Patent ID: 7576884
Filing Date: 2009-08-18
Classification: G06F,H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for outputting an image, comprising: transmitting, a first electronic mail comprising first control information from a client to an image output device, the first control information comprising an inquiry as to whether the image output device is providing an image output service; transmitting, in response to the first electronic mail, a second electronic mail from the image output device to the client, the second electronic mail comprising second control information, wherein the second control information comprises information indicating whether the image output device is providing the image output service, and if the image output device is providing the image output service, the second control information further comprises a list of capabilities of the image output device; transmitting, in response to the second electronic mail, a third electronic mail from the client to the image output device, the third electronic mail comprising third control information comprising a request to output an image, the request based on the capabilities of the image output device included in the second control information; outputting the image at the image output device in response to the third electronic mail; providing a storage at the client for storing the image as an image data file; transmitting, in response to the third electronic mail, a fourth electronic mail from the image output device to the client, the fourth electronic mail requesting the image data file from the client; and transmitting, in response to the fourth electronic mail, a fifth electronic mail from the client to the image output device, the fifth electronic mail comprising the image data file, wherein the image is outputted based on the received image data file at the image output device.