Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION 
       [0001]    This patent is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/625,638, filed Jan. 22, 2007, entitled “System And Method For Providing Mobile Document Processing Services.” 
     
    
     NOTICE OF COPYRIGHTS AND TRADE DRESS 
       [0002]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. This patent document may show and/or describe matter which is or may become trade dress of the owner. The copyright and trade dress owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright and trade dress rights whatsoever. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The subject application is directed to a system and method for providing mobile document processing services. In particular, the subject application is directed to a system and method for providing mobile document processing services that are accessed by a user via an electronic mail request to the service. 
         [0004]    A professional or other mobile user is routinely required to work with documents or other data while away from an office environment. Such a user needs to generate image data, by printing, faxing, storing or scanning a document, and then needs to distribute or perform other functions on such image data. A user may access such document processing services by submitting an electronic mail request to a document processing service or provider. The electronic mail server dedicated to receiving document processing requests for the document processing service will typically receive numerous unsolicited or disruptive electronic mail messages, known as Spam. Spam is generally used to promote a product or service or broadcast some political or social commentary. The efficiency with which the electronic mail server is able to process the document processing requests may be significantly compromised by the receipt of large volumes of such unsolicited electronic mail. Difficulties in remote processing of documents by fee based services are compounded when junk electronic mail is taken into account. Unsolicited electronic mail messages may be routed to a document processing device for printing, facsimile transmission or storage, resulting in unwanted charges for processing of useless, personal or otherwise undesirable electronic mail messages. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In accordance with one embodiment of the subject application, there is provided a system and method for providing mobile document processing services. 
         [0006]    Further, in accordance with one embodiment of the subject application, there is provided a system and method for providing mobile document processing services that are accessed by a user via an electronic mail request to the service. 
         [0007]    Further, in accordance with one embodiment of the subject application, there is provided a system and method that allows a user to mobile document processing wherein a document processing request is transmitted to a transient electronic mail address and then routing the request to a document processing device corresponding to the transient address 
         [0008]    Still further, in accordance with one embodiment of the subject application, there is provided a system for a mobile document processing system. The system comprises means adapted for receiving a transient address request for generation of a transient address from an associated user and means adapted for generating transient address data for routing of electronic documents in accordance with a received request. The system further comprises means adapted for receiving a document processing request for processing of at least one electronic document and means adapted for routing the at least one electronic document to an associated document processing device corresponding to the transient address. The system also comprises means adapted for commencing a document processing operation by the associated document processing device in accordance with a received document processing request and means adapted for deleting the transient address upon occurrence of a selected event. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment of the subject application, the selected event is suitably an expiration of a selected time period. In another embodiment, the selected event is commencement of a selected number of document processing operations. 
         [0010]    In yet another embodiment of the subject application, the transient address data is an electronic mail address associated with the user. Preferably, the transient address includes data representative of an electronic mail server associated with user and identification data associated with the user 
         [0011]    In another embodiment of the subject application, the associated document processing device is at least one device chosen from a set comprising a printer, a facsimile device, and a data storage. 
         [0012]    Still further, in accordance with the one embodiment of the subject application, there is provided a method for mobile document processing in accordance with the system as set forth above. 
         [0013]    Still other advantages, aspects and features of the subject application will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description wherein there is shown and described a preferred embodiment of the subject application, simply by way of illustration of one of the best modes best suited to carry out the subject application. As it will be realized, the subject application is capable of other different embodiments and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects all without departing from the scope of the subject application. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The subject application is described with reference to certain figures, including: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is an overall diagram of the mobile document processing system according to one embodiment of the subject application; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating controller hardware for use in the mobile document processing system according to one embodiment of the subject application; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a functional diagram illustrating the controller for use in the mobile document processing system according to one embodiment of the subject application; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating a server for use in the mobile document processing system according to one embodiment of the subject application; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a mobile document processing method according to one embodiment of the subject application; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating a mobile document processing method from a client side perspective according to one embodiment of the subject application. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    The subject application is directed to a system and method for providing mobile document processing services. In particular, the subject application is directed to a system and method for providing mobile document processing services that are accessed by a user via an electronic mail request to the service. More particularly, the subject application is directed to a system and method for mobile document processing wherein a document processing request is transmitted to a transient electronic mail address and then routing the request to a document processing device corresponding to the transient address. It will become apparent to those skilled in the art that the system and method described herein are suitably adapted to a plurality of varying electronic fields including, for example and without limitation, communications, general computing, data processing, document processing, or the like. The preferred embodiment, as depicted in  FIG. 1 , illustrates a document processing field for example purposes only and is not a limitation of the subject application solely to such a field 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an overall diagram of the system  100  for mobile document processing services in accordance with one embodiment of the subject application. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the system  100  is capable of implementation using a distributed computing environment, illustrated as a computer network  102 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the computer network  102  is any distributed communications system known in the art capable of enabling the exchange of data between two or more electronic devices. The skilled artisan will further appreciate that the computer network  102  includes, for example and without limitation, a virtual local area network, a wide area network, a personal area network, a local area network, the Internet, an intranet, or the any suitable combination thereof. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the subject application, the computer network  102  is comprised of physical layers and transport layers, as illustrated by the myriad of conventional data transport mechanisms, such as, for example and without limitation, Token-Ring, 802.11(x), Ethernet, or other wireless or wire-based data communication mechanisms. The skilled artisan will appreciate that while a computer network  102  is shown in  FIG. 1 , the subject application is equally capable of use in a stand-alone system, as will be known in the art. 
         [0023]    The system  100  also includes a document processing device  104 , depicted in  FIG. 1  as a multifunction peripheral device, suitably adapted to perform a variety of document processing operations. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that such document processing operations include, for example and without limitation, facsimile, scanning, copying, printing, electronic mail, document management, document storage, or the like. Suitable commercially available document processing devices include, for example and without limitation, the Toshiba e-Studio Series Controller. In accordance with one aspect of the subject application, the document processing device  104  is suitably adapted to provide remote document processing services to external or network devices. Preferably, the document processing device  104  includes hardware, software, and any suitable combination thereof, configured to interact with an associated user, a networked device, or the like 
         [0024]    According to one embodiment of the subject application, the document processing device  104  is suitably equipped to receive a plurality of portable storage media, including, without limitation, Firewire drive, USB drive, SD, MMC, XD, Compact Flash, Memory Stick, and the like. In the preferred embodiment of the subject application, the document processing device  104  further includes an associated user interface  106 , such as a touch-screen, LCD display, touch-panel, alpha-numeric keypad, or the like, via which an associated user is able to interact directly with the document processing device  104 . In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the subject application, the user interface  106  is advantageously used to communicate information to the associated user and receive selections from the associated user. The skilled artisan will appreciate that the user interface  106  comprises various components, suitably adapted to present data to the associated user, as are known in the art. In accordance with one embodiment of the subject application, the user interface  106  comprises a display, suitably adapted to display one or more graphical elements, text data, images, or the like, to an associated user, receive input from the associated user, and communicate the same to a backend component, such as a controller  108 , as explained in greater detail below. Preferably, the document processing device  104  is communicatively coupled to the computer network  102  via a suitable communications link  112 . As will be understood by those skilled in the art, suitable communications links include, for example and without limitation, WiMax, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11(x), Bluetooth, the public switched telephone network, a proprietary communications network, infrared, optical, or any other suitable wired or wireless data transmission communications known in the art. 
         [0025]    In accordance with one embodiment of the subject application, the document processing device  104  further incorporates a backend component, designated as the controller  108 , suitably adapted to facilitate the operations of the document processing device  104 , as will be understood by those skilled in the art. Preferably, the controller  108  is embodied as hardware, software, or any suitable combination thereof, configured to control the operations of the associated document processing device  104 , facilitate the display of images via the user interface  106 , direct the manipulation of electronic image data, facilitate electronic mail communications, and the like. For purposes of explanation, the controller  108  is used to refer to any myriad of components associated with the document processing device  104 , including hardware, software, or combinations thereof, functioning to perform, cause to be performed, control, or otherwise direct the methodologies described hereinafter. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the methodologies described with respect to the controller  108  are capable of being performed by any general purpose computing system, known in the art, and thus the controller  108  is representative of such a general computing device and is intended as such when used hereinafter. Furthermore, the use of the controller  108  hereinafter is for the example embodiment only, and other embodiments, which will be apparent to one skilled in the art, are capable of employing the mobile document processing system and method according to one embodiment of the subject application. The functioning of the controller  108  will better be understood in conjunction with the block diagrams illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , explained in greater detail below. 
         [0026]    Communicatively coupled to the document processing device  104  is a data storage device  110 . In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the subject application, the data storage device  110  is any mass storage device known in the art including, for example and without limitation, magnetic storage drives, a hard disk drive, optical storage devices, flash memory devices, or any suitable combination thereof. In the preferred embodiment, the data storage device  110  is suitably adapted to store document data, image data, electronic database data, or the like. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that while illustrated in  FIG. 1  as being a separate component of the system  100 , the data storage device  110  is capable of being implemented as internal storage component of the document processing device  104 , a component of the controller  108 , or the like, such as, for example and without limitation, an internal hard disk drive, or the like. In accordance with one embodiment of the subject application, the data storage device  110  includes, for example and without limitation, electronic mail data, electronic documents, document processing requests, and the like. 
         [0027]    Additionally, the system  100  of  FIG. 1  includes a portable data device  114 , suitably adapted for sending and receiving electronic mail communications, browsing, personal data assistance operations, and the like. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, suitable portable data devices include, for example and without limitation, personal data assistants, proprietary network personal communications devices, smart phones, web-enabled cellular telephones, or the like. Preferably, the portable data device  114  is communicatively coupled to the computer network  102  via a communications link  116 . It will be understood by those skilled in the art that a suitable communications link includes any wired or wireless data communications mediums known in the art including, for example and without limitation, Bluetooth, WiMax, Wi-Fi, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11(x), a proprietary communications network, the public switched telephone network, optical, infrared, or any other suitable data transmission communications known in the art. In accordance with one embodiment of the subject application, a user  126  is capable of requesting a transient address for accessing document processing services via the portable data device  114 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the user  126  is capable of requesting the transient address via a web portal accessed via the computer network  102  through a suitable browser on the portable data device  114 , or via telephonic operations through the portable data device  114 . 
         [0028]    The system  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1  further depicts a user device  118 , in data communication with the computer network  102  via a communications link  120 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the user device  118  is shown in  FIG. 1  as a personal computer for illustration purposes only. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the user device  118  is representative of any personal computing device known in the art, including, for example and without limitation, a computer workstation, a laptop computer, a personal data assistant, a web-enabled cellular telephone, a smart phone, a proprietary network device, or other web-enabled electronic device. The communications link  120  is any suitable channel of data communications known in the art including, but not limited to wireless communications, for example and without limitation, Bluetooth, WiMax, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11(x), a proprietary communications network, infrared, optical, the public switched telephone network, or any suitable wireless data transmission system, or wired communications known in the art. Preferably, the user device  118  is suitably adapted to generate and transmit electronic documents, document processing instructions, document processing requests, electronic mail communications, user interface modifications, upgrades, updates, personalization data, or the like, to the document processing device  104 , or any other similar device coupled to the computer network  102 . 
         [0029]    The system  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1  further includes an electronic mail service component, shown as an electronic mail server  122 , communicatively coupled to the computer network  102  and adapted to provide electronic mail services to users associated with the mobile document processing system. The electronic mail server  122  is capable of implementation as any hardware, software, or suitable combination thereof, able to perform the functions described hereinafter. Preferably, the electronic mail server  122  is communicatively coupled to the computer network  102  via a suitable communications link  124 . As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the communications link  124  includes, for example and without limitation, infrared, optical, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11(x), Bluetooth, WiMax, the public switched telephone network, a proprietary communications network, or any other suitable wired or wireless data transmission communications known in the art. The functioning of the electronic mail server  122  is more fully explained in detail below with respect to  FIG. 4 . In accordance with one embodiment of the subject application, the electronic mail server  122  is suitably adapted to provide transient electronic mail addresses to requesting users  126 , via the public switched telephone network, to requesting devices  114  and  118  via the computer network  102 , and the like. Preferably, the electronic mail server  122  is further capable of functioning as a mail server as are known in the art. 
         [0030]    The system  100  further illustrates a network storage server  128  coupled to a data storage device  130 . Preferably, the network storage server  128  is representative of any network storage device known in the art capable of storing document data, image data, video data, sound data, multimedia data, or other suitable electronic data, as will be known in the art. In accordance with one embodiment of the subject application, the data storage device  130  includes a plurality of electronic data, including image data, document data, or the like. The network storage server  128  is communicatively coupled to the computer network  102  via a suitable communications link  132 . As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the communications link  132  includes, for example and without limitation a proprietary communications network, infrared, optical, Bluetooth, WiMax, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11(x), the public switched telephone network, or any suitable wireless data transmission system, or wired communications known in the art. 
         [0031]    Turning now to  FIG. 2 , illustrated is a representative architecture of a suitable backend component, i.e., the controller  200 , shown in  FIG. 1  as the controller  108 , on which operations of the subject system  100  are completed. The skilled artisan will understand that the controller  108  is representative of any general computing device, known in the art, capable of facilitating the methodologies described herein. Included is a processor  202 , suitably comprised of a central processor unit. However, it will be appreciated that processor  202  may advantageously be composed of multiple processors working in concert with one another as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. Also included is a non-volatile or read only memory  204  which is advantageously used for static or fixed data or instructions, such as BIOS functions, system functions, system configuration data, and other routines or data used for operation of the controller  200 . 
         [0032]    Also included in the controller  200  is random access memory  206 , suitably formed of dynamic random access memory, static random access memory, or any other suitable, addressable and writable memory system. Random access memory provides a storage area for data instructions associated with applications and data handling accomplished by processor  202 . 
         [0033]    A storage interface  208  suitably provides a mechanism for non-volatile, bulk or long term storage of data associated with the controller  200 . The storage interface  208  suitably uses bulk storage, such as any suitable addressable or serial storage, such as a disk, optical, tape drive and the like as shown as  216 , as well as any suitable storage medium as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0034]    A network interface subsystem  210  suitably routes input and output from an associated network allowing the controller  200  to communicate to other devices. The network interface subsystem  210  suitably interfaces with one or more connections with external devices to the device  200 . By way of example, illustrated is at least one network interface card  214  for data communication with fixed or wired networks, such as Ethernet, token ring, and the like, and a wireless interface  218 , suitably adapted for wireless communication via means such as WiFi, WiMax, wireless modem, cellular network, or any suitable wireless communication system. It is to be appreciated however, that the network interface subsystem suitably utilizes any physical or non-physical data transfer layer or protocol layer as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. In the illustration, the network interface  214  is interconnected for data interchange via a physical network  220 , suitably comprised of a local area network, wide area network, or a combination thereof. 
         [0035]    Data communication between the processor  202 , read only memory  204 , random access memory  206 , storage interface  208  and the network interface subsystem  210  is suitably accomplished via a bus data transfer mechanism, such as illustrated by bus  212 . 
         [0036]    Also in data communication with bus the  212  is a document processor interface  222 . The document processor interface  222  suitably provides connection with hardware  232  to perform one or more document processing operations. Such operations include copying accomplished via copy hardware  224 , scanning accomplished via scan hardware  226 , printing accomplished via print hardware  228 , and facsimile communication accomplished via facsimile hardware  230 . It is to be appreciated that a controller suitably operates any or all of the aforementioned document processing operations. Systems accomplishing more than one document processing operation are commonly referred to as multifunction peripherals or multifunction devices. 
         [0037]    Functionality of the subject system  100  is accomplished on a suitable document processing device, such as the document processing device  104 , which includes the controller  200  of  FIG. 2 , (shown in  FIG. 1  as the controller  108 ) as an intelligent subsystem associated with the document processing device  104 . In the illustration of  FIG. 3 , controller function  300  in the preferred embodiment, includes a document processing engine  302 . A suitable controller functionality is that incorporated into the Toshiba e-Studio system in the preferred embodiment.  FIG. 3  illustrates suitable functionality of the hardware of  FIG. 2  in connection with software and operating system functionality as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0038]    In the preferred embodiment, the engine  302  allows for printing operations, copy operations, facsimile operations and scanning operations. This functionality is frequently associated with multi-function peripherals, which have become a document processing peripheral of choice in the industry. It will be appreciated, however, that the subject controller does not have to have all such capabilities. Controllers are also advantageously employed in dedicated or more limited purposes document processing devices that are subset of the document processing operations listed above. 
         [0039]    The engine  302  is suitably interfaced to a user interface panel  310 , which panel allows for a user or administrator to access functionality controlled by the engine  302 . Access is suitably enabled via an interface local to the controller, or remotely via a remote thin or thick client. 
         [0040]    The engine  302  is in data communication with the print function  304 , facsimile function  306 , and scan function  308 . These functions facilitate the actual operation of printing, facsimile transmission and reception, and document scanning for use in securing document images for copying or generating electronic versions. 
         [0041]    A job queue  312  is suitably in data communication with the print function  304 , facsimile function  306 , and scan function  308 . It will be appreciated that various image forms, such as bit map, page description language or vector format, and the like, are suitably relayed from the scan function  308  for subsequent handling via the job queue  312 . 
         [0042]    The job queue  312  is also in data communication with network services  314 . In a preferred embodiment, job control, status data, or electronic document data is exchanged between the job queue  312  and the network services  314 . Thus, suitable interface is provided for network based access to the controller function  300  via client side network services  320 , which is any suitable thin or thick client. In the preferred embodiment, the web services access is suitably accomplished via a hypertext transfer protocol, file transfer protocol, uniform data diagram protocol, or any other suitable exchange mechanism. The network services  314  also advantageously supplies data interchange with client side services  320  for communication via FTP, electronic mail, TELNET, or the like. Thus, the controller function  300  facilitates output or receipt of electronic document and user information via various network access mechanisms. 
         [0043]    The job queue  312  is also advantageously placed in data communication with an image processor  316 . The image processor  316  is suitably a raster image processor, page description language interpreter or any suitable mechanism for interchange of an electronic document to a format better suited for interchange with device functions such as print  304 , facsimile  306  or scan  308 . 
         [0044]    Finally, the job queue  312  is in data communication with a parser  318 , which parser suitably functions to receive print job language files from an external device, such as client device services  322 . The client device services  322  suitably include printing, facsimile transmission, or other suitable input of an electronic document for which handling by the controller function  300  is advantageous. The Parser  318  functions to interpret a received electronic document file and relay it to the job queue  312  for handling in connection with the afore-described functionality and components. 
         [0045]    Turning now to  FIG. 4 , illustrated is a representative architecture of a suitable server  400  on which operations of the subject system are completed. Included is a processor  402 , suitably comprised of a central processor unit. However, it will be appreciated that the processor  402  may advantageously be composed of multiple processors working in concert with one another as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. Also included is a non-volatile or read only memory  404  which is advantageously used for static or fixed data or instructions, such as BIOS functions, system functions, system configuration, and other routines or data used for operation of the server  400 . 
         [0046]    Also included in the server  400  is random access memory  406 , suitably formed of dynamic random access memory, static random access memory, or any other suitable, addressable memory system. Random access memory provides a storage area for data instructions associated with applications and data handling accomplished by the processor  402 . 
         [0047]    A storage interface  408  suitably provides a mechanism for volatile, bulk or long term storage of data associated with the server  400 . The storage interface  408  suitably uses bulk storage, such as any suitable addressable or serial storage, such as a disk, optical, tape drive and the like as shown as  416 , as well as any suitable storage medium as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0048]    A network interface subsystem  410  suitably routes input and output from an associated network allowing the server  400  to communicate to other devices. The network interface subsystem  410  suitably interfaces with one or more connections with external devices to the server  400 . By way of example, illustrated is at least one network interface card  414  for data communication with fixed or wired networks, such as Ethernet, token ring, and the like, and a wireless interface  418 , suitably adapted for wireless communication via means such as WiFi, WiMax, wireless modem, cellular network, or any suitable wireless communication system. It is to be appreciated however, that the network interface subsystem suitably utilizes any physical or non-physical data transfer layer or protocol layer as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. In the illustration, the network interface  414  is interconnected for data interchange via a physical network  420 , suitably comprised of a local area network, wide area network, or a combination thereof. 
         [0049]    Data communication between the processor  402 , read only memory  404 , random access memory  406 , storage interface  408  and the network subsystem  410  is suitably accomplished via a bus data transfer mechanism, such as illustrated by bus  412 . 
         [0050]    Suitable executable instructions on the server  400  facilitate communication with a plurality of external devices, such as workstations, document processing devices, other servers, or the like. While, in operation, a typical server operates autonomously, it is to be appreciated that direct control by a local user is sometimes desirable, and is suitably accomplished via an optional input/output interface  422  as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0051]    In operation, a request for a transient address is received for the generation of a transient address from an associated user. Transient address data is then generated for routing of electronic documents in accordance with a received request. Next, a document processing request is received corresponding to a request for processing of at least one electronic document. The at least one electronic document is then routed to an associated document processing device corresponding to the transient address. The associated document processing device then commences a document processing operation according to the received document processing request. The transient address is deleted upon the occurrence of a selected event. 
         [0052]    In accordance with one example embodiment of the subject application, a user  126 , via telephone connection with the mail server  122 , via telephone connection through the portable data device  114 , or via a web browser operating on the portable data device  114  or the user device  118 , requests a transient electronic mail address corresponding to a spam-free electronic mail address administered by the server  122  for mobile document processing services. Preferably, the user  126  is registered to use the mobile document processing system, e.g., is authenticated/authorized via suitable authentication mechanisms, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. According to one embodiment of the subject application, a voice processing component resident on the mail server  122  is suitably adapted to enable a registered user to request and receive a transient address via the public switched telephone network or other voice-enabled communications network. Preferably, when a voice request is received by the mail server  122 , a transient address is communicated to the user  126  at an electronic mail address associated with the registered user  126 . Similarly, the user  126  is able to request a transient address via a web portal, hosted by the mail server  122  or by a server (not shown) in secure data communication with the mail server  122 . 
         [0053]    The mail server  122  then generates, upon the request of the registered user  126 , a transient address corresponding to an electronic mail address to which the user  126  is able to forward a document processing request. In accordance with one embodiment of the subject application, the transient address includes, for example and without limitation, a permanent address associated with the mail server  122  and a transient account identification associated with the transient address request from the registered user  126 . When the user  126  makes such a transient address request, the user  126  is prompted, via telephonic means, i.e., voice or image, or graphical means, i.e., via an associated user interface on a web browser, to specify the delivery method for the transient address, i.e., display the transient address to the user  126  via an associated interface, or electronically mail the transient address to the user  126  at a preselected electronic mail address. 
         [0054]    The user  126  receives the transient address via the portable data device  114 , the personal computer  118 , or the like, from the mail server  122  through a suitable communications link. A document processing request is then generated via any suitable means known in the art and sent to the transient address. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the transient address is capable of, but is not limited to, designating the document processing device  104  as the recipient of the message, designating the mail server  122 , which further functions to forward document processing requests to the document processing device  104 , designating the network storage server  128  for storing an electronic document, or the like. Preferably, the document processing request is sent to the transient address in the form of an electronic mail message, such as an attachment or included within the body of the message. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the document processing request suitably designates an electronic document for processing, which document is capable of being stored locally on the personal computer  118 , stored on the portable data device  114 , stored on the data storage device  110 , stored on some other networked storage server  128 , or the like. In accordance with one embodiment of the subject application, the transient address denotes a particular document processing device  104  for performance of document processing services. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the document processing request is capable of comprising an electronic mail message, wherein subject field of the message includes an identification of an associated document processing device or storage device, or the like. 
         [0055]    The document processing request, inclusive of either an identification of an electronic document or the electronic document itself, is then received by the mail server  122  via the computer network  102 . The mail server  122  then routes the received document processing request to the transient address. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, such routing includes, for example and without limitation, routing to a mailbox on the mail server  122  routinely accessed by the designated document processing device  104 , a mailbox on the mail server  122  capable of being accessed from a document processing device, e.g.,  104 , by the user  126 , routing directly to a mailbox resident on the designated document processing device  104 , or the like. In accordance with one embodiment of the subject application, once the mail server  122  has received the document processing request, a receipt is generated and returned to the originating device, e.g., the portable data device  114  or the user device  118 , indicating that the document processing request has been received by the mail server  122  or the document processing device  104 , as determined by the transient address. 
         [0056]    As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, upon receipt of the document processing request, the document processing device  104  is capable of immediately performing the requested document processing operation on the designated electronic document or storing the request and associated document until such time as a release is obtained to perform the document processing operation. For example, and without limitation, the document processing device  104  is capable of retrieving a designated electronic document and storing the document in the data storage device  110  until such time as the user  126  inputs a release command remotely via the user device  118  or the portable data device  114 , or via the user interface  106 . As an additional example, the document processing device  104  is capable of immediately commencing the requested document processing operation upon receipt of the request at the transient address. 
         [0057]    The mail server  122  then determines whether a selected event has occurred and based on the occurrence of the selected event, deletes the transient address. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, suitable selected events include, for example and without limitation, an expiration of a selected time period, the performance of a selected number of document processing operations, a cancellation request by an associated user, or the like. Once this event has occurred, the mail server  122  disables the transient address and the associated user  126  must request a new transient address for future document processing requests 
         [0058]    The skilled artisan will appreciate that the subject system  100  and components described above with respect to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4  will be better understood in conjunction with the methodologies described hereinafter with respect to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 . Turning now to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a flowchart  500  illustrating a mobile document processing method in accordance with one embodiment of the subject application. Beginning at step  502 , a transient address request is received for generation of a transient address from the associated user  126 . As discussed above, suitable requests are capable of being communicated to the server  122  via voice, e.g., telephonic communication from the user  126 , via the network  102 , e.g., from the portable data device  114  or the user device  118  using a suitable web browser or other communicative interface, or the like. At step  504 , the server generates transient address data for the routing of electronic documents in accordance with a received document processing request. A document processing request is then received corresponding to the processing of at least one electronic document at step  506   
         [0059]    The at least one electronic document associated with the received document processing request is then routed at step  508  to the associated document processing device  104 , the network storage server  128 , or the like, corresponding to the transient address. The receiving device, e.g., the document processing device  104  or the data storage device  128 , then commences performance of the document processing operation associated with the received document processing request. A determination is then made by the mail server  122  whether a selected event has occurred at step  512 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that suitable events include, for example and without limitation, the expiration of a selected time period, the commencement of a selected number of document processing operations, a deletion request from the user  126  or a suitable authorized administrator, or the like. When it is determined at step  512  that no such event has occurred, the operation terminates. When it is determined at step  512  that the selected event has occurred, flow proceeds to step  514 , whereupon the transient address is deleted from the mail server  122 . 
         [0060]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a flowchart  600  illustrating a client side perspective of a mobile document processing method in accordance with one embodiment of the subject application. The method begins at step  602 , wherein an associated user  126 , via the portable data device  114 , the user device  118 , a voice request, or the like, requests a transient address for mobile document processing services. At step  604 , a delivery method corresponding to the transient address is selected. For example, the user  126  is capable of specifying that the transient address be sent, via electronic mail, to the electronic mail address associated with the user  126 , or the user specifies that the transient address be displayed via a suitable web browser, or the like. 
         [0061]    A transient address is then received from the mail server  122  at step  606  corresponding to an address associated with the user and mobile document processing operations. A document processing request is then generated at step  608  corresponding to a selected document processing operation to be performed on at least one selected electronic document. In accordance with one embodiment of the subject application, the at least one electronic document is capable of being retrieved from a local storage of the data storage device  110 , the portable data device  114 , or the user device  118 , from network storage device  128 , facsimile transmission, or the like. The document processing request is then communicated at step  610  to the transient address via the computer network  102 . 
         [0062]    A receipt is then received from the document processing device  104 , the mail server  122 , or the network storage server  128  corresponding to the transient address indicating confirmation of the receipt of the document processing request at step  612 . The document processing request, or job, is then released at the associated document processing device  104  via the associated user interface  106 , or remotely with respect to storage or facsimile operations at step  614 . Thereafter, the device associated with the transient address then commences performance of the document processing operation corresponding to the received document processing request. 
         [0063]    The subject application extends to computer programs in the form of source code, object code, code intermediate sources and partially compiled object code, or in any other form suitable for use in the implementation of the subject application. Computer programs are suitably standalone applications, software components, scripts or plug-ins to other applications. Computer programs embedding the subject application are advantageously embodied on a carrier, being any entity or device capable of carrying the computer program: for example, a storage medium such as ROM or RAM, optical recording media such as CD-ROM or magnetic recording media such as floppy discs; or any transmissible carrier such as an electrical or optical signal conveyed by electrical or optical cable, or by radio or other means. Computer programs are suitably downloaded across the Internet from a server. Computer programs are also capable of being embedded in an integrated circuit. Any and all such embodiments containing code that will cause a computer to perform substantially the subject application principles as described, will fall within the scope of the subject application. 
         [0064]    The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the subject application has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the subject application to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the subject application and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to use the subject application in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the subject application as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.

Technology Category: 3