Print job management method and system

Abstract

A printing system includes a job management server and multiple remote print stations. The print stations have user input capability, and a user may enter identification information and request that a document stored by the job management server be printed at the print station.

1 . A printing system, comprising:
 a job management server configured to:
 receive, from a first network, a print stream associated with a user, wherein the print stream is representative of a document or graphic, and 
 store the print stream in a user account in a job management database, wherein the user account is associated with the user; and 
   a print station located remotely from the job management server, wherein the print station is in communication with the job management server via a second network, wherein the print station includes a user interface, wherein the print station is configured to:
 in response to receiving identifying information from the user via the user interface, receive information regarding available print streams in the user's user account from the job management server, 
 display a menu of the available print streams on the user interface, 
 receive, via the user interface, a selection from the user of one or more of the available print streams to print at the print station, 
 receive a copy of each selected available print stream, and 
 print each selected available print stream. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the job management server is further configured to store a selected available print stream in the job management database for a period of time after the selected available print stream is printed at the print station. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the job management server is further configured to compress and encrypt the print stream; and   the print station comprises one or more decompression and decryption modules for decompressing and decrypting the print stream.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the print stream is in a print stream format that is recognized by a printer at the print station; and   the print stream was created using a print driver located on an electronic device located on the first network.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the print station comprises a printer; and   the print station is further configured to permit printing of each of the selected available print streams only at the printer and only after the identifying information is authenticated.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the print station is dedicated to the job management server. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the print station comprises a parameter monitoring system that is in communication with a remote monitoring system. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the parameter monitoring system is configured to notify the remote monitoring system or the user when a service level alert condition is met. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the job management server is configured to monitor usage patterns of the print station; and   the system is configured to adjust one or more service level alert conditions for the print station based on the usage patterns.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the print station comprises a port that accepts a file storage device. 
     
     
         11 . A method of printing a document, comprising:
 receiving, by a job management server from a first network, a print stream in a print stream format, wherein the print stream corresponds to one or more documents and is associated with a user;   storing, by the job management server, the print stream in a user account in a job management database, wherein the user account is associated with the user;   receiving, by the job management server from the user via a print station that is connected to a second network, user identification information;   verifying the user identification information;   transmitting to the print station a menu of documents that are in the user account and available to the user for printing,   receiving, by the job management server from the user via the print station, a selection of a document from the menu of documents; and   delivering, by the job management server to the print station for printing, a copy of the print stream corresponding to the selected document.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 retaining the print stream corresponding to the selected document in the job management database for a period of time after the print stream corresponding to the selected document is printed at the print station; and   deleting the print stream from the job management database after expiration of the period of time.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 compressing and encrypting the print stream;   transmitting the print stream to the print station; and   decompressing and decrypting the print stream by the print station.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising monitoring one or more parameters of the print station via a remote monitoring system. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising determining, by the remote monitoring system, whether a service level alert condition is met for the print station. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein;
 the parameter monitoring system monitors usage patterns of the print station; and   the method further comprises adjusting one or more of the service level alert conditions for the print station based on the usage patterns.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising determining, by the print station, whether the selected document is an original document. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining a cost of printing the selected document;   determining whether the user has a print service account balance;   if the print service account balance is less than the cost, prompting the user to recharge the print service account balance; and   if the print service account balance is greater than the cost, debiting the cost from the print service account balance.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 presenting, to the user at the print station, a cost of printing the selected document; and   receiving, by the job management server from the user via the print station, a form of payment by the user.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the cost is based on one or more of the following:
 number of pages,   number of copies, and   a color print.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein receiving a print stream comprises:
 debiting an upload cost from a print service account balance associated with the user when the one or more documents are uploaded to the job management server.