Patent ID: 7248693

Claim:
A method of using a printer to print a document stored on a server, the server being connected to a network, the method comprising: placing an order for the document to be distributed to the printer; establishing a connection between the server and the printer to which the document will be distributed, after the order is placed; using a smart card to give an identity to the printer within a predetermined amount of time of the establishing of the connection, the printer not having the identity until the identity is given, wherein the identity includes at least one cryptographic key contained on the smart card; and wherein the server times out, the server closes the connection established with the printer, and the server cancels the placed order if the smart card fails to give the identity to the printer within the predetermined amount of time and if the smart card gives the identity to the printer within the predetermined amount of time, the order for the document is further processed by; using the printer and the at least one cryptographic key to establish the printer identity with the server in response to the smart card giving the identity to the printer within the predetermined amount of time, wherein the server encrypts the document and transmits the encrypted document to the printer via the network; using the printer to receive the encrypted document from the network; using the printer to decrypt the encrypted document; and using the printer to print the decrypted document.