WO2003075168A1

WO2003075168A1 - A system for peer-to-peer transport of documents

Info

Publication number: WO2003075168A1
Application number: PCT/US2003/006136
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christopher D. Upton; Brett E. Howell
Original assignee: Net2Printer, Inc.
Priority date: 2002-03-01
Filing date: 2003-02-28
Publication date: 2003-09-12
Also published as: AU2003219950A1

Abstract

A system for peer-to-peerm (P2P) transport of a likeness of a physical document or an electronic document (18) from, such as a computer (24) ('DIM'), such as a multi-function device (20) or scanner (22). A sending digital processing means ('DIM') (30) such as a printer. Client/Sender software (32), associated with sender DPM (30), digital output means ('DOM') includes a facility (34) for distillation of a document file, stored in the DPM (30), into a universally readable file format; a facility for encapsulating IP transception properties and said distilled file, the properties including at least one recipient DOM specific name and recipient print control properties. The system also includes an IP address server (40) for sending a current IP address of a recipient DPM connected to the DOM, with its specific name, in response to a request, from a sender of the file, to the address server (40); a facility for activating a P2P connection to the recipient DPM (30) via a network channel (76); and a facility for transporting the encapsulated file accross the channel (76). Recipient/server software, associated with the recipient DPM (30) and connected to the DOM, enables the separation of the encapsulated file into the disabled file and the print control properties to the DOM, the applying of the print control properties to the DOM, and the outputting of the distilled file to the DOM. Further provided is a facility for continually updating the UP addresses server (40) with IP addresses of system subscribers.

Description

A SYSTEM FOR PEER-TO-PEER TRANSPORT OF DOCUMENTS

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to United States patent application no. 10/085,087 filed on March 1, 2002 entitled "A System for Peer-to-Peer Transport of Documents", the application is a continuation thereof and incorporates by reference the prior application in its entirety.

(e) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field:

The present invention, referred to hereafter as the "Instant Invention", relates to the means of electronic document transport and, more particularly, a system ("Inventive System") and method for the immediate sending and receiving of the likeness of documents, either physical or electronic, without change of graphic format, as input via a digital input means ("DIM") and transported between a sender digital processing means ("DPM") and programs associated therewith ("client/sender software"), and a recipient DPM and programs associated therewith ("server/recipient software"), for output to a digital output means ("DOM"). A DPM may take the form of a personal computer ("PC"), cellular telephone, Personal Digital Assistant ("PDA"), Internet appliance or special hardware device, as described herein as the Net2Printer connector. A DIM may take the form of an electronic file created by any computer software application, a multifunction scanner/fax/printer/copier ("multifunction device") or a scanner. A DOM may take the form of a printer or plotter, a multifunction device, a video monitor, or any similar video device. 2. Prior Art:

The Internet or any equivalent network channel, including intranets, virtual private networks ("VPNs"), wide area networks ("WANs"), local area networks ("LANs") and wireless local area networks ("WLANs") hereinafter referred to as the "network channel" provides a means for establishing a direct computer link between two remote computers. Such a one-to-one connection between remote computers, commonly referred to as a peer-to-peer ("P2P") connection, allows their users to conduct a conversation or to exchange files. However, in the prior art, establishment of P2P communications between parties or entities, that is, between IP ("internet protocol") addresses through a network channel, has been inconvenient. Historically, it has been necessary for a P2P user to schedule in advance a time when both users would connect to the network channel. At said appointed time, the first user would connect to the network channel to publish his dynamic IP address (that of his computer) using an address location service. The second user would then connect and employ the same address location service to look-up the address of the first user. Alternatively, after connecting to the network channel, the first user might manually look-up his temporary IP address and communicate the same to the second user. Then, assuming both users are simultaneously connected, both users could then establish a P2P connection. This, in the prior art, has proven to be a complicated, frustrating, and unpredictable process. More particularly, the difficulty in establishing P2P r communication stems from the existence of dynamic network IP addresses generated when connecting to the network channel. For example, many remote computer users gain access to the network channel through either a telephone dial-up connection provided by a local Internet service provider that dynamically assigns IP addresses, or through a LAN having a limited number of permanent network addresses and which dynamically assigns such addresses to requesting local users. As such, predetermined methods for establishing P2P ponnections have been inhibited by dynamic IP addresses, by the temporary network connections associated therewith, and by a lack of standards.

The availability of more common means of convenient P2P communication has recently developed with the advent of so-called P2P chat and file transport software mechanisms such as Microsoft Messenger, Morpheus, Hypersend, Dropchute, and AOL Instant Messenger. The Dropchute P2P file transport mechanism is a product of the Hilgraeve Company, Monroe, Michigan, the particulars of which are set forth in U.S. Patent No 6,094,676. The use of such a P2P transport file mechanism considerably simplifies the task of establishing P2P connections, therein, giving rise to opportunities for broader uses of P2P networking, of which the within invention is representative.

Although not widely known, IP addresses exist not only with reference to individual computers but also for some peripherals, such as printers and routers, and may also be indirectly used for other peripherals associated therewith. Such addresses may be either permanently assigned, known as static addresses, or may be dynamically assigned by the network upon, as noted in the example above, upon connection to the Internet. Such dynamic addresses are randomly selected from a large pool of potential addresses loaned to a user for the duration of a particular session.

Today, the majority of IP addresses are dynamic in nature, this as a result of the dynamic host configuration protocol ("DHCP") which allows a computer or any network device to have a different IP address each time it accesses a network. While this simplifies network administration and permits more computers to utilize a smaller pool of IP addresses, the impact on P2P communication is complicated. It has been estimated that ninety percent of all connections to the Internet now use dynamic IP addresses, this inclusive of substantially every residential, many business and governmental computers. Such is the case even where a DSL, cable modem, broadband, or other so- called direct connection to the Internet is used, this primarily due to the fact that computers, in connecting to the Internet, seldom actively access the Internet often enough to justify the cost of a static IP connection. The much smaller set of static/permanent IP addresses is typically reserved to web servers and to private broadband networks as is more common in military applications.

P2P software can only connect to a computer or other network device with a known IP address. As a result of this requirement and the dynamic nature of the IP address allocation, today's P2P technology can be grouped into three categories namely:

1. Client-server computing in which a central server provide services to clients upon request only;

2. Pure P2P in which communication and file transfers occur independently of any central server; and

3. Hybrid P2P wherein a server assists clients in the location of information stored on computers of a client. Most P2P programs that exist today including, for example, Dropchute, are hybrids.

While P2P chat and file transfer software has become common for those Internet users wishing to "chat" directly with one another, and transfer files from sender to recipient, all without the intervention of an e-mail or management server, the options for Internet users to print the likeness of a document to remote printers simply, remain very limited.

The prior art requirements to print an electronic document to a remote printer, and thereby deliver the exact likeness of a physical document, are such that either the sender must know the make and model of the recipient's printer and install the drivers for such, or the recipient must have the program that the sender used to create the electronic document with. In both cases the sender must deliver an electronic file to the recipient's computer, and the recipient must then print the electronic document file directly to their printer or in the latter case, open the program associated with the electronic document file and print it. Neither solution offers an effective way of delivering a likeness of a physical document to a recipient without the recipient's intervention. A third possible solution involves the use of Internet Printing Protocol ("IPP"). Developed by a consortium of technology companies, IPP provides a limited means for users to print an electronic document to a remote printer. These limitations are: i. Recipient printer must be IPP capable, or must be connected to a print server with IPP capabilities, i.e. servers running Windows 2000; ii. The sender must know the make and model of the recipient printer and install the necessary drivers; and iii. The recipient printer must have a known static IP address or be connected to a print server with a known static IP address.

The IPP third solution is typically only viable for large organizations because of the requirement of static IP addresses and implementation requires a high level of technical skills. Therefore, while both P2P communications and remote printing software are available separately, there is no simple solution in the prior art that enables computers users to print an electronic document directly to any "remote" printer regardless of the model or type of network connection. The inventive system and method for document transport described herein solves the above problem in its particular capacity to readily transmit electronic documents between computers, PDA's, wireless devices and printers attached to computers with either a dynamic or static IP address, without having such communication routed through an intermediate server or requiring a dedicated print server with a static IP address and a knowledge of the make and model of the printer, as is the case with existing remote printing programs and systems, these, particularly, the following:

PRINT ME (http://www.printme.com), is a service recently developed by Electronics-for-lmaging, Inc., that assigns a static network address to a specially equipped printer. It requires special purpose hardware and, as such, is generally of value only to larger companies and print shops prepared to invest in such hardware.

PRINTER ON (http://www.printeron.com), is an Internet printing product by which a sender can print via a computer or a network to a computer or printer only when the computer or printer has a static IP address and is IPP compliant. This, for the reasons above set forth regarding static IP addresses, has limited the market potential of this product. NADIO (http://www.nadio.com) is an Internet printing approach that requires documents be routed through a print server centrally located, owned and operated by NADIO. These documents are then centrally translated into a format acceptable to a so-called universal print driver and related software of Nadio, the output of which is then directed to a destination printer. As such, communication and transport of documents which employ NADIO must be routed through an intermediate server and, as such, NADIO is susceptible to the problems of overwhelming server traffic, transmission delays, bottlenecks due to limited bandwidth and the external vulnerability of all server-associated networks such as computer viruses, hacking, hardware and other malfunction. Further, given the reliance upon a central server, NADIO does not permit direct point-to- point printing from one computer to the printer of another, modem-to-modem document delivery, or the initiation of the remote connection if the recipient is not on line. Further, file compression, file encryption, signature approval, secure document delivery and delivery confirmation are not available in the NADIO system, notwithstanding its superficial similarities to the invention as set forth below.

The instant invention, described herein, employing P2P technology, effects a combination of server software, client software, and address-server technology, in a combination, to enable point-to-point printing. That is, the inventive system, to be known commercially as Net2Printer, provides for the input of a physical document or an electronic document for transport of its likeness, by a process that combines an IP address server which acts as a communication center to continually update IP addresses and locator information and, as more fully described below, a direct P2P connection from sending computers, PDA's, cell phones, and Internet appliances to receiving computers, PDA's, cell phones, and Internet appliances, to thus allow transport of the likeness of both physical and electronic documents in a universally readable format including precise graphics and colors, as well as non-graphic and multimedia titles including audio and video and a process for immediate output to a printer, video or audio device.

Various printer-to-internet systems are known in the art as, for example, is reflected in U.S. Patent No. 6,160,631 (2000) to Okimoto, et al, entitled Printing System, as well facsimile-to-internet systems as are reflected in such patents as U.S. Patent No. 5,461 ,488 (1995) to Witek, and No. 5,881 ,233 (1999) to Toyoda, et al. These systems, however, do not make use of P2P protocols and, more particularly, cannot operate without the intervention of an intermediate server to receive and forward an electronic document, in the nature of an e-mail type of Internet server. Accordingly, such systems do not provide for true point-to-point communication, that is, IP-address-to-IP address printing or communication and, as such, are subject to the many latencies, vulnerabilities and inefficiencies of the Internet in general. The instant invention will be of considerable value in communication of graphics, text, voice and video, as well as in areas requiring (or preferring) real time delivery and printing of electronic documents to any number of recipients in the exact form and quality of the original physical or electronic document, these areas including legal documents, bank checks and drafts, sales materials such as brochures and discount coupons, time and quality sensitive entertainment materials, and newsletters, and will also be of such value to governmental agencies requiring secure and/or alternative channels of communications. For example, law enforcement, military, public health, and banking authorities. Such alternative channel will of course be of importance in the event of cyberterrorism. Also, reduction in the use of the postal service may be facilitated using the instant invention to reduce the risk of mail-related biologic or chemical attack through use of the postal mail system.

ffl SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention set forth herein relates to the remote printing of the likeness of a physical or of an electronic document from a digital input means ("DIM") that is connected to, or integrated with, a digital processing means ("DPM") and programs associated therewith ("client/sender software") and a system for P2P transport of said document likeness to a recipient DPM and programs associated therewith ("server/recipient software") for further output to a digital output means ("DOM"), in which the recipient DPM and DOM are integrated as a single stand-alone peripheral or the DOM is connected to a recipient DPM. The system more particularly includes means for distillation of an electronic document file, stored in said DPM, into the likeness of the said document in a universally readable file format ("a distilled file"); and means for attaching IP transception properties to said distilled file, the said properties including a recipient printer specific name and recipient print control properties. The system also includes means for encapsulation of said distilled file including its transception properties. The system further includes means for continually updating an IP address server with IP addresses of system subscribers, and means for sending an IP address of a recipient DPM connected to said DOM in response to a request, from the sender DPM of said encapsulated file, to said sending DPM. The system additionally includes means for establishing a P2P connection to said recipient DPM through a network channel, and means for transporting said encapsulated file across said channel to a recipient DPM, associated with said DOM connected to said recipient DPM, in which said recipient DPM comprises means for separating said encapsulated file into said distilled file and said print control properties, and means for outputting said distilled file to said DOM using said print control properties. Each DOM of each subscriber is provided with a unique printer name.

It is an object of the invention to provide a means for direct printing from said sending DPM to a DOM in which the recipient DPM and DOM are integrated as a single stand-alone peripheral or the DOM is connected to a recipient DPM, without requirement for routing of such transmissions through an intermediate server.

It is another object of the Instant Invention to provide a system for P2P transport of the electronic likeness of physical or electronic documents between any sending DPM and any digital printer.

It is another object of the Instant Invention to provide a system for P2P transport of non-print media to a memory or output of an electronic non-print means such as an audio or video receiver.

It is further object of the Instant Invention to provide a means for instant delivery, without use of email, of printed documents in the precise form as the original thereof to any stand-alone printer or one connected to any computer or network having Internet access, regardless of location, age, type of printer, or number of parties to whom such document is to be delivered.

It is a further object to provide an alternative to overnight courier delivery of original documents.

It is another object to provide a system of P2P transport of documents comprising an alternative to fax-to-fax delivery of documents.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a novel means of electronic document delivery having enhanced security and reliability and which may also be used as an alternative, or a substitute, for conventional e-mail.

It is a still further object to provide a system to reduce reliance upon postal services as a means of delivery of printed material, thereby reducing the risks of mail-related biological and chemical attacks.

It is a therefore yet further object to provide a means for the transport the electronic likeness of physical or electronic documents through a true P2P connection, i.e., a direct connection between IP addresses without requirement for the routing of such transmissions through intermediate servers, thereby avoiding the limitations, vulnerabilities and inefficiencies of these types of systems in general. These include but are not limited to the large pool of servers required to store "printmail" until retrieved and the inherent latency and vulnerability whereby document or "printmail" is possibly routed through several servers on its way to the recipient's mail server before it ever arrives at the actual recipient.

It is therefore another and significant object of the invention to provide an efficient and precise means for the transport in real time any number of electronic documents to any number of recipients in the exact form and quality of the original, such documents including, without limitation, legal documents such as visas, bank checks and drafts, sales materials such as brochures and discount coupons, time- and quality-sensitive entertainment materials, and newsletters.

It is therefore a still further object of the invention to provide a means of the above type useful to governmental services such as law enforcement, the military, public health agencies, and banking authorities, for a secure and/or alternative channel of communication for all media inclusive of text, picture, video, and audio.

The above and yet other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the Brief Description of the Drawings set forth hereinafter, Detailed Description of the Invention, and Claims appended herewith. fα) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a block diagrammatic view of the client/sender side of the inventive system.

Fig. 2 is a block diagrammatic view of the client/sender software associated with the invention.

Fig. 3 is a block diagrammatic view of a special-purpose hardware device that may be employed where a DPM is not available to either the sender or the receiver or both.

Fig. 4 is a block diagrammatic view of the print server/recipient side of the inventive system.

Fig. 5 is a block diagrammatic view of the software associated with the printer server/recipient side of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing operation of the inventive system where the sender is able to make direct IP connection with the recipient DPM using that IP address provided by the IP address server. Both sender and recipient DPM are PCs in this view. Fig. 7 is a schematic view of the invention where the sender is not able to make a direct IP connection with the recipient DPM when the recipient DPM is a personal computer ("PC") using the IP address provided by the IP address server or the IP address server has notified the sender DPM that the recipient DPM is off-line. The sender's DPM PC modem dials the recipient's DPM PC modem and sends a remote signal requesting the recipient's DPM PC establish a connection to the network channel to enable the document to be transmitted and printed at a printer of the sender's choice. Both sender and recipient DPM are PCs in this view

Fig. 8 is a schematic view of the inventive system in which the recipient is not connected to the network channel and the client/sender software does not have a registered telephone number for a modem connected to the recipient DPM, and the sender wishes to disconnect their DPM from the network channel, in which the encapsulated file is either queued on the sender's DPM or is transported to a special-purpose server for storage and forwarding to the recipient DPM at a later date. Sender and recipient DPM are both PCs in this view.

(h) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the views of Figs. 1 through 4, the present inventive system for transport of a physical document (in the form of an electronic likeness) 16 is input by a DIM 20/22 or an electronic document 18 (collectively referred to herein as Doc. S1) and transported between a sender DPM (which may take the form of a personal computer 24, cellular telephone 25, PDA 26, an Internet appliance 28, or a special purpose hardware device 30 which is more fully described below) and a recipient DPM (which may take the form of a personal computer 24A, cellular telephone 25A, PDA 26A, an Internet appliance 28A, or a special purpose hardware device 30A) for output to a DOM (which may take the form of a digital printer 84, the screen 94 of a personal computer 25A, the screen 94 of a PDA 25A, the screen 94 of a cellular telephone 26A or the screen 94 of an Internet appliance 28A).

In the case of use by the sender of a physical document 16, or where the DPM is the special purpose hardware device ("Net2Printer connector") 30, the said document 16 will be inputted to a DIM multifunction device 20 or digital scanner 22. The digital output 57 thereof is inputted to the sender DPM 30.

The input 23/27/57 to the said sender DPM 30 is processed by the said client/sender software 32, which executes as an internal program, the functions of which are more fully elaborated with reference to Fig. 2. Said software notably accesses means 34 which is a distillation/rendering software package, the function of which is to convert and store the electronic document 18 or output from multifunction device 20 or digital scanner 22 into a distilled file 114, such as a pdf, .tiff, .efx, .jpeg, and others which may become known in the future, to create a file in the likeness of the original document 16 or electronic file 18. This distilled file 114 is then made readily available 54 by the distillation/rendering software to the client/sender software 32.

As may be noted, said client/sender software 32 includes a user interface 36 requiring physical user inputs 29 from the keyboard of personal computer 24, cellular telephone 25, or PDA 26, or Internet appliance 28, to establish the IP transception properties for the distilled file to be transported. Such properties, after established, are combined by encapsulation engine 50 with said distilled file to form an encapsulated file 116 ("encapsulated file"). The properties to be user- provided by input 29 at user interface 36 fall into several categories, these inclusive of an address book 38 such that frequently used recipient printer addresses may be stored within the sender software. The user interface further includes means for the input of recipient properties 42 such as recipient printer name(s), recipient software serial number (if known), recipient password, that portion of the document to be displayed first on the recipient's DOM screen 94, security status of the document (e.g., delete life after delivery), delivery confirmation request, document storage information in the event of a recipient- unavailable condition, document-forward information in the event of a recipient unavailable condition, or recipient instruction. Sender software 32 further includes document properties 44 which record such information as physical size of document, electronic size of document, coloration information, rendering and RIP information, font and all graphic-related information about a document, in addition to the security status of the distilled and encapsulated files (e.g., delete life after delivery), delivery confirmation request, storage information in the event of a recipient-unavailable condition, forwarding information in the event of a recipient unavailable condition or recipient instruction.

Sender software 32 also includes client/sender software properties 46 which are particular to the sender including, but not limited to, the unique printer name of a sender, sender's IP address (if static), establishment of a sender password, establishment of refusal properties for use when the sender is the recipient, establishment of a maximum number of pages that can be printed when the sender is the recipient.

Said client/sender software 32 further includes a user interface for distillation/rendering properties 48 associated with said distillation/rendering software 34. Accordingly, any special-purpose instructions that may be needed for the distillation/rendering of the electronic document 18 or the output from multifunction device 20 or digital scanner 22 in the DPM into a distilled file may, at that point, be provided. This, for example, may be necessary if said input 27 to the personal computer 24, cellular phone 25, PDA 26, or Internet appliance 28, possesses some peculiarity or if a special property, such as a digital signature, is to be added to the distilled file. In summary, client/sender software 32, taken in combination with said distillation/rendering software 34, users keyboard input 29 comprises means for furnishing to the encapsulated file 116 to be transported, IP transception properties necessary to satisfy the numerous and particular sender and recipient needs that may be associated with any given transport process.

Following the addition of the said IP transception properties indicated at the user interface 36, the distilled file 114, the document properties 44, and the recipient-related print control properties 42 are furnished 52 to an encapsulation engine 50 as is indicated in Fig. 2. The function of said encapsulation engine 50 is to combine the distilled file 114 and associated recipient control properties 42 into the encapsulated file 116 suitable for P2P transport using P2P transport software . 56 such as AOL Instant Messenger, MS Messenger, Dropchute, Hypersend, and others that may become known in the art. Such software is particularly adapted for network channel transportation of files of the present type.

In the event that an electronic document 18 is not the inventive system input, said physical document 16 will be input into the multifunction device 20 or the digital scanner 22, the output of which will be inputted into a sender DPM as shown in line 23 and 57. In the event a Net2Printer connector 30, that is more fully shown in Fig. 3., is used as the sender DPM, input 57 to said Net2Printer connector 30 may comprise any one of a parallel port 58, a protocol port 60, a USB port 62, or a serial port 64, the effect of any of which is to enable a user interface 136, having property categories 138, 142, 144, and 148, which are substantially identical property categories to said user interface 36 of client/sender software 32 in Fig. 2. The Net2Printer connector also has category 66 (see Fig. 3) in which the user is required to input properties particular to the Net2Printer connector 30, network interface software 152, and network properties 154. These latter two items control the connection of the Net2Printer connector to the network channel 76 via a protocol port 60 or a dial-up modem 70 which are provided as outputs 86 and 93 for the network interface software 152 to outputs 57 and 88 for use by the transport software which, for example, may take the form of said Dropchute program, also referenced in the Background of the Invention above. In all other respects, i.e., distilling/ rendering software 134, encapsulation engine 150 and transport software 156, the function of Net2Printer connector 30 parallels that of client/sender software.

With further reference to the system view of Fig. 1, the output of client/sender software 32 is outputted by the sender DPM to any of various P2P connections to the network channel. In the case that the network channel is accessed via a dial-up modem 72, the P2P transport software, through the network Interface software 80 and using the network properties 81, connects to a public telephone network 74 and thereby connects to the network channel 76 as shown in line 90. Thereby, the entire encapsulated file 116 inclusive of distilled file 114 and said IP transception properties is transported by P2P transport software 56, as is indicated by lines 69/78 in Fig. 1 and 2, to the network channel 76. However, in the most common case, the sender will possess a protocol port such as Ethernet or Token Ring, a DSL, cable modem, or other network interface connection 71 ("network interface connection") to the network channel by which the encapsulated file may be readily transported through the network channel, as in indicated by lines 69/78A in Figs. 1 and 2.

Further shown in Fig. 1 is above referenced IP address server 40 that remains in continual contact with network channel 76. The function of IP address server 40 is twofold, namely, as a means for receiving the IP addresses of all system subscribers as sent on a regular basis by the server/recipient software 96 and, secondly, as a means for the sending of a current IP address of a recipient DPM, connected to a DOM 82, 84, 92 or 94 (see Fig. 4) in response to a request 75/78A/87 (see Fig. 1) originating from a sender DPM and P2P transport software 56 requesting the current IP address of the recipient DPM. Accordingly, IP address server 40 maintains essential information regarding the address of recipient DPM, with which the DOM is associated, necessary to complete the header associated with the distilled document file prior to submission 52 (see Figs. 2 and 3) to said encapsulation engine 50 before the transport of the entire encapsulated file by P2P transport software 56 to the network channel through access means 69/78 or 69/78A in the case of use of client/sender software 32 (see Fig. 1 ). However, in the event that Net2Printer connector 30 is employed, access to network channel 76 will occur through either 75 from network interface connection 71 through access means 69/78A or a connection 90 from public telephone network 74 through access means 69/78.

The server/recipient side of the inventive system is shown in Fig. 4 which, more particularly, shows output of distilled file document image to a DOM which can be one of digital printer 82 or 84 of the recipient DPM, a multifunction device 92, or a document image 100 on a personal computer monitor 94, all of which is facilitated through use of either a second Net2Printer connector 30A or server/recipient software 96 (below described with reference to Fig. 5) executed within the recipient DPM. It is noted that each DOM is furnished with a unique DOM name.

In the most common mode of reception, the encapsulated file 116 will exit the network channel 76 through line 91 via the network interface connection 97 using network interface software 61 as determined by its associated network properties 65. In the case recipient DPM's method of connection to network channel is via a dial-up modem, encapsulated File will exit Network Channel through access means 85 to public telephone network 74 and via modem 99 using the network interface software 63 as determined by its associated network properties 65. Further, encapsulated file is delivered to P2P transport software 56A through access means 89/89A and in turn to server/recipient software 96 via line 67. See Fig. 4. Said server/recipient software 96 functions to separate encapsulated file into the distilled file 114 and print control properties, in accordance with the document and print control property categories 42/44 or 142/144 of client/sender software 32 or Net2Printer connector 30 respectively, as discussed above, thereby outputting the distilled file (an electronic likeness of Doc S1) to digital printer 82/84, multifunction device 92 or computer monitor 94 in accordance with said recipient and document properties.

Therein, several options are available to the recipient, namely, through the use of viewer software 98 (see Fig. 5) and distilled file document image 100 (see Fig. 4) may be viewed upon DOM screen 94 in accordance with distillation/rendering properties 43 of recipient user interface 102 of server/recipient software 96, wherein said distillation/rendering properties 43 may comprise a subset of the recipient properties 42 programmed by the sender at his user interface 36. However, it is to be noted that, with certain exceptions, user interface 102 of server/recipient software 96 is similar to sender user interface 36 given that the recipient will, in most applications of the present inventive system, be provided with the same capability of transport to the sender as the sender enjoys relative to the recipient. This of course may not be the case in certain special purpose security applications. Accordingly, user interface will typically include address book 38A, sender properties 42A, document properties 44A, and Net2Printer server/recipient program properties 42A, this in addition to above-referenced distillation/rendering properties 43. In addition to control of viewer software 98, i.e., control of distilled file document image 100 on DOM screen 94, which is a consequence of said distillation/rendering properties 43, digital printer 84 and/or multifunction device 92 are also controlled by recipient user interface 102 and print spooler 104, such that the resultant physical document Iikeness106 will comply both with the print control properties of sender user interface 36 and those properties which recipient user may wish to superimpose onto the printer, e.g., restraints on the receipt of illicit material and forms of sensitive business or government material to which restricted employee access is desired by the recipient.

In the event a Net2Printer connector 30, that is more fully shown in Fig. 3., is used as the recipient DPM, outputs 57 from said Net2Printer connector 30 may comprise any one of a parallel port 58, a protocol port 60, a USB port 62, or a serial port 64, the effect of any of which is to enable a user interface 136, having property categories 138, 144, 146, and 148, which are substantially identical property categories to said user interface 102 of server/recipient software 96 in Fig. 5. The Net2Printer connector also has category 66 in which the user is required to input properties particular to the Net2Printer connector 30/30A, network interface software 152, and network properties 154. These latter two items control the connection of the Net2Printer connector to the network channel 76 via a protocol port 60 or a dial-up modem 70 which are provided as outputs 86 and 93 for the network interface software 152 to outputs 57 and 88 for use by the P2P transport software 156 that, for example, may take the form of said Dropchute program, also referenced in the Background of the Invention above. In all other respects, i.e., distilling/ rendering software 134, encapsulation engine 150, P2P transport software 156, and print spooler 120, the function of Net2Printer connector 30 parallels that of server/recipient software. Comparable capabilities exist with respect to the function of Net2Printer connector 30A (see Fig. 4) and its document likeness outputs 108 and 110 that derive from digital printer 82 or multifunction device 92 respectively. However, "pre-viewing" of a distilled file document image is not possible if a Net2Printer connector 30A is used as the recipient DPM.

It is noted that Figs. 3 and 5 also show the presence of encryption engines 112 and 112A respectively which are employed in high security situations where the sender and/or recipient wish to encrypt the encapsulated file and print control properties prior to transport thereof by P2P transport software 56 or 56A respectively.

An overview of the employment of the present novel Inventive System of P2P transport of electronic documents with reference to three possible modes of operation, namely, point-to-point printing in real time, "remote connect", and "store and forward" are shown in the schematic views of Figs. 6, 7 and 8 respectively. More particularly, in Fig. 6 is shown the standard Net2Printer method of P2P printing as above described in which the Inventive System diagrams of Figs. 1 and 4 have been shown in an integrated fashion, joining the same at node A thereof. In the particular example of Fig. 6 is shown connection 23 from digital scanner 22 and multi-function device 20 to the sender personal computer 24 and client/sender software 32. A request 75/77/87 to the address server 40 for the IP address of the recipient DPM is further shown, as is the response 75 thereof through network channel 76, as is denoted by lines 87/77/75 in Fig. 5. The function of continual monitoring of the dynamic addresses of all dynamic devices of all inventive system subscribers is indicated by lines 87A, 89 and 91 in Figs. 4 and 6. Equipped with this information, client/sender software 32 may create the necessary set of IP transception properties for transport of the encapsulated file 116 across the network channel 76, as is indicated by line 95 in Fig. 6. There from, connection 91 occurs to recipient PC 24A where various options relative to server/recipient software 96 are available, inclusive of selection of particular printers 84, 84A or 84B, or combinations thereof, in any one of an unlimited number of locations, and subject to numerous conditions, at which printer specific categories 42 of material may or may not be printed. The same will of course have wide application within multi-person and multi-location organizations both private and public.

In Fig. 7 is shown the so-called "remote connect" function of the present inventive system which occurs in the event that an intended recipient is off-line from the network channel 76 at the time of an attempted transmission. In such case, the client/sender software will receive an indication from the IP address server that the prospective recipient's PC is unavailable on the network channel 76. In the event that the client/sender software 32 has a registered a telephone number for a modem connected to the recipient device, the sender PC 24 will place a short modem 72 to modem 99 call using path 73/74/79 to the recipient PC 24A, requesting the said recipient PC 24A connect to the network channel 76. At the end of such transmission the sender PC 24 will continue to request the IP address for the recipient PC 24A until such time the recipient PC 24A establishes a connection to the network channel 76 and sends its IP address to the IP address server 40. The IP address server 40 then forwards the IP address of the recipient PC 24A to the sender PC 24. At such time the sender PC 24 will establish a P2P connection to recipient PC 24A. Thereafter the system proceeds in the manner described above, with reference to Figs 1 , 2, and 5.

In the mode of use indicated in Fig. 8, an intended recipient PC 24A is offline from the network channel 76 at the time of an attempted transmission, as exists in Figs. 6 and 7, to a prospective recipient. Therein, the recipient PC 24A is not connected to the network channel 76 and the client/sender software 32 does not have a registered telephone number for a modem connected to the recipient PC 24A, and the sender wishes to disconnect their PC 24 from the network channel 76, in which case the encapsulated file cannot be queued for delivery as described below or sent via "remote connect" by the client/sender software 32, as would normally be the case when a recipient PC 24A is unavailable. The encapsulated file may however be transported to a special- purpose server 140 for storage and forwarding ("Store and Forward Server") to the recipient PC 24A at such time the recipient PC 24A is connected to the network channel 76. Therein Store and Forward Server 140 must be notified by IP address server 40, as indicated by 141, or through network channel 76, as to the IP address of the recipient PC 24A at such time as recipient PC 24A is available on the network channel 76. At such time as the recipient PC's 24A IP address is sent to the said Store and Forward Server 140 by IP address server 40, the said encapsulated file can be transmitted to recipient PC 24A, as indicated by line 142 to recipient PC 24A. In the event sender PC 24 remains connected to the network channel 76, the encapsulated file can be stored on the sender's PC 24, and the said sender's PC periodically interrogates the IP address server 40, as to the IP address of the recipient PC 24A. At such time as the recipient PC's 24A IP address is sent to the said sender's PC 24, the said encapsulated file can be transmitted to recipient PC 24A. Thereafter the system proceeds in the manner described above, with reference to Figs 1 , 2, and 5.

While there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the Inventive System it is to be appreciated that the invention may be embodied otherwise than is herein specifically shown and described and that, within said embodiment, certain changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts without departing from the underlying ideas or principles of this invention as set forth in the Claims appended herewith. The above recited use of Dropchute and .pdf files reflect the best mode of practice of the invention that is known or contemplated.

Claims

(i) THE CLAIMS claim:

A system for peer-to-peer ("P2P") transport of a likeness of a physical document or an electronic document from a digital input means ("DIM"), a sending digital processing means ("DPM"), a recipient DPM, and a recipient digital output means ("DOM"), the system comprising:

(a) means for distillation of a document file, stored in said DPM, into a universally readable file format;

(b) means for encapsulating IP transception properties with said distilled file, said properties including at least one recipient DOM specific name and recipient print control properties;

(c) an IP address server comprising means for sending a current IP address of a recipient DPM connected to said DOM with said specific name in response to a request, from a sender of said file, to said address server;

(d) means for activating a P2P connection to said recipient DPM via a network channel;

(e) means for transporting said encapsulated file across said channel; and

(f) recipient/server means, associated with said DPM and connected to said DOM, said recipient/server means comprising:

(i) means for separating said encapsulated file into said distilled file and said print control properties; (ii) means for applying said print control properties to said DOM; (iii) means for outputting said distilled file to said DOM and; (g) means for continually updating said IP address server with IP addresses of system subscribers.

The system as recited in Claim 1 , in which said originating DIM means comprises: at least one of a multifunction imaging device, and a digital scanner, each having an output to said DPM.

The system as recited in Claim 1 , in which said originating DPM comprises: at least one of a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, an Internet appliance, or a cellular telephone, including means for interactive communication with said IP address server.

The system as recited in Claim 1 , in which said transception properties include one or more of a sending DIM and recipient DOM specific names, originating and recipient software serial numbers, a user password, a number of copies of said document to be printed, that portion of said document to be displayed first, a security status of said document, delivery confirmation, and a list of recipient DOM's. The system as recited in Claim 4, in which said DPM means further comprises; a sender address book and a document properties selection means.

The system as recited in Claim 1 , in which said system further comprises: a sender/client software includes said distillation means having, as an output thereof, a header inclusive of said IP transception properties.

The system as recited in Claim 1 , in which said system further comprises: encryption means for said file, applied after said encapsulation of said file.

The system as recited in Claim 4, in which said applying means (f)(ii) comprises: spooler means.

The system as recited in Claim 4, in which said applying means (g) (ii) further comprises: means for computer viewing, on said recipient DPM, of designated first display pages of said transported distilled file prior to the output thereof.

The system as recited in Claim 8, further comprising: means for interactive communication between said recipient DOM and said recipient/server software. The system of Claim 1 , in which said network channel comprises one or more of the Internet, an intranet, a VPN, a LAN, WLAN or a WAN.

The system as recited in Claim 1 , in which said encapsulation means results in one or more of the following file types: pdf, .tiff, .efx, jpg, .gif, .pcx, .bmp, and .ps.

The system as recited in Claim 1 , in which said encryption means comprises one or more of the following encryption standards:

PKI, FIPS, AES, PGP, S/MIME, MOSS, PKCS#7, Entrust/Express, IEE P1363, DES, PEM, SSL, RSA Public Key Cryptography, DSA, MD2, MD5, RC2-CBC, RC4, DES-CBC, and DES-EDE3-CBC,

The system as recited in Claim 1 , in which the said transportation means comprises one or more of the following programs:

Dropchute, MS Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, Morpheus, MailRules, Newtella, Napigator, LimeWire, BearShare, Aimster, Swaptor, RiffShare, Groove and KaZaA.

15. The system as recited in Claim 1, in which each of said recipient DOM specific names comprises a constant regardless of the dynamic IP (DHCP) address of said DOM associated therewith.

16. A communication system comprising; a sender side for peer-to-peer transmission of a representation of a document to a recipient unit wherein the recipient unit comprises a recipient processor and a recipient output, the sender side comprising: an input for receiving an electronic version of a document; distillation means for distilling the received electronic version of a document into a distilled file expressed in a universally readable file format; an encapsulation engine for creating an encapsulated file by combining recipient control properties with the distilled file, the properties including at least one recipient output specific name and recipient presentation control properties; an interface to an address server for requesting and receiving a current internet protocol address of the recipient processor; and, an output for transmitting to the recipient unit, via a network channel, peer-to-peer signals, wherein the peer-to-peer signals comprise the encapsulated file.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the distillation means distills the received document file into a file expressed in portable document file format.

18. The system of claim 16 further comprising a device coupled to the input for receiving a physical document and providing an electronic output document file to the input.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the input comprises at least one of a digital scanner, a personal computer, a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant, or an internet appliance.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the recipient presentation control properties further comprise a recipient software serial number.

21. The system of claim 16 wherein the recipient presentation control properties further comprise recipient print control properties.

22. The system of claim 16 wherein the recipient presentation control properties further comprise an identification of a portion of the document to be displayed on a recipient screen.

23. The system of claim 16 wherein the recipient control properties further comprise identification of a security status for the document.

24. The system of claim 16 wherein the interface to an address server comprises means for transmitting a recipient software serial number as part of requesting the current internet protocol address.

25. The system of claim 16 further comprising a recipient system for receiving an encapsulated file for output, the system comprising: means for separating the encapsulated file into a distilled file and presentation control properties; means for applying the presentation control properties to the output; and f means for providing the distilled file to said output.

26. The system of claim 16 further comprising an internet protocol address server comprising means for encapsulating internet protocol transception properties of the recipient processor.

27. The system of claim 16 further comprising means for activating a peer-to-peer connection to the recipient processor via a network channel.

28. The system of claim 16 further comprising means for transporting the encapsulated file across the network channel.

29. The system of claim 16 further comprising means for continually updating the internet protocol address server with internet protocol addresses of system subscribers.

30. The system of claim 16 further comprising a recipient side comprising: an input for receiving an incoming encapsulated file comprising a distilled file and header information, the header information comprising a recipient software serial number, and presentation control properties; means for separating the received encapsulated file into the distilled file and the header information; means for authenticating the software serial number; means for applying the presentation control properties to the output; and means for providing the distilled file to said output when the software serial number is authenticated.

31. A communications system comprising: an input for receiving an encapsulated file comprising a distilled file and header information, the header information comprising a recipient software serial number, and presentation control properties; means for separating the encapsulated file into the distilled file and the header information; means for authenticating the software serial number; means for applying the presentation control properties to the output; and means for providing the distilled file to said output when the software serial number is authenticated.

32. The communications system of claim 31 wherein the software serial number is contained in the presentation control properties.

33. The communications system of claim 31 wherein the presentation control properties further comprise print control properties.