The mobile office provides new challenges when dealing with traditional hard copy documents. Providing support for single-function and multifunction hard copy devices, the solution must extend document management to the mobile information worker. It must integrate the fax machine, scanner, printer and multifunction office equipment with portable computing devices, mobile phones and bi-directional pagers into a single solution accessible from the worker's current location. These mobile devices become integral tools in moving information into and through the electronic document solutions. The necessity for the knowledge worker to maintain a mobile office is growing, as this allows access to right here, right now information.
Speed is now a primary business success factor.
Extending the capabilities of these MFP devices to the mobile worker will enable real time management of hard copy documents as the workers roam about. The role of Salutation technology is to determine the capabilities of connected equipment and services and manage the transfer of data between them. Salutation can be used by a host computer to locate a device in a company business center that meets the requirements of a mobile worker. Using the capability information gathered by Salutation, a printer can be located and selected that best meets the of the output job. For example, a user can locate a high function color printer, or one that prints on both sides of the page, or the one with the fastest throughput, or a combination of these or other capabilities.