Marking agent credit adjustments

In one example of the disclosure, account data that is indicative of marking agent credits attributed to a printer is stored. The printer is a printer connected to a supply of marking agent. A marking agent credit is to authorize consumption of a credit amount of marking agent from the supply according to a subscription. A print job is received from a sponsor computing device. The account data is adjusted to add credits in an adjustment amount that is a function of marking agent consumption to print the job. The job is sent to the printer for printing.

BACKGROUND

Certain printers are capable of receiving communications and printable content via the internet without being connected to a desktop computer, notebook computer, or other host computing device. An advantage of such a printer is that print jobs can be received for printing from other computing devices located anywhere around the globe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES

The ability of an internet-connected printer to receive print jobs from other computing devices located around the globe is significant in that it makes it possible for a user at a printer to print jobs provided by other users. This functionality can provide a significant opportunity for a provider of a print job, e.g., a family member, a retailer, or any other content provider, to make available to a printer user print jobs that will be appreciated, but that might not have otherwise been sought out by the user. In an example, a user of an internet-connected printer will be pleased to receive from a family member via the printer a print job that is a photograph of, or artwork made by, a grandchild. In another example, a user of an internet-connected printer may appreciate receiving coupons, recipes, health information, news, or other print jobs from a trusted retail provider. However, users of internet printers may sometimes be inclined to delay or forego printing print job sent to the printer by others, e.g., due to concerns about the cost of printing such print job.

To address these issues, examples described herein provide for sponsored printing of print jobs via the making of marking agent credit adjustments. Examples described herein may operate by storing account data indicative of marking agent credits attributed to a printer. The printer is a printer connected to a supply of marking agent. The marking agent credits are to authorize consumption of a credit amount of marking agent from the supply according to a subscription. Examples described herein may receive a print job from a sponsor computing device, and adjust the account data to add marking agent credits in an adjustment amount that is a function of marking agent consumption to print the job. Examples described herein may determine the marking agent consumption. Other examples described herein may receive from the printer data indicative of the marking agent consumption. Examples described herein may further operate by sending the print job to the printer for printing.

In this manner, consumer and business-based scenarios can exist in which a provider provides to printer users print jobs that will interest the users, and in which the providers are willing to pay for marking agent credits to be added to the users' accounts to partially or completely cover the cost of printing. Providers of content and users of printers will appreciate that the users are enabled to receive and print jobs sent by the providers in situations where such jobs might not have been printed otherwise. Advantages of the disclosure will cause customer satisfaction with sponsored printing, with subscription ink services, and with internet printing generally, to increase.

As used herein, a “printer” or “printing device” refers to any liquid inkjet printer, solid toner-based printer, liquid toner-based printer, or any other electronic device that prints (e.g., any multifunctional electronic device that performs a function such as scanning and/or copying in addition to printing). “Marking agent” refers to any substance that can be consumed by a printer during a printing operation, including but not limited to aqueous inks, solvent inks, UV-curable inks, dye sublimation inks, latex inks, toners, and powders. “Consuming” or “consumption” of marking agent refers to expending by use.

An “email” refers to a message sent electronically from one email address to another email address. In some examples of email systems, the sending and receiving users' computers are not required to be online simultaneously. An “email address” refers to a character string, text, image, graphic, or other element that identifies an address from which electronic messages may be sent, or to which electronic messages may be delivered. A “message” refers to any communication, and is not meant to be limited to text or a character string. A “network” refers to a collection of computing devices interconnected by communications channels that facilitates communications and allows sharing of resources and information among the interconnected devices.

As used herein, a “processing resource” and a “processor” are used synonymously and refer generally to any instruction execution system, such as a computer/processor based system or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a computer, or other system that can fetch or obtain instructions or logic stored in a memory and execute the instructions or logic contained therein. In examples, a processing resource or processor may be at least one of a central processing unit (CPU), a semiconductor-based microprocessor, a graphics processing unit (GPU), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) configured to retrieve and execute instructions, other electronic circuitry suitable for the retrieval and execution of instructions stored on a machine-readable storage medium, or a combination thereof. In examples described herein, a processor may include, for example, one processor or multiple processors included in a single computing device or distributed across multiple computing devices.

As used herein, a “machine-readable storage medium” may be any electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical storage apparatus to contain or store information such as executable instructions, data, and the like. For example, any machine-readable storage medium described herein may be any of Random Access Memory (RAM), flash memory, a storage drive (e.g., a hard disk), any type of storage disc (e.g., a Compact Disc Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), any other type of compact disc, a DVD, etc.), and the like, or a combination thereof. Further, any machine-readable storage medium described herein may be non-transitory.

Referring now to the drawings,FIG. 1is a block diagram depicting an example of a system for facilitating sponsored printing of print jobs utilizing marking agent credit adjustments. Ha1shows a host computer system102operatively connected to a sponsor computing device104and a printer106via a network108. Host computer system102represents generally any computing device or group of computing devices configured to send and receive network requests, send and receive data, including receiving a print job110from the sponsor computing device104, sending a print job110to the printer106, and/or otherwise communicate with sponsor computing device104, printer106, and other computing devices via the network108. Sponsor computing device104represents generally any computing device or group of computing devices configured to send and receive network requests, send and receive data, including sending a print job110, and/or otherwise communicate with host computer system102and other computing devices via the network108.

Printer106represents generally any computing device or group of computing devices operable to consume a marking agent to produce a printed print job or printed content. In an example, consumption of marking agent may refer to a using up of marking agent. In another example, consumption of marking agent may refers to a dispensing or ejection of marking agent, e.g., a dispensing or ejection of marking agent upon a media. Printer106is operable to send and receive network requests and data via the network108, including receiving print jobs from host computer system102. Printer106may be additionally operable to otherwise communicate with host computer system102and sponsor computing device104via the network.

Network108represents generally hardware components and computers interconnected by communications channels that allow sharing of resources and information. Network108may include a cable, wireless, fiber optic, or remote connection via a telecommunication link, an infrared link, a radio frequency link, or some combination of these, or any other connectors or systems that provide electronic communication. Network108may also include intermediate proxies, routers, switches, load balancers, and the like. The paths followed by network108between host computer system102, sponsor computing device104, and printer106as depicted inFIG. 1represent the logical communication paths between these devices, not necessarily the physical paths between the devices.

In an example, host computer system102includes a processing resource112and a machine-readable storage medium114encoded with sponsored printing instructions116. In an example, the instructions116cause the host computer system102to implement a service to enable sponsorship of print jobs via marking agent credit adjustments. Processing resource112may fetch, decode, and execute instructions116stored on storage medium114to implement the functionalities disclosed herein. In examples, storage medium114may include additional instructions. In examples, instructions116and any other instructions described herein in relation to storage medium114may be stored on a machine-readable storage medium remote from, but accessible to, host computer system102and processing resource112. In examples, decoding may include decrypting. In examples, the functionalities of any of the instructions of storage medium114may be implemented in the form of electronic circuitry, in the form of executable instructions encoded on a machine readable storage medium, or a combination thereof.

In examples, host computer system102may be any sort of a computing device. In some examples, host computer system102may implement at least a portion of a service to enable provider-sponsorship of print jobs via the making of marking agent credit adjustments. In some examples, instructions116may be part of a larger set of instructions implementing such a marking agent credit adjustment service. In some examples, portions of a marking agent credit adjustment service may be implemented on different computing devices.

In the example ofFIG. 1, a printer106is a printer connected to a supply118of marking agent120. The sponsored printing instructions116stored at machine readable storage medium114may cause the host computer system102to store account data122that is data indicative of marking agent credits122attributed to the printer106. In an example, a marking agent credit refers to data that, when received by a printer, authorizes the printer to dispense or consume a credit amount of a marking agent that is available at the printer pursuant to a marking agent subscription. In an example, a marking agent subscription refers to a right, contract, pledge, or other arrangement to authorize a printer to dispense or consume a prescribed amount of a marking agent for a sum paid, or a fee agreed to be paid. In the example ofFIG. 1, each marking agent credit indicated by or represented by the account data122is a credit to authorize the printer106to consume a credit amount of marking agent120from the supply118according to the subscription. In an, example, the credit amount may be expressed as a number of pages authorized for printing. In another example, the credit amount may be expressed as a quantity of marking agent to be dispensed or consumed by the printer (e.g. picoliters of ink, cubic millimeters of toner, etc.).

Continuing with the example ofFIG. 1, the instructions116cause the host computing system102to receive a print job110from the sponsor computing device104. As used herein, a “print job” or “job” refers to content and/or instructions as to formatting and presentation of the content sent to a computer system for printing. In examples, a print job may be stored in a programming language and/or a numerical form so that the job can stored and used in computing devices, servers, printers and other machines capable of performing calculations and manipulating data.

Responsive to receipt of the print job110at host computer system102, the instructions116cause the host computing system102to adjust the account data122that is indicative of printer marking agent credits to add credits in an adjustment amount. In examples, the adding of credits in the adjustment amount is to provide compensation, or partially provide compensation for the portion of marking agent120that the printer106will consume in printing the print job110. The size of the adjustment amount is a function of the amount of marking agent to be consumed during printing of the job110. In an example, the instructions116may cause the host computer system102to determine the adjustment amount utilizing a formula that is stored at, or accessible to, host computer system102. In a particular example in which the amount of marking agent to be consumed is measured or stated in “pages” to be printed, a formula for determining an adjustment amount may be
Adjustment Amount=Number of Pages in Print Job to be Printed.

In an example, the marking agent to be consumed may be measured in “pages”, wherein a “page” is an average marking agent distribution for a sheet or length of media, and the average is utilized in calculating marking agent consumption for each media sheet or length printed utilized to print a job.

In another example wherein the marking agent to be consumed is measured in “pages”, a “page” may be a measurement classification that is equivalent to a volume measurement, e.g.,
1 Page=Xpicoliters of marking agent.

In another example in which the amount of marking agent to be consumed is measured or stated in “pages” to be printed during printing of a job, and in which the sponsorship arrangement is such that the print job is 50% sponsored by a provider entity, a formula for determining an adjustment amount may be:
Adjustment Amount=(50%)×(Number of Pages to be Printed During Printing of Job).

In another example, the adding of credits in the adjustment amount is to provide compensation that is above and beyond the portion of marking agent120that the printer106will consume in printing the print job110. In an example in which the amount of marking agent to be consumed is measured or stated in “pages” to be printed during printing of a job, and in which the sponsorship arrangement is such that the print job is 150% sponsored by a provider entity, a formula for determining an adjustment amount may be:
Adjustment Amount=(150%)×(Number of Pages to be Printed During Printing of Job).

Continuing with the example ofFIG. 1, following the adjustment of the account data122to add credits in the adjustment amount, the instructions cause the host computer system102to send the print job110to the printer106for printing. In other embodiments, the instructions116may cause the host computer system102to send the print job110to the printer106for printing, and after the sending of the job110make the adjustment to the account data122to add marking agent credits in the adjustment amount. In other embodiments, the instructions116may cause the host computer system102to make the adjustment to the account data122to add marking agent credits in the adjustment amount before sending the print job110to the printer106for printing.

In this manner, a content provider can send to printers jobs that will be of interest to printer users, and encourage printing of the jobs at the printers by having marking agent credits added to the marking agent subscription account to partially or completely cover the cost of printing. In examples, the receiving of print jobs, e.g., print job110, from the sponsor computing device104, and the sending of print jobs, e.g., print job110, to the printer106over the network108may be via a networking protocol. The networking protocols utilized may include, but are not limited to, Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (“TCP/IP”), HyperText Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”), and/or Session Initiation Protocol (“SIP”).

In some examples, the sponsored printing service instructions116may be part of an installation package that, when installed, may be executed by processing resource112to implement the functionalities described herein in relation to the instructions116. In such examples, storage medium114may be a portable medium, such as a CD, DVD, or flash drive, or a memory maintained by a server from which the installation package can be downloaded and installed. In other examples, the instructions116may be part of an application or applications already installed on authorization host computer system102including processing resource112. In such examples, the storage medium114may include memory such as a hard drive, solid state drive, or the like. In some examples, functionalities described herein in relation toFIG. 1may be provided in combination with functionalities described herein in relation to any ofFIGS. 2-4.

FIG. 2is a block diagram depicting an example of a system for facilitating sponsored printing of print jobs utilizing marking agent credit adjustments.FIG. 2depicts examples of physical and logical components for implementing various embodiments, including components are identified as engines226228230232234. In describing engines226228230232234, focus is on each engine's designated function. The term engine, as used herein, refers to a combination of hardware and programming configured to perform a designated function. However, in different examples, more, fewer, and/or other components, arrangements of components, etc. may be used according to the teachings described herein. In addition, various engines and other components described herein may be implemented as one or more software components, hardware components, special purpose hardware (e.g., application specific hardware, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), embedded controllers, hardwired circuitry, etc.), or some combination of these.

Referring now to the drawings,FIG. 2is a block diagram depicting an example of a system for enabling sponsored printing of print jobs utilizing marking agent credit adjustments.FIG. 2shows a host server system202operatively connected to a sponsored smartphone204, a printer one206, a printer two238, and a printer “N”240via an internet208. Host server system202represents generally any computing device or group of computing devices configured to send and receive network requests, send and receive data (including sponsored printing setup messages, emails that include print jobs, and marking agent credit balance updates), and/or otherwise communicate with sponsored smartphone204, printers one, two and N206238240, and other computing devices via the internet208. Sponsored smartphone204represents generally any computing device or group of computing devices configured to send and receive network requests, send and receive data, including sending emails with print jobs, and/or otherwise communicate with host server system202and other computing devices via the internet208.

Printer one206, printer two238, and printer N240each represents generally any computing device or group of computing devices operable to dispense or otherwise consume a marking agent marking agent to produce a printed print job or printed content. In this example, each of printers one, two and N206238240is operable to send and receive network requests and data via the internet208, including receiving print jobs from host server system202. Printers one, two, and N206238340may be additionally operable to otherwise communicate with host server system202and sponsored smartphone204via the internet208.

Internet208may include, at least in part, an intranet the internet, or a combination of both. The paths followed by internet208between the host server system202, the sponsored smartphone204, and printers one, two and N206238240as depicted inFIG. 2represent the logical communication paths between these devices, not necessarily the physical paths between the devices.

Host server system202is shown to include a sponsored printing setup engine226, a credit storage engine228, a job receipt engine230, a credit adjustment engine232, a job sending engine234, and a memory236. In performing their respective functions, the engines226228230232234may access memory236. Memory236represents generally any memory accessible to the engines226228230232234that can be used to configured to store and retrieve data.

In the example ofFIG. 2, sponsored printing setup engine226causes the host server system202to receive a setup message242from printer one206or exchange a set of setup messages242with printer one206. In this example, the setup message242is a message to authorize host server system202to forward print jobs received at server system202from the sponsored smartphone to printer one206. In an example, the setup messages242may be sent by the printer one206as the result of user interaction with a touchpad or other interface at the printer one206. In another example, a setup message to authorize host server system202to forward print jobs received at server system202from the sponsored smartphone to printer one206may be received from another computing device, e.g. a notebook computer or tablet computer via the another computing device accessing a web page that allows a user to set sponsored printing preferences for printer one206. In an example, the host server system202may additionally receive sponsored printing setup messages242from sponsored smartphone204to authorize the forwarding to printer one206of print jobs received at server system202from the sponsored smartphone204.

In an example, a setup messages242setup message received at host server system202(e.g., from sponsored smartphone204) may establish a formula for determining a marking agent credit adjustment amount that considers marking agent consumption to print the job. In an example which the amount of marking agent to be consumed is measured or stated in volume of ink to be consumed, during printing of a job, a formula for determining an adjustment amount may be
Adjustment Amount=Picoliters of Ink to be Consumed During Printing of Job.
In other examples, the marking agent to be consumed may be a marking agent other than ink, e.g., a toner or a powder, and the quantity to be consumed may be determined utilizing a measurement other than a volume measurement, e.g., a measurement of mass or weight.

Continuing with the example ofFIG. 2, the credit storage engine226causes the host server system202to store printer one account data244indicative of marking agent credits attributed to printer one206, printer two account data246indicative of marking agent credits attributed to printer two238, and printer N account data260indicative of marking agent credits attributed to printer N240. In the example ofFIG. 2, each of printer one206, printer two238, and printer N240is connected to separate supplies of marking agent220220A220B. In an example, the printer one account data244may be indicative of marking agent credits for printer one206purchased by a user of printer one206, wherein each credit is to authorize consumption of a “credit amount” of marking agent from a marking agent supply at the printer according to a subscription. In an example, the printer one account data244indicative of marking agent credits attributed to printer one206is adjusted to add credits responsive to receipt at host server system202of data indicating that payment has been made or received for such credits. Similarly, the printer two account data246indicative of marking agent credits attributed to printer two238, and the printer N account data260indicative of marking agent credits attributed to printer N240may be adjusted to add credits responsive to receipt at host server system202of data indicating that payment has been made or received for such credits (e.g. by users of printers two and N) to provide for the consumption of ink at printers two and N according to subscriptions applicable to printers 2 and N. In an example, the credit amount of marking agent purchased for a printer, e.g., printer one206, pursuant to a subscription may be less than the marking agent supply220that is available at the printer.

In the example ofFIG. 2, memory236at host server system202holds subscription data248that is indicative of the subscription that authorizes consumption of marking agent at printer one206. The subscription may be, or may include, a right, contract, pledge, or other arrangement that authorizes the printer one206to consume marking agent220held at a marking agent supply218that is onboard printer one206. In an example, the subscription may be a subscription received and stored at host server system202as subscription data248, or made accessible to the host server system202, responsive to a sum being paid, or an agreement that a sum will be paid, to a marking agent provider entity or marking agent provider user associated with the host server system202. In a particular example, the subscription data248may be received at the host server system202from printer one206or from sponsored smartphone204as a result of a user at printer one206or at sponsored smartphone204having interacted with a marking agent provision service web page hosted by host server system202. In another example, the subscription data248may be received at the host server system202via the Internet208as part of, or in conjunction with, a sponsored printing setup message242sent by printer one206or sponsored smartphone204.

As used in this disclosure, a “subscription” is not limited to an arrangement where the fee is prepaid. In an example, the subscription data248may be representative of a subscription arrangement where the fee is to be paid after the consumption of the marking agent. In a particular example, the fee to be paid to a provider pursuant to a subscription may be a fee to be paid at the end of a measuring period (e.g., end of month), e.g., $X at the end of each month to authorize a predetermined consumption of marking agent110, e.g., ink to print500document pages at printer one206. A particular example of a subscription for utilization of marking agent220at printer one206follows:
Subscription=$X/month, 100 marking agent pages included per month, $1 per 20 pages for additional pages per month, with payment due: 30 days after an end of month usage report.

Continuing with the example ofFIG. 2, the host server system202additionally stores sponsor device account data252indicative of sponsor device marking agent credits attributed to the sponsored smartphone204, or to a sponsor entity256that is associated with the sponsored smartphone204. In an example, the sponsor device account data252indicative of sponsor device marking agent credits attributed to sponsored smartphone204or its sponsoring entity256is adjusted to add credits responsive to receipt at host server system202of data indicating that payment for such credits has been made or received.

In an example, the sponsor device account data252is indicative of a pool of marking agent credits that can be debited or drawn against, as the host server system adds to or supplements the printer one account data244, the printer two account data246, or the printer N account data260indicative of marking agent credits as a result of printing of sponsored print jobs at printer one206, printer two238, or printer N240, as applicable.

Continuing with the example ofFIG. 2, the job receipt engine230causes the host server system202to receive from the sponsored smartphone204an email254that includes a print job210. In an example, the print job may be included in the email as an attachment, e.g., an attached document or image file. In another example, the print job may be included as text within a body of the email. In other examples, the host server system202may receive the print job210from the sponsored smartphone204by means other than email delivery.

Continuing with the example ofFIG. 2, the credit adjustment engine232causes the host server system202to make an adjustment to the sponsor device account data252to decrease, reduce, subtract or deduct credits in the adjustment amount, and to make an adjustment to the printer one account data244to increase or add marking agent credits in the adjustment amount. The adjustment amount is at least a portion of a consumption amount of marking agent consumed, or to be consumed, to print the print job210.

As discussed previously, the size or quantity of the adjustment amount may be a function of the formula that is established via the sponsored printing setup messages242. In a particular example, the formula may be stored in memory236at host server system202and state: Adjustment Amount=Number of Pages in Print Job. In an example, the credit adjustment engine232may cause the host server system202to analyze the received print job210to determine the marking agent consumption to take place during printing of the job at printer one206. In an example, the credit adjustment engine232may cause the host server system202to determine the marking agent consumption to take place during printing of the job at printer one206by identifying metadata or other job-size information within the print job210. In another example, the credit adjustment engine232may cause the host server system202to receive from printer one206data indicative of the marking agent consumption that will occur during printing of the print210at printer one206. In yet another example, the credit adjustment engine232may cause the host server system202to receive from printer one206data indicative of the marking agent consumption that actually occurred during printing of the print210at printer one206.

In a particular example, the credit adjustment engine232may make the marking agent credit adjustments to the sponsor device account data252and to the printer one account data244responsive to detecting a sponsored print job flag included within the print job210, or within a message that accompanies the print job210. In a particular example, sponsored print job flag may be included with an email254that includes the print job210. As used herein, “flag” refers to any indicia or marking of email or message that the print job210received at host server system202is to be treated as a sponsored print job causing adjustments to be made to the sponsor device account data252and to the printer one account data244that are indicative of marking agent credits.

In an example, the credit adjustment engine232may send to printer one206a marking agent credits balance update250. In an example, the credits balance update250may be data, e.g., a message, indicative of the adjusted printer one account data244. The adjusted printer one account data244is data indicative of the number of printer one marking agent credits available to authorize printing at printer one206. In an embodiment, receipt of the balance update250at printer one206informs printer one206that sufficient marking agent credits are in place, as evidenced by printer one account data244, to authorize printing of the job210. In another example, the credits balance update250may include at least a portion of the printer one account data244, the portion indicative of an amount of marking agent220authorized for immediate consumption at printer one206.

It should be noted that while the foregoing discussion has been with respect to adjustment of account data indicative of marking agent credits to compensate for projected marking agent consumption, it is also contemplated that the printer one account data244indicative of marking agent credits could be adjusted to offset other printing expenses. For example, e.g., the printer one account data244could be adjusted to add marking agent credits in a supplemental adjustment amount that is a function of a printing cost other than marking agent consumption. In a particular example, the printer one account data244may be adjusted to add marking agent credits in a supplemental adjustment amount that is a function of projected or media consumption to occur, or of actual media consumption that occurred, during printing of the job210. In another example, the printer one account data244may be adjusted to add marking agent credits in a supplemental adjustment amount that is a function of projected electricity or power consumption, or of actual electricity or power consumption that occurred, during printing of the job210. In another example, the printer one account data244may be adjusted to add marking agent credits in a supplemental adjustment amount that is a function of an estimated depreciation in value of a printer that may occur during printing of a print job.

Continuing with the example ofFIG. 2, the job sending engine234causes the host server system202to send the print job210to printer one206for printing. In examples, the job sending engine may send the print job210to printer one206, over the network208via a networking protocol, including but not limited to Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (“TCP/IP”), HyperText Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”), and/or Session Initiation Protocol (“SIP”).

In an example, the functions and operations described with respect to the sponsored printing setup engine226, the credit storage engine228, the job receipt engine230, the credit adjustment engine232, the job sending engine234, and the host server system202may be implemented as a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions executed by a processor (e.g., processing resource212) and stored in a memory (e.g., memory236). In a given implementation, processing resource212may represent multiple processors, and memory236may represent multiple memories.

FIG. 3is a flow diagram of operation in a system according to various examples. In discussingFIG. 3, reference may be made to the diagrams ofFIGS. 1 and 2to provide contextual examples. Implementation, however, is not limited to those examples. Starting withFIG. 3, account data that is indicative of marking agent credits attributed to a printer is stored. The printer is a printer connected to a supply of marking agent. A marking agent credit is to authorize consumption of a credit amount of marking agent from the supply according to a subscription (block302). Referring back toFIGS. 1 and 2, the sponsored printing instructions116(FIG. 1), when executed by processing resource112(FIG. 1), or the credit storage engine228(FIG. 2), may be responsible for implementing block302.

Continuing withFIG. 3, a print job is received from a sponsor computing device (block304). Referring back toFIGS. 1 and 2, the sponsored printing instructions116(FIG. 1), when executed by processing resource112(FIG. 1), or the job receipt engine230(FIG. 2), may be responsible for implementing block304.

Continuing withFIG. 3, the account data is adjusted to add credits in an adjustment amount that is a function of marking agent consumption to print the job (block306). Referring back toFIGS. 1 and 2, the sponsored printing instructions116(FIG. 1), when executed by processing resource112(FIG. 1), or the credit adjustment engine232(FIG. 2), may be responsible for implementing block306.

Continuing withFIG. 3, the job is sent to the printer for printing (block308). Referring back toFIGS. 1 and 2, the sponsored printing instructions116(FIG. 1), when executed by processing resource112(FIG. 1), or the job sending engine234(FIG. 2), may be responsible for implementing block308.

FIG. 4is a flow diagram of operation in a system according to various examples. In discussingFIG. 4, reference may be made to the diagrams ofFIGS. 1 and 2to provide contextual examples. Implementation, however, is not limited to those examples. Starting withFIG. 4, a setup message is received via a network. The setup message is a message to authorize a computer system to forward print jobs received from a sponsor computing device to a printer. The printer is a printer with an onboard supply of marking agent subject to a subscription (block402). Referring back toFIGS. 1 and 2, the sponsored printing instructions116(FIG. 1), when executed by processing resource112(FIG. 1), or the sponsored printing setup engine226(FIG. 2), may be responsible for implementing block402.

Continuing withFIG. 4, account data is stored. The account data is indicative of marking agent credits attributed to the printer, wherein a credit is to authorize consumption of marking agent from the supply according to the subscription (block404). Referring back toFIGS. 1 and 2, the sponsored printing instructions116(FIG. 1), when executed by processing resource112(FIG. 1), or the credit storage engine228(FIG. 2), may be responsible for implementing block404.

Continuing withFIG. 4, an email that includes a print job is received from the sponsor computing device (block406). Referring back toFIGS. 1 and 2, the sponsored printing instructions116(FIG. 1), when executed by processing resource112(FIG. 1), or the job receipt engine230(FIG. 2), may be responsible for implementing block406.

Continuing withFIG. 4, an adjustment amount is determined. The adjustment amount is a function of a marking agent quantity to be consumed during printing of the job (block408). Referring back toFIGS. 1 and 2, the sponsored printing instructions116(FIG. 1), when executed by processing resource112(FIG. 1), or the credit adjustment engine232(FIG. 2), may be responsible for implementing block408.

Continuing withFIG. 4, responsive to detecting a sponsored print job flag within the email, the account data is adjusted to add credits in the adjustment amount (block410). Referring back toFIGS. 1 and 2, the sponsored printing instructions116(FIG. 1), when executed by processing resource112(FIG. 1), or the credit adjustment engine232(FIG. 2), may be responsible for implementing block410.

Continuing with HG.4, the print job is sent to the printer for printing (block412). Referring back toFIGS. 1 and 2, the sponsored printing instructions116(FIG. 1), when executed by processing resource112(FIG. 1), or the job sending engine234(FIG. 2), may be responsible for implementing block412.

Various modifications may be made to the disclosed examples and implementations without departing from their scope. Therefore, the illustrations and examples herein should be construed in an illustrative, and not a restrictive, sense.