Methods and apparatus for providing access to content
View Patent ↗Methods and apparatus are provided for providing access to content via messaging services, such as email, voicemail, instant messaging, text messaging, or other similar messaging services. A content server is provided that includes a user interface, a web server and a file. The web server includes a web page for accessing the file. A user provides user information associated with a messaging address via the user interface, and the content server then sends a message including the web address of the web page to the messaging address. The user may then retrieve the message at a client computer, and may then download the file to the client computer by entering the web address into a web browser on the client computer.
1. A mobile printing system comprising:
a mobile client device comprising:
a message transceiver configured with an SMS messaging address adapted to receive SMS text messages; and
a web browser;
a printer server coupled to said mobile client device via a wireless telephone network, said printer server comprising:
a memory including one or more printer drivers, wherein the web server comprises a plurality of web pages identified with web addresses, wherein each web page from among the plurality of web pages is adapted to provide access to particular printer drivers;
an end user interface comprising a physical or virtual keyboard integral to said printer server for accepting the SMS messaging address from said end user, forming a user specified SMS messaging address, wherein said keypad is further configured for accepting end user authentication information, wherein a decision is not required by a printer server administrator whether to allow or prevent transmission of said one or more printer drivers to said end user;
a web server; and
a SMS message sender integral to the print server wherein the print server is adapted to cause the SMS message sender to send an SMS message to the end user specified SMS messaging address of the client device through the message transceiver, wherein the SMS message includes the web address of the one or more web pages, thus automatically providing the end user with a means for accessing the one or more printer drivers on said mobile client device without requiring an end user of said mobile client device to previously have access to the network address information of said printer drivers or search for said printer drivers via said web browser.
2. A method of enabling a mobile client device with a printing capabilities comprising:
coupling a mobile client device with a printer server via a wireless telephone network;
providing access to one or more printer driver located on a web server, wherein said web server comprises a plurality of web pages identified with web addresses, wherein each web page from among the plurality of web pages is adapted to access particular printer drivers;
accepting user information from a user via an end user interface of said printer server, said end user interface comprising a physical or virtual keyboard integral to said print server, said information at least comprising an SMS messaging address associated with a client device, wherein accepting user information further comprises:
accepting user identification information from an end user;
accepting the SMS messaging address from said end user, forming an end user specified SMS messaging address; and
accepting user authentication information, wherein a decision is not required by a printer server administrator whether to allow or prevent transmission of said one or more printer drivers to said end user;
sending the user the web address of the web page in an SMS message to the SMS messaging address using an SMS message sender integral to said printer server;
automatically locating the one or more printer drivers in the memory of said print server using a web browser associated with the mobile client device and the web address received via the SMS message;
automatically downloading the one or more printer drivers onto the mobile client device using said browser; and
automatically installing the downloaded printer drivers to the client device, thus enabling the mobile client device to print a print job via said printer server.
3. A mobile printing system comprising:
a mobile client device comprising:
a message transceiver configured with an SMS messaging address adapted to receive SMS text messages; and
a web browser;
a printer server coupled to said mobile client device via a wireless telephone network, said printer server comprising:
a memory including a print job management application for allowing an authorized user to monitor and control print jobs submitted to the print server via a mobile device;
an end user interface comprising a physical or virtual keyboard integral to said printer server for accepting the SMS messaging address from said end user, forming a user specified SMS messaging address, wherein said keyboard is further configured for accepting end user authentication information, wherein a decision is not required by a printer server administrator whether to allow or prevent transmission of said one or more printer drivers to said end user;
a web server containing at least one webpage adapted to provide automatic access to said print job management application upon accessing said at least one webpage; and
a SMS message sender integral to the print server wherein the print server is adapted to cause the SMS message sender to send an SMS message to the end user specified SMS messaging address of the client device through the message transceiver, wherein the SMS message includes an executable link to said web address of said at least one web page, such that, upon execution of said link, automatically providing the end user with said print job management application without requiring an end user of said mobile client device to have access to the network address information of said printer drivers or search for said print job management application via said web browser.
4. A method of enabling a mobile client device with a printing capabilities comprising:
coupling a mobile client device with a printer server via a wireless telephone network;
providing access to a print job management application via a web address via a web server, said print job management application configured for allowing an authorized user to monitor and control print jobs submitted to the print server via a mobile device;
accepting user information from an end user via an end user interface of said printer server, said end user interface comprising a physical or virtual keyboard integral to said print server, wherein accepting user information further comprises:
accepting user identification information from an end user;
accepting the SMS messaging address from said end user, forming an end user specified SMS messaging address; and
accepting user authentication information, wherein a decision is not required by a printer server administrator whether to allow or prevent transmission of said one or more printer drivers to said end user;
sending the user an SMS message containing an executable link for accessing said web address;
automatically locating, upon execution of said link, the print job management application using a web browser associated with the mobile client device;
automatically downloading the print job management application onto the mobile client device using said browser; and
automatically installing the downloaded the print job management application to the client device, thus enabling the mobile client device to monitor and control print jobs submitted to the print server via said mobile device.