Patent ID: 7301655

Claim:
A printing system comprising a) a host device for executing programs; b) an office machine having a print engine for receiving print engine ready data and based thereon for rendering images and a PC card slot for receiving PC cards, wherein the office machine does not have any printer controller circuit; c) a PC card for removably coupling with the PC card slot of the office machine and for coupling with the host device, the PC card having a printer controller integrated circuit for providing substantially all printer controller functions for the office machine, the printer controller integrated circuit for receiving printer controller ready data from the host device and based thereon for generating print engine ready data, wherein the office machine requires the PC card with printer controller to be coupled thereto to render images, and wherein the printer controller may be replaced or upgraded by a user without intervention of the manufacturer of the office machine; and d) printing software having an automatic update module that automatically downloads an updated version of printer controller firmware from a source external of the PC card to the printer controller of the PC card, and wherein the printer controller performs printer controller functions when the printer controller firmware is executed by the printer controller.