Abstract: A computer network may include a network server, a network printer having a printer identifier associated therewith, and a plurality of network computers coupled to the network server for generating print jobs to be directed to the printer based upon the printer identifier. Each print job may have a printing permission level associated therewith. Moreover, the computer network may further include a printer control device coupled between the network server and the network printer and configured to determine the printer identifier associated with the network printer based upon printer communications, identify the printer control device to the network server using the printer identifier to access the print jobs from the network computers, and selectively enable printing of the print jobs by the network printer based upon the respective printing permission levels associated therewith.

Abstract: A computer network may include a host computer and a plurality of computer workstations selectively connectable thereto at which user work sessions may be initiated. Each computer workstation when disconnected from the host computer (e.g., due to server outage, etc.) may advantageously initiate a user session responsive to a user request and store session information for updating the respective user account balance when reconnected with the host computer. Additionally, when the computer workstations are connected to the host computer they may copy respective user account balances from the host computer upon initiation of user sessions, and update the copied account balances based upon computer usage during the respective user sessions. The computer network may also include at least one reservation computer for cooperating with the host computer to schedule user session reservations and provide a requesting user an estimated time before a user session will be made available.

Abstract: A print management system may include at least one client device for generating print jobs, and a plurality of print servers for storing print job information based upon the generated print jobs. The print servers may cooperate to share the print job information therebetween. At least one printing station may retrieve the shared print job information, and selectively print print jobs based thereon.

Abstract: A print management system may include at least one client device for generating print jobs, and a plurality of print servers for storing print job information based upon the generated print jobs. The print servers may cooperate to share the print job information therebetween. At least one printing station may retrieve the shared print job information, and selectively print print jobs based thereon.

Abstract: A print management system may include at least one client device for generating print jobs, and a plurality of print servers for storing print job information based upon the generated print jobs. The print servers may cooperate to share the print job information therebetween. At least one printing station may retrieve the shared print job information, and selectively print print jobs based thereon.

Abstract: A document processing system may include at least one document processing device for performing document processing jobs, and a controller connected to the at least one document processing device. The controller may be for determining whether to restrict document processing jobs from being performed by the at least one document processing device with a job attribute based upon a job attribute control parameter. If a document processing job is to be restricted based upon the job attribute control parameter, the controller may also be for determining whether to override the restriction based upon a job attribute override parameter different than the job attribute control parameter.

Abstract: A document processing system may include at least one document processing device for performing document processing jobs. A controller connected to the at least one document processing device may be for recording job attribute usage history based upon document processing jobs performed by the at least one document processing device with a job attribute, and selectively restricting processing of new print jobs by the at least one document processing device with the job attribute based upon the recorded job attribute usage history exceeding a job attribute control threshold.

Abstract: A method for downloading a data set from a network application to an output device, comprising the steps of initiating the network application; uploading search and discovery parameters to the network application to identify and locate the output device, the parameters being selected from geographical locating information, identifying information, prior access and usage information, and combinations thereof; identifying and locating the output device via an algorithm and a database in the network application; and downloading the data set to the output device. The network application preferably is distinct from the output device. The data set may be, for example, a file, an image, a video recording, an audio recording, other digital format file, or a written document. The output device may be, for example, a printer, document display device, laptop computer, mainframe computer, mobile device, video projector, or any other computerized device.

Abstract: A computer network may include a host computer and a plurality of computer workstations selectively connectable thereto at which user work sessions may be initiated. Each computer workstation when disconnected from the host computer (e.g., due to server outage, etc.) may advantageously initiate a user session responsive to a user request and store session information for updating the respective user account balance when reconnected with the host computer. Additionally, when the computer workstations are connected to the host computer they may copy respective user account balances from the host computer upon initiation of user sessions, and update the copied account balances based upon computer usage during the respective user sessions. The computer network may also include at least one reservation computer for cooperating with the host computer to schedule user session reservations and provide a requesting user an estimated time before a user session will be made available.

Abstract: A computer network may include a network server, a network printer having a printer identifier associated therewith, and a plurality of network computers coupled to the network server for generating print jobs to be directed to the printer based upon the printer identifier. Each print job may have a printing permission level associated therewith. Moreover, the computer network may further include a printer control device coupled between the network server and the network printer and configured to determine the printer identifier associated with the network printer based upon printer communications, identify the printer control device to the network server using the printer identifier to access the print jobs from the network computers, and selectively enable printing of the print jobs by the network printer based upon the respective printing permission levels associated therewith.

Abstract: A computer network may include at least one network printer, a plurality of network computers for generating print jobs for the at least one network printer, and a network print server coupled to the plurality of network computers for queuing the print jobs for the at least one network printer. Moreover, the computer network may further include at least one printer control device coupled between the network print server and the at least one network printer. The at least one printer control device may be configured to provide remote access to the at least one network printer via the World Wide Web (Web) using a Web communications protocol, communicate the print jobs from the network print server to the at least one network printer, and isolate the network print server from remote access communications formatted in the Web communications protocol.

Abstract: A computer network may include a host computer and a plurality of computer workstations selectively connectable thereto at which user work sessions may be initiated. Each computer workstation when disconnected from the host computer (e.g., due to server outage, etc.) may advantageously initiate a user session responsive to a user request and store session information for updating the respective user account balance when reconnected with the host computer. Additionally, when the computer workstations are connected to the host computer they may copy respective user account balances from the host computer upon initiation of user sessions, and update the copied account balances based upon computer usage during the respective user sessions. The computer network may also include at least one reservation computer for cooperating with the host computer to schedule user session reservations and provide a requesting user an estimated time before a user session will be made available.

Abstract: A point of sale document transaction system (“POSDTS”) provides a wholly contained system for authenticating users and payment methods for the authorization and charging of document output via industry standard methods of Electronic Funds Transfer. The POSDTS provides self service payment and collection at an output device without need for additional back end or server systems and integrates directly into industry standard financial interfaces. POSDTS operation can be extended to include any series of production devices that can be controlled via electronic means, network protocols, or embedded software.

Abstract: A print management system may include at least one client device for generating print jobs, and a plurality of print servers for storing print job information based upon the generated print jobs. The print servers may cooperate to share the print job information therebetween. At least one printing station may retrieve the shared print job information, and selectively print print jobs based thereon.

Abstract: A document processing system may include at least one document processing device for performing document processing jobs. A controller connected to the at least one document processing device may be for recording job attribute usage history based upon document processing jobs performed by the at least one document processing device with a job attribute, and selectively restricting processing of new print jobs by the at least one document processing device with the job attribute based upon the recorded job attribute usage history exceeding a job attribute control threshold.

Abstract: A document processing system may include at least one document processing device for performing document processing jobs, and a controller connected to the at least one document processing device. The controller may be for determining whether to restrict document processing jobs from being performed by the at least one document processing device with a job attribute based upon a job attribute control parameter. If a document processing job is to be restricted based upon the job attribute control parameter, the controller may also be for determining whether to override the restriction based upon a job attribute override parameter different than the job attribute control parameter.

Abstract: A computer network may include a plurality of computers connected together in a network and generating printer control data, and at least one printer connected to the network for printing the printer control data. The at least one designated computer may generate printer usage information from the printer control data.

Abstract: A document processing system may include a document processing device (e.g., a copier), a host (e.g., a computer server), and a multi-device compatible interface for enabling operation of the host and the document processing device from among a plurality of different possible document processing devices. That is, the multi-device compatible interface may determine a set of signals to use with the document processing device upon being connected therewith, and thereafter use the determined set of signals. Accordingly, the multi-device compatible interface may advantageously be used with numerous types of document processing devices despite the differences in their various protocols, connector types, etc.

Abstract: A computer network may include a plurality of computers connected together in a network and generating printer control data, and at least one printer connected to the network for printing the printer control data. The at least one designated computer may generate printer usage information from the printer control data.

Abstract: A document processing system may include a document processing device for performing print jobs and copy jobs, a print server for sending print jobs to the document processing device, and a copy station connected to the document processing device and the print server for allowing a user to enable the document processing device to perform a copy job. Furthermore, the copy station may prevent the print server from sending print jobs to the document processing device while the document processing device is enabled for performing a copy job. Additionally, the copy station may also prevent a user from enabling the document processing device to perform a copy job while the document processing device is performing a print job.