Secure, server-less print release

摘要

A print release environment includes a client computing device, an imaging device and an active directory. The client stores an imaging job on a local hard disk. The client registers itself with the active directory indicating an existence of the job. Upon a user logging in to the imaging device to retrieve an imaged media corresponding to the imaging job, the imaging device queries the active directory for possible clients. The imaging device contacts client(s) and retrieves a list of jobs available to the user. The user selects their job and the client releases it direct to the imaging device. The client deletes the imaging job upon successful imaging of the media and undoes its registration with the active directory, unless further imaging jobs exist for the user. Encryption techniques are contemplated to secure the data of the imaging job end-to-end from the client to the imaging device.

主权项

1. A method for imaging media in a print release environment having a plurality of client computing devices available to multiple users and at least one imaging device connected in a network but without a print server having stored imaging jobs for release to the at least one imaging device from any of the client computing devices for imaging the media, comprising:
after initiation of an imaging job on one of the client computing devices, receiving an indication at an active computing directory on a computing server in the network remote from the client computing devices and the at least one imaging device that said one of the client computing devices has said imaging job available for processing; and receiving a query at the active computing directory on the computing server from the at least one imaging device to confirm the existence of the imaging job.