Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100264214 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING CONTRACT-FREE "PAY-AS-YOU-GO" OPTIONS FOR UTILIZATION OF MULTI-FUNCTION DEVICES - A method and system including a plurality of multifunctional devices being operatively associated with at least one controller and each having a preset amount of preloaded consumables at a time of initial use; and a software application for enabling at least one user to access the plurality of multifunctional devices, the software application being configured to receive information from a prepaid card, the information including a financial value relating to usage of some of the preset amount of preloaded consumables in the plurality of multifunctional devices; wherein the financial value of the prepaid card is applied by the at least one user across the plurality of multifunctional devices in any desired uniform or non-uniform financial proportions in accordance with usage determinations; and wherein the at least one user is enabled to pay for access to the plurality of multifunctional devices in time staggered installments without pre-established contractual obligations. | 10-21-2010 |
20100268591 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTIVELY CONTROLLING THE USE OF FUNCTIONALITY IN ONE OR MORE MULTIFUNCTION DEVICES AND SUBSIDIZING THEIR USE THROUGH ADVERTISEMENTS - A system and related method for selectively controlling use of functionality in one or more multifunction devices includes a communications interface in operative communication with a printer and/or a display apparatus. The communications interfaces electronically communicates data with the printer and/or the display apparatus. The data includes a data structure configured to present an advertisement. The data may be print data or image data. The communications interface is operatively associated with an advertisement-credit component which can generate a credit value corresponding to the advertisement. The advertisement-credit component can subsidize multi-function device costs based upon a presented advertisement, e.g., the cost of printing, scanning, faxing, and related consumables including inks, toners and/or papers. The advertisement credit component authorizes use of a predetermined amount of a function with the credit value that corresponds to the advertisement. | 10-21-2010 |
20140132975 | NETWORKED PRINTING SYSTEMS - A system and method provide third party content to a local client printing system through a local client printing system; a content provider server operatively connected to the local client printing system; and a third party content provider server operatively connected to the content provider server. The content provider server provides printable content to the local client printing system, the printable content being specified by the local client printing system. The content provider server retrieves, from the third party content provider server, the printable content being specified by the local client printing system. The local client printing system prints the printable content received from the content provider server. | 05-15-2014 |
20140132980 | NETWORKED PRINTING SYSTEMS - A system and method provide a la carte reproduction services wherein a printing system is capable of performing multiple operational printing modes, but is configured, in a normal operational printing state, to perform a subset of the multiple operational printing modes. The printing system includes a user interface to enable a user to select an operational printing mode. The printing system, in response to a user selecting an operational printing mode not included in subset of the multiple operational printing modes, communicates with a printer service provider server to request authorization to perform the user selected operational printing mode. The printer service provider server requests predetermined information from the printing system, and, upon processing and verification of information received from the printing system, configures the printing system to perform the selected operational printing mode. | 05-15-2014 |
20140132981 | NETWORKED PRINTING SYSTEMS - A system and method for enabling content to be displayable in association with a local client printing system associated with a printer provider. The local client printing system, in response to commands entered through the user interface, communicates with a remote printer provider server to retrieve displayable content associated with the commands entered through a user interface. The local client printing system, in response to commands entered through the user interface, communicates with the remote printer provider server to identify the display device upon which the retrieved displayable content is to be displayed. The display device receives, from the remote printer provider server, the retrieved displayable content and displays the retrieved displayable content thereupon. | 05-15-2014 |
20140132982 | NETWORKED PRINTING SYSTEMS - A system and method for providing printing services to a mobile device connected to a network provides a remote print service provider server and local printers. The mobile device transmits a printer location request to the remote print service provider server. The remote print service provider server determines a physical location of the mobile device; determines which local printers are located within a predetermined parameter of the physical location of the mobile device; and transmits information to the mobile device identifying physical locations of local printers with respect to the physical location of the mobile device. The mobile device selects a local printer identified by the remote print service provider server and transmits, to the remote print service provider server, a print request. The remote print service provider server transmits the print request to the selected local printer. | 05-15-2014 |
20140253944 | VIRTUAL PRINTER INTERFACE NODE - A virtual printer interface node enables a non-cloud-ready printer to communicate with a cloud-based service, residing on an internet. The virtual printer interface node includes a housing; a communication interface to provide communication directly to the network router; and a microcontroller operatively connected to the communication interface. The microcontroller converts commands, received through the communication interface, from the cloud-based service, residing on the internet, to native protocols of the non-cloud-ready networked printer and communicates the converted native protocols to the non-cloud-ready networked printer. | 09-11-2014 |
20140253945 | A SYSTEM FOR AUTHENTICATING COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN A NON-CLOUD READY NETWORKED PRINTER AND A CLOUD-BASED SERVICE THROUGH A VIRTUAL PRINTER INTERFACE DEVICE - A virtual printer interface node enables a non-cloud-ready printer to communicate with a cloud-based service, residing on an internet. The virtual printer interface node includes a housing; a communication interface to provide communication directly to the network router; and a microcontroller operatively connected to the communication interface. The microcontroller converts commands, received through the communication interface, from the cloud-based service, residing on the internet, to native protocols of the non-cloud-ready networked printer and communicates the converted native protocols to the non-cloud-ready networked printer. | 09-11-2014 |
20140253954 | VIRTUAL PRINTER INTERFACE NODE - A virtual printer interface node enables a non-cloud-ready printer to communicate with a cloud-based service, residing on an internet. The virtual printer interface node includes a housing; a communication interface to provide communication directly to the network router; and a microcontroller operatively connected to the communication interface. The microcontroller converts commands, received through the communication interface, from the cloud-based service, residing on the internet, to native protocols of the non-cloud-ready networked printer and communicates the converted native protocols to the non-cloud-ready networked printer. | 09-11-2014 |
20140253955 | VIRTUAL PRINTER INTERFACE NODE - A virtual printer interface node enables a non-cloud-ready printer to communicate with a cloud-based service, residing on an internet. The virtual printer interface node includes a housing; a communication interface to provide communication directly to the network router; and a microcontroller operatively connected to the communication interface. The microcontroller converts commands, received through the communication interface, from the cloud-based service, residing on the internet, to native protocols of the non-cloud-ready networked printer and communicates the converted native protocols to the non-cloud-ready networked printer. | 09-11-2014 |
20140253956 | VIRTUAL PRINTER INTERFACE NODE - A virtual printer interface node enables a non-cloud-ready printer to communicate with a cloud-based service, residing on an internet. The virtual printer interface node includes a housing; a communication interface to provide communication directly to the network router; and a microcontroller operatively connected to the communication interface. The microcontroller converts commands, received through the communication interface, from the cloud-based service, residing on the internet, to native protocols of the non-cloud-ready networked printer and communicates the converted native protocols to the non-cloud-ready networked printer. | 09-11-2014 |
20140253959 | VIRTUAL PRINTER INTERFACE NODE - A virtual printer interface node enables a non-cloud-ready printer to communicate with a cloud-based service, residing on an internet. The virtual printer interface node includes a housing; a communication interface to provide communication directly to the network router; and a microcontroller operatively connected to the communication interface. The microcontroller converts commands, received through the communication interface, from the cloud-based service, residing on the internet, to native protocols of the non-cloud-ready networked printer and communicates the converted native protocols to the non-cloud-ready networked printer. | 09-11-2014 |
20140253960 | VIRTUAL PRINTER INTERFACE NODE - A virtual printer interface node enables a non-cloud-ready printer to communicate with a cloud-based service, residing on an internet. The virtual printer interface node includes a housing; a communication interface to provide communication directly to the network router; and a microcontroller operatively connected to the communication interface. The microcontroller converts commands, received through the communication interface, from the cloud-based service, residing on the internet, to native protocols of the non-cloud-ready networked printer and communicates the converted native protocols to the non-cloud-ready networked printer. | 09-11-2014 |
20140253961 | VIRTUAL PRINTER INTERFACE NODE - A virtual printer interface node enables a non-cloud-ready printer to communicate with a cloud-based service, residing on an internet. The virtual printer interface node includes a housing; a communication interface to provide communication directly to the network router; and a microcontroller operatively connected to the communication interface. The microcontroller converts commands, received through the communication interface, from the cloud-based service, residing on the internet, to native protocols of the non-cloud-ready networked printer and communicates the converted native protocols to the non-cloud-ready networked printer. | 09-11-2014 |
20140253962 | VIRTUAL PRINTER INTERFACE NODE - A virtual printer interface node enables a non-cloud-ready printer to communicate with a cloud-based service, residing on an internet. The virtual printer interface node includes a housing; a communication interface to provide communication directly to the network router; and a microcontroller operatively connected to the communication interface. The microcontroller converts commands, received through the communication interface, from the cloud-based service, residing on the internet, to native protocols of the non-cloud-ready networked printer and communicates the converted native protocols to the non-cloud-ready networked printer. | 09-11-2014 |