Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Derek E Poppink

Jonathan J Hull

Jamey Graham

Peter E Hart

Gregory J Wolff

Dar-Shyang Lee

Michael Alan Baxter

Marko Balabanovic

A method, system, computer program product, and user interface for securely and remotely selecting and initiating transmission of stored electronic documents from one device to another. The user may perform such operations with respect to documents on a source PC from any network-connected location, regardless of whether a firewall is present. A directory representation of the source PC's hard drive is transmitted to the user at his or her remote location. The user can navigate within the directory representation to select a document for transmission to a specified destination. An e-mail message is transmitted from the user's remote location to the source PC that causes the selected document to be packaged as an attachment and transmitted to the specified destination.

Remotely initiated document transmission

A method, system, and computer program product for transmitting print-ready electronic documents to a printer using e-mail as a transport mechanism. Responsive to a user request, a source PC transmits a document in print-ready format, so that there is no need for the printer to run or activate the software application that was used to generate the document. Furthermore, by rendering the document at the source PC, the invention ensures that the user's selected print settings and preferences are preserved. The user need not be concerned with whether the destination printer has the appropriate software or is configured appropriately for the user's document. In alternative embodiments, the user grants permission to print a local document. Subsequently, when a recipient wishes to print the document, the most current version is retrieved from the source PC, so that the printed document reflects any changes that may have been made after the permission was granted.

E-mail transmission of print-ready documents

A method, system, computer program product, and user interface for enabling secure, remote selection and retrieval of stored electronic documents from a user's PC or other device. The user may obtain such access to his or her documents from any network-connected location, regardless of whether a firewall is present. A directory representation of the user's PC hard drive is transmitted to the user at his or her remote location. The user can navigate within the directory representation to select a document for retrieval. An e-mail message is transmitted from the user's remote location to the PC that causes the selected document to be packaged as an attachment and transmitted to the remote location. In one application of the invention, a user can print a document from his or her PC, while he or she is standing at a printer (or multifunction device) that is not in the same physical location as the PC. The PC responds to a user request received from the printer by e-mailing the document as a print-ready attachment. Upon receipt of the e-mail, the printer prints the document.

Remote retrieval of documents

A method, system, and computer program product for asynchronous unconscious retrieval retrieves and presents information to end users without requiring the end users to explicitly request the information. The invention automatically and asynchronously formulates queries and presents relevant information to end users within the context of existing applications, so as to minimize the effort, overhead, and context shifts associated with conventional conscious retrieval.

Asynchronous unconscious retrieval in a network of information appliances

According to the invention, a visitor kiosk for the capture and storage of personal information about visitors. The visitor kiosk is placed at the entry point to a facility being monitored. Each visitor signs in at the kiosk. Their business card and an image of their face are scanned. If they do not have a business card, their name and company are entered manually. They also enter the name of the person they are visiting and the purpose for their visit. The person they are visiting is notified of the arrival of the visitor by email or by voice telephone. The data about the visitor is stored locally or remotely. Automatic lookups of various information about the visitor are performed and communicated to the person being visited. A network interface allows users to enter information about visitors they are expecting to arrive. A telephone interface is provided for input of voice greetings as well as checking on the arrival status of visitors.

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Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Derek E Poppink