Abstract: A system and method are provided for a mobile unit to select a wireless access point. The method provides a mobile unit with a wireless transponder and a location determination device, such as a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver. A local features database is stored in the memory, cross-referencing a plurality of wireless access points (APs) to corresponding geographic locations. In response to receiving location information, a wireless AP selection application determines the geographic position of the mobile unit, accesses the local features database, and selects the wireless AP associated with the geographic position of the mobile unit. Finally, the wireless AP selection application directs the transponder to communicate with the selected wireless AP. In one aspect, the local features database divides a geographic region into sub-regions, with a corresponding wireless AP assigned to each sub-region. For example, each sub-region may assigned to the closest wireless AP.

Abstract: A method is provided for integrating an online meeting with an offline calendar. The method provides an offline calendar software application. A meeting originator (user) schedules a meeting in the offline calendar via a user interface, and selects a virtual room resource having an email address. The offline calendar sends an email meeting invitation to the virtual room resource email address. An online meeting service software application has an email client monitoring emails sent to the virtual room resource email address. The online meeting service automatically scheduling an online meeting associated with the virtual room resource.

Abstract: An improved printer controller system includes bitmap buffers for storing bitmaps as uncompressed data and a buffer manager for managing an allocation of the bitmap buffers to the bitmaps. The buffer manager is configured to recap one of the bitmap buffers according to a bitmap identifier associated with a requested bitmap. A method for managing buffer allocation in a printer apparatus includes allocating one or more buffers to a bitmap, assigning a bitmap identifier to the one or more buffers, and printing the stored bitmap. The method further includes releasing the one or more buffers, receiving a request including the bitmap identifier, and reallocating the one or more buffers to the stored bitmap.

Abstract: A method for performing an imaging operation using a wireless removable storage device is described. A wireless removable storage device is connected to an imaging device. The wireless removable storage device comprises a wireless transceiver for wireless communications, memory and a communications port for connecting to other devices. Wireless communications are established between the wireless removable storage device and a mobile computing device. An imaging operation is performed relating to a document file, and the document file is communicated between the wireless removable storage device and the imaging device. The document file is also communicated between the wireless removable storage device and the mobile computing device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controllably printing documents including sensitive information. Features and aspects hereof provide a controller coupled to the marking engine. The controller applies rules to automatically detect the presence of sensitive information in a document to be printed and actions to securely print the document. Each rule includes a list of words and/or phrases deemed sensitive in the printing environment and actions to be taken when any of those words or phrases are detected. The actions may define, for example, that a user must enter authentication credentials at the marking engine to indicate that the user is physically present at the marking engine to receive the document printed. The rules may also specify, for example, that portions of the document detected as containing the sensitive information may be automatically modified/redacted by the controller prior printing the document.

Abstract: Methods and systems for enhanced parallel processing of data objects in a print job sent to a printing device having multiple processors. The entire print job (or any portion thereof) is spooled by an enhanced driver module on an attached host system and the data objects are re-ordered to allow for improved opportunity for parallel processing of the data objects on the multiple processors of the printing device. Capacity or capability information may be stored in a profile describing desired ordering of data objects to enable opportunity for parallel processing of the re-ordered data objects in the print job. The profile information may be statically configured for the printing device or may be dynamically determined through communication with the printing device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for associating a hard-copy document with computer-readable information and for accessing that information.

Abstract: An improved printer controller system includes bitmap buffers for storing bitmaps as uncompressed data and a buffer manager for managing an allocation of the bitmap buffers to the bitmaps. The buffer manager is configured to recap one of the bitmap buffers according to a bitmap identifier associated with a requested bitmap. A method for managing buffer allocation in a printer apparatus includes allocating one or more buffers to a bitmap, assigning a bitmap identifier to the one or more buffers, and printing the stored bitmap. The method further includes releasing the one or more buffers, receiving a request including the bitmap identifier, and reallocating the one or more buffers to the stored bitmap.

Abstract: The method and system which assure tight security over access to document data which is being handled in a system during scanning, copying, printing and faxing modes of operation. Security takes place with (1) substantially complete blockage of outside-world (network, telephone line) access to such data during the handling time, (2) prevention of any data writing to a hard-drive memory device, and (3) job-completion destruction of any data temporarily stored in a random access memory, before there is any post-job restoration to outside-world connectivity.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for the expedited reprinting of documents at a printer. The method comprises: receiving an initial print job identified with a job identification (JID); rendering the print job into a bitmap; in response to rendering the bitmap, initially printing a document; saving the bitmap in memory; and, in a job table, creating a cross-reference between the JID and the saved bitmap. Subsequently, the method comprises: receiving a selected JID; accessing the job table; accessing a print engine-ready bitmap associated with the JID by using the job table to locate a bitmap cross-referenced to the received JID; reading the located bitmap from a printer memory; and, reprinting a document in response to the bitmap. An associated network server can be used for posting a job table with selectable JIDs on an HTML webpage. Alternately, the JID selection is received in a print driver communication.

Abstract: A speaker system having intelligence for communication with the amplifier. The speaker system contains a communications module that transmits information across the connection between the speaker system and the amplifier with regard to the speaker characteristics. The communications module may be powered by a rectifier that derives power from a high frequency carrier signal passed to it by a high-pass filter. The method of operating the speaker generates a carrier signal and powers the communications module using the carrier signal. The communications module transmits information to the amplifier so long as the carrier signal is present and shuts down when the carrier signal is no longer present. An optional step includes allowing communication to the speaker system from the amplifier.

Abstract: The method and system which assure tight security over access to document data which is being handled in a system during scanning, copying, printing and faxing modes of operation. Security takes place with (1) substantially complete blockage of outside-world (network, telephone line) access to such data during the handling time, (2) prevention of any data writing to a hard-drive memory device, and (3) job-completion destruction of any data temporarily stored in a random access memory, before there is any post-job restoration to outside-world connectivity.

Abstract: A document machine with a display screen and computer-controlled memory structure which has been configured to allow the scanning in, storing, and later presentation to users of the machine, of informational and promotional imagery.

Abstract: A method of dynamic performance determination of network connected output devices, wherein each output device has a set of known characteristics, including entering a print job at a first network output device; querying other output devices on the network to determine each other output device's characteristics and pending print jobs to determine if a specific other output device is capable of performing the entered print job; transmitting a print job from the first network output device to each other capable output device; reporting the completion of a single copy of the entered print job by each other network output device; and determining the number of copies of the entered print job to be printed by the first network output device and each other output device.