1.4 iPrint Solutions

The following scenarios illustrate how iPrint can resolve business needs:

1.4.1 Printing Across the Internet

John is an employee working at home who wants to send a document to a printer at his office. John does not want to dial into the company’s network, but he has access to the Internet.

  1. John points his Web browser to the company’s print URL, http://Printing.My_Company.Com/ipp.

    iPrint Printer list Web page
  2. From the Web page, John selects the printer to install. The iPrint client is automatically downloaded and installed on his computer. The printer driver is also downloaded and the printer is installed on his computer.

  3. From any application on his home computer, John can now print to the company’s printer.

1.4.2 Printing While Mobile

Gail is visiting her company’s branch office in Paris. She needs to print a handout for an upcoming meeting. Gail knows she can print to the branch office printer, even though she does not know the printer’s name, eDirectory context, make, model, or required printer driver.

  1. Gail connects her laptop to the company network, clicks the iPrint link on the company’s intranet Web page, and then clicks a link for the branch office she is visiting. A map of the branch office and iPrint printers displays.

  2. Gail locates the office she is using and clicks the icon for the printer just outside her office.

  3. The printer driver is downloaded and a printer is created on her laptop. She didn’t need to install the iPrint client software again because she had used iPrint previously at a different branch office.

  4. From her application, Gail prints her handouts for the upcoming meeting.

1.4.3 Printing Instead of Faxing

Dan has just returned to his hotel room in Chicago after visiting with some clients. While checking his e-mail, he is reminded that he needs to submit a report to his boss in the corporate office in New York. The report is due by 8:00 a.m. Although he could send the report by fax, he wants a high-quality printout in color and he does not want to incur long-distance telephone charges.

  1. Dan uses his laptop to dial in to a local Internet Service Provider.

  2. Using his Web browser, Dan accesses the company’s intranet Web page. Using the iPrint map pages, he locates an iPrint color printer adjacent to his boss’ office.

  3. After downloading and installing the printer driver, Dan uses his application to send the report to the printer.

  4. Dan returns to the iPrint Web page and clicks the printer again to display printer management options. He monitors the printer job list to see that his print job is completed.

  5. Dan sends an e-mail to his boss telling him that the report is available at the printer.