Computer network and related methods for generating printer usage information

Abstract

A computer network may include a plurality of computers connected together in a network and generating printer control data, and at least one printer connected to the network for printing the printer control data. The at least one designated computer may generate printer usage information from the printer control data.

1 - 58 . (canceled) 
   
   
       59 . A computer network comprising:
 a plurality of computers connected together in the network, and at least some of said plurality of computers generating electronic print jobs; and   at least one printer connected to the network for rendering the electronic print jobs;   at least one designated computer from among the plurality of computers for
 intercepting the electronic print jobs sent to said at least one printer, 
 copying the intercepted electronic print jobs, 
 passing the intercepted electronic print jobs once copied along to said at least one printer for rendering, and 
 rendering the copied electronic print jobs separately from said at least one printer to generate printer usage information therefrom. 
   
   
   
       60 . The computer network of  claim 59  wherein said at least one designated computer comprises at least one server. 
   
   
       61 . The computer network of  claim 59  wherein at least one of said plurality of computers comprises a server; and wherein said at least one server collects the printer usage information from said at least one designated computer. 
   
   
       62 . The computer network of  claim 59  wherein said at least one designated computer comprises at least one of a personal computer (PC), a laptop, and a personal data assistant (PDA). 
   
   
       63 . The computer network of  claim 59  wherein said at least one designated computer is selectively connected to the network. 
   
   
       64 . The computer network of  claim 59  wherein said at least one designated computer also generates electronic print jobs. 
   
   
       65 . The computer network of  claim 59  wherein the printer usage information comprises at least one of a date when the printer control data was sent, a time when the printer control data was sent, an identifier of a computer generating the printer control data, a user name of a user originating the printer control data, an identifier for said at least one printer, a number of pages to be printed, and a size of the printer control data. 
   
   
       66 . The computer network of  claim 59  wherein the printer usage information comprises job attributes comprising at least one of paper size, simplex printing, duplex printing, sorting, stapling, binding, color printing, document collation, tumble feeding, manual feeding, automatic feeding, and trim. 
   
   
       67 . A computer network comprising:
 a plurality of computers connected together in the network;   a local printer;   at least one designated computer from among said plurality of computers being selectively connected to the network and also connected to said local printer, said at least one designated computer for
 generating electronic print jobs to be rendered by said local printer, 
 copying the electronic print jobs when disconnected from the network, 
 passing the electronic print jobs once copied along to said local printer for rendering, and 
 rendering the copied electronic print jobs separately from said local printer to generate printer usage information therefrom; and 
   at least one server connected to the network for collecting the printer usage information from said at least one designated computer when connected to the network.   
   
   
       68 . The computer network of  claim 67  wherein said at least one designated computer comprises at least one of a personal computer (PC), a laptop, and a personal data assistant (PDA). 
   
   
       69 . The computer network of  claim 67  wherein the printer usage information comprises at least one of a date when the printer control data was sent, a time when the printer control data was sent, an identifier of a computer generating the printer control data, a user name of a user originating the printer control data, an identifier for said at least one printer, a number of pages to be printed, and a size of the printer control data. 
   
   
       70 . The computer network of  claim 67  wherein the printer usage information comprises job attributes comprising at least one of paper size, simplex printing, duplex printing, sorting, stapling, binding, color printing, document collation, tumble feeding, manual feeding, automatic feeding, and trim. 
   
   
       71 . A method for generating printer usage information for a plurality of computer connected together in a computer network with at least one printer and comprising:
 generating and sending electronic print jobs from at least some of the plurality of computers to at least one computer connected to the network; and   intercepting and copying the electronic print jobs sent to the at least one printer at least one designated computer from among the plurality of computers;   passing the intercepted electronic print jobs once copied from the at least one designated computer along to the at least one printer for rendering; and   rendering the copied electronic print jobs at the at least one designated computer separately from the at least one printer to generate printer usage information therefrom.   
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 71  wherein the at least one designated computer comprises at least one server. 
   
   
       73 . The method of  claim 71  wherein at least one of the plurality of computers comprises a server; and further comprising using the at least one server to collect the printer usage information from the at least one designated computer. 
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 71  wherein the at least one designated computer comprises at least one of a personal computer (PC), a laptop, and a personal data assistant (PDA). 
   
   
       75 . method of  claim 71  wherein the at least one designated computer is selectively connected to the network. 
   
   
       76 . method of  claim 71  wherein the at least one designated computer also generates electronic print jobs. 
   
   
       77 . method of  claim 71  wherein the printer usage information comprises at least one of a date when the printer control data was sent, a time when the printer control data was sent, an identifier of a computer generating the printer control data, a user name of a user originating the printer control data, an identifier for the at least one printer, a number of pages to be printed, and a size of the printer control data. 
   
   
       78 . method of  claim 71  wherein the printer usage information comprises job attributes comprising at least one of paper size, simplex printing, duplex printing, sorting, stapling, binding, color printing, document collation, tumble feeding, manual feeding, automatic feeding, and trim.