Abstract: A printer and associated programming for automatically requesting a PDL program from a storage site that is connected to the printer by a network for any document that requires a PDL program that is not already available to the printer. A computer for this purpose may be a user or host computer, or be built in to the printer. When the computer delivers a document to the printer, either the computer will request that the PDL program from storage to be sent to the printer, or the printer will determine which PDL program is needed by inspecting the received document, and request it when provided the location.

Abstract: A printer and associated programming for automatically requesting a PDL program from a storage site that is connected to the printer by a network for any document that requires a PDL program that is not already available to the printer. A computer for this purpose may be a user or host computer, or be built in to the printer. When the computer delivers a document to the printer, either the computer will request that the PDL program from storage to be sent to the printer, or the printer will determine which PDL program is needed by inspecting the received document, and request it when provided the location.

Abstract: A computer system for automatically ordering consumables for a printer or a similar machine where the inventory is monitored by comparing the amount of material delivered, for example, by scanning the incoming cartons, against the amount used, for example, by the machine automatically sending to the computer counts of the various units consumed. The computer is equipped with a set of rules for automatically reordering new supplies. In an alternative case, the rules would request a concession, in terms of price or some other parameter such as quantity, from one or more vendors before ordering.

Abstract: A system for guaranteeing that a defective check is destroyed before a duplicate check is printed. A client terminal is connected to a check printer and a shredder. The client requests a check to be printed. If the printing is defective the check is submitted to the shredder, which destroys the check and enables the printer to print a duplicate. To the extent that the client has a more extensive data base than the printer, the destruction of the check is transmitted to the client as well as the printer. In this case it is the client that instructs the printer to print a duplicate. Finally, to the extent that a network is used for communication between the elements, encryption and passwords may be used for security.