System and method for printing books by book identification

Abstract

A system and method for efficiently copying books. According to the system and method, a user inputs a book identification into a peripheral device to cause the peripheral device to access an electronic version of the book. Upon so accessing, the peripheral is adapted to print the electronic version as specified. The book identification may be any suitable identification, such as a book ISBN number, a bar code, a title, etc.

1 . A system, implemented through a peripheral device, for printing electronic files comprising:
 a document processing device including a printer and a user interface;   an identification receiving unit operable to receive data representative of book identification information via the user interface;   a processor included in the document processing device operable to search for an electronic file in an associated local storage device and a remote storage device responsive to the received book identification information, the electronic file being representative of at least one selected book;   the processor further operable to generate a thumbnail image on the user interface corresponding to at least a cover portion of the electronic file;   an input unit operable to receive user confirmation input via the user interface corresponding to acceptance of the electronic file in accordance with the thumbnail image; and   the processor further operable to prepare the electronic file for printing thereafter and commence a print operation of at least one page of the electronic file by the printer in response to the acceptance in the input unit.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the processor is further operable to sequentially search the local storage device and the remote storage device responsive to the received book identification information. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an input operable to receive, from an associated user via the user interface, data corresponding to at least one page number representative of a user-selected set of pages of a hard copy book corresponding to the book identification information for reproduction via the document processing device; and   wherein the processor is further operable to commence the print operation from the electronic file for the selected set of pages.   
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the thumbnail image includes publication data corresponding to a publication of a hard copy book corresponding to the book identification information. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the identification receiving unit includes a keypad input operable to receive numeric data corresponding to an ISBN identifier of a publication corresponding to the book identification information. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the identification receiving unit includes a scanner operable to scan visible indicia on a hard copy publication corresponding to the book identification information. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the visible indicia includes a bar code, and wherein the scanner is further operable as a bar code reader. 
   
   
       8 . A method, implemented through a peripheral device, for printing electronic files comprising:
 receiving data representative of book identification information via a user interface of an associated document processing device;   searching, via a processor of the associated document processing device, for an electronic file in an associated local storage device and a remote storage device responsive to the received book identification information, the electronic file being representative of at least one selected book;   generating, via the processor, a thumbnail image on the user interface corresponding to at least a cover portion of the electronic file;   receiving user confirmation input via the user interface corresponding to acceptance of the electronic file in accordance with the thumbnail image; and   preparing, via the processor, the electronic file for printing thereafter and commencing a print operation of at least one page of the electronic file by a printer associated with the document processing device in response to the acceptance in the input unit.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the search of the local storage device and the remote storage device responsive to the received book identification information is performed sequentially. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 receiving, from an associated user via the user interface, data corresponding to at least one page number representative of a user-selected set of pages of a hard copy book corresponding to the book identification information for reproduction via the document processing device; and   commencing the print operation from the electronic file for the selected set of pages.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the thumbnail image includes publication data corresponding to a publication of a hard copy book corresponding to the book identification information. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the data received representative of book identification information is numeric data corresponding to an ISBN identifier of a publication corresponding to the book identification information. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising scanning visible indicia on a hard copy publication corresponding to the book identification information. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the visible indicia includes a bar code. 
   
   
       15 . A system, implemented through a peripheral device, for printing electronic files comprising:
 means adapted for receiving data representative of book identification information via a user interface of an associated document processing device;   means adapted for searching, via a processor of the associated document processing device, for an electronic file in an associated local storage device and a remote storage device responsive to the received book identification information, the electronic file being representative of at least one selected book;   means adapted for generating, via the processor, a thumbnail image on the user interface corresponding to at least a cover portion of the electronic file;   means adapted for receiving user confirmation input via the user interface corresponding to acceptance of the electronic file in accordance with the thumbnail image; and   means adapted for preparing, via the processor, the electronic file for printing thereafter and commencing a print operation of at least one page of the electronic file by a printer associated with the document processing device in response to the acceptance in the input unit.   
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the means adapted for searching of the local storage device and the remote storage device responsive to the received book identification information include means adapted for sequentially searching of the local storage device and the remote storage device. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16  further comprising:
 means adapted for receiving, from an associated user via the user interface, data corresponding to at least one page number representative of a user-selected set of pages of a hard copy book corresponding to the book identification information for reproduction via the document processing device; and   means adapted for commencing the print operation from the electronic file for the selected set of pages.   
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the thumbnail image includes publication data corresponding to a publication of a hard copy book corresponding to the book identification information. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the data received representative of book identification information is numeric data corresponding to an ISBN identifier of a publication corresponding to the book identification information. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 15  further comprising means adapted for scanning visible indicia on a hard copy publication corresponding to the book identification information. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the visible indicia includes a bar code. 
   
   
       22 . A system for printing electronic files comprising:
 a document processing device including a printer and a user interface;   an identification receiving unit operable to receive data representative of book identification information via the user interface;   a first processing unit included in the document processing device operable to search for an electronic file representative of at least one selected book relative to the received book identification information and generating a thumbnail image on the user interface corresponding to at least a cover portion of the electronic file;   an input unit operable to receive user confirmation input via the user interface corresponding to acceptance of the electronic file in accordance with the thumbnail image; and   a second processing unit operable to prepare the electronic file for printing and thereafter commence a print operation of at least one page of the electronic file by the printer in response to the acceptance in the input unit.   
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the first processing unit is further operable to sequentially search the local storage device and the remote storage device responsive to the received book identification information. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 22  further comprising:
 an input operable to receive, from an associated user via the user interface, data corresponding to at least one page number representative of a user-selected set of pages of a hard copy book corresponding to the book identification information for reproduction via the document processing device; and   wherein the second processing unit is further operable to commence the print operation from the electronic file for the selected set of pages.   
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the thumbnail image includes publication data corresponding to a publication of a hard copy book corresponding to the book identification information. 
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the identification receiving unit includes a keypad input operable to receive numeric data corresponding to an ISBN identifier of a publication corresponding to the book identification information. 
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the identification receiving unit includes a scanner operable to scan visible indicia on a hard copy publication corresponding to the book identification information. 
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 27  wherein the visible indicia includes a bar code, and wherein the scanner is further operable as a bar code reader. 
   
   
       29 . A method for printing electronic files comprising:
 receiving data representative of book identification information via a user interface of an associated document processing device;   searching, via a first processing unit of the associated document processing device, for an electronic file representative of at least one selected book relative to the received book identification information and generating a thumbnail image on the user interface corresponding to at least a cover portion of the electronic file;   receiving user confirmation input via the user interface corresponding to acceptance of the electronic file in accordance with the thumbnail image; and   preparing, via a second processing unit, the electronic file for printing and thereafter commencing a print operation of at least one page of the electronic file by the printer in response to the acceptance in the input unit.   
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the search the local storage device and the remote storage device responsive to the received book identification information is performed sequentially. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising:
 receiving, from an associated user via the user interface, data corresponding to at least one page number representative of a user-selected set of pages of a hard copy book corresponding to the book identification information for reproduction via the document processing device; and   commencing the print operation from the electronic file for the selected set of pages.   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the thumbnail image includes publication data corresponding to a publication of a hard copy book corresponding to the book identification information. 
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the data received representative of book identification information is numeric data corresponding to an ISBN identifier of a publication corresponding to the book identification information. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising scanning visible indicia on a hard copy publication corresponding to the book identification information. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the visible indicia includes a bar code.