Systems for the provision of printing services - Paten...

Systems for the provision of printing services

Systems for the provision of printing services
United States Patent 7,552,207
Gecht , et al. June 23, 2009
Inventors: Gecht; Guy (San Jose, CA), Lodwick; Philip A. (Richfield, MN), Schoenzeit; Loren (Orono, MN), Steinberg; John D. (Millbrae, CA), Tenenbaum; Ofer (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc. (Foster City, CA)
Appl. No.: 10/984,464
Filed: November 8, 2004

Abstract
The present invention relates to systems for providing printing services over a communications network. In particular, the present invention enables a user to obtain print jobs at an unspecified location, which may be remote from the source of the print job. Spooling means are used to store a print job received via the network from a print job source. Polling means, which may be at a location remote from the print job source, are capable of polling the spooling means via the network to identify whether any print jobs associated with the polling means are available for printing at associated printing means. The spooling means need not initiate contact with the printing means through a firewall, since it is polled by the polling means. Thus, network security is maintained. A fee can be charged for the printing services provided.