Information apparatus and application software supporting printing over air or network are herein disclosed and enabled. The information apparatus may include one or more software components that include (1) a discovery component to discover a supported printer in a local area network (LAN) and to receive device information related to the printer (e.g., capability, language or format supported, identification) from the printer, and (2) a printing component to generate or obtain print data based on the device information received and to transmit the print data to the discovered printer. After establishing the connection to the LAN, application software (e.g., Internet browser, email, photos, documents) in the information apparatus may print digital content by using the discovery component to discover the printer in the LAN, and may use the printing component to obtain and transmit print data in a form that is acceptable to the printer for printing the digital content.

A system and method for network policy enforcement for portable data devices such as smartphones, tablets or notebook computers uses the portable device to self-enforce prescribed policies. A beacon generator generates a wireless security beacon in accordance with an output of the beacon generator and a wireless data interface receives an access request from a portable data device. Digital security policy data configured to enable a preselected set of functions on the portable data device is stored in the data storage. The processor communicates the policy data to the portable data device in accordance with a received access request via the wireless data interface.

A printing apparatus of the present invention makes wireless LAN connection in at least either one of a first connection mode for making wireless LAN connection to an image processing apparatus in which inherent authentication information is stored and a second connection mode for making wireless LAN connection to the image processing apparatus via a second access point provided by an apparatus other than the printing device and the image processing apparatus. The printing apparatus controls, in a case of connection in the first connection mode, a first function provided by the printing apparatus to be enabled and a second function which is enabled in the second connection mode to be disabled.

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

Printing devices (or output controllers) supporting printing over air or wireless network printing or Internet printing, are herein disclosed and enabled. The printing device may include wireless communication chips or chipsets supporting part of IEEE 802.11 standards for (1) connecting to a wireless local area network (LAN) to establish communication with a client that is in the wireless LAN; (2) transmitting device information related to the printing device from the printing device to the client; and (3) receiving print data from the client over the wireless LAN for printing at the printing device. The print data is based on the device information transmitted to the client. A printer driver specific to the printing device may or may not be necessary for printing to the printing device. The printing device may require registration with a service over a network prior to providing printing services to the client.

Mobile device or mobile software configured for wirelessly managing or wirelessly setting up an output system are herein disclosed and enabled. Examples of mobile devices include smart phones and information pads having a touch sensitive screen. The mobile software, which is executable at the mobile device, causes the mobile device to: wirelessly discover the output system that is within physical proximity to the mobile device; receive, via the touch sensitive screen and from a user, selection of an item related to the wirelessly discovered output system; establish a wireless communication link between the mobile device and the output system; and wirelessly transmit security information or authentication information to the output system for setting up the output system for service. The mobile software may further facilitate management of settings of the output system and may further wirelessly drive or control the output system over the wireless communication link.

Information apparatus that wirelessly discovers an output device, which is available within close physical vicinity for outputting digital content, is herein disclosed and enabled. The information apparatus includes wireless communication circuitry for establishing short range wireless communication between the information apparatus and the output device. The information apparatus wirelessly receives information from the output device that has been wirelessly discovered, and determines, from the information received, whether the output device matches a requirement for outputting digital content. When the requirement is matched, the information apparatus selects the discovered output device, conforms at least part of the content into output data, and transmits at least part of the output data over the short range wireless communication from the information apparatus to the selected output device. The information apparatus may include one or more of a smart phone, information pad, a digital camera, or an Internet appliance.

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 or authentication may be required for establishing the wireless connection. Subsequent to having established the wireless connection, the output device receives the digital content from the client for playing at the output device.

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

Output devices or systems, such as televisions, speakers, projectors, or output controllers, are herein disclosed and enabled for wirelessly receiving digital content from a digital content service or from an information apparatus. The disclosed output device includes wireless communication circuitry and an interface. To set up the output device for receiving and playing the digital content, the output device first receives, via the interface, security information, and then establishes a wireless local area network connection. Subsequent to having established the wireless local area network connection, the output device connects to a server over a network, using the wireless communication circuitry, 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 information apparatus and from the service using the downloaded and installed software components.