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: 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: A selection method for determining an appropriate destination includes upon receiving at a browser a request for a service, a browser extension in the browser of an imaging client automatically accessing a user profile in an autonomous network service unrelated to the requested service. The imaging extension gets a criterion for selection of a destination method for providing a destination. One of a plurality of destination methods is automatically selected based on the criterion. At least one direct or indirect reference to the selected destination is obtained, and the browser is redirected to the selected destination using the reference.

Abstract: The present invention provides a computer-accessible storage media including a database of one or more data files, each including a printer type identification, one or more substitute printer driver identifications associated with the printer type identification, and one or more compatibility ratings associated with the printer type identification and a particular one of the one or more substitute printer driver identifications. A method of the present invention includes the steps of accessing a database, displaying a database listing including a printer type identification, one or more substitute printer driver identifications associated with the printer type identification, and one or more compatibility ratings associated with the printer type identification and a particular one of the substitute printer driver identifications.

Abstract: A web enabled peripheral device or internet appliance capable of executing services comprises means for maintaining, in the device, a list of services supported for use with the device; means for installing a service in response to the service being selected from the list by a user; and means for updating the list by communicating with a server external of the device, using which server a list of supported services can be updated for use by any of multiple said web enabled peripheral devices. Other methods and apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: A computer implemented method by which a user edits and delivers a print job in a computer system, the method including providing a printing software object as a COM component for editing and delivering a print job and providing job data of the print job to the printing software object, by a print job creator, in the form of references to pages. The references to pages are used by the software printing object, to call and display the pages on a need basis. The user edits the job data of the print job based on the displayed pages and the print job is delivered for processing in accordance with the edited job data.

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 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: 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.