Methods and apparatus for providing access to content

• US 8,484,316 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2012
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fiery LLC
• Original Assignee: Electronics For Imaging Incorporated
• Inventors: Robinson, Michael, Coetsee, Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): STRANGE, AARON N
• Application Number:
  US13/430,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20120182570A1
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/223, 709/227
• US Class Current: 709/217
• 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 mobile printing system, comprising:

a mobile client device comprising a message transceiver configured with an SMS messaging address adapted to receive SMS text messages and a web browser;

said mobile client device configured for communication with a web server, wherein the web server comprises a plurality of web pages identified with web addresses, wherein each web page from among the plurality of web pages is adapted to provide access particular printer drivers;

said mobile client device configured for communication with a printer server via a wireless telephone network, wherein said printer server comprises a memory including one or more printer drivers, and an end user interface comprising a physical or virtual keyboard integral to said printer server for accepting the SMS messaging address from said end user, forming a user specified SMS messaging address, wherein said keypad is further configured for accepting end user authentication information, thereby eliminating a need for a printer server administrator to decide whether to allow or prevent transmission of said one or more printer drivers to said end user, and wherein said printer server comprises an SMS message sender integral to the printer server wherein the printer server is adapted to cause the SMS message sender to send an SMS message to the end user specified SMS messaging address of the client device through the message transceiver, wherein the SMS message includes the web address of the one or more web pages; and

said mobile client device configured for, upon receipt of said SMS message, automatically providing the end user with access to one or more printer drivers on said mobile client device without requiring an end user of said mobile client device to previously have access to the network address information of said printer drivers or search for said printer drivers via said web browser.

2. A method of enabling a mobile client device with a printing capabilities, comprising:

coupling a mobile client device with a printer server via a wireless telephone network, said printer server accepting user information from a user via an end user interface of said printer server, said end user interface comprising a physical or virtual keyboard integral to said printer server, said information at least comprising an SMS messaging address associated with the mobile client device, wherein accepting user information further comprises accepting user identification information from an end user, accepting the SMS messaging address from said end user, forming an end user specified SMS messaging address, and accepting user authentication information, thereby eliminating a need for a printer server administrator to decide whether to allow or prevent transmission of said one or more printer drivers to said end user;

said mobile client device providing access to one or more printer drivers located on a web server, wherein said web server comprises a plurality of web pages identified with web addresses, wherein each web page from among the plurality of web pages is adapted to access particular printer drivers;

said mobile client device receiving the web address of the web page in an SMS message to the SMS messaging address from an SMS message sender integral to said printer server;

said mobile client device automatically locating the one or more printer drivers in the memory of said printer server using a web browser associated with the mobile client device and the web address received via the SMS message;

said mobile client device automatically downloading the one or more printer drivers onto the mobile client device using said browser; and

said mobile client device automatically installing the downloaded printer drivers to the client device, thus enabling the mobile client device to print a print job via said printer server.

3. A mobile printing system, comprising:

a mobile client device comprising a message transceiver configured with an SMS messaging address adapted to receive SMS text messages and a web browser;

said mobile client device coupled to a printer server via a wireless telephone network, said printer server comprising a memory including a print job management application for allowing an authorized user to monitor and control print jobs submitted to the printer server via the mobile device, an end user interface comprising a physical or virtual keyboard integral to said printer server for accepting the SMS messaging address from said end user, forming a user specified SMS messaging address, wherein said keyboard is further configured for accepting end user authentication information, thereby eliminating a need for a printer server administrator to decide whether to allow or prevent transmission of said one or more printer drivers to said end user;

said mobile client device configured for communication with a web server containing at least one webpage adapted to provide automatic access to said print job management application upon accessing said at least one webpage; and

said mobile client device coupled to receive an SMS message at the end user specified SMS messaging address of the mobile client device sent through a message transceiver of an SMS message sender integral to the printer server, wherein the SMS message includes an executable link to said web address of said at least one web page, such that, upon execution of said link, automatically providing the end user with said print job management application without requiring an end user of said mobile client device to have access to the network address information of said printer drivers or search for said print job management application via said web browser.

4. A method of enabling a mobile client device with a printing capabilities, comprising:

providing a mobile client device coupled to a printer server via a wireless telephone network;

said mobile client device providing access to a print job management application via a web address via a web server, said print job management application configured for allowing an authorized user to monitor and control print jobs submitted to the printer server via said mobile client device, wherein said printer server uses information from an end user via an end user interface of said printer server, said end user interface comprising a physical or virtual keyboard integral to said printer server, wherein accepting user information further comprises accepting user identification information from an end user, accepting the SMS messaging address from said end user, forming an end user specified SMS messaging address, and accepting user authentication information, thereby eliminating a need for a printer server administrator to decide whether to allow or prevent transmission of said one or more printer drivers to said end user;

the user of said mobile client device receiving an SMS message containing an executable link for accessing said web address;

said mobile client device automatically locating, upon execution of said link, the print job management application using a web browser associated with the mobile client device;

said mobile client device automatically downloading the print job management application onto the mobile client device using said browser; and

said mobile client device automatically installing the downloaded the print job management application to the client device, thus enabling the mobile client device to monitor and control print jobs submitted to the printer server via said mobile device.

5. A mobile printing system, comprising:

a printer server coupled to a mobile client device via a wireless telephone network, said mobile client device comprising a message transceiver configured with an SMS messaging address adapted to receive SMS text messages and a web browser;

said printer server comprising;

a web server;

a memory including one or more printer drivers, wherein the web server comprises a plurality of web pages identified with web addresses, wherein each web page from among the plurality of web pages is adapted to provide access particular printer drivers;

an end user interface comprising a physical or virtual keyboard integral to said printer server for accepting the SMS messaging address from said end user, forming a user specified SMS messaging address, wherein said keypad is further configured for accepting end user authentication information, thereby eliminating a need for a printer server administrator to decide whether to allow or prevent transmission of said one or more printer drivers to said end user; and

an SMS message sender integral to the printer server, wherein the printer server is adapted to cause the SMS message sender to send an SMS message to the end user specified SMS messaging address of the client device through the message transceiver, wherein the SMS message includes the web address of the one or more web pages, thus automatically providing the end user with access to one or more printer drivers on said mobile client device without requiring an end user of said mobile client device to previously have access to the network address information of said printer drivers or search for said printer drivers via said web browser.

6. A method of enabling a mobile client device with a printing capabilities, comprising:

providing a printer server in communication with a mobile client device via a wireless telephone network;

said printer server providing access to one or more printer drivers located on a web server, wherein said web server comprises a plurality of web pages identified with web addresses, wherein each web page from among the plurality of web pages is adapted to access particular printer drivers;

said printer server accepting user information from a user via an end user interface of said printer server, said end user interface comprising a physical or virtual keyboard integral to said printer server, said information at least comprising an SMS messaging address associated with a client device, wherein accepting user information further comprises;

accepting user identification information from an end user;

accepting the SMS messaging address from said end user, forming an end user specified SMS messaging address; and

accepting user authentication information, thereby eliminating a need for a printer server administrator to decide whether to allow or prevent transmission of said one or more printer drivers to said end user;

sending the user the web address of the web page in an SMS message to the SMS messaging address using an SMS message sender integral to said printer server;

the SMS message sent by said printer server and the web address received via the SMS message allowing a web browser associated with the mobile client device to automatically locate the one or more printer drivers in the memory of said printer server, to automatically download the one or more printer drivers onto the mobile client device using said browser, and to automatically install the downloaded printer drivers to the client device, thus enabling the mobile client device to print a print job via said printer server.

7. A mobile printing system, comprising:

a printer server coupled to a mobile client device via a wireless telephone network, said mobile client device comprising a message transceiver configured with an SMS messaging address adapted to receive SMS text messages and a web browser, said printer server comprising;

a memory including a print job management application for allowing an authorized user to monitor and control print jobs submitted to the printer server via a mobile device;

an end user interface comprising a physical or virtual keyboard integral to said printer server for accepting the SMS messaging address from said end user, forming a user specified SMS messaging address, wherein said keyboard is further configured for accepting end user authentication information, thereby eliminating a need for a printer server administrator to decide whether to allow or prevent transmission of said one or more printer drivers to said end user;

a web server containing at least one webpage adapted to provide automatic access to said print job management application upon accessing said at least one webpage; and

an SMS message sender integral to the printer server wherein the printer server is adapted to cause the SMS message sender to send an SMS message to the end user specified SMS messaging address of the client device through the message transceiver, wherein the SMS message includes an executable link to said web address of said at least one web page, such that, upon execution of said link, automatically providing the end user with said print job management application without requiring an end user of said mobile client device to have access to the network address information of said printer drivers or search for said print job management application via said web browser.

8. A method of enabling a mobile client device with a printing capabilities, comprising:

providing a printer server coupled to a mobile client device via a wireless telephone network;

said printer server providing access to a print job management application via a web address via a web server, said print job management application configured for allowing an authorized user to monitor and control print jobs submitted to the printer server via a mobile device;

said printer server accepting user information from an end user via an end user interface of said printer server, said end user interface comprising a physical or virtual keyboard integral to said printer server, wherein accepting user information further comprises;

said printer server accepting user identification information from an end user;

said printer server accepting the SMS messaging address from said end user, forming an end user specified SMS messaging address; and

said printer server accepting user authentication information, thereby eliminating a need for a printer server administrator to decide whether to allow or prevent transmission of said one or more printer drivers to said end user;

said printer server sending the user an SMS message containing an executable link for accessing said web address, wherein the SMS message sent by said printer server and the web address received via the SMS message allow a web browser associated with the mobile client device to automatically locate, upon execution of said link, the print job management application using the web browser associated with the mobile client device, automatically download the print job management application onto the mobile client device using said browser, and automatically install the downloaded the print job management application to the client device, thus enabling the mobile client device to monitor and control print jobs submitted to the printer server via said mobile device.

9. A method of enabling a wireless client device with a printing capabilities, comprising:

providing a wireless client device coupled to a printer server via a wireless network;

said wireless client device providing access to a print job management application, said print job management application configured for allowing an authorized user to monitor and control print jobs submitted to the printer server via said wireless client device, wherein said printer server uses information from an end user entered via an end user interface of said printer server, wherein accepting user information further comprises accepting user identification information from an end user, accepting a messaging address from said end user, forming an end user specified messaging address, and accepting user authentication information, thereby eliminating a need for a printer server administrator to decide whether to allow or prevent transmission of said one or more printer drivers to said end user;

said mobile client device receiving a message containing an executable link for accessing said print job management application;

said mobile client device automatically locating, upon execution of said link, the print job management application;

said mobile client device automatically downloading the print job management application onto the mobile client device; and

said mobile client device automatically installing the downloaded the print job management application to the client device, thus enabling the mobile client device to monitor and control print jobs submitted to the printer server via said mobile device.

10. A method of enabling a mobile client device with a printing capabilities, comprising:

providing a printer server coupled to a mobile client device via a wireless telephone network;

said printer server providing access to a print job management application, said print job management application configured for allowing an authorized user to monitor and control print jobs submitted to the printer server via a mobile device;

said printer server accepting user information from an end user via an end user interface of said printer server, wherein accepting user information further comprises;

said printer server accepting user identification information from an end user;

said printer server accepting a messaging address from said end user, forming an end user specified messaging address; and

said printer server accepting user authentication information, thereby eliminating a need for a printer server administrator to decide whether to allow or prevent transmission of said one or more printer drivers to said end user;

said printer server sending the user a message containing an executable link for accessing said print job management application, wherein the message sent by said printer server and the link received via the message allow the mobile client device to automatically locate, upon execution of said link, the print job management application, automatically download the print job management application onto the mobile client device, and automatically install the downloaded the print job management application to the client device, thus enabling the mobile client device to monitor and control print jobs submitted to the printer server via said mobile device.