Methods and apparatus for providing access to content

• US 20060080384A1
• Filed: 08/27/2004
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fiery LLC
• Original Assignee: Electronics For Imaging Incorporated
• Inventors: Robinson, Michael, Coetsee, Josef
• Granted Patent: US 8,171,103 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0051 where the data service is a multimedia messaging service

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for providing access to content via messaging services, such as email, voicemail, instant messaging, text messaging, or other similar messaging services. A content server is provided that includes a user interface, a web server and a file. The web server includes a web page for accessing the file. A user provides user information associated with a messaging address via the user interface, and the content server then sends a message including the web address of the web page to the messaging address. The user may then retrieve the message at a client computer, and may then download the file to the client computer by entering the web address into a web browser on the client computer.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a content server comprising a user interface, a web server and a file, the content server coupled to a message sender, the web server comprising a web page adapted to access the file, the web page having a web address;

wherein the user interface is adapted to receive user information associated with a messaging address from a user, and the content server is adapted to cause message sender to send a message that includes the web address to the messaging address.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the content server comprises at least one of a computer server, a computer workstation, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a print server, or a scan server.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises at least one of a touch screen, keyboard, monitor, mouse, display, speaker, microphone, card reader, voice recorder, or biometric input device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the file comprises at least one of a data file or an application program.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the file comprises at least one of a print job, a text file, a word processing document, a digital image file, a digital audio file, an electronic book, a printer driver, an image processing tool, a print job management program, a workflow processing program, a computer software application, a computer game application, or a cellular telephone application.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the content server comprises the message sender.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the message sender comprises a standalone device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the message sender comprises at least one of a computer workstation, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a personal digital assistant, or a telephone.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the message sender comprises at least one of an email application, a voice messaging application, an instant message application, or a text message application.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the user information comprises the messaging address.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the user information comprises user identification information.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the user information comprises user authentication information.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the messaging address comprises at least one of an email address, a telephone number, a voicemail address, an instant messaging address, or a text messaging address.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the content server comprises a plurality of files, and the web server comprises a web page adapted to access the files.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the content server comprises a plurality of files, and the web server comprises a plurality of web pages, each web page adapted to access certain ones of the files.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a client device coupled to the content server via a network.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the network comprises at least one of a wired network, a wireless network, a local area network, a wide area network, or an Internet.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the client device comprises a web browser.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the client device is further coupled to a message receiver.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the client device comprises the message receiver.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the message receiver comprises a standalone device.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the message receiver comprises at least one of a computer workstation, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a personal digital assistant, or a telephone.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the message receiver comprises at least one of an email application, a voice messaging application, an instant message application, or a text message application.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the message receiver is adapted to receive messages at the messaging address.

25. A method comprising:

receiving user information associated with a messaging address from a user via a user interface at a content server, the content server comprising a web server and a file, the web server comprising a web page adapted to access the file, the web page having a web address;

sending a message that includes the web address to the messaging address.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the content server comprises at least one of a computer server, a computer workstation, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a print server, or a scan server.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the user interface comprises at least one of a touch screen, keyboard, monitor, mouse, display, speaker, microphone, card reader, voice recorder, or biometric input device.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the file comprises at least one of a data file or an application program.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the file comprises at least one of a print job, a text file, a word processing document, a digital image file, a digital audio file, an electronic book, a printer driver, an image processing tool, a print job management program, a workflow processing program, a computer software application, a computer game application, or a cellular telephone application.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the user information comprises the messaging address.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the user information comprises user identification information.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the user information comprises user authentication information.

33. The method of claim 25, further comprising sending the message via a message sender.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the message sender comprises a standalone device.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the message sender comprises at least one of a computer workstation, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a personal digital assistant, or a telephone.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the message sender comprises at least one of an email application, a voice messaging application, an instant message application, or a text message application.

37. The method of claim 25, wherein the messaging address comprises at least one of an email address, a telephone number, a voicemail address, an instant messaging address, or a text messaging address.

38. The method of claim 25, wherein the content server comprises a plurality of files, and the web server comprises a web page adapted to access the files.

39. The method of claim 25, wherein the content server comprises a plurality of files, and the web server comprises a plurality of web pages, each web page adapted to access certain ones of the files.

40. The method of claim 25, further comprising receiving the message at a client device coupled to the content server via a network.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the network comprises at least one of a wired network, a wireless network, a local area network, a wide area network, or an Internet.