Output systems (e.g., information apparatus, Internet appliances, information pads, smart phones, audio output devices) supporting voice commands for playing digital content received from a service provided over a network (e.g., Internet) are herein disclosed and enabled. The output system may include an interface (e.g., touch sensitive screen interface, wireless interface) for receiving authentication information to access the service over the network. The service may be a subscribed service. While connected to the service, the output system receives voice commands from a user for outputting or playing digital content, and, in response to the voice commands, the output system receives, from the service, output data related to the digital content for outputting or playing at the output system. The output system may include a digital camera for image acquisition and may further be Bluetooth enabled for wirelessly receiving audio data (e.g., music) from a mobile device.

The image processing apparatus includes a shooting unit configured to capture a moving picture including video data and audio data of a subject at a certain location; a receiver configured to receive video data of a moving picture of the subject without audio data of the moving picture; a layer generator configured to generate a first layer and at least one second layer to reproduce and display on the screen a plurality of pieces of video data including the video data captured by the shooting unit and at least one piece of video data received by the receiver; a display controller configured to reproduce and display the first layer and the at least one second layer to be overlaid with each other on one screen through hierarchical combining.

A thermal printer thermal having a processor allowing the thermal printer to act as a host or a slave based on real time computing while being used in a video terminal.

Output devices supporting wireless device discovery are herein disclosed and enabled. To setup an output device for wireless connection, wireless device discovery is performed by a client of the output device to discover the output device. Upon being discovered, the output device may provide identification or information related to the output device to the client for establishing a wireless connection. Subsequently, the output device may receive, via the established wireless connection, digital content from the client for output. Wireless device discovery operations may be based on one or more of a close proximity wireless communication, a Bluetooth wireless communication, or a wireless communication compatible with a protocol within IEEE 802.11 standards. Security information, such as a password, biometrics, or a PIN, may be required for establishing the wireless connection. The output device may automatically obtain the security information from the client or may be based, in part, on user input.

An information processing apparatus includes: a detector that detects a voltage of a power system to which the information processing apparatus itself is connected, from among a plurality of power systems to which are respectively connected a plurality of electrical devices respectively available for communication; a receiver that receives running information expressing running conditions of each of the plurality of electrical devices; and a reporting unit that uses a detection result of the detector and a reception result of the receiver to report whether or not an electrical device corresponding to the running information received by the receiver is connected to the power system to which the information processing apparatus itself is connected.

An information processing apparatus includes: a detector that detects a voltage of a power system to which the information processing apparatus itself is connected, from among a plurality of power systems to which are respectively connected a plurality of electrical devices respectively available for communication; a receiver that receives running information expressing running conditions of each of the plurality of electrical devices; and a reporting unit that uses a detection result of the detector and a reception result of the receiver to report whether or not an electrical device corresponding to the running information received by the receiver is connected to the power system to which the information processing apparatus itself is connected.

Output systems (e.g., information apparatus, Internet appliances, audio devices or video output devices) supporting voice commands for playing digital content received from a service provided over a network (e.g., Internet) are herein disclosed and enabled. The output system includes a touch sensitive screen interface for receiving security information to access a wireless local area network and for receiving authentication information to access the service over the network. The service may be a paid or subscribed service. While connected to the service, the output system receives voice commands from the user for outputting or playing selected digital content, and, in response to the voice commands, the output system receives, from the service, output data related to the selected digital content for outputting or playing at the output system. The output system may include a digital camera for image data acquisition or video data acquisition and may further be Bluetooth enabled.

Wireless printing devices that are configured to register with a service over a network (e.g., Internet) for providing printing services for one or more client devices without printer drivers are herein disclosed and enabled. The printing device may include a touch sensitive screen interface to receive security information for connecting to a wireless local area network (LAN). While connected to the wireless LAN, the printing device accesses the service for registering the printing device, and transmits device information related the printing device to the service. Subsequent to registration, one or more client devices using the service over the network may select the registered printing device for printing, and the printing device is configured to receive output data either from the service or via a computing device within the wireless LAN, and wherein output data is related to the device information transmitted to the service.

Software applications and information apparatus supporting output of digital content over a network (e.g., Internet) to an output device (e.g., printer) are herein disclosed and enabled. To output digital content, an application for accessing a service provided over the network is installed, the information apparatus is connected to the local area network of the output device, the output device in the local area network (e.g., IEEE 802.11) is discovered, output device information is received from the discovered output device, and the output device information is transmitted to the service for registering the output device. Subsequent to registration, the information apparatus using an application (e.g., Internet browser, email, document) and having appropriate security or authentication information may transmit digital content to the service to output digital content at the registered output device. The output of digital content does not require a device specific driver that is installed in the information apparatus.

Printing devices (including controllers) supporting printing in a wireless local area network, printing over air, or network printing by registering the printing device with a service over a network are herein disclosed and enabled. The printing device may include wireless communication circuitry that supports part of IEEE 802.11 standards for (1) connecting to a wireless local area network (LAN) to establish communication with an information apparatus that is in the wireless LAN; (2) transmitting device information related to the printing device from the printing device to the information apparatus; and (3) receiving print data from the information apparatus over the wireless LAN for printing at the printing device. The print data is based on the device information transmitted to the information apparatus. A printer driver specific to the printing device may or may not be necessary to be installed in the information apparatus for printing to the printing device.