Abstract: A document printing system may include a print engine, a controller and a communication port. The communication port can read a portable memory device, which stores an electronic secure file for authorizing the print engine. The portable memory device may store data such as the creation date for the electronic secure file. The portable memory may also store the device identification code and/or the vendor identification code. The electronic secure file may also store the creation date for the file itself, and the device identification code, the vendor identification code, or a balance amount. The system may authorize a print engine by comparing the data in the electronic secure file and data stored on the portable memory device. If the comparison of data finds a mismatch, the system may determine that the print engine is not authorized; or determine that the service is authorized if otherwise.

Abstract: A document printing system may include a print engine, a controller and a communication port. The communication port can read a portable memory device, which stores an electronic secure file for authorizing the print engine. The portable memory device may store data such as the creation date for the electronic secure file. The portable memory may also store the device identification code and/or the vendor identification code. The electronic secure file may also store the creation date for the file itself, and the device identification code, the vendor identification code, or a balance amount. The system may authorize a print engine by comparing the data in the electronic secure file and data stored on the portable memory device. If the comparison of data finds a mismatch, the system may determine that the print engine is not authorized; or that the service is authorized if otherwise.

Abstract: A document printing system may include a print engine, a controller and a communication port. The communication port can read a portable memory device, which stores an electronic secure file for authorizing the print engine. The portable memory device may store data such as the creation date for the electronic secure file. The portable memory may also store the device identification code and/or the vendor identification code. The electronic secure file may also store the creation date for the file itself, and the device identification code, the vendor identification code, or a balance amount. The system may authorize a print engine by comparing the data in the electronic secure file and data stored on the portable memory device. If the comparison of data finds a mismatch, the system may determine that the print engine is not authorized; or determine that the service is authorized if otherwise.

Abstract: A document printing system may include a print engine, a controller and a communication port. The communication port can read a portable memory device, which stores an electronic secure file for authorizing the print engine. The portable memory device may store data such as the creation date for the electronic secure file. The portable memory may also store the device identification code and/or the vendor identification code. The electronic secure file may also store the creation date for the file itself, and the device identification code, the vendor identification code, or a balance amount. The system may authorize a print engine by comparing the data in the electronic secure file and data stored on the portable memory device. If the comparison of data finds a mismatch, the system may determine that the print engine is not authorized; or that the service is authorized if otherwise.

Abstract: A document printing system may include a print engine, a controller coupled to the print engine and a communication port in electrical communication with the controller. The communication port can read a portable memory device, which stores an electronic secure file for authorizing the print engine. The portable memory device may store data such as the device identification code, the vendor identification code, the creation date for the electronic secure file. The electronic secure file may also store the device identification code, the vendor identification code, the creation date for the file itself, as well as a balance amount. The system may authorize a print engine by comparing the data in the electronic secure file and data stored on the portable memory device. If the comparison of data finds a mismatch, the system may determine that the print engine is not authorized; or that the service is authorized if otherwise.

Abstract: A method for troubleshooting a problem with a device includes acquiring device data for the device, receiving a user's query concerning a device in a natural language, presenting possible refinements to at least a portion of the user's query for defining a problem statement, presenting candidate solutions that are associated with the defined problem statement in a knowledge base, at least one of the presentation of possible refinements and the presentation of candidate solutions being informed by device data that is linked through a diagnostic model of the device to at least one of the problem statements and candidate solutions.

Abstract: A system for reconciling a bill for the usage of a metered device includes an image capture device for generating an electronic image of a machine readable code associated with a hardcopy bill for the use of a metered device, a decoder for decoding at least one reconciliation instruction from the electronic image and a reconciliation controller for executing the at least one reconciliation instruction to enable a reconciliation of the hardcopy bill for the use of the metered device with stored metered device usage data.

Abstract: In a system and method for streak detection in a fixed imaging array digital scanning system, redundant information regarding individual lines of a scanned image collected by multiple discrete rows or sets of scanning sensors in the imaging array are compared. Stationary obstructions in the field of view of the imaging array are detected through this comparison which would otherwise appear repeatedly reproduced as streaks or lines in the reproduced output image.

Abstract: A method for troubleshooting a problem with a device includes acquiring device data for the device, receiving a user's query concerning a device in a natural language, presenting possible refinements to at least a portion of the user's query for defining a problem statement, presenting candidate solutions that are associated with the defined problem statement in a knowledge base, at least one of the presentation of possible refinements and the presentation of candidate solutions being informed by device data that is linked through a diagnostic model of the device to at least one of the problem statements and candidate solutions.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating the distribution of a digital data file representing an original document by providing a coded cover sheet containing distribution processing instructions in the form of a paper UI. The code indicating the presence of the paper UI. The system includes an optical sensor which detects the code and signals a control processor to process the paper UI instructions.

Abstract: An authorization service is provided for use with a multifunctional printing system. The printing machine includes a first document processing service and a second document processing service. The first document processing service includes a first set of one or more document processing operations with each of the first set of one or more document processing operations being performable relatives to the electronic document. The second document processing service includes a second set of one or more document processing operations with each of the second set of one or more document processing operations being performable relative to the electronic document. The system also includes a programmable authorization system that controls a manner in which a first set of users accesses the first set of one or more document processing operations and a second set of users access the second set of one or more document processing operations.

Abstract: An auditron system is provided for a multifunctional printing system including a printing machine with a plurality of document processing services, the auditron system includes a user interface and a programmable auditron subsystem communicating with the user interface and printing machine. The auditron subsystem is responsive to input at the user interface and the input causes the auditron subsystem to be disposed in one of a plurality of modes relative to one of the plurality of document processing services.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating the distribution of a digital data file representing an original document by providing a coded cover sheet containing distribution processing instructions in the form of a paper UI. The code indicating the presence of the paper UI. The system includes an optical sensor which detects the code and signals a control processor to process the paper UI instructions.

Abstract: A method is provided for a multifunctional printing system in which a plurality of jobs are placed in a queue in anticipation of processing the same. The queue, over time, receives jobs of at least a first user type and a second user type. In operation, first and second jobs of the first user type are placed in the queue. When a third job is ready for placement into the queue, a determination as to whether the third job is of the first user type or the second user type is made. If the third job is of the first user type, then it is processed subsequent to the processing of both the first and second jobs; however, if the third job is of the second user type, then the third job is processed ahead of at least the second job.

Abstract: A document scanner, including a document input tray for holding a compilation of documents in a predetermined sequence; a document output tray for receiving documents; an imaging station for scanning each one of said compilation of documents at predefined scanning rate; an imaging transport system for moving the documents received from said document input tray through said imaging station at a first velocity; an inverter, spaced a predetermined distance from said imaging transport system for moving selected documents of said compilation of documents back to said imaging transport system, said inverter having one mode of operation for moving selected documents to said imaging transport system so that a second side of said selected documents is scanned by said imaging station, said inverter having second mode of operation for moving selected documents to said imaging transport system so that said first side of said selected documents are rescanned by said imaging station.

Abstract: There is provided a method for a producing prints from a print job with a plurality of electronic pages divided into a first print job segment having a first number of electronic pages and a second print job segment having a second number of electronic pages. The method includes the steps of: a) storing the first print job segment in the electronic precollation memory, wherein the first print job segment is about equal to the electronic page capacity of the electronic precollation memory; b) printing N copies of each electronic page of the first print job segment stored in the electronic precollation memory; c) storing the second print job segment in the electronic precollation memory; and d) printing N copies of each electronic page of the second print job segment stored in the electronic precollation memory.

Abstract: A method of interrupting a job currently in the process of being printed from a print queue of a multifunctional printing system with an interrupt job having its origin in one of a first service or a second service is provided. The job currently in the process of being printed includes a page boundary, a set boundary and a job boundary. Additionally, the first service includes a first input device disposed locally with respect to the multifunctional printing system and communicates with a first memory section having one or more jobs developed with the first input device, while the second service includes a second input device disposed remotely of the multifunctional printing system and communicates with a second memory section having one or more jobs developed with the second input device. The method includes selecting a job from one of a first memory section and the second memory section. The job is designated as an interrupt job and transmitted to the print queue.

Abstract: A system or method displays an appropriate user interface for a multi-function machine. A controller changes displayed contents of a user interface to display a functional screen corresponding to a copy-function when a document handler sensor senses a document placed in a document handler and changes the displayed contents of the user interface to display a functional screen corresponding to a facsimile-function when a telephone number sensor circuit senses a telephone being inputted through a ten-key pad. The controller also changes the display of the user interface to display a functional screen corresponding to a copy-function when a platen cover sensor senses a lifting of a platen cover. Lastly, the controller changes the display of the user interface to display a function screen corresponding to a print-function when a portable memory drive sensor senses an insertion of a portable memory device into a portable memory drive.

Abstract: A method is provided for a multifunctional printing system in which a first job, developed at a first service, and a second job, developed at a second service are placed in a queue for processing. A first value is assigned to the first job and a second value is assigned to the second job, with the first and second values varying in magnitude as a function of the first and second services. In practice, the first job is placed in the queue and a portion thereof is processed. Subsequently, the second job is placed in the queue and processing of the first job is interrupted by the second job if the second value is greater in magnitude than the first value.

Abstract: In an auto-fitting mode, a scanner prescans an input document to determine the location and size of an image within the input document. The area of the image is defined in terms of a rectangular area encompassing all area of the input document where the reflectance of the image data is less than 20% of the reflectance value of the input documents background. Once the image area has been defined, a magnification factor is calculated. The input document is then rescanned applying the calculated magnification factor and properly registered so that the image area can be centered when it is rendered on to the desired output paper. If the image area detected is such that the longer side of the rectangular area does not have the same orientation as the desired output paper, the image is automatically rotated prior to the magnification and registering processes. The magnification factor can be calculated either anamorphically or isotropically.