Abstract: Example systems, methods, computer-readable mediums, and other forms of a secure foreign enterprise printing system are provided. An example system may include a wireless telephonic logic for communicating with a wireless network web services provider and a wireless network communication logic configured to communicate a print request to the wireless network web services provider using the wireless telephonic logic. The print item may be stored in a first enterprise and may be printed on an image forming device that is located in a second enterprise. The example system may also include an encryption logic configured to facilitate providing security for the print item as it travels from the first enterprise to the image forming device.

Abstract: A bidding service may be used to receive bid information to complete a job request, from processors coupled to a job ticket service center. The processors submit bids in response to posting of job ticket notices at the service center. A work flow controller may post the job ticket notices after receipt of the job request. The job ticket notice may include specific tasks or branches that must be completed to complete the job request. The job ticket notice may include descriptions of specific branches and their interrelationships in sufficient detail to allow the processors to bid for completion of the branches. The bidding service may select bids from the processors based on set criteria. For example, the job request may specify minimum performance requirements (e.g., a maximum cost and a completion deadline). The bidding service may reject any bids that fail to satisfy the minimum performance requirements.

Abstract: A system and method for authorizing electronic messages is provided. One embodiment of the system includes message receiving logic that determines whether a received message comes from an authorized sender based on a pre-assigned token. In another embodiment, a message transmission logic configures a message with a pre-assigned token for transmission to a destination address. The present system and method allows for improved control of electronic messages.

Abstract: Methods and systems enable devices to discover each other when the devices are in a common location. Unique identifiers (UIDs) are associated with one or more location and each UID uniquely identifies a location. Devices that are located in a particular location that has a UID can register to create an association between the device and the UID. In turn, this creates an association between the device and a location. Subsequently, when another device (e.g. a laptop computer or PDA) enters the location, the device can discover the UID of the location and then ascertain which other devices are associated with that location.

Abstract: To control concurrent access problems, the job ticket service may employ branch locking features, that is, the capability to lock a job ticket at the branch level. The branch locking may be accomplished by one of several methods. The work flow controller may assign one or more specific processors to perform the tasks identified with the branch to be locked. Where more than one processor is authorized access to the same branch, the job ticket service may lock the branch when one of the authorized processors actually acquire the branch. The job ticket service may lock the branches by setting a lock/unlock flag for each branch. Processors accessing the job ticket may then review the lock/unlock flag status to determine if the branch may be accessed. In some circumstances, the job ticket service may allow access only to those branches that are unlocked. A processor that has completed a task defined by the branch may need to have the branch unlocked in order to modify the branch.

Abstract: A job ticket service center includes features to provide security and to control access to a job ticket and related resources. The service center may include programming or servers to authenticate a processor and to authorize the processor to access a particular job ticket. An authentication server receives authentication information from a processor and an authorization server uses the information to check authorization functionality. The authorization or access rights of the processor may be carried as a part of the job ticket. Using these features, the service center may provide trusted authentication information about the processor to the authorization server, and the authorization server then performs its authority check functions. The job ticket maybe signed with an industry standard public key encryption message digest (MD) signature, and may be protected by a public key encryption system.

Abstract: Pre-production processing an electronic document in which programming responsible for processing the composition need not have any inherent knowledge of programming responsible for manipulating one or more of the elements. A method embodying the invention includes creating a composition comprising a series of directions for retrieving one or more elements from one or more data stores and assembling those elements into a document. One of the composition's directions is then edited by adding data identifying an imaging service responsible for manipulating a particular element when the composition is processed.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling a printing operation using information printed on paper or similar material. Information data is input via an input processor, such as a computer, and the information data is converted to a descriptive indicia, which can be printed on a data card. The data card can be used with a peripheral device, such as a printer to allow access to a data, such as a print job.

Abstract: A document processing system for imperceptibly encoding information in displayed images or text. Printed text or other images are modified using gray levels to encode information within existing text or images. The text is modified using digital processing to provide text or images in which adjacent portions of individual text characters, for example, have slightly different gray levels in accordance with an encoding scheme to encode addition information within the existing text. The modifications to the text is so slight that it is imperceptible to the human eye, yet is easily detectable by a machine such as a scanner.

Abstract: A system and method for authorizing electronic messages is provided. One embodiment of the system includes message receiving logic that determines whether a received message comes from an authorized sender based on a pre-assigned token. In another embodiment, a message transmission logic configures a message with a pre-assigned token for transmission to a destination address. The present system and method allows for improved control of electronic messages.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for printing a code on a print medium. In one embodiment, the system includes a laser printing assembly within a printer for printing on a print medium. The system also includes an ink jet head assembly attached to a printer structure of the printer for printing a code or other information on the print medium. The ink jet head assembly may be immovably or adjustably attached to the printer structure. The ink jet head assembly may be immovably attached to the printer, for example, by affixing the ink jet head assembly directly to the printer structure or by using a bracket to mount the ink jet head assembly to the printer structure. There are also several alternatives that may be employed to adjustably attach the ink jet head assembly to the printer structure including, for example, a slide assembly, a telescopic assembly, or a swivel arm assembly as well as other suitable adjustable attaching approaches.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling a printing operation using information printed on paper or similar material. Information data is input via an input processor, such as a computer, and the information data is converted to a descriptive indicia, which can be printed on a data card. The data card can be used with a peripheral device, such as a printer to allow access to a data, such as a print job.

Abstract: Methods and systems enable devices to discover each other when the devices are in a common location. Unique identifiers (UIDs) are associated with one or more location and each UID uniquely identifies a location. Devices that are located in a particular location that has a UID can register to create an association between the device and the UID. In turn, this creates an association between the device and a location. Subsequently, when another device (e.g. a laptop computer or PDA) enters the location, the device can discover the UID of the location and then ascertain which other devices are associated with that location.

Abstract: In a bar code encoding process, two or more images and two or more data items may be encoded together to form a bar code image. A bar code image encoding two or more images and two or more data items may also be decoded to regenerate the encoded images and data items. In addition, the bar code image is preferably a visually significant image that resembles one of the images encoded in the bar code.

Abstract: A system and method for developing a bar code representing the encoding of a set of data, in which the bar code includes pixels having one black level, one white level and at least one gray level, generates a multi-level data representation of the set of data, the number of levels corresponding to the sum of the black level, the white level and the number of gray levels. A pixel color is determined for each component of the multi-level data representation, a pixel color for at least one of the components being one of the at least one gray levels. The determined pixel color is then printed for each component to form the bar code.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus allow a client to manage job attributes and processes using a job ticket service. The job ticket service allows access and modification of a job ticket by multiple users on a network. The method and apparatus use a network-accessible job ticket to relate to a specific job or content. The content may be stored on the network and maybe accessed by multiple job tickets. Storage and management of the job ticket are transparent to the user. The job ticket is stored in a common location in the network. The job ticket remains in the same location in the network, and users access only that portion of the job ticket required to complete a designated process. Security measures may be added to limit access to those users designated as being allowed to access the job ticket and the job file. The job ticket may include a service ID that relates the job ticket back to the originating job ticket service.

Abstract: A job ticket service center includes features to provide security and to control access to a job ticket and related resources. The service center may include programming or servers to authenticate a processor and to authorize the processor to access a particular job ticket. An authentication server receives authentication information from a processor and an authorization server uses the information to check authorization functionality. The authorization or access rights of the processor may be carried as a part of the job ticket. Using these features, the service center may provide trusted authentication information about the processor to the authorization server, and the authorization server then performs its authority check functions. The job ticket maybe signed with an industry standard public key encryption message digest (MD) signature, and may be protected by a public key encryption system.

Abstract: To control concurrent access problems, the job ticket service may employ branch locking features, that is, the capability to lock a job ticket at the branch level. The branch locking may be accomplished by one of several methods. The work flow controller may assign one or more specific processors to perform the tasks identified with the branch to be locked. Where more than one processor is authorized access to the same branch, the job ticket service may lock the branch when one of the authorized processors actually acquire the branch. The job ticket service may lock the branches by setting a lock/unlock flag for each branch. Processors accessing the job ticket may then review the lock/unlock flag status to determine if the branch may be accessed. In some circumstances, the job ticket service may allow access only to those branches that are unlocked. A processor that has completed a task defined by the branch may need to have the branch unlocked in order to modify the branch.

Abstract: A bidding service may be used to receive bid information to complete a job request, from processors coupled to a job ticket service center. The processors submit bids in response to posting of job ticket notices at the service center. A work flow controller may post the job ticket notices after receipt of the job request. The job ticket notice may include specific tasks or branches that must be completed to complete the job request. The job ticket notice may include descriptions of specific branches and their interrelationships in sufficient detail to allow the processors to bid for completion of the branches. The bidding service may select bids from the processors based on set criteria. For example, the job request may specify minimum performance requirements (e.g., a maximum cost and a completion deadline). The bidding service may reject any bids that fail to satisfy the minimum performance requirements.

Abstract: A job ticket service allows clients to define databases, and to store data though the job ticket service. The databases may be used to hold contact lists, addresses, and other personal data. The databases may also be used to store any other generic data. The databases could then be used in conjunction with a variety of e-services provided by the processors. For example, an e-mail processor that provides e-mail services may be used in conjunction with a personal contact list to send e-mail messages, transfer electronic files, or to establish a chat room. The e-mail processor may access the contact list at predefined intervals to send e-mail messages to a select group of e-mail addressees. Furthermore, because the service center provides a single portal to processors that are coupled to the communications network, the client need not have any knowledge of the database structure, or the processing requirements of the processors.