The state of an apparatus is reported to a remote computer using an embedded device in the apparatus. The embedded device detects the state, generates a message that reports the state using a self-describing computer language, and sends the message to the remote computer. The remote computer receives the message and extracts the state of the embedded device from the message.

Reporting the state of an apparatus to a remote computer

The invention provides methods for managing print job (10) such method includes (a) accumulating discrete print jobs electronically from respective customers (12), (b) aggregating the discrete print jobs into aggregate print jobs, each of the aggregate print jobs being printable at one time into aggregate print jobs, each of the aggregate print jobs being printable at one time on units of an integral print medium, and (c) electronically distributing the aggregate print jobs to respective printers for printing.

Managing print jobs

A Web server function is provided for an image processing apparatus including a scanner for reading an image on a document, a printer for printing an image, an E-mail transmission/reception function, a FAX transmission/reception function, and the like to make the image processing apparatus generate a list of information about the status of various jobs and image data stored in a storage unit as a Web page. A user can browse and operate this Web page by using the Web browser of a computer connected to the apparatus through a LAN. The user of the computer can therefore grasp and manipulate information about a plurality of jobs executed by the image processing apparatus and information about image data at a remote place from the image processing apparatus.

Control method for image processing apparatus connectable to computer network

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.

Remote access to print job retention

In a system for dynamically and remotely providing user interface (UI) display and processing information to a touch panel embedded within a multifunction peripheral (MFP) such as a digital copier having an internal computer for controlling the touch panel, a method that comprises linking the internal computer to an external data communication network having an external remote computer on the network; and upon the inputting of desired selections by a user at the UI and communicating the same over the network to the external computer, providing information from the external computer via the network back to the internal computer that enables dynamically changing or updating the UI display and behavior during run time of the MFP.

Method of and system for dynamically controlling during run time a multifunction peripheral (mfp) touch panel user interface (ui) from an external remote network-connected computer

A copier or printer apparatus provides printed copies in accordance with instructions provided by respective remote users of the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a marking engine for printing copies of information; a user interface supervisor for controlling interface between users and the marking engine; and a network web server that downloads software to a computer at a remote location to which a remote user has access to provide user interface software for establishing a user operational interface for communicating requirements for a print job to the user interface supervisor for printing by the marking engine. In operation, the web server downloads applets for execution by the computer at the remote location wherein downloaded applets provide a program for the computer at the remote location to process data for a printer interface display screen page for viewing by the remote user.

Establishment at a remote location of an internet/intranet user interface to a copier/printer

UN APARATO DE TIPO FAX O IMPRESORA SUMINISTRA COPIAS IMPRESAS SEGUN LAS INSTRUCCIONES DADAS POR LOS USUARIOS RESPECTIVOS DISTANTES DEL APARATO. ESTE APARATO CONSTA DE UNA MAQUINA DE MARCADO DESTINADA A LA IMPRESION DE LAS COPIAS DE INFORMACIONES; UN SUPERVISOR DE INTERFAZ DE USUARIO DESTINADO A CONTROLAR EL INTERFAZ ENTRE LOS USUARIOS Y LA MAQUINA DE MARCADO, ASI COMO EL SERVIDOR WEB DE RED, TELECARGAN UN SOFTWARE EN UN ORDENADOR EN UN LUGAR DISTANTE AL CUAL TIENE ACCESO UN USUARIO DISTANTE, PARA SUMINISTRAR UN SOFTWARE DE INTERFAZ DE USUARIO QUE PERMITE EL ESTABLECIMIENTO DE UN INTERFAZ DE USUARIO OPERACIONAL DESTINADO A TRANSMITIR LAS CONDICIONES DE UN TRABAJO DE IMPRESION AL SUPERVISOR DE INTERFAZ DE USUARIO QUE LA MAQUINA DE MARCADO DEBE IMPRIMIR. DURANTE EL FUNCIONAMIENTO, EL SERVIDOR WEB TELECARGA MINIAPLICACIONES DESTINADAS A EJECUTARSE POR EL ORDENADOR EN UN LUGAR DISTANTE, SUMINISTRANDO LAS MINIAPLICACIONES TELECARGADAS UN PROGRAMA AL ORDENADOR A NIVEL DEL LUGAR DISTANTE PARA PROCESAR DATOS DE UNA PAGINA DE PANTALLA DE VISUALIZACION DE INTERFAZ DE IMPRESORA QUE VISUALIZA EL USUARIO DISTANTE.

Thomas Richard Hull

Papers

Establishment at a remote location of an internet/intranet user interface to a copier/printer

Establecimiento de una interfaz de usuario de internet/intranet para una ubicacion remota.