Output service over a network

Abstract

Pervasive output capability is provided so that an information apparatus can pervasively output digital content to an output device. A data output system for rendering at an output device output content managed from an information apparatus includes means for obtaining a document object relating to the output content managed from the information apparatus and means for obtaining an output device object with one or more attributes corresponding to the output device. The document object and the output device object are provided to a server application that is operated on a server that is distinct from the information apparatus and the output device and that generates output data employing at least partly the document object and the output device object. The output data is then provided to the output device for rendering the output content.An output system providing output service over a network. The output service enables an information apparatus to pervasively output digital content to an output device. The output system may be configured to obtain a document object, an output device object, and one or more job objects. The one or more job objects may include information such as payment, subscription, authentication, identification, instructions, and or output options. The objects may be provided to a server application over a network for rendering at the output device. The server then may send over the network output data to an output controller having a connection to one or more output devices. The output controller may convert the output data into a file format for output to the output device. The service may send status information and may send a confirmation of the output job.

1. A data output method for rendering at an output device output content managed from an information apparatus, comprising the following computer-implemented steps:
 obtaining a document object relating to the output content managed from the information apparatus; 
 obtaining an output device object with one or more attributes corresponding to the output device; 
 providing the document object and the output device object to a server application operated on a server that is distinct from the information apparatus and the output device, and generating with the sewer server application output data employing at least partly the document object and the output device object; and 
 providing the output data to the output device for rendering the output content,; 
 wherein the output device includes an output engine that can output the output content to an output medium in accordance with a device-dependent output data acceptable to the output engine and a connection to an output controller, and  
 wherein the output controller provides at least part of the output device object to the information apparatus, receives an output data from the information apparatus, passes the output data to a selected output device for rendering of the output content, and provides a user interface for receiving user-implemented modifications of the controller. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  in which the output data includes device dependent data with respect to the output device. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  in which the providing of the output data to the output device includes transmitting the output data through a network. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  in which the providing of the output data to the output device further comprises receiving the output data at the information apparatus and delivering the output data to the output device. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4  further comprising processing the output data at the output controller before delivering the output data to the output device. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  in which the output data comprises one or more of a page description language, a markup language, a file format, an image format, a graphics format, an audio file, and a video file. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  in which the generating of the output data comprises at least a partial raster image processing operation on the output content. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7  in which the image processing operation includes one or more of an interpretation operation, a conversion operation, a rasterization operation, a scaling operation, a segmentation operation, color space transform operation, an image enhancement operation, a color correction operation, a half-toning operation, a compression operation, and an encryption operation. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1  further comprising establishing a communication channel between the information apparatus and the output device and receiving one or more attributes characterizing the output device via the communication channel. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1  further comprising discovering the selected output device as one of one or more output devices that are discovered by the information apparatus as being available for rendering the output content. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  in which the information apparatus discovers the one or more output devices with wireless communication. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10  in which the discovering of the one or more output devices includes the information apparatus sending an output service request and awaiting a response from one or more output devices. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10  in which the discovering of the one or more output devices includes one or more output devices posting their availability and the information apparatus contacting one or more of the one or more output devices. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10  in which the discovering of one or more output devices includes the information apparatus obtaining from a service node information about one or more output devices and the information apparatus contacting one or more of the one or more output devices. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10  in which the discovering of the one or more output devices involves determining if the one or more output devices satisfy one or more output service requirements. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15  in which the one or more output service requirements include one or more of price, quality of service, availability, and default output device. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 10  further comprising obtaining one or more at least partial output device objects, form from the one or more output devices that are discovered. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17  further comprising rendering in the information apparatus information based upon the at least partial output device objects for the one or more output devices that are discovered and obtaining from a user a selection of the selected output device. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 10  further comprising selecting one of the one or more output devices that are discovered. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19  in which the selecting is related at least partly on one or more of a price indicator, a quality of service indicator, an availability indicator, a preset preference indicator, a first available indicator and a default output device indicator. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 19  in which the selecting is related at least partly on a user input. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 19  in which the selecting includes automatic selection. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 1  further comprising obtaining at the information apparatus a job object with one or more attributes characterizing the rendering of the output content. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23  in which the job object includes an output preferences attribute characterizing one or more output preferences including one or more of output quality, layout, number of output copies, number of windows per page, color or grayscale, and output size. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 23  in which the job object includes an identification attribute characterizing one or more identification features including one or more of a security setting, authentication, security information, payment information, subscription information, and user identification. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 23  in which the job object includes a job attribute characterizing one or more job features including one or more of a job priority or quality of service feature, job status information indicating status of an output job, a job instruction feature indicating one or more of job queuing, cancellation, execution, and output priority. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 23  in which the one or more job object attributes are obtained at least partly based on information received from the output device. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 23  in which the one or more job object attributes are obtained at least partly from a user input. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 23  in which the one or more job object attributes are obtained at least partly from a preset user preference or a default. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 1  in which the document object includes the output content. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 1  in which the document object includes a pointer or reference to the output content. 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 1  in which the output content is stored on a device other than the information apparatus. 
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 1  in which the document object includes one or more document instruction attributes that include instructions for one or more of viewing, obtaining, opening, interpreting, encoding, decoding, converting, compressing, decompressing, rasterizing, authenticating, encrypting, decrypting, or manipulating the output content. 
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 1  in which the document object includes software code. 
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 1  in which the document object includes a reference or pointer to another object. 
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 1  in which the output device object includes an output device identification attribute that includes related to one or more of an output device brand indication, a model indication, an identification number indication, an output device type indication, and a network address indication. 
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 1  in which the output device object includes an output device services attribute that includes one or more of a color or grayscale output indication, a laser or inkjet output indication, a duplex indication, an output quality indication, and a price per page indication. 
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 1  in which the output device object includes an output device language attribute that indicates one or more output data languages supported by the output device. 
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 1  in which the output device object includes an output data format attribute that indicates one or more output data format supported by the output device. 
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 1  in which the output device object includes a payment information attribute that indicates payment information on one or more output services provided by the output device. 
     
     
       41. The method of  claim 1  in which the output device object includes a security attribute that indicates one or more security or authentication requirements supported by the output device. 
     
     
       42. The method of  claim 1  in which the output device includes one of a printing device, a display device, a projection device, and an audio output device. 
     
     
       43. The method of  claim 1  in which the information apparatus includes a portable device. 
     
     
       44. A data output computing system, having software executable in one or more computing devices for rendering at an output device output content managed from an information apparatus and upon executing at least part of the software executable in the one or more computing devices, comprising the data output computing system being configured to:
 means for obtainingobtain a document object relating to the output content managed from the information apparatus; 
 means for obtainingobtain an output device object with one or more attributes corresponding to the output device; 
 means for providingprovide the document object and the output device object to a server application operated on a server that is distinct from the information apparatus and the output device, and generating with the server application output data employing at least partly the document object and the output device object; and 
 means for providingprovide the output data to the output device for rendering the output content; 
 the data output computing system including an output engine that can output the output content to an output medium in accordance with a device-dependent output data acceptable to the output engine; a connection to, and an output controller having a connection to the output device; and 
 : means for providingthe data output computing system being further configured to provide at least part of the output device object to the information apparatus, and means for receiving anto receive output data from the information apparatus, and means for passingto pass the output data from the output controller to a selectedthe output device for rendering of the output content, the output controller further including means for providingand to provide a user interface at the output controller for receiving user-implemented modifications of the output controller. 
 
     
     
       45. The method data output computing system of  claim 44  in which the output medium includes one or more of a substrate, a paper, a display screen, and a projection. 
     
     
       46. The data output computing system of  claim 44  in which the output controller further comprising means for storing is further configured to store one or more output device objects with one or more attributes corresponding to the one or more output devices. 
     
     
       47. The data output computing system of  claim 44  further comprising means for receiving being further configured to receive plural service requests from plural information apparatuses, the output controller providing the at least part of the output device object to each of the plural information apparatuses. 
     
     
       48. The data output computing system of  claim 44  further comprising means for receiving is further configured to receive from the information apparatus device-specific output data corresponding to the output content to be rendered at the selected output device. 
     
     
       49. The data output computing system of  claim 44  in which the output controller further includes means for providing is further configured to provide the at least part of the output device object to the information apparatus as unsolicited information without a request therefor from the information apparatus. 
     
     
       50. The data output computing system of  claim 44  in which the at least part of the output device object is provided to the information apparatus in more than one communication session with the information apparatus. 
     
     
       51. The data output computing system of  claim 44  in which the output device includes a printer. 
     
     
       52. The data output computing system of  claim 51  in which the printer includes a printer controller, and the output controller further includes means to converting is further configured to convert the output data into a form compatible with the printer controller. 
     
     
       53. The data output computing system of  claim 51  in which the printer includes a printer engine and does not includes a printer controller; and the output controller further including means to converting is further configured to convert the output data into a form compatible with the printer engine. 
     
     
       54. The data output computing system of  claim 44  in which the output controller further includes means for implementing is further configured to implement payment processing as compensation for rendering of the output content on the output device. 
     
     
       55. The data output computing system of  claim 44  in which the output controller further includes means for implementing is further configured to implement job management functionalities with one or more of data output job queuing and spooling. 
     
     
       56. The data output computing system of  claim 44  in which the output controller further includes means for implementing is further configured to implement a security procedure that limits access to the rendering provided by the selected output device. 
     
     
       57. The data output computing system of  claim 56  in which the security procedure includes storing in a memory component an access control list specifying an information apparatus for which the selected output device will render output content. 
     
     
       58. The data output computing system of  claim 56  in which the security procedure includes one or more of a subscription indicator, a login, a password, and an authentication. 
     
     
       59. The data output computing system of  claim 44  in which the output controller is included in the output device. 
     
     
       60. The data output computing system of  claim 44  in which the output controller is separate from the output device. 
     
     
       61. The method data output computing system of  claim 44  in which the output data received by the output controller includes a device dependent data acceptable to the output engine. 
     
     
       62. The data output computing system of  claim 44  in which the output controller further includes means for converting is further configured to convert the output data content into a form compatible with the output engine. 
     
     
       63. The data output computing system of  claim 44  in which the output controller further includes means for performing is further configured to perform at least partially, raster image processing operations on the output data. 
     
     
       64. A computer readable storage unit having data output software in an output system executable by a processor unit for rendering digital content at an output device managed from an information apparatus, the information apparatus including a browsing application for viewing at least part of the digital content, the output system comprising,
 an information apparatus with access to digital content;   an output device for rendering digital content, the output device being a distinct device from the information apparatus, and the output device including a memory buffer for storing data and an output engine for rendering content to an output medium with colorant,   an output controller having a connection to the output device, the output controller being a distinct device from the output device and the information apparatus, and the output controller being configured to:
 receive output data, 
 queue and spool one or more output jobs, 
 process at least part of the output data, 
 provide a user interface for receiving user-implemented modifications of the output controller, 
 convert the output data into a digital document file having a format or language, and 
 pass the digital document file for rendering at the output device, and 
   a server that is distinct from the information apparatus, the output controller, and the output device, the server being configured to:
 generate output data based at least in part on at least a portion of an output device object, the generating of the output data corresponding to a digital content employing at least a portion of a document object related to the digital content, and 
 provide the output data for rendering of the digital content at an output device, 
   the computer readable storage unit and the data output software in the computer readable storage unit not being a transitory signal, and the output software in the computer readable storage unit being executable by the processor unit to:
 obtain a document object relating to the digital content managed from the information apparatus; 
 obtain an output device object with one or more attributes corresponding to the output device; 
 obtain a job object with one or more attributes corresponding to an output job, the job object including an attribute related to a single sided indication or a duplex indication; and 
 provide the document object, the output device object, and the job object to the server for rendering of the digital content at the output device. 
   
     
     
       65. The computer readable storage unit of claim 64 wherein the document object further comprises a pointer or reference to the digital content and a server application operating at the server further employing the document object for obtaining at least part of the digital content from a content server. 
     
     
       66. The computer readable storage unit of claim 64 further being executable by the processor unit to:
 receive at the information apparatus the output data from the server; and   send the output data from the information apparatus to the output device or output controller.   
     
     
       67. The computer readable storage unit of claim 64 further being executable by the processor unit to provide status information that includes a processing status or an estimated processing time. 
     
     
       68. The computer readable storage unit of claim 64 further being executable by the processor unit to receive a confirmation that includes one or more of a pointer or reference to the digital content and a service fee, individually or in combination thereof. 
     
     
       69. The computer readable storage unit of claim 64 further being executable by the processor unit to edit at least part of the digital content at the information apparatus. 
     
     
       70. The computer readable storage unit of claim 64 further being executable by the processor unit to select at least part of the digital content at the information apparatus. 
     
     
       71. The computer readable storage unit of claim 64 wherein sending the document object, the output device object, and the job object to the server further comprises sending the document object, the output device object, and the job object over a network that includes the Internet. 
     
     
       72. The computer readable storage unit of claim 64 further being executable by the processor unit to obtain one or more job objects, the one or more job objects including a payment information and or a subscription information. 
     
     
       73. The computer readable storage unit of claim 64 further being executable by the processor unit to obtain instructions related to the output job. 
     
     
       74. A data output method for rendering at an output device digital content accessible from an information apparatus and facilitated by a server over a network that is distinct from the information apparatus and the output device,
 the server being configured to:
 generate output data employing at least a portion of a document object related to the digital content, the output data being at least partly related to a portion of an output device object, and 
 provide the output data for rendering of the digital content at the output device, 
   the output device being a distinct device from the information apparatus and including a memory buffer for storing data, an output engine for rendering content to an output medium with colorant, and a connection to an output controller for receiving output data,   the output controller being a distinct device from the output device, the server, and the information apparatus, and the output controller including a user interface for receiving user-implemented modifications of the output controller;   the information apparatus including a browsing application for viewing at least part of the digital content, the data output method comprising the following computer-implemented steps:
 providing a document object relating to the digital content managed from the information apparatus; 
 providing an output device object including one or more attributes corresponding to the output device managed from the information apparatus; 
 providing a job object managed from the information apparatus with one or more attributes corresponding to an output job, the job object includes an attribute related to a single sided indication or a duplex indication; 
 sending the document object, the output device object and the job object to the server managed from the information apparatus for rendering of the digital content at the output device; and 
 providing a confirmation at the information apparatus related to the output job, the confirmation including a reference to the digital content and a service fee. 
   
     
     
       75. The method of claim 74 wherein the document object further comprises a pointer or a reference to the digital content and a server application operating at the server further obtaining at least part of the digital content from a content server. 
     
     
       76. The method of claim 74 further comprising providing instructions related to the output job at the information apparatus. 
     
     
       77. The method of claim 74 wherein the output controller is further configured to perform one or more image processing operations including an image interpretation, a graphics interpretation, a rasterization, a scaling, a segmentation, a color space transformation, an image enhancement, a color correction, a halftoning, a compression, or a decompression, individually or in combination thereof. 
     
     
       78. The method of claim 74 wherein the output device object further comprises one or more attributes corresponding to a color or grayscale, a laser or inkjet, a duplex or a single sided, an output quality indicator, a price per page, or a quality of service, individually or in combination thereof. 
     
     
       79. The method of claim 74 wherein the output device object includes an identification attribute related to the output device. 
     
     
       80. The method of claim 74 further comprising editing at the information apparatus at least part of the digital content at the information apparatus with the browsing application. 
     
     
       81. The method of claim 74 further comprising receiving at the information apparatus an estimated processing time and or status associated with the output job. 
     
     
       82. An information apparatus for rendering at an output system digital content, the output system including
 an output device that is a distinct device from the information apparatus,   an output controller that is a distinct device from the output device, and the information apparatus,   a server over a network that is a distinct device from the information apparatus, the output controller, and the output device,   the information apparatus including a browsing application for viewing at least part of the digital content,   the server for generating output data employing at least a portion of a document object related to the digital content, the generating of the output data being at least partly related to at least a portion of an output device object, and the server being further configured to provide the output data for rendering of the digital content at the output device,   the output device including a memory buffer for storing data, an output engine for rendering content to an output medium, and the output device having a connection to an output controller for receiving output data and for processing at least part of the output data, and the output controller including a user interface for receiving user-implemented modifications of the output controller, the information apparatus being further configured to:
 provide a document object relating to the digital content managed from the information apparatus; 
 provide an output device object including one or more attributes corresponding to the output device; 
 provide one or more job objects with one or more attributes corresponding to an output job, the one or more job objects including one or more of a security and or an identification information, and the one or more job objects further including a payment and or a subscription information; and 
 send the document object, the output device object, and the one or more job objects to the server for rendering of the digital content at the output device. 
   
     
     
       83. The information apparatus of claim 82 further being configured to receive a confirmation including at least a service fee. 
     
     
       84. The information apparatus of claim 82 further being configured to receive at the information apparatus status information including a processing status. 
     
     
       85. The information apparatus of claim 82 further being configured to provide instructions related to the output job at the information apparatus. 
     
     
       86. The information apparatus of claim 82 wherein the job object further comprises an attribute related to a single sided indication or a duplex indication. 
     
     
       87. The information apparatus of claim 82 further being configured to receive the output data. 
     
     
       88. The information apparatus of claim 87 further being configured to send the output data to the output device for rendering the digital content. 
     
     
       89. The information apparatus of claim 82 further being configured to select digital content for rendering, and to edit at least part of the digital content at the information apparatus with the browsing application. 
     
     
       90. The information apparatus of claim 82 further being configured to discover the output device at the information apparatus. 
     
     
       91. The information apparatus of claim 82 wherein the information apparatus further comprises one or more of a laptop computer, a networked computer, a palmtop computers, a hand-held computer, a smart phone, a digital capturing device, a digital cameras, a video cameras, an Internet appliances, an e-book, an information pad, a digital pad, or a web pad, individually or in any combination. 
     
     
       92. In a computer readable storage unit, data output software in an output system executable by a processor unit for rendering digital content at an output device, the output system including,
 an information apparatus with access to digital content, the information apparatus including a browsing application for viewing at least part of the digital content,   an output device for rendering digital content, the output device being a distinct device from the information apparatus, and the output device including a memory buffer for storing data and an output engine for rendering digital content onto an output medium,   an output controller having a connection to the output device, the output controller being a distinct device from the output device and the information apparatus, the output controller being configured to:
 receive output data, 
 provide a user interface for receiving user-implemented modifications of the output controller, 
 process at least part of the output data, and 
 pass the output data for rendering at the output device, and 
   a server that is distinct from the information apparatus, the output controller, and the output device, the server including
 a processing unit, 
 a storage unit, and 
 one or more server applications, 
   the computer readable storage unit and the data output software in the computer readable storage unit not being a transitory signal and the output software in the computer readable storage unit further being executable by the processing unit to:
 receive a document object relating to the digital content managed from the information apparatus, the document object including at least a pointer or a reference to the digital content; 
 receive one or more job objects with one or more attributes corresponding to an output job, the one or more job objects including one or more of a security, an authentication, and an identification information, individually or in any combination, and the one or more job objects further including a payment and or a subscription information; 
 generate output data corresponding to the digital content, the output data including at least information related to a portion of the document object and information related to at least a portion of the one or more job objects; 
 deliver the output data for rendering of the digital content at the output device; and 
   send a confirmation to the information apparatus, the confirmation including a reference to the digital content and a service fee.   
     
     
       93. The computer readable storage unit of claim 92 further being executable by the processing unit to respond to plural service requests from plural clients. 
     
     
       94. The computer readable storage unit of claim 92 further being executable by the processing unit to receive an output device object with one or more attributes corresponding to the output device that includes an identification attribute related to the output device. 
     
     
       95. The computer readable storage unit of claim 92 wherein the job object further comprises one or more attributes corresponding to a color or grayscale, page layout, number of pages, number of cards per page, or an output size, individually or in combination thereof. 
     
     
       96. A data output system for rendering digital content accessible from an information apparatus, the information apparatus including a browsing application for viewing at least part of the digital content, the data output system having,
 a server over a network that is distinct from the information apparatus;   an output device having a memory buffer for storing data and an output engine for rendering content onto an output medium, the output device being a distinct device from the information apparatus and the server,   an output controller having a connection to the output device, the output controller being a distinct device from the information apparatus, the output device, and the server, the output controller configured to receive output data, to process at least part of the output data, and to pass the output data for rendering at the output device, the data output system further being configured to:
 receive at least an indication of a selected digital content for rendering; 
 receive a document object relating to the selected digital content, the document object including at least a reference to the selected digital content; 
 receive a job object, the job object including a payment and or subscription information; 
 send from the server output data for rendering the digital content at the output device, the output data including information related to at least a portion of the job object and at least a portion of the document object; 
 receive at the output controller the output data; 
 process at the output controller at least part of the output data; 
 pass at the output controller the output data to the output device for rendering; and 
 render at the output device the selected digital content at the output engine onto an output medium with the received output data; and 
 send a confirmation to the information apparatus, the confirmation including a reference to the digital content and a service fee. 
   
     
     
       97. The system of claim 96, wherein the output device further comprises at least one of a printing device, a display device, a projection device, or an audio device, individually or in any combination thereof. 
     
     
       98. The system of claim 96, further comprising a server application operating at the server employing the reference to the digital content for obtaining at least part of the digital content from a content server. 
     
     
       99. The system of claim 96, further comprising means for receiving at the data output system one or more job objects, the one or more job objects including an attribute related to a single sided indication or a duplex indication, and the one or more job objects further including an attribute related to a number of cards per page. 
     
     
       100. The system of claim 96, further configured to:
 receive instructions associated with rendering the digital content; and   receive editing information associated with the digital content.   
     
     
       101. The system of claim 96, wherein the output data includes compressed data, and the output controller being further configured to decode and or decompress the output data.