Abstract: A method of passing information between two or more information handling devices is described. Such information handling devices might be a printer 342, a personal computer 343, or a scanner 344. Means for communication of information between information handling devices in the form of a network 341 and network connection means 345 exist. The information transmitted comprises a data format hierarchy, wherein a device intended to receive transmitted data evaluates the data format hierarchy and determines the format in which the data is then received thereby. Advantageously, the receiving device determines the format in which the data is then received by a response to the transmitting device comprising a path through the data format hierarchy, and all data formats comprise one or more of a plurality of data format types, and wherein for each data format type, there exists a data format receivable by all information handling devices supporting that data format type.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided by which one device (12) can be used to control another device (11) without any requirement that the controlling device (12) has any knowledge of the nature or functionality of the controlled device (11). The controlled device (11) transmits to the controlling device (12) a set of possible parameter choices, together with information identifying the possible parameter choices. The controlling device (12) then displays (or otherwise provides to the user) both the set of parameter choices and the information so that a user (13) is able to select a set of actual parameter choices through the user interface of the controlling device (12). The set of actual parameter choices is then transmitted back to the controlled device (11), whose operational parameters are then modified in accordance with the set of actual parameter choices.

Abstract: There is provided a method of passing information between two or more information handling devices, such as a printer, a personal computer or a scanner. There exists a means for communication of information such as network with network connection means between the information handling devices. Each passage of information consists of one or more interactions from an interaction set, none of the interactions of the interaction set being dependent on the function to be carried out on the information by any of the information handling devices. This is particularly advantageous where each passage of information relates to sharing of a surface between a first device and one or more second devices, wherein the surface is a representation of an internal state of the first device.