Patent ID: 8705097
Filing Date: 2014-04-22
Classification: G06F,G06Q,H04L,H05K

Abstract:
1. A data output service method implemented by a data output computing system for rendering digital content received over the Internet from an information apparatus, the information apparatus including a browsing application for viewing and selecting at least part of the digital content, and the browsing application operable for accessing the Internet, the data output computing system including: a server over the Internet that is distinct from the information apparatus, one or more server applications at the server over the Internet for receiving one or more objects in accordance with an object model or a software component model suitable for transferring over a network that includes the Internet, a multi-user operating system at the server over the Internet for enabling multiple concurrent users, whom have subscribed to the data output service, to log on and access the one or more server applications, at the server over the Internet, in separate and protected sessions, an output device for rendering digital content onto an output medium, the output device being a distinct device from the information apparatus and the server, and an output controller having a connection to the output device, the output controller being a distinct device from the output device, the information apparatus, and the server, the method comprising: receiving, at the server, one or more content objects from the information apparatus over the Internet, the one or more content objects being in accordance with an object model or a software component model suitable for transferring over the Internet and acceptable to the one or more server applications at the server, and the one or more content objects including: receiving, at the server, one or more job objects from the information apparatus over the Internet, the one or more job objects being in accordance with an object model or a software component model suitable for transferring over the Internet and acceptable to the one or more server applications at the server, the one or more job objects including: generating, by the one or more server applications at the server over the Internet, an output data related to an output job, the output data for rendering the digital content at the output device, and the output data including information related, at least in part, to the one or more job objects received at the server, and the output data including information related, at least in part, to the one or more content objects received at the server; sending, from the server over the Internet, at least part of the output data to the output controller for rendering at the output device; receiving, at the output controller, at least part of the output data from the server over the Internet; processing, at the output controller, at least part of the output data for rendering at the output device, the processing including an image processing operation and a decoding operation; passing at least part of the output controller processed output data from the output controller to the output device for rendering; rendering at least part of the digital content at the output device onto an output medium with the received at least part of the output data; and sending a confirmation, by the data output computing system to the information apparatus, the confirmation including information associated with the output job; and wherein, the rendering of at least part of the digital content at the output device being without the need of an output device driver associated with the output device installed in the information apparatus.