Abstract: A document distribution system transfers a document from a source computer to a destination computer in the form of a print file. The print file defines the appearance of the document in a code suitable for telling a printer how to print the document. The source computer executes “license stamper” software for embedding an encoded license stamp into the print file before it is sent to the destination computer. Viewer software executed by the source computer receives and parses the print file to determine whether it contains the license stamp. If so, the viewer may generate a video display of the document defined by the print file or may print the document by sending the print file to a printer. However if the viewer receives a print file not containing the embedded license stamp, the viewer refrains from displaying or printing the document.

Abstract: A document delivery system transmits a document file from a sender computer to a server computer. The server computer then stores the document file at a particular network address, sends a message to the receiver computer indicating the network address of the document file, and later forwards the document file to the receiver computer when the receiver computer requests the document file at that network address. Viewer software running on the receiver computer processes the received document file to produce a display of the document it describes after which the viewer software returns data to the server computer indicating that it successfully displayed the document. The server computer logs a record of the successful receipt and display of the document and makes that record accessible to the sender computer. If the viewer is unable to successfully display the document, it does not return the indicating data to the server.

Abstract: A document delivery system transmits a document file from a sender computer to a server computer. The server computer then stores the document file at a particular network address, sends a message to the receiver computer indicating the network address of the document file, and later forwards the document file to the receiver computer when the receiver computer requests the document file at that network address. Viewer software running on the receiver computer processes the received document file to produce a display of the document it describes after which the viewer software returns data to the server computer indicating that it successfully displayed the document. The server computer logs a record of the successful receipt and display of the document and makes that record accessible to the sender computer. If the viewer is unable to successfully display the document, it does not return the indicating data to the server.

Abstract: A document distribution system transfers a document from a source computer to a destination computer in the form of a print file. The print file defines the appearance of the document in a code suitable for telling a printer how to print the document. The source computer executes “license stamper” software for embedding an encoded license stamp into the print file before it is sent to the destination computer. Viewer software executed by the source computer receives and parses the print file to determine whether it contains the license stamp. If so, the viewer may generate a video display of the document defined by the print file or may print the document by sending the print file to a printer. However if the viewer receives a print file not containing the embedded license stamp, the viewer refrains from displaying or printing the document.