Methods and apparatus for controlling an input or output device over the internet

A method for receiving data from an input device in a network comprising a client, a server, and said input device, the method comprising the operations, performed by the server, of:

• receiving input job information transmitted from the input device when the input device inputs data;
• storing the input job information to an input queue;
• retrieving the data from the input device based on the input job information when the input device is available;
• receiving a request from the client inquiring whether an input job is in queue for it as determined from said input job information, and if the determination is a affirmative then processing data from the input device based on the input job information.

A computer-readable medium containing instructions for outputting data in a network comprising an initiator, a server, and an output device remote from the initiator, the instructions corresponding to tasks executable by a computer and performed by the server, for:

• receiving a request from an initiator to output data provided by the initiator using the output device, the request comprising a network storage location of data to be output;
• placing the request in a queue;
• scheduling an output action based on the request in the queue;
• determining if a requested output format specified in the request is supported by said output device;
• and
• retrieving the output data from the network storage location based on the request if the requested output format is supported by said output device and only when the scheduled action is ready to be executed on the output device without delay from any other request for outputting additional output data to said output device, wherein the network storage location of the output data is different from the queue.

A computer-readable medium containing instructions for retrieving data from an input device in a network comprising an initiator, a server, and said input device remote from the client, the instructions corresponding to tasks executable by a computer and performed by the server, for:

• receiving input job information transmitted from the input device when the input device inputs data;
• storing the input job information to an input queue;
• retrieving the data from the input device when the input device is available;
• receiving a request from the client inquiring whether an input job is in queue for it as determined from said input job information, and if the determination is affirmative then processing data from the input device based on the input job information;
• and
• transmitting the data to a location based on a data destination information provided by said client.

An apparatus for controlling data in a network comprising an initiator, a server, and an output device remote from the initiator, the apparatus comprising:

• a memory having program instructions;
• and
• a processor configured to
• receive a request from said initiator to output data provided by the initiator using the output device, the request comprising a network storage location of data to be output;
• place the request in a queue;
• schedule an output action based on the request in the queue;
• determining if a requested output format specified in the request is supported by said output device;
• and
• retrieve the output data from the network storage location outside the server based on the request if the requested output format is supported by said output device and only when the scheduled action is ready to be executed on the output device without delay from any other request for outputting additional output data to said output device, wherein the network storage location of the output data is different from the queue.

An apparatus for controlling data in a network comprising a client, a server, and an input device remote from the client, the apparatus comprising:

• a memory having program instructions;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• receive input job information transmitted from the input device when the input device inputs data;
• store the input job information to an input queue;
• retrieve the data from the input device when the input device is available;
• receive a request from the client inquiring whether an input job is in queue for it as determined from said input job information, and if the determination is affirmative then processing data from the input device based on the input job information.

A data control system comprising:

• an initiator for transmitting a request to output data provided by the initiator, the request comprising a network storage location of the output data;
• an output device remote from the initiator for outputting the data based on the request;
• and
• a server for receiving the request, placing the request in a queue, scheduling an output action based on the request, and retrieving the output data from the network storage location outside the server based on the request when the scheduled action is ready to be executed on the output device, wherein the network storage location is different from the queue;
• and
• an output device remote from the initiator for outputting the data based on the request;
• wherein
• said server determines if a requested output format specified in the request is supported by said output device, if the requested output format is not supported then said server determines if conversion software for providing said output device with support for the requested output format is available internally to said server, and if conversion software is a available internally then using said conversion software to convert said output data.

A data control system comprising:

• a server;
• an input device for generating data and transmitting input job information to said server;
• and
• wherein said server is effective for:
• storing the input job information from the input device to an input queue;
• retrieving data from the input device based on the input job information when the input device is available;
• receiving a request from the client inquiring whether an input job is in queue for it as determined from said input job information, and if the determination is affirmative then processing data from the input device based on the input job information.

A server in a data control system having an initiator, a server, and an output device remote from the initiator, the server comprising:

• means for receiving a request from said initiator to output data provided by the initiator using the receiving a request from an initiator to output data provided by the output data;
• means for placing the request in a queue;
• means for scheduling an action based on the request;
• and
• means for determining if a requested output format specified in the request is supported by said output device;
• and
• means for retrieving the data from the network storage location outside the server based on the request if the requested output format is supported by said output device and only when the scheduled action is ready to be executed on the output device without delay from any other request for outputting additional output data to said output device, wherein the network storage location of the output data is different from the queue.

A data control system having a client, a server, and an input device, the server comprising:

• means for receiving input job information transmitted from the input device when the input device inputs data;
• means for storing the input job information to an input queue;
• means for retrieving the data from the input device based on the request when the input device is available;
• and
• means for receiving a request from the client inquiring whether an input job is in queue for it as determined from said input job information, and if the determination is affirmative then processing data from the input device based on the input job information.

A network output device comprising:

• an output mechanism;
• a memory having program instructions;
• and
• a processor configured to
• receive a request comprising a network storage location of data provided by an initiator remote from the network output device,
• place the request in a queue;
• schedule an action based on the request;
• retrieve the data from the network storage location based on the request when the scheduled action is ready to be executed on the output device, wherein the network storage location of the data is different from the queue;
• and
• determine if a requested output format specified in the request is supported by said output mechanism, if the requested output format is not supported then determining if conversion software for providing said output mechanism with support for the requested output format is available, and if conversion software is available then using said conversion software to convert said data.

A network printer in a network comprising an initiator and a network printer, the network printer comprising:

• a print mechanism for outputting data provided by the initiator;
• and
• a controller for
• receiving a request from said initiator to output data provided by the initiator, the request comprising a network storage location of the data to be output;
• placing the request in a queue;
• scheduling an output action based on the request in the queue;
• retrieving the output data from the network storage location outside based on the request when the scheduled action is ready to be executed on the print mechanism, wherein the network storage location of the output data is different from the queue;
• determining if a requested output format specified in the request is supported by said print mechanism, if the requested output format is not supported then determining if conversion software for providing said print mechanism with support for the requested output format is available to said controller, and if conversion software is available then using said conversion software to convert said output data, and
• transmitting the converted data to the print mechanism.

A method for outputting data in a network comprising an initiator;

• server, and an output device remote from the initiator, the method comprising the operations, performed by the server, of:
• receiving a request from an initiator to output data provided by the initiator using the output device, the request comprising a network storage location of data to be output;
• placing the request in a queue;
• scheduling an output action based on the request in the queue;
• retrieving the output data from the network storage location based on the request when the scheduled action is ready to be executed on the output device, wherein the network storage location of the output data is different from the queue;
• receiving updated status information from said output device;
• storing said received updated status information in a cache;
• and
• responding to a status request from said initiator by transmitting status information directly from said cache in response to the status request without communicating with said output device.