Abstract: A data collector agent (DCA) connector component running on a cloud computing network signals to a device interfacing platform component that a work request is ready. The device interfacing platform component runs on the cloud computing network and interfaces a device located outside the cloud computing network to the cloud computing network. The work request is for the DCA connector component to perform in conjunction with the device. The DCA connector component establishes a communication session with the device via the device interfacing platform component as initiated by the device. The DCA connector component performs the work request in conjunction with the device by tunneling to the device through the established communication session.

Abstract: A data collector agent (DCA) connector component running on a cloud computing network signals to a device interfacing platform component that a work request is ready. The device interfacing platform component runs on the cloud computing network and interfaces a device located outside the cloud computing network to the cloud computing network. The work request is for the DCA connector component to perform in conjunction with the device. The DCA connector component establishes a communication session with the device via the device interfacing platform component as initiated by the device. The DCA connector component performs the work request in conjunction with the device by tunneling to the device through the established communication session.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to hard imaging devices, hard imaging systems, articles of manufacture, hard imaging device electronic mail processing methods. A hard imaging device includes a communications interface configured to communicate with a communications medium and a communications device, the communications device and the communications medium are communicatively coupled with one another and located external of the hard imaging device, an image engine configured to form hard images using media, processing circuitry configured to control the image engine to form hard images and to communicate with the communication device and an external computer device, and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to track electronic mail communication comprising electronic information received within the hard imaging device and invoke an operation of the hard imaging device.

Abstract: Hard imaging devices, hard imaging systems, articles of manufacture, hard imaging device file system accessing methods, hard imaging device file system sharing methods are described. According to one aspect, a hard imaging device comprises a communications interface configured to communicate with a communications medium external of the hard imaging device, an image engine configured to form hard images using media, a file system configured to store a plurality of electronic files, processing circuitry having a server system configured to communicate with the file system and at least an external management device or a computer device, and wherein communication with at least the external management device or the computer device is performed using a web sharing protocol.

Abstract: Various systems, methods, and computer programs are provided for remotely monitoring a printer status. In monitoring the printer status, one selects a printer status object from among a list of selectable printer status objects in a remote client in data communication with a printer. Thereafter, an email is generated in the remote client and a status request is written into the email in a printer management language native to the printer. The status request requests a current status of the printer status object in the printer. The email is transmitted to the printer through any firewalls. The printer generates a reply email that provides the desired status information and transmits the reply email to the requester.

Abstract: A method of controlling usage of fonts stored in a printer includes detecting a request for use of a first one of the fonts by a print job. Printer identification information contained in the first font is compared to a printer identifier stored in the printer. Usage of the first font by the printer is controlled based on the comparison.

Abstract: An operating system font is created from a printer metrics file. The printer metrics file includes at least one set of font metrics. Each set of font metrics represents one font. The printer metrics file is opened and the font metrics are read. A system font is created from each set of font metrics. The system font is created by applying the font metrics to a font template. The font template with the applied font metrics is saved as a system font. The system font is then installed and registered with the operating system. A name of the operating system font is recorded with a printer driver associated with the printer metrics file.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is directed to a data processing system that includes an electrical detection circuit to determine whether the electrical power is going from “on” to “off,” or changing from “off” to “on;” a peripheral device, including a processor to calculate the amount of electrical energy required for the peripheral device to perform a task; a task queue for the peripheral device that can be read to find a task if the electrical power is going from “on” to “off;” and a non-volatile memory, including a task queue to store data describing the task if insufficient electrical energy remains available to the peripheral device to complete the task.

Abstract: A receiving machine is identified for a received document associated with a fax number of a destination fax machine. The associated document is sent via a network to the receiving machine in a form facilitating faxing of the associated document to the destination fax machine.

Abstract: A printer module receives a message from an attached computer that is requesting a secure printing key. The printer module generates a key in response to the received message, and sends the key to the attached computer requesting the key. The printer module executes in some embodiments of the invention in a Java virtual machine, and provides communication with the attached computers via a web server module executing within the printer.

Abstract: A printer access control module within a printer receives a request from a client computer for printing resource authorization, determines the policy domain of the requesting client computer, and grants printing resource authorization based on the determined policy domain. A security key is issued to the client to identify the client computer to the printer for confirming granted resource authorization.

Abstract: Various systems, methods, and computer programs are provided for remotely monitoring a printer status. In monitoring the printer status, one selects a printer status object from among a list of selectable printer status objects in a remote client in data communication with a printer. Thereafter, an email is generated in the remote client and a status request is written into the email in a printer management language native to the printer. The status request requests a current status of the printer status object in the printer. The email is transmitted to the printer through any firewalls. The printer generates a reply email that provides the desired status information and transmits the reply email to the requester.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to hard imaging devices, hard imaging systems, articles of manufacture, hard imaging device electronic mail processing methods. A hard imaging device includes a communications interface configured to communicate with a communications medium and a communications device, the communications device and the communications medium are communicatively coupled with one another and located external of the hard imaging device, an image engine configured to form hard images using media, processing circuitry configured to control the image engine to form hard images and to communicate with the communication device and an external computer device, and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to track electronic mail communication comprising electronic information received within the hard imaging device and invoke an operation of the hard imaging device.

Abstract: Hard imaging devices, hard imaging systems, articles of manufacture, hard imaging device file system accessing methods, hard imaging device file system sharing methods are described. According to one aspect, a hard imaging device comprises a communications interface configured to communicate with a communications medium external of the hard imaging device, an image engine configured to form hard images using media, a file system configured to store a plurality of electronic files, processing circuitry having a server system configured to communicate with the file system and at least an external management device or a computer device, and wherein communication with at least the external management device or the computer device is performed using a web sharing protocol.

Abstract: A method of controlling usage of fonts stored in a printer includes detecting a request for use of a first one of the fonts by a print job. Printer identification information contained in the first font is compared to a printer identifier stored in the printer. Usage of the first font by the printer is controlled based on the comparison.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to handle power supply failures to a peripheral device in a data processing system. One embodiment of the invention involves a method to handle a power failure during the performance of a task, wherein the peripheral device receives electrical power from a power supply, and the peripheral device is part of a data processing system that also contains a non-volatile memory. The method includes monitoring the power supply to determine whether the electrical power is going from “on” to “off,” or going from “off” to “on.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is directed to a data processing system that includes an electrical detection circuit to determine whether the electrical power is going from “on” to “off,” or changing from “off” to “on;” a peripheral device, including a processor to calculate the amount of electrical energy required for the peripheral device to perform a task; a task queue for the peripheral device that can be read to find a task if the electrical power is going from “on” to “off;” and a non-volatile memory, including a task queue to store data describing the task if insufficient electrical energy remains available to the peripheral device to complete the task.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a user ID to a printer to print personalized content for a specific user. The printer detects an ID provided by a user. This ID uniquely identifies the user. The printer determines a reference to the personalized content. The reference is based upon the user ID. The printer uses the reference to request the personalized content stored somewhere on a network. Upon receipt of the personalized content over the network, the printer prints the personalized content on paper.

Abstract: A method and a system are used to manage fonts in print jobs with more than one context where at least some of the contexts include text strings. Print jobs may be divided into portions, called contexts, so that they are easier for a print manager to manage. These larger contexts are called graphic sets. Each of these graphic sets is sent to the printer driver consecutively. Each text string has a font associated with it. The font data for each text string is read from the operating system and cached into memory at the time each string is received by the printer driver. After all individual text strings elements of a given graphic set have been received by the printer driver, the context is stored and the cached fonts are stored with the context. After all of the contexts of the print job have been received by the printer and stored, each context is restored and rendered. The graphics sets may be restored in any order. The fonts stored with a context are also restored when the context is restored.

Abstract: A method and a system are used to manage fonts in print jobs with more than one context where at least some of the contexts include text strings. Print jobs may be divided into portions, called contexts, so that they are easier for a print manager to manage. These larger contexts are called graphic sets. Each of these graphic sets is sent to the printer driver consecutively. Each text string has a font associated with it. The font data for each text string is read from the operating system and cached into memory at the time each string is received by the printer driver. After all individual text strings elements of a given graphic set have been received by the printer driver, the context is stored and the cached fonts are stored with the context. After all of the contexts of the print job have been received by the printer and stored, each context is restored and rendered. The graphics sets may be restored in any order. The fonts stored with a context are also restored when the context is restored.