Patent Application
20080270641
Many small and medium businesses rely on Internet Service Providers (ISP) for Internet connectivity and do not want to invest in other computer network services like email servers, authentication servers, facsimile servers, etc. In addition, even if these network services are available, a user must know network parameters in order to configure a device to a computer network. In order to configure an email device to a computer network for example, a user must discover an email server and then know how to configure the email device to the server. Email servers require very specific settings such as an IP address, network port, and user credentials which change over time. This creates a training burden on limited staff that are often not prepared to deal with such technical hurdles.
Existing solutions have typically relied upon a user's IT department or ISP support for computer network information and settings. Additionally, firewalls and security infrastructure have made configuration more difficult. Even when configured correctly, many customer environments rely on a fairly simple network infrastructure and do not therefore provide redundant servers and services on a computer network. This results in lower reliability and a single point of failure. Since a customer's or an ISP's infrastructure changes over time, services may fail until reconfigured.
Features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example, features of the invention; and, wherein:
In describing embodiments of the present invention, the following terminology will be used.
The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a device” includes reference to one or more of such devices.
Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended.
For example, as illustrated in
Various arrangements of the computer network 40 used to access the digital sending services may be used. For example, the computer network 40 may comprise a computer network infrastructure 10, such as a corporate local area network (LAN) and the Internet 50 separated by a firewall 60. Portions of the computer network infrastructure may also be provided by the vendor.
Depending on the size of the customer's business and digital sending needs a business may have very little to no computer network infrastructure 10 and rely primarily or wholly on the Internet 50 for connectivity to the digital sending service 22. A computer network infrastructure 10 may include connectivity between computers and computer peripherals such as DSD 1 and peripherals combining scanners, printers, and facsimile devices also known as Multi-Function Products (MFP). A computer network infrastructure 10 may be any set of computers and devices connected to each other for example, through a corporate local area network, the Internet, or the like.
A preconfigured DSD 1 may be ready to use as soon as it is powered on and connected to a computer network 40. When powered on, the DSD may attempt to communicate with a number of VPCNRs. Configuration options are either preconfigured in the DSD or may be written to the DSD by the VPCNR without the need for configuration input from the user. That is, the VPCNR may include additional configuration information and network parameters to be delivered to the DSD that may change over time to adapt to changing network topologies, server address locations, etc. However, the user may be asked to enter an email address or some other piece of identifying information at the device. An email may automatically be sent to the user with a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) and additional information on a specific digital sending feature, and information on how to use and configure optional digital sending features. When the URL is selected, browser code may be executed to automatically establish a network link between a user's PC and the digital sending device. Users may then scan documents to their desktop.
As shown in
DSD 1 includes devices such as input/output terminals, scanners, printers, facsimile devices. Computers and Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) that have access to a computer network 40 are also included. A user may therefore record his or her own audio onto a DSD and convert it into MP3 format for sending across the network for instance. Such a DSD may be preconfigured to deliver the electronic content via an encrypted channel to email and to FTP sites through a digital sending service 22.
The digitizer 120 may accept keyboard input as physical content from a user and convert it into electronic content for transmission across a computer network 40 using preconfigured parameters of a VPCNR. Also a digitizer may accept multimedia audiovisual physical content from a user for conversion into electronic content. Still photograph slide shows accompanied by music may be converted into electronic content by such a digitizer for encrypted delivery across a private computer network for instance. Also the DSD may have a digital token with an expiry for the token after a predetermined number of transactions. Such an expiry would require periodic update through a vendor for continued use of the digital sending service 22.
Also secure email, and archival and retrieval of email, documents and facsimiles are comprehended in a method embodiment sending electronic content over the computer network infrastructure 10 using the digital sending service 22. Optical character recognition of a digitally sent document is also included in a method embodiment. Furthermore, establishing a persistent session link without an expiry between a user and a DSD is also included.
Optional services provided by the vendor may include message and content archival and retrieval, delivery receipt notification, digital signatures, users specific cover pages, job accounting by billing code and digital faxing. The preconfigured DSD may verify and validate that a computer network infrastructure is working properly to send electronic content from the DSD to a network destination. Also pre-installing a certificate on the device for use by the digital sending service in identifying a DSD is helpful for security purposes.
The managed system of an embodiment further may include a secured protocol which encrypts a user's message to a receiver through an algorithm and key. A secured protocol may further comprise user identification through a certificate, and a means for the receiver to encode a reply to the user by compressing data for example. Furthermore, a certificate of infrastructure may be included to secure the DSD to a digital sending service, and to identify a DSD subscribing to the computer network services.
The DSD may be preconfigured to be captive to certain VPCNR and certain computer network destinations on a network infrastructure in an embodiment. That is, the DSD may be preconfigured to deliver digital content only to a certain multifunction printer or facsimile machine through a certain email server. Also the DSD may be preconfigured to be captive to a certain digital sending service of a particular vendor.
A benefit of the present invention is that small and medium business users do not need to invest in and maintain email, directory services, and facsimile servers on a computer network. DSD may be shipped from the factory preconfigured for a minimum set of digital sending services. Since a preconfigured DSD may verify and validate a computer network infrastructure 10, troubleshooting does not require users familiar with a computer network 40. Additionally, new digital sending services may be provided without the need to change device firmware. Users may be informed of new products or enhanced features through a VPCNR.
While the foregoing examples are illustrative of the principles of the present invention in one or more particular applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the claims set forth below.
