Enabling features over common communication channel
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsRandall R. Hube, Louis J. Cardinale, Christopher J. Auclair, Theodore W. Thomas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A technique for downloading or activating or deactivating selected machine features from a remote central station that is connected to the remote machine by a communication channel. Also, the invention includes identifying features to be downloaded and then activated at a given site and communicating the data relative to the identified features to the remote machine.
Claims15
In an imaging system having a control for producing images of documents provided with editing indicia on image supporting substrates, the system including a machine having a plurality of operating components and a central station remote from the machine, the machine and the central station being interconnected by a communication channel, the machine having a plurality of predetermined activated editing features available to a machine operator, a method for activating an editing feature different from said activated features, the editing feature being previously inactive and unavailable to a machine operator, the editing feature providing changes of original images to the images on the supporting substrates in response to the editing indicia, including the steps of
- identifying the machine at the central station for having said additional editing feature enabled,
- communicating with the machine over the communication channel interconnecting the machine and the central station,
- responding at the machine that said additional editing feature is a valid feature for said machine,
- enabling from the central station said additional editing feature for the machine, said additional editing feature becoming an activated feature available to a machine operator, and
- recording in memory the activation of said additional feature.
In an imaging machine for producing images of original documents on image supporting substrates, the machine having a plurality of operating components, including an operator interface, a central station remote from the machine, the machine and the central station being interconnected by a communication channel, the machine having a plurality of predetermined activated editing features available to a operator, including trimming, color mesh, and black to color functions providing selected changes of the original document on the supporting substrates a method for enabling an additional feature different from said activated features, the additional feature being unavailable to operator until said enabling, at the operator interface including the steps of:
- identifying at the operator interface said additional feature to be enabled,
- communicating with central station over the communication channel interconnecting the machine and the central station,
- determining that said additional feature is a valid feature for said machine,
- enabling said additional feature for availability to he operator for the machine, and
- recording in memory the activation of said additional feature.
In an imaging system for producing images of original documents on image supporting substrates, the system including a machine having an interface with display and a central station remote from the machine, the machine and the central station being interconnected by a communication channel, the machine having a plurality of predetermined activated features available to an operator, a method for changing said activated features including the steps of
- accessing the central station from the interface,
- displaying editing feature options at the interface, the editing features providing changes of the original document to the images on the supporting substrates,
- selecting a given editing feature option,
- responding that said editing feature option is a valid feature for said machine,
- enabling from the central station said editing feature for the machine, said editing feature becoming an activated feature, said editing feature previously being unavailable to the operator, and
- recording in memory the activation of said editing feature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.