System and method for walk-up printing

Abstract

Disclosed are various systems and methods for printing documents. In one embodiment, a printing system is provided that comprises a host and a local printer coupled thereto, the local printer having a portable device communications port with which to establish a communications link a portable device. The local printer includes means for relaying a non-rendered document received via the portable device communications port to the host for rendering. The host includes means in the host for orchestrating a rendering of the non-rendered document into a rendered document with a printer format compatible with the local printer, the non-rendered document being rendered using one of a number of applications in the host, and, means in the host for transmitting a rendered document to the local printer to be printed.

1 - 6 . (canceled)  
   
   
       7 . A program stored on a computer readable medium for providing a rendering service in a host, comprising: 
 code that determines a file type of a non-rendered document received from a local printer in data communication with the host, wherein the local printer determines whether the non-rendered document is embodied in a format that is compatible with the local printer, and the local printer relays the non-rendered document to the host if the non-rendered document is not embodied in a format compatible with the local printer;    code that identifies one of a number of applications to render the non-rendered document in the host that is compatible with the file type of the non-rendered document; and    code that launches the one of the number of applications in the host with a set of instructions to print the non-rendered document on the local printer.    
   
   
       8 . The program stored on a computer readable medium of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 code that generates a print failure message in the host upon a failure to identify the one of the number of applications in the host that is compatible with the file type of the non-rendered document; and    code that transmits the print failure message to the local printer for printing.    
   
   
       9 . The program stored on a computer readable medium of  claim 7 , further comprising code that stores the non-rendered document received from the local printer in a memory in the host.  
   
   
       10 . A system to print a document, comprising: 
 a host having a processor circuit with a processor and a memory;    a document rendering service stored in the memory and executable by the processor, the document rendering service comprising: 
 logic that that stores a non-rendered document in the memory, the non-rendered document being received from a local printer in data communication with the host, wherein the local printer determines whether the non-rendered document is embodied in a format that is compatible with the local printer, and the local printer relays the non-rendered document to the host if the non-rendered document is not embodied in a format compatible with the local printer;  
 logic that determines a file type of the non-rendered document;  
 logic that identifies one of a number of applications that is compatible with the file type of the non-rendered document to render the non-rendered document in the host; and  
 logic that launches the one of the number of applications in the host with a set of instructions to print the non-rendered document on the local printer.  
   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the document rendering service further comprises: 
 logic that generates a print failure message in the host upon a failure to identify the one of the number of applications in the host that is compatible with the file type of the non-rendered document; and    logic that transmits the print failure message to the local printer for printing.    
   
   
       12 - 18 . (canceled)