Abstract: A stored resource overlay system and method are presented. The method comprises: at a MFP, accepting a document, either in tangible form to be copied, or as an electronically formatted scan job; accessing a resource file stored in permanent storage; converting the resource file into an image; merging the image with the document; and, creating a merged document in an electronic format. The saved resource file may represent an image type such as a logo, background, signature, border, graphic, picture, or overlay for example. After accepting the document, it is converted to a rasterized data first image. Likewise, the image, converted from resource file in permanent storage, is supplied as a rasterized data second image. Then, merging the image with the document includes: adding the first image to the second image; and, generating a rasterized data third image. The resource file in permanent storage may be saved in a PDL format for example.

Abstract: A printer device control system and method are provided that is responsive to a document's print content. The method comprises: establishing a library of vocabulary terms; establishing a library of executable programs; accepting a document for printer processing; classifying print content in the document, by matching print content in the document to vocabulary terms in the library; mapping between the library of vocabulary terms and the library of executable programs; and, executing a program in response to the print content classification. The library of vocabulary terms may include terms such as key words, symbols, word patterns, or data patterns. The library of executable programs may include executable programs such as sending reports of the document to a recipient, blocking the document print process, logging the document print process, updating a database, archiving the document, or executing a file to initiate additional document processing, to name a few possible examples.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for processing digital documents using a print application manager. The method comprises: receiving a digital document in a raw file format from a network client at an MFP; determining the file format; recognizing a print application corresponding to the determined file format; accessing a registry of network-connected service providers cross-referenced to print applications; sending the digital document to a service provider with the recognized print application; receiving a print application-rendered digital document from the service provider; and processing the rendered digital document at the MFP. Typically, selecting a service provider from the registry includes: identifying a plurality of service providers cross-referenced to a particular print application; and selecting the service provider using a random or round-robin algorithm.

Abstract: An initialization application system and method are provided. The method comprises: reviving a program application with uninitialized data objects; accessing an initialization application data, including object identification (OID), for creating object data; assembling the data into a tree structure; reading the OID from a node in the initialization application assembled tree structure; in response to reading the OID, creating an object with a position parameter; passing the node location to the object position; populating the object location with a value; and in response to populating the object location with a value, initializing a program application. The method may generate a volatile value for the object, and populate an object first location with the volatile value. The program application can be for a multifunctional peripheral (MFP) application. Then, volatile values may be generated for objects such as a domain name system (DNS) server addresses, IP addresses, or profile destinations.

Abstract: A digital scanner system and method are provided for selecting a destination profile using personal identification data. The method comprises: supplying personal identification data; supplying a document; scanning the document; and, sending the scanned document to a destination selected in response to the personal identification data. The personal identification data can be biometric data such as retina images, voice audio, and fingerprints, or a smart card. The method typically comprises: establishing a network with a plurality of connecting destination addresses. Then, sending the scanned document includes sending the file of digital information via the network to a particular destination address.

Abstract: A stored resource overlay system and method are presented. The method comprises: at a MFP, accepting a document, either in tangible form to be copied, or as an electronically formatted scan job; accessing a resource file stored in permanent storage; converting the resource file into an image; merging the image with the document; and, creating a merged document in an electronic format. The saved resource file may represent an image type such as a logo, background, signature, border, graphic, picture, or overlay for example. After accepting the document, it is converted to a rasterized data first image. Likewise, the image, converted from resource file in permanent storage, is supplied as a rasterized data second image. Then, merging the image with the document includes: adding the first image to the second image; and, generating a rasterized data third image. The resource file in permanent storage may be saved in a PDL format for example.

Abstract: An MFP text overlaying system and method are provided. The method comprises: accepting a document, either in paper media or electronic format; accepting a text overlay message; merging the overlay message with the document; and, creating a merged document. Typically, the product is a paper media merged document. Alternately, the merged document may be transmitted to another node for additional processing. More specifically, accepting a document may include: accepting a paper media document; converting the document to rasterized data; and, generating a first image. Accepting an overlay message may include: accepting an electronically formatted overlay message; converting the overlay message to a Page Description Language (PDL) file; processing the PDL file as a print job; and, generating a second image as rasterized data. Then, the overlay merger process includes: adding the first image to the second image; and, generating a third image.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for securing network-connected resources. The method comprises: receiving an electronically formatted job at a first network-connected node; receiving CK, a symmetrical encryption key (K) encrypted using an asymmetrical encryption public key (pubK); and, receiving CH, a hash (H) of the job, further encrypted using K. Then, the method: decrypts CK using an asymmetrical encryption private key (privK), corresponding to pubK, to recover K; hashes the job, generating H?; uses K to validate CH; in response to validating CH, decrypts an encrypted resource using K; and, uses the decrypted resource to process the job. In one aspect of the method, using K to validate CH includes: encrypting H? using K, obtaining CH?; and, matching CH to CH?. Alternately, K is used to validate CH by: decrypting CH using K, generating H; and, comparing H to H?.

Abstract: A printer device control system and method are provided that is responsive to a document's print content. The method comprises: establishing a library of vocabulary terms; establishing a library of executable programs; accepting a document for printer processing; classifying print content in the document, by matching print content in the document to vocabulary terms in the library; mapping between the library of vocabulary terms and the library of executable programs; and, executing a program in response to the print content classification. The library of vocabulary terms may include terms such as key words, symbols, word patterns, or data patterns. The library of executable programs may include executable programs such as sending reports of the document to a recipient, blocking the document print process, logging the document print process, updating a database, archiving the document, or executing a file to initiate additional document processing, to name a few possible examples.

Abstract: A method is provided for maintaining profiles in a device store. The method comprises: setting a profile type; selecting profile parameters such as destinations and processes; adding the profile to a device store; and, in response to creating the profile, limiting the lifetime of the profile in the device store. Time aging profiles, single-use profiles, renewable profiles, and permanent profiles can be selected. When a time aging profile is chosen, a time-to-live (TTL) variable, referenced to the creation of the profile, is also selected. Then, the profile is purged from the store when the TTL variable expires. When a single-use profile is chosen, the profile is purged from the store after the profile is used a first time. When a renewable profile is chosen, a TTL variable is selected that is reset in response to using the profile. The profile is purged from the store if the TTL variable expires.

Abstract: A digital scanner system and method are provided for selecting a destination profile using personal identification data. The method comprises: supplying personal identification data; supplying a document; scanning the document; and, sending the scanned document to a destination selected in response to the personal identification data. The personal identification data can be biometric data such as retina images, voice audio, and fingerprints, or a smart card. The method typically comprises: establishing a network with a plurality of connecting destination addresses. Then, sending the scanned document includes sending the file of digital information via the network to a particular destination address. Some aspects additional comprise: creating a library of biometric data cross-referenced to destination addresses; accessing the library; searching the library for biometric data matching the supplied biometric data; and, selecting the destination address corresponding to the matching biometric data.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for automatically paying bills. The method comprises: scanning a received bill; accessing a standard template library (STL); matching the received bill to a bill template from the STL; using the bill template to identify data areas; reading parameters from data areas on the received bill; and, transmitting a payment in response to the parameters. Some common parameters to be read form the data areas of the received bill include the account number, the service provider address, the due date, and the amount owed. Some aspects of the method further comprise establishing an accessible on-line checking account. Then, transmitting a payment includes electronically debiting the checking account and electronically submitting the amount due to the service provider drawn on the checking account. Alternately, a check can be generated for the service provider drawn on the checking account.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved process for creating and storing profiles, that automatically removes infrequently used profiles in the store. A method is provided for maintaining profiles in a device store, for such devices as multifunction printers (MFPs), wireless communications devices, and answering machines. The method comprises: setting a profile type; selecting profile parameters such as destinations and processes; adding the profile to a device store; and, in response to creating the profile, limiting the lifetime of the profile in the device store.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for authenticating data transmission between a network-connected digital scanner and a terminal. The method comprises: scanning a document at a digital scanner; signing the scanned document with a private key of a first asymmetric key-pair to create a first signature; transmitting the scanned document and first signature to a network-connected terminal; and, at the terminal, using a public key of the first key-pair to authenticate the transmitted document.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for secure document transmission in a digital scanner. The method comprises: generating a plurality of passwords for a corresponding plurality of user groups; creating profiles having an address field and an encryption field; storing the profiles in a directory in response to the generated password; selecting a profile from the directory; scanning a document; encrypting the document in response to the encryption field of the selected profile; and, sending the encrypted document in response to the address field of the selected profile. Selecting a profile includes selecting a profile having either an email address or a file transfer protocol (FTP) address. Further, selecting a profile includes selecting a profile having either a symmetric or asymmetric (public) key encryption field. Then, creating profiles includes storing either the symmetric or public keys in the created profiles.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for building a graphical user interface (GUI), in real-time, to depict the availability of known network-connected devices. Upon startup, the GUI represents each network connected element as unavailable. Then, each network element is queried. As communications are established with each network device, the GUI is modified to show that particular device as available. Thus, the GUI quickly changes from the initial state, to one where available devices are depicted. If communications cannot be established with a network element, the GUI representation of the device as unavailable is maintained. Thus, the GUI is initialized and modified independent of any timeouts associated with a failed network device communication.