Document output processing

Abstract

The invention relates to printing and other output of documents using data processors, and particularly to methods, apparatus, and computer programming useful for controlling output processes. In various aspects the invention provides systems, methods, and computer programming useful for minimizing the number of command inputs required from a user to complete printing or other output of multiple documents. In other aspects, the invention provides systems, methods, and computer programming useful for printing documents using content data received from users or other sources, together with previously-provided form data, according to predetermined formats.

1 . A system useable for printing or other output of documents, comprising:
 an input device adapted for providing content data to an output server;   a form data store accessible by the output server and comprising data useable by the output server for compiling, in combination with the content data, at least one document according to at least one predetermined format;   the output server adapted to access the content data, access the form data store, and compile the content data and form data into an application-neutral format useable by an output device.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the output device comprises a printer. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the output device comprises a facsimile transmitter. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the output device comprises an electronic mail application. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the output device is a multifunction output device. 
   
   
       6 . A method of controlling a printing or other output process, the method performed by a computer and comprising:
 receiving from an input device content data useful in preparing at least one document;   accessing in a data store form data useful for compiling, in combination with the received content data, data useful for outputting the at least one document according to at least one predetermined format, using the compiled data;   compiling the content data and the form data to provide data useful for outputting the at least one document according to the at least one predetermined format; and   storing the compiled data in volatile or persistent memory.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined format is application-neutral. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the volatile or persistent memory is comprised by a printing device associated with a printer. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the volatile or persistent memory is comprised by a facsimile transmitter. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the volatile or persistent memory is comprised by an electronic mail application. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the data store in which form data is accessed is associated with the processor. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the data store in which form data is accessed is remote from the processor. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 providing to a display device data useable by the display device for displaying a user interface comprising data identifying a plurality of documents that can be output using content data received from the input device and, with respect to each of the identified documents, at least one corresponding interactive item;   receiving from the same or another input device a command signal set comprising at least one identification signal, the identification signal identifying at least one of a plurality of the identified documents to be output, and at least one execution signal; and   responsive to receipt of the execution signal, providing to an output device data useable by the output device for outputting the plurality of documents in human-readable form.   
   
   
       14 . A computer memory communicatively linked to a processor, a client device, and an output device, the memory comprising computer readable media representing form data useable for compiling, in combination with content data received from the client device, data useable for outputting a plurality of documents according to at least one predetermined format. 
   
   
       15 . Computer usable media having computer readable code embodied therein for causing a computer processor to:
 receive from an input device content data useful in preparing at least one document;   access in a data store form data useful for compiling, in combination with the received content data, data useful for outputting the at least one document according to a desired format;   compile the content data and the form data to provide data useful for outputting the at least one document; and   store the compiled data in volatile or persistent memory.   
   
   
       16 . The media of  claim 15 , wherein the content and form data is compiled in an application-neutral format. 
   
   
       17 . The media of  claim 15 , wherein the volatile or persistent memory is comprised by a printer. 
   
   
       18 . The media of  claim 15 , wherein the volatile or persistent memory is comprised by a facsimile transmitter. 
   
   
       19 . The media of  claim 15 , wherein the volatile or persistent memory is comprised by an electronic mail application. 
   
   
       20 . The media of  claim 15 , further comprising code for causing the computer to:
 provide to a display device data useable by the display device for displaying a user interface comprising data identifying a plurality of documents that can be output using content data received from the input device and, with respect to each of the identified documents, at least one corresponding interactive item;   receive from the same or another input device a command signal set identifying a plurality of the identified documents to be output according to predetermined formats, using the compiled data; and   provide to a output data useable by the output for outputting the plurality of documents according to predetermined formats, using the compiled data.   
   
   
       21 . A system useable for printing or otherwise outputting documents, comprising:
 an client device adapted for providing to an output server data and command signals useful in the outputting of documents;   a server adapted to provide to the client device data useful for the presentation of a user interface comprising data identifying a plurality of documents that can be output using data provided by the client device and, with respect to each of the identified documents, at least one corresponding interactive item;   the client device further adapted to display the user interface and to provide to the server, in response to selection of at least one of the interactive items, a command signal set adapted to cause the output server to provide to an output device designated by the client device data useful by the output device for outputting a plurality of documents corresponding to the at least one interactive item selected by the user; and   an output device adapted to output the plurality of documents using the provided data.   
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the user interface comprises data identifying a plurality of output devices, and at least one interactive item useable for causing the client device to designate at least one of the output devices for output of the plurality of documents. 
   
   
       23 . A method of controlling an output process, the method performed by a computer and comprising:
 receiving from an input device content data useful in preparing a plurality of documents;   providing to a display device signals useable for displaying a user interface comprising data identifying a plurality of documents that can be output using the data provided by the input device and, with respect to each of the identified documents, at least one corresponding interactive item;   receiving from the same or another input device a command signal set comprising at least one identification signal, the identification signal identifying at least one of a plurality of the identified documents to be output, and at least one execution signal; and   responsive to receipt of the execution signal, providing to an output device data useable by the output device for outputting the plurality of documents in human-readable form.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising providing to an output device a command signal set useable for causing the output device to output the identified documents, using the content data received from the input device. 
   
   
       25 . Computer usable media having computer readable code embodied therein for causing a computer to:
 receive from an input device content data useful in preparing a plurality of documents;   provide to a display device signals useable for displaying a user interface comprising data identifying a plurality of documents that can be output using the data provided by the input device and, with respect to each of the identified documents, at least one corresponding interactive item;   receive from the same or another input device a command signal set comprising data identifying one or more of the plurality of documents, in response to selection of one or more of the corresponding interactive items by a user.   
   
   
       24 . The media of  claim 23 , further comprising code for causing the computer to: provide to an output device a command signal set useable for causing the output device to output the identified documents, using the content data received from the input device. 
   
   
       25 . A system useable for printing or other output of documents, comprising:
 an input device adapted for providing content data to an output server;   a form data store accessible by the output server and comprising data useable by the output server for compiling, in combination with the content data, at least one document according to at least one predetermined format;   the output server adapted to access the content data, access the form data store, compile the content data and form data, and cause an output device to output at least one document according to the at least one predetermined format, using the compiled data.