A cloud server is provided. The cloud server includes a transceiver configured to receive, from an electronic device, a fax transmission request and at least one processor configured to control the transceiver to determine a communication network among a plurality of communication networks for communication with an opponent image forming apparatus corresponding to the fax transmission request, when the opponent image forming apparatus is a pre-registered apparatus and transmit fax data corresponding to the fax transmission request to the opponent image forming apparatus using the determined communication network, when the opponent image forming apparatus is a pre-registered apparatus.

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.

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.

A processing apparatus having a function to perform specific processing based on a request from a terminal is provided. The processing apparatus includes a connection portion configured to connect the processing apparatus to the terminal; and a processor configured to control the terminal to display a second screen including a part or a whole of a first screen, the first screen having been displayed in the terminal by another processing apparatus with the function before the processing apparatus connects to the terminal.

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.

A controller for transmitting digital content to a television is herein disclosed and enabled. The controller may be included in a television or externally connectable to a television. The controller may be wirelessly managed via a Bluetooth-enabled device or by using a smart phone. To setup the controller, the controller may wirelessly obtain setup information (e.g., ID, security, or authentication information) from either the Bluetooth-enabled device or from the smart phone via wireless communication (e.g., Bluetooth or IEEE 802.11), then the controller uses the wirelessly obtained information to access a wireless local area network (LAN) for establishing services. The controller includes chips or chipsets that is compatible with at least one protocol within IEEE 802.11 standards for accessing the Wireless LAN. After connecting to the Wireless LAN, the controller may further wirelessly receive digital content from a mobile device for playing or outputting the digital content at the television.

A method of transferring digital content from a mobile wireless information apparatus such as a smart phone, an information Pad, or a digital Pad to a wireless output device associated with a television by short range wireless communication. The method may include downloading video digital content from the Internet to the mobile wireless information apparatus and may open a short range wireless communication that is compatible with IEEE802.11 or with Bluetooth standard for output. The method may select a wireless output device associated with the television. Subsequently, the information apparatus may conform the digital content into an output data for transferring the output data over the short range wireless connection to the selected wireless output device associated with the television for output.

Output devices or systems, such as televisions, speakers, projectors, or output controllers, are herein disclosed and enabled for receiving digital content from a digital content service operated, at least partly, over the Internet. The disclosed output device includes wireless communication circuitry and an interface. To set up the output device for receiving and playing digital content, the output device first receives, via the interface, security information, then establishes a wireless local area network connection employing the received security information. Subsequent to having established the wireless local area network connection and using the wireless communication circuitry, the output device connects to a server over a network for downloading and installing software applications or software components for upgrading or modifying the capabilities of the output device. Thereafter, the output device is setup for receiving the digital content from the digital content service using the downloaded and installed software components.