Abstract: An imaging system including firmware is disclosed. The imaging system includes a communications device adapted and constructed to facilitate communication between the imaging device and a remote source of information. An automatic remote firmware update mechanism is adapted to selectively and automatically retrieve firmware upgrade information from the remote source of information via the communications device. The automatic remote firmware update mechanism can also selectively and automatically install the firmware upgrade information into the firmware of the imaging system. The automatic remote firmware update mechanism can form a part of firmware installed in the imaging system. The communications device can be provided as a modem, or as a network interface card. The imaging system can also include a flag mechanism for storing a value corresponding to an update trigger parameter.

Abstract: Data processing apparatus provides pixel data representations of font glyphs, and includes a memory which stores font data in plural groups of entries. A first group of entries comprises a series of data blocks, each data block including data-compressed forms of plural glyphs. The plural glyphs in a data block exhibit a common attribute which suggests that the plural glyphs be decompressed together. A processor is responsive to a signal stream that includes character codes, to access from the memory a data block that includes a glyph corresponding to a received character code. The processor subjects all data compressed forms of glyphs from the data block to one of a plurality of decompression procedures. In this manner, all decompressed pixel data representations of glyphs in a data block become available for use by the processor as a result of the decompression action. Under certain circumstances, decompressed glyph font data is cached for subsequent use, after decompression.