Remote feature delivery for output devices
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorScott Wayne Weller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A programmable feature is remotely delivered to an output device, such as a printer. The delivery of the feature is initiated by the customer tendering payment for the feature. The customer is provided with a coupon and the coupon is subsequently redeemed. The customer receives a feature key in response to redeeming the coupon. The feature key is used to install the feature on the output device of the customer. The feature key may be a print job that contains encrypted text. Security measures may be provided to ensure that the coupon and feature key are valid.
Claims23
A method of providing a programmable feature for installation on an output device, comprising the steps of:
- providing a coupon for installation of the programmable feature, wherein the coupon contains information, including identifying information that identifies the programmable feature;
- receiving at least a portion of the information contained on the coupon at a redemption center;
- and
- in response to receiving the portion of the information contained on the coupon, forwarding a package from the redemption center to a destination for installing the programmable feature on the output device.
An output device, comprising:
- an interface for receiving a feature key for installing a programmable feature on the output device, wherein the feature key contains encrypted information;
- a storage holding a decryption key;
- and
- a processor for processing the feature key to install the programmable feature, wherein the processing entails using the decryption key to decrypt the encrypted information in the feature key.
In an order fulfillment facility, a method, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a request from a customer for a coupon, said coupon being redeemable to install a programmable feature on an output device;
- obtaining the coupon, wherein the coupon contains encrypted data that includes a description for the programmable feature;
- and
- forwarding the coupon to the customer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.