FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system of private and public servers that implement policy-based printing operations. The system includes a public and private network that supports the policy used for printing operations, wherein the policy is implemented using a private server in the private network having split printing methods to print a document over two or more printing devices.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Existing policy-based printing systems mostly operate within a closed private domain environment. Print data submitted by users may be only accessible within a single domain environment. Some users, such as on-the-go users including insurance and real estate agents, sales executives, lawyers, and company executives, require the capability to access printing data beyond an office environment. These users travel extensively and find themselves needing to print in public locations, such as convenience stores, libraries, airports, copy and printing service stores, and the like. At these locations, the users may not reliably access the printing data. Further, these public locations may not support policy-based printing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A policy-based printing method is disclosed. The policy-based printing method includes receiving a corporate personal identification number (PIN) at a public server. The corporate PIN corresponds to a document stored on a private server. The policy-based printing method also includes applying a policy to allow a print job for the document based on the corporate PIN. The policy-based printing method also includes generating a first public PIN corresponding to the corporate PIN at the public server. The policy-based printing method also includes sending the first public PIN to a mobile application on a mobile device. The policy-based printing method also includes receiving the first public PIN at the public server from a first printing device. The policy-based printing method also includes sending the document corresponding to the corporate PIN to the first printing device in response to the first public PIN. The policy-based printing method also includes printing the document at the first printing device. The policy-based printing method also includes stopping the printing job of the document. The policy-based printing method also includes generating a second public PIN at the public server corresponding to the corporate PIN. The second public PIN refers to an unprinted portion of the document. The policy-based printing method also includes receiving the second public PIN at the public server from a second printing device. The policy-based printing method also includes sending the unprinted portion of the document to the second printing device. The policy-based printing method also includes printing the unprinted portion of the document at the second printing device.

A policy-based printing method is disclosed. The policy-based printing method includes sending a corporate personal identification number (PIN) entered into a mobile application on a mobile device to a public server. The corporate PIN corresponds to a document stored on a private server connected to the public server. The policy-based printing method also includes applying a policy stored at the private server to determine whether to print the document corresponding to the corporate PIN. The policy-based printing method also includes receiving a first public PIN at the mobile application from the public server to print the document. The first public PIN corresponds to the public PIN. The policy-based printing method also includes receiving the first public PIN at the public server from a first printing device. The policy-based printing method also includes printing a first portion of the document at the first printing device. The policy-based printing method also includes determining that the first printing device is not available. The policy-based printing method also includes receiving a second public PIN at the mobile application from the public server. The second public PIN corresponds to the public PIN. The policy-based printing method also includes receiving the second public PIN at the public server from a second printing device. The policy-based printing method also includes printing a second portion of the document at the second printing device.

A policy-based printing system is disclosed. The policy-based printing system includes a mobile device configured to execute a mobile application. The policy-based printing system includes a private server storing a document and a corporate personal identification number (PIN) corresponding to the document. A policy is applied to determine whether to print the document upon receipt of the corporate PIN at the private server. The corporate PIN is provided to the mobile application. The policy-based printing system also includes a public server connected to the private server and configured to send the corporate PIN upon receipt from the mobile device. The public server generates a first public PIN upon receipt of the corporate PIN from the mobile application and sends the first public PIN to the mobile application. The policy-based printing system also includes a first printing device to send the first public PIN to the public server and to print the document received from the public server. The printing device indicates to the public server that printing operations are stopped and an unprinted portion of the document remains. The public server generates a second public PIN for the unprinted portion of the document and sends the second public PIN to the mobile application. The policy-based printing system also includes a second printing device to send the second public PIN to the public server and to print the unprinted portion of the document.

