Microsoft Corp. and Hewlett-Packard Co. have submitted a Simple Web Printing (SWP) proposal to the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) subgroup of Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)/Printer Working Group.
The proposal, reportedly well received, will allow a user to submit, control and monitor print jobs while connected to the Internet or corporate intranets via HTTP. This represents the initial step toward realizing the IPP's vision of standardized, secure Internet printing.
According to a press release issued by Microsoft, this technology can be used in a number of ways. In on scenario, a small business could use it as an easy way to transfer data to a commercial print shop. The small business could set up an account with a commercial printer with equipment such as a color laser printer or a wide-format printer. The small business would then use links on the commercial printer's Web site to install appropriate print drivers for the type of printing it needs. When the business needed a document printed using the commercial printer's equipment, it could simply choose File/Print and select the appropriate printer. The document would be sent to the commercial printer's server and printed out in the necessary format.
Microsoft and HP's proposal maintains existing HTTP protocols, displays the user interface for printing in HTML, and ensures security while printing over the Internet, a company spokesperson said.
The proposal has already gained support from Adobe Systems Inc., IBM Corp., Lexmark International Group Inc. and Xerox Corp., Microsoft and HP noted in a press release.
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