When iOS devices such as iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch connect to the wireless network, they are automatically assigned an IP address. This opens an opportunity to exploit the IP network service for printer discovery, and submit the print job. iOS devices convert Microsoft Office files, images, and Web pages into PDF; construct an IPP print request; and send the print request to the AirPrint enabled IPP printer. The AirPrint enabled IPP printer renders the PDF or image file into a printer-specific language such as post script. The printer consumes this data and the document is printed. This is called AirPrint.
Many printers are not compatible with AirPrint. iPrint hides the printer’s capabilities, and advertises the printer as an AirPrint enabled printer. This allows iPrint to extend the enterprise print service into the wireless network to exploit the iOS devices’ inherent print capability, and provides additional advantages to consume iPrint features.