Title of Invention

METHOD OF ENHANCED REMOTE FACSIMILE DATA PRINTING

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for printing facsimile data with high quality. The invention enables the user to use any kind of printing technology to print the facsimile data through standard file transfer protocol. This enhances the capability for remote facsimile printing. The user can use any of the data formats like JBIG, PDF, MMR, etc. supported by the print server for facsimile printing. The method enables the end user to choose the driver to be used at print server to print the fax. For e.g. if incoming fax is PDF encoded, then it can print that fax using PDF printer Driver and if the MFP device has capability to scan in color but does not have color printer, then color copy can be printed through this method. The receiving end user can print fax with high quality if high quality printer is available at the receiving end.

Full Text

FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates in general to the printing technology. Further this invention relates to facsimile printing wherein the user can use different printing technologies to print the facsimile data in different formats. More particularly, this invention relates to a method of enhanced remote facsimile data printing. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART in the current market, high resolution scanners and high quaiity printers are availabie. But MFP devices which have very good scanning capabilities do not have very good quality of fax printing. Most of the current MFPs (multi function peripherals) / fax devices do not have the capability to print the received fax with the quality which the user desires. Figure 1 illustrates the regular Fax transmission. One user has MFP which can scan the document at very good quality other has the fax machine which cannot print the received fax at the same good quality in which the document was scanned and sent. In this case we need to take the soft copy of the received fax and then print using available high resolution printers. The fax transmission and reception has been illustrated in the figures 2 and 3 wherein if the machine capability does not match, then the transmitting machine will change the format of the facsimile data so that the machine at the receiving end can receive the data and print it. In this scenario, if the user wants to send the data in JBIG format (bi-level Compression technique) and if the receiving device does not support JBIG decompression, then the user cannot send the data in JBIG format. The Sender has to switch over to a format that is supported by the receiver. Fig 3 is a flow chart which illustrates a scenario where machine capability does not match. First the scanned document is encoded in a selected format. The machine compatibility is checked and exchanged in the handshake. The sender then checks whether the request capability is supported. If supported the fax is send and print is taken. If the machine capability does not match, then the transmitting machine will change the format of the facsimile data so that the machine at the receiving end can receive the data and print it. LIMITATIONS The existing facsimile data printing has the following limitations; 1. Receiving end Fax/MFP device does not have the capability to accept every kind of file format. 2. If the scanned document is of very high resolution, but the printer is not capable of printing it at that resolution, then facsimile print quality will be poor. 3. If the user sends the scanned data in color but the receiving end MFP/Fax device does not have color printing capability then it would print ]n monochrome. 4. In the market, if there is some new printing technology, then user cannot use it unless he changes the printing hardware to effect printing of the received fax in that new format. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The primary object of the invention is to invent a method for enhanced remote fax printing. It is another object of the invention to enable the user to use any kind of printing technology available to print the facsimile data whereby the capability for remote facsimile printing is enhanced. It is another object of the invention to enable the user to use any of the data formats including JBIG, PDF, MMR, etc. supported by the print server for facsimile printing. It is another object of the invention to enable the end user to choose the driver to be used at print server to print the fax e.g. if incoming fax is PDF encoded, then it can print that fax using PDF printer Driver. It is another object of the invention to enable the user to print remote fax at high quality at low cost and without upgrading his MFP device hardware. It is another object of the invention to enable MFP machine to print any kind of Email received from the remote MFP machine where the MFP machine which support Email Printing. It is another object of the invention that copier devices can also use this method to print high quality scanned image to a printer. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method of enhanced remote fax printing which supports MFP/fax devices which do not have the capability to print received fax at high quality. This method will help existing or future MFP devices to utilize the features provided by the printer devices. Copier devices can also use this method to print high quality scanned image to a printer. This invention will help the user to print fax at high quality at low cost. For example, if the MFP device has the capability to scan in color but does not have color printing capability, then color copy can be printed by implementation of this method. The receiving end user can print fax with high qualityjf high quality printer is available at the receiving end. Accordingly, the present invention comprises a method of enhanced remote facsimile data printing, comprising the steps of: (a) scanning the data to be transmitted by the sender; (b) exchanging details of capabilities including format and resolution of the data by the sender and receiver before starting the fax transmission; (c) checking the print server for the capability of decoding and printing the received data; (d) communicating with print server by the receiver to print the facsimile data in the format in which sender is sending; (e) routing the facsimile data to the alternate printer device to print the facsimile data at proposed format and resolution, if the receiver is not capable of printing the facsimile data; and (f) communicating to the sending MFP device by receiving MFP device about the print server"s capability of decoding and printing the received data. These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the ensuing detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a typical illustration of basic facsimile communication. Figure 2 illustrates the steps involved in fax reception. The transmitting and receiving ends exchange their capabilities and the data is sent to the receiver in the format supported by the receiver. Figure 3 illustrates the steps involved in fax reception through capability exchange with the help of a flowchart. Figure 4 illustrates a typical set up for printing remote fax with high quality printer. Figure 5 illustrates the printing sequence involved in printing fax with high quality printer. Figure 6 shows the flowchart for enhanced fax data printing wherein the capability of the receiving end is checked and the format is changed if required before data is sent. Figure 7 illustrates the overall architecture of the enhanced fax printing. Figure 8 shows requirement of modifications in the print server if needed. Figure 9 illustrates a typical set up with print server and high quality printers. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood however that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. The following description and drawings are not to be construed as limiting the invention and numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention, as the basis for the claims and as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention. However in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention in detail. The present invention relates to a method for printing a received fax with a printer which has the capability to print documents at high quality. Depending on the quality of received scanned data MFP device will decide whether to print the received data with MFP printer or with any other printer having capability to print at high quality. For e.g. the MFP device at the sender end scans the data at 1200 dpi and sends a fax. At the receiving end if MFP device is not able to print received fax at good quality then the data is routed to an alternative printer device which will print it at high quality. In order to print the remote Fax the MFP devices should support Non Standard Capability exchange communication. That means if receiving MFP device is not capable of printing a received fax at high quality then it should communicate to the sender that it has the capability to print this document through other printer device. Figure 4 illustrates a typical set up for printing remote fax with high quality printer. This comprises a print server which will take the request from the MFP device to print a received fax, through printer driver installed in the Print Server. Figure 5 illustrates the printing sequence involved in printing fax with high quality printer. If there is some capabiiity mismatch i.e. if the receiver is not capable of receiving the fax in the format in which sender is sending then the receiver wiii communicate with print server. If the print server is capable of decoding and printing the received data then receiving device will communicate to the sending device through Non-standard fax frame conveying that it can receive the facsimile data. Figure 6 shows the flowchart for enhanced fax data printing wherein the capability of the receiving end is checked and the format is changed if required before data is sent. First the scanned document is encoded in a selected format. The machine compatibility is checked and exchanged in the handshake. The sender then checks whether the request capability is supported. If supported the fax is send via the print server and the print is taken. If request capability not supported, print server is communicated and checked for its capability of decoding and printing the received data. Ifprint server is capable of decoding, the fax is sent via the print server and print is taken. If print server cannot decode the received data, the information is converted to a format supported by the receiver and print is taken. Referring to Figure 7, the enhanced fax printing architecture comprises print servers which will take the request from the MFP device to print a received fax, through printer driver installed in Print Servers which renders the job using the high quality printer device for fax/copier printing. In this method a processor module needs to be added in print server which will take the request from MFP device, process the request and send the response to MFP device. This processor module vi"Ill have the information about the print server capability such as file format supported, color/monochrome printer attached, and resolution supported. When this processor module receives the data from MFP device it analyzes the data, selects the appropriate printer driver for printing and forwards the data to high quality printer. Figure 8 shows requirement in the print server. The print server consists of a database for the information about printer attached to the print server, software component or processor module to process the MFP request and to send response to MFP and component to handle fax/copy data. OPERATION OF THE INVENTION Before starting the fax transmission, sender and receiver exchange their capabilities i.e. format and resolution in which the sender is going to send the fax data, in the existing structure if there is some mismatch in the capabilities of sender and receiver, then sender will try to send the facsimile data in the format in which the receiver can receive. But in the proposed method if there is some capability mismatch i.e. if the receiver is not capable of receiving the fax in the format in which sender is sending then receiver will communicate with print server. If the print server is capable of decoding and printing the received data then receiving MFP device will communicate to the sending MFP device through Non-standard fax frame conveying that it can receive the proposed facsimile data. Figure 9 describes the overall architecture for fax printing at different printing devices. These printing devices are specifically meant for printing a document at very good quality by using different print technology. For example after scanning a document, Fax/MFP device starts communicating with receiving end fax/MFP device. If the sender machine sends data at very high resolution then receiving fax machine will communicate to the sender machine that its printer does not support this high resolution but can print this in some other printer with the help of print server. This can be achieved by using Non-standard frames if required. After receiving the fax, MFP device communicates with print sen/er to print the received fax. MFP and Print Server can communicate through any file transfer protocol. Once theprint server receives the data, it will use printer driver to print the fax with the chosen printer. The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. Although the invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments thereof, these embodiments are merely illustrative, and not restrictive of the invention. For example, a receiver device can also include other elements such as copier, printer, disit drives etc. Memory also contains additional information such as applications programs, network, communication programs, operating system software data etc. Although the printing the facsimile data is done by exchanging the capabilities between both the devices, namely, sender and receiver and the supporting print server which have been described, it should be apparent that other methods and types of printing can be provided. In the description herein, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of components and/or methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that an embodiment of the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other apparatus, systems, assemblies, methods, components, materials, parts, and/or the like. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not specifically shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of embodiments of the present invention. A "processor" or "process" includes any human, hardware and/or software system, mechanism or component that processes data, signals or other information. A processor can include a system with a general-purpose central processing unit, multiple processing units, dedicated circuitry for achieving functionality, or other systems. Processing need not be limited to a geographic location, or have temporal limitations. For example, a processor can perform its functions jn "real time," "offline," in a "batch mode," etc. Persons of processing can be performed at different times and at different locations, by different (or the same) processing systems. A "computer-readable medium" for purposes of embodiments of the present invention may be any medium that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, system or device. The computer readable medium can be, by way of example only but not by limitation, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, system, device, propagation medium, or computer memory. Embodiments of the invention may be implemented by using a programmed general purpose digital computer, by using application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic devices, field programmable gate arrays, optical, chemical, biological, quantum or nano-engineered systems, components and mechanisms may be used. In general, the functions of the present invention can be achieved by any means as is known in the art. Distributed or networked systems, components and circuits can be used. Communication, or transfer, of data may be wired, wireless, or by any other means. It will also be appreciated that one or more of the elements depicted in the drawings/figures can also be implemented in a more separated or integrated manner, or even removed or rendered as inoperable in certain cases, as is useful in accordance with a particular application. It is also within the spirit and scope of the present invention to implement a program or code that can be stored in a machine-readable medium to permit a computer to perform any of the methods described above. Additionally, any signal arows in the drawings/Figures should be considered only as exemplary, and not limiting, unless otherwise specifically noted. Furthermore, the term "or" as used herein is generally intended to mean "and/or" unless othenwise indicated. Combinations of components or steps will also be considered as being noted, where terminology is foreseen as rendering the abiljty to separate or combine is unclear. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, "a", "an", and "the" includes plural references unless the context clearly dictates othenwise. Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly dictates othenA-ise. The foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the present invention, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed herein. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes only, various equivalent modifications are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize and appreciate. As indicated, these modifications may be made to the present invention in light of the foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the present invention and are to be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, while the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosures, and it will be appreciated that in some instances some features of embodiments of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth. Therefore, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the essential scope and spirit of the present invention. It is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular terms used in following claims and/or to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include any and all embodiments and equivalents falling within the scope of the appended claims. GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND DEFINITIONS THEREOF MFP Multi Function Peripheral FAX Facsimile WE CLAIM 1. A method of improved remote facsimile data printing, comprising the steps of: (a) scanning the data to be transmitted by the sender; (b) exchanging details of capabilities including format and resolution of the data by the sender and receiver before starting the fax transmission; (c) checking the print server for the capability of decoding and printing the received data; (d) communicating with print server by the receiver to print the facsimile data in the format in which sender is sending; (e) routing the facsimile data to the alternate printer device to print the facsimile data at proposed format and resolution, if the receiver is not capable of printing the facsimile data; and (f) communicating to the sending multi function peripheral device by receiving multi function peripheral (MFP) device about the print server"s capability of decoding and printing the received data. 2. A method of improved remote facsimile data printing as claimed in claim 1, wherein a processor module in the print server will take the request from MFP device, process the request and send the response to MFP device. 3. A method of improved remote facsimile data printing as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said processor module maintains the information regarding the print server capability such as file format supported, color/monochrome printer attached and resolution supported. 4. A method of improved remote facsimile data printing as claimed In claims 1 to 3, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving the data by processor module from the MFP device, (b) analyzing the data by the processor module; (c) selecting the appropriate printer driver for printing; and (d) forwarding the data to high quality printer. 5. A method of improved remote facsimile data printing as claimed in claim 1, wherein if the print server is capable of decoding and printing the received data then receiving multi function peripheral device will communicate to the sending Multi Function Peripheral device through Non-standard fax frame conveying that it can receive the facsimile data. 6. A method of improved remote facsimile data printing as claimed in claim 1 wherein MFP device and Print Server can communicate through any file transfer protocol, 7. A method of improved remote facsimile data printing as claimed in claim 1, wherein once the print server receives the data;.it will use printer driver to print the facsimile data with the chosen printer. 8. A method of improved remote facsimile data printing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Multi Function Peripheral devices support non standard capability exchange communication. 9. A method of improved remote facsimile data printing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said method is capable of being implemented in copier devices to print high quality scanned image. 10. A method of improved remote facsimile data printing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said method is capable of being implemented in a Multi Function Peripheral device which supports Email Printing. 11. A method of improved remote facsimile data printing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said method can be used for any of the data formats including JBIG, PDF, MMR. etc. supported by the print server for facsimile printing. 12. A method of improved remote facsimile data printing such as substantially herein described particularly with reference to the figures 4 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

0692-che-2004 abstract-duplicate.pdf

0692-che-2004 abstract.pdf

0692-che-2004 claims-duplicate.pdf

0692-che-2004 claims.pdf

0692-che-2004 correspondence-others.pdf

0692-che-2004 correspondence-po.pdf

0692-che-2004 description (complete) duplicate.pdf

0692-che-2004 description (complete).pdf

0692-che-2004 drawings.pdf

0692-che-2004 form-1.pdf

0692-che-2004 form-13.pdf

0692-che-2004 form-19.pdf

0692-che-2004 form-26.pdf