are tablet computers and smartphones.

[0025] The proliferation of mobile terminals and mobile data connections makes it possible to set up such a session on a tablet computer or even on a mobile phone. The particular advantage of virtual desktops on these devices lies in the strict separation of data and applications.

[0026] In particular, however, locally installed printers are not directly accessible to the application, when the user wants to print from the session, because the server has no knowledge of the printers connected to the mobile terminal. Thus, printers connected to the mobile terminal cannot be installed on the server. The application can directly access only centrally installed printers, such as printers that reside on the corporate network and that can be addressed via the server. However, these printers are not usable, if the mobile terminal is not located within the corporate network.

[0027] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a virtual printer is therefore created on the server. This printer is configured to accept a print job for data stored on the server and to convert the data into print data.

[0028] For example, the print data are generated in PDF format, because this format must run on all printers that connect with the mobile terminal via the AirPrint protocol. However, print data may also be generated in a different printable format, for example, in PCL format or in PostScript format. These two formats are advantageously supported by a large number of printers. In other embodiments of the invention, other print data formats are generated. After the print data have been generated, they are stored on the server or on another server for later access.

[0029] The server or the other server can keep a list of mobile terminals. When several mobile terminals are active on the server, a notification server can be informed, based on the list, as to which mobile terminal should be informed of the storage of generated print data. The server then informs the respective mobile terminal that the print data have been stored.

[0030] For this purpose, for example notification mechanisms can be used that are standard on the mobile terminal. For example, the APN-service (Apple Push Notification) can be used in mobile terminals based on the operating system iOS to transmit the notification to the mobile terminal. The notification is received by a module installed on the mobile terminal. The module can establish a connection to the server, which has stored the print data, in order to transmit the print data to the mobile terminal and forward the print data to a printer connected to the mobile terminal. The module can optionally display a message on a graphic user interface of the mobile terminal before transmitting the print data. The transmission may also require a prior confirmation by the user of the mobile terminal. The module may then also prompt the user for this confirmation in the message. The user may additionally or alternatively have the option to select a printer and/or to change print settings.

[0031] The print data can optionally be supplemented with information that goes beyond the pure print data. Since the module on the mobile terminal receives the data and forwards the data to the printer, the additionally generated information can be read and additional steps can be performed based on this additional information. This may concern simple things, such as limiting the selection of the printer or set specific printer settings. Further actions are also possible, such as for example opening a dialogue to display additional information to the user. This should serve only as an example, since in principle any operation that is technically feasible on the mobile terminal can be triggered or influenced by the additional information.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows schematically in form of an example a process flow of an embodiment of the method according to the invention. Steps are carried out with the method, which include receiving the print job, performing the conversion into the printer-specific format, saving the printer-specific format on another server, informing the mobile terminal about the completed conversion, reporting the completed conversion to the user, and transmitting the print data to the mobile terminal after confirmation from the user, and then, in the last step, forwarding the print data to the connected printer.

[0033] A user has started a VD session 101 on the mobile terminal 100, which is carried out on the server 110 via the connection 103. For this purpose, the server 110 has set up a virtual environment 111, in which the virtual printer 112 a, b, . . . is installed. Only one virtual printer 112 may be installed. The user initiates in the session 101 a print job, which is forwarded to the selected virtual printer 112 via the connection 113. This virtual printer generates the print data for the printer 200. Additional information intended for the module 102 on the mobile terminal 100 can be added. The virtual printer forwards the data via the connection 114 to the server 120, where the data are stored until they are recalled. After complete receipt of the data, the server 120 instructs the notification server 130 via the connection 121 to inform the mobile terminal 100 of the availability of the data. The notification server 130 establishes the connection 131 and transmits the message to the mobile terminal 100. The mobile terminal 100 then sets up a connection 104 to the server 120 and requests the print data. The information that was added to the print data by the printer driver 112 is removed from this data stream. At the end, the print data are sent from the module 102 via the connection 106 a, b, . . . to the printer 200 a, b, . . . .

[0034] The server 120 needs information about the mobile terminal to which the notification server is to report the generation of the print data. Several methods are conceivable for this purpose: [0035] The mobile terminal 100 is registered with the server 120 before setting up the session 101. [0036] The ID of the mobile terminal 100 is transmitted by mobile terminal 100 to the VD server 110 at the start of the VD session 101. This ID is transmitted to the server 120 with the transmission of the print data 114.

[0037] Conversely, the mobile terminal needs the information about the server on which the print data are stored. Several methods are also conceivable for this purpose: [0038] The server 120 forwards its address to the notification server 130 in step 121, which then transmits this information together with the message to the mobile terminal 100 in step 131. [0039] The address of the server 120 is stored when the module 102 is set up on the mobile terminal 100.