Abstract: A system and method detect and localize image forming devices in an office environment by causing a mobile wireless device to send location information of the mobile wireless device to a central server system, which may be cloud-based and to which an image forming device is networked, upon executing an information retrieval request for establishing communication with the image forming device or when initiating an image forming operation, such as a print job, in the image forming device using the mobile wireless device. Mobile wireless device location information may be used as an aid in automatically plotting and/or updating a site location indication of each image forming device on a site map or in a central database. Location information may be employed to provide a user with a series of selectable options regarding a plurality of image forming devices in a vicinity of the mobile wireless device for use.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to a placement and optimization process for a plurality of common use devices in an operating environment according to actual users' employment of the common use devices, and actual needs for placement of certain common use devices in the operating environment. The disclosed system and method add a level of automation that may be used to collect use data for the common use devices according to a specified scheme in order to produce a more robust, flexible and updatable scheme for confirming an initial optimal layout for the common use devices and for providing a basis for updating that initial optimal layout over time to account for unforeseen errors in the initial assessment or changes in workflow as mandated by changes in the operating environment and user preferences.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a computerized method and system for tracking consumer replaceable units (CRU) used in products such as printing systems. In the method the CRUM ID and destination of the consumable is retrieved on shipment from a supplier. When the consumer replaceable unit is installed in a device such as printing system, the device reports the installation back to a management application. The management application then proceeds to authorize the consumable for the reporting printing system, offer to transfer ownership, or when the printing system is not a managed device then offers a customer the option of being billed for the consumable. The management application has the option of disabling printing with customer replaceable unit when reassignment or intent to purchase is not available. When the consumable is returned the management application can ascertain if the customer replaceable unit was used by its assigned printing device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated determination of expiration of an image production device that is currently in use by a customer is disclosed. The method may include retrieving values related to a currently used image production device, determining an existing life value based on the retrieved values, retrieving values related to a replacement image production device, determining a replacement value based on the retrieved values comparing the determined existing life value to the determined replacement value, determining whether the currently used image production device should be replaced based on the comparison, and sending a notification that the currently used image production device should be replaced if it is determined that the currently used image production device should be replaced.

Abstract: An approach is provided for determining refined search results for a query. The approach involves processing one or more interactions of a user with one or more content items to cause, at least in part, an accumulation of the one or more interactions of the user. The approach also involves processing the accumulation of the one or more interactions to determine one or more interaction patterns. The approach additionally involves determining one or more user preferences based, at least in part, on the one or more interaction patterns. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, a scope of one or more search results for a query to be based, at least in part, on the one or more user preferences.

Abstract: A method for automatically detecting page description languages supported by image production devices in an image production device network may include receiving a print job for printing, determining which page description languages are supported by each image production device in the image production device network, determining if the print job's page description language is supported by one or more image production devices in the image production device network. If the print job's page description language is supported, the print job is printed at one of the one or more image production devices using the print jobs page description language. If the print job's page description language is not supported, the print job is converted to a page description language supported by one of the one or more image production devices, and printed at the one of the one or more image production devices using the supported page description language.

Abstract: A method for automatically distributing firmware updates in an image production device network is disclosed. The method may include receiving a firmware update from a firmware distribution source through a communication interface, automatically installing the firmware update, automatically distributing the firmware update to one or more other image production devices in the image production device network through the communication interface. The firmware update may then be automatically installed by the one or more other image production devices in the image production device network.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided systems and methods that involve providing user-selectable fonts to a printing device so that the printing device can facilitate printing of a print task. In this regard, a representative embodiment of a method and system for printing includes enabling a print file corresponding to a print task to be evaluated, and, if it is determined that a printing device to which the print task is directed is unable to process the print task without performing a font substitution, enabling acquiring of the fonts from a specific user. By using the uploaded fonts, the printing device is able to process the print task without performing a font substitution.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining placement of one or more devices using a building layout is disclosed. The method may include generating a map layer based on the building layout. A zone definition that includes identification of available zones and access characteristics of each of the available zones is received. A density definition that includes identification of available density levels and usage characteristics of each of the density levels is received. The placement of the one or more devices in the available zones is enabled based on associating the zone definition and the density definition with the map layer.

Abstract: A method for automatically scaling print jobs in an image production device network may include receiving a request to print a print job using a particular media sheet size a particular image production device, determining a size of media in one or more media trays in the particular image production device, determining if the size of the media in the requested print job matches the determined media size in one of the one or more media trays, wherein if it is determined that the size of the media in the requested print job does not match the determined media size in one of the one or more media trays, determining the media size in the one or more media trays closest to the print job media sheet size, scaling the requested print job to the determined closest media size, and printing the requested print job on the determined closest media sheet size from one of the one or more media trays.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated determination of expiration of an image production device that is currently in use by a customer is disclosed. The method may include retrieving values related to a currently used image production device, determining an existing life value based on the retrieved values, retrieving values related to a replacement image production device, determining a replacement value based on the retrieved values comparing the determined existing life value to the determined replacement value, determining whether the currently used image production device should be replaced based on the comparison, and sending a notification that the currently used image production device should be replaced if it is determined that the currently used image production device should be replaced.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a computerized method and system for automatically updating a device management application with meter retrieval logic that is customized to the device mix in a managed environment. The management application would interrogate the environment and make intelligent decisions on what meter logic to implement. The management application would self adapt and retrieve the correct meter logic as the environment changes. This adaptation is not tied to product names or other identification methods, rather using rules associated with queries and responses the meter read logic is altered to the device mix. The method would first try submitting small test jobs and seeing if the known meter read logics produced the correct meter increment. If this does not confirm, the system then interprets the query of the private portion of the MIB or the web server to determine where the correct increment is located.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a computerized method and system for tracking consumer replaceable units (CRU) used in products such as printing systems. In the method the CRUM ID and destination of the consumable is retrieved on shipment from a supplier. When the consumer replaceable unit is installed in a device such as printing system, the device reports the installation back to a management application. The management application then proceeds to authorize the consumable for the reporting printing system, offer to transfer ownership, or when the printing system is not a managed device then offers a customer the option of being billed for the consumable. The management application has the option of disabling printing with customer replaceable unit when reassignment or intent to purchase is not available. When the consumable is returned the management application can ascertain if the customer replaceable unit was used by its assigned printing device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing total and/or color page counts are provided. The systems include a memory, including a print queue, and one or more processors. The processors are programmed to receive a print job. The print job includes a document formatted according to a page description language (PDL). The processors are further programmed to apply one or more formatting fixes to the document and transfer the print job to the print queue. The formatting fixes include at least one of image fitting, text fitting and table fitting.