Abstract: A replaceable print cartridge includes a container and a memory coupled to the container. The memory is configured to limit use of printing material that is to be contained in the container.

Abstract: A system for facilitating remote printing via a network. The system, in one embodiment, includes a first mechanism for receiving information with respect to the availability to print of one or more printers connected to the network, for selecting an available printer in response thereto, and for providing a printer-selected message to the selected printer indicating that the printer has been selected to print the document. The system also includes a second mechanism, responsive to the printer-selected message, for rechecking the availability to print of the selected printer and for pulling the document from the first mechanism in preparation for printing via the selected printer unless the rechecking determines that the selected printer has subsequently become unavailable to print.

Abstract: A system and method for determining an optimal use of printing devices and printing device options in a network computer system or enterprise environment based upon typically usage characteristics of the printing devices and the options available to the printing devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for transmitting and storing print jobs sent via e-mail. A first embodiment entails sending a document to be printed as an e-mail attachment to an e-mail enabled printer. The printer extracts the document from the e-mail attachment and performs any necessary decompression, decoding, and translation. The document may be placed in a print queue for printing and/or the document may be stored in a job retention area of printer memory. Preferably, the e-mail, which delivers the print job to the document to the printer, may specify various print settings for printing the document, as well as storage options and access rights if the document data is stored in job retention. In a second embodiment, an e-mail enabled print server is configured to extract documents sent as attachments to an e-mail and to distribute the print jobs to a network printer.

Abstract: A method for wirelessly connecting a workstation, such as a computer, to a local area network includes selecting a LAN with which the workstation is to communicate. A wireless LAN access device that communicates with a processor of the workstation receives signals broadcast by wireless LAN ports. The signals are evaluated to identify those signals which originated from wireless LAN ports of the selected LAN. A connection protocol is then selected, based on a signal from one of the wireless LAN ports of the selected LAN, to establish a connection and, thus, communication between the wireless LAN access device of the workstation and that wireless LAN port. If such communication is established, one or more security identifiers may be provided from the workstation to the selected LAN. A connection program, which is embodied as instructions on one or more storage media, may be used to effect the method.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides for a method of electronically capturing usage information from a non-networked imaging device. The method includes generating a printed status report, including the usage information, from the non-networked imaging device, and optically scanning the printed status report to thereby produced an electronic copy of the optically scanned printed status report. The method further includes optically recognizing, from the electronic copy of the optically scanned printed status report, the usage information contained therein. The optically recognized usage information is then converted into digital usage information, and the digital usage information is saved to a computer readable memory device.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for secure printing. In one arrangement, the system and method pertain to receiving a document to be printed, determining that the document cannot be printed in its present form, transmitting the document to a computing device, and receiving a print ready version of the document from the computing device. In another arrangement, the system and method pertain to receiving a protected document from a printing device, unprotecting the document, and transmitting the unprotected document back to the printing device so that the printing device can generate a hard copy of the document.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to generating print history information regarding an electronic document and recording the information into a print history property within the electronic document. Print history information includes details of each print instance, such as the date and time a document is printed, the printer used, and the computer device providing the print job. Advantages of the disclosed system and methods for creating a document print history include an ability to determine particular users who print restricted-access documents and an ability to maintain document databases.

Abstract: Methods of monitoring a media imaging system, media imaging monitoring systems, articles of manufacture, and data signals are described. According to one aspect, a method of monitoring a media imaging system includes providing image data comprising a plurality of image jobs configured to cause a plurality of media imaging devices of the media imaging system to generate a plurality of hard images upon media, wherein the image jobs correspond to respective ones of the media imaging devices, reassigning at least one of the image jobs from one of the media imaging devices to correspond to another of the media imaging devices, and obtaining performance data regarding imaging operations of the media imaging devices with respect to imaging of hard images upon media according to the image data after the reassigning.

Abstract: A method and system for distributing print jobs or other data stored in an e-mail enabled printing device wherein a user may distribute the print jobs or data using the e-mail enabled printer or by accessing an e-mail enabled printer with a browser capable network component.

Abstract: A method of error archiving for an imaging device is provided. The method includes monitoring system operations for the imaging device, and when an error is detected, compiling information about the error into an error file for one or more of storage, transmission, retrieval, and disposal. In addition, an imaging device including error archiving is provided. The imaging device includes a processor adapted to compile error information when an error is detected, a storage device coupled to the processor and adapted to store the error information for one or more of transmission, retrieval, and disposal of the error information based on user criteria, and a print engine coupled to the processor and adapted to produce tangible output images.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for remotely managing and accessing print jobs stored in job retention of a printing device, including displaying, printing, canceling, prioritizing, and otherwise controlling various aspects of the print jobs and/or the print queue. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention makes use of a Java-enabled Web browser on a workstation, a java applet accessible by the Web browser, and an embedded Web server incorporated in a printing device to provide the management and access functions. Rasterized images of the print jobs may also be viewed by using the applet file viewer.

Abstract: Text that is adjacent to predetermined indicia is detected in a digital image. Alternatively, or in addition, a digital image can have text that is adjacent to a predefined insertion field. Text that is input and/or derived from an optically scanned image is substituted in the digital image for the predetermined indicia and/or for the predefined insertion field. The substituted text matches the font of text adjacent thereto in the digital image. The digital image having the substitution is rendered.

Abstract: Image forming devices and methods of obtaining medication information are described. According to one aspect, an image forming device includes: an input device configured to receive input information regarding a medication prescription for an individual; an interface adapted to communicate with a network external of the image forming device; and processing circuitry coupled with the input device and the interface and configured to receive the input information regarding the medication prescription from the input device and to forward a search request for a medication identified within the medication prescription to the interface for application to the network, and wherein the interface is configured to receive results of the search request from the network comprising search information regarding the medication; and an image engine coupled with the processing circuitry and configured to form a hard image upon media including the search information received from the network.

Abstract: A method, program product, and system for printing, comprising the steps of: receiving data at a printer; detecting an external network address in the received data; obtaining at least one parameter of a document at the external network address; determining if the at least one parameter meets a predetermined first criteria; if the at least one parameter meets the first criteria, then retrieving the document from the external network address; and printing the document.

Abstract: A system and method for sending a print job to a preselected recipient. The method includes encrypting a data stream received in a first peripheral device; and transmitting the encrypted data stream from the first peripheral device to a second peripheral device.

Abstract: A printing method, comprising the steps of: receiving data at a printer; detecting a network address in the received data; if a network address is detected, then displaying or sending a message notifying of the network address detection and requesting authorization to access the network address; if authorization to access is received, sending on the Internet or other network an access request for a document to the network address; retrieving the document from the network address; and printing the document.

Abstract: A method of providing firmware for a printing device includes attaching a memory module storing the firmware to a printing device consumable. The memory module contains the firmware being provided for the printing device and a firmware interface object that can be used to interface the printing device with the new firmware.

Abstract: Image forming devices and consumable marketing methods are provided. An image forming device according to one aspect includes: an image engine configured to use a consumable to form a plurality of hard images; and processing circuitry coupled with the image engine and configured to control the formation of the hard images, the processing circuitry being further configured to monitor a state of the consumable of the image forming device, to access price information regarding the consumable of the image forming device, and to communicate a message including the price information responsive to the monitoring.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically converting data received from a remote device are described. A representative data conversion system includes at least a first remote device. The system also includes a conversion device communicatively coupled to at least the first remote device. The conversion device is configured to receive information from at least the first remote device, wherein the information is configured to enable conversion of data from a first format to a second format. Other methods, devices, and programs are included.