Standalone device for identifying available document services in a token-enabled operating environment

Claim 2

In a distributed system for providing document services with a mobile computing device having a memory for storing document tokens that reference electronic documents stored on file servers accessible by a token-enabled server, an apparatus for providing access from the mobile computing device to a non token-enabled device adapted to provide document services for the electronic documents identified by the document tokens, said apparatus comprising: a token-enabler unit proximately located to the non token-enabled device for receiving and responding to queries from the mobile computing device requesting identification of document services available at the non token-enabled device; wherein the token-enabler unit establishes a communication channel with the mobile computing device for receiving the queries from the mobile computing device; the token-enabler unit responding to the queries by transmitting to the mobile computing device over the communication channel information for accessing through the token-enabled server document services available at the non token-enabled device; and wherein the token-enabler unit operates independent from a network forming part of the distributed system over which the mobile computing device, the token-enabled server, and the non token-enabled device communicate to deliver an electronic document identified by a document token stored on the mobile computing device to the non token-enabled device through the token-enabled server for having document services performed thereon.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the token-enabler unit responds to queries from the mobile computing device by providing a list of document services available to the mobile computing device.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the list of available services includes one of a fax service, a print service, and an email service.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the token-enabler unit further comprises a program module for responding to configuration requests.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the token-enabler unit responds to queries from the mobile computing device by providing a unique identifier for accessing at the token-enabled server the availability of document services at the non token-enabled device.

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the token-enabled server stores directory information for identifying with the unique identifier the document services available at the non token-enabled device.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the token-enabler unit further comprises a transceiver.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the transceiver further comprises an infrared transceiver.

Claim 10

The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the token-enabler unit further comprises a memory for storing program instructions for responding to service requests.

Claim 11

The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the memory of the token-enabler unit has stored therein instructions for responding to configuration requests.

Claim 12

The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the token-enabler unit receives configuration requests from the mobile computing device.

Claim 13

The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the token-enabler unit further comprises hardware communication means for responding to queries over the communication channel from the token-enabled device that request a list of available services offered by the non token-enabled device to which the token-enabler unit is proximately located.

Claim 14

The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the token-enabler unit responds to queries for information with a telephone number.

Claim 15

The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the token-enabler unit responds to queries for information by transmitting to the mobile computing device a telephone number of a non token-enabled facsimile machine.

Claim 16

The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the token-enabler unit responds to queries for information by transmitting to the mobile computing device a network address of a non token-enabled printer.

Claim 17

The apparatus according to claim 1 , the token-enabler unit further comprising an adhesive pad for attaching the token-enabler unit to the non token-enabled device.

Claim 18

The apparatus according to claim 1 , the token-enabler unit, further comprising a battery power source.

Claim 19

The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the token-enabler unit is configured by the token-enabled server.

Claim 20

In a distributed system for providing document services with a mobile computing device having a memory for storing document tokens that reference electronic documents stored on file servers accessible by a token-enabled server, an apparatus for providing access from the mobile computing device to a non token-enabled facsimile machine adapted to provide document services for the electronic documents identified by the document tokens, said apparatus comprising: a token-enabler unit proximately located to the non token-enabled facsimile machine for receiving and responding to queries from the mobile computing device requesting identification of document services available at the non token-enabled facsimile machine; wherein the token-enabler unit establishes a communication channel with the mobile computing device for receiving the queries from the mobile computing device; the token-enabler unit responding to the queries by transmitting to the mobile computing device over the communication channel information for accessing through the token-enabled server document services available at the non token-enabled facsimile machine; and wherein the token-enabler unit operates independent from a network forming part of the distributed system over which the mobile computing device, the token-enabled server, and the non token-enabled facsimile machine communicate to deliver an electronic document identified by a document token stored on the mobile computing device to the non token-enabled facsimile machine through the token-enabled server.

Claim 21

In a distributed system for providing document services with a mobile computing device having a memory for storing document tokens that reference electronic documents stored on file servers accessible by a token-enabled server, an apparatus for providing access from the mobile computing device to a non token-enabled facsimile machine adapted to provide document services for the electronic documents identified by the document tokens, said apparatus comprising: a token-enabler unit proximately located to the non token-enabled facsimile machine for receiving and responding to queries from the mobile computing device requesting identification of document services available at the non token-enabled facsimile machine; wherein the token-enabler unit establishes a communication channel with the mobile computing device for receiving the queries from the mobile computing device; the token-enabler unit responding to the queries by transmitting to the mobile computing device over the communication channel information for accessing through the token-enabled server document services available at the non token-enabled facsimile machine; and wherein the token-enabler unit operates independent from a network forming part of the distributed system over which the mobile computing device, the token-enabled server, and the non token-enabled facsimile machine communicate to deliver an electronic document identified by a document token stored on the mobile computing device to the non token-enabled facsimile machine through the token-enabled server.

Claim 22

In a distributed system for providing document services with a mobile computing device having a memory for storing document tokens that reference electronic documents stored on file servers accessible by a token-enabled server, an apparatus for providing access from the mobile computing device to a non token-enabled printer adapted to provide document services for the electronic documents identified by the document tokens, said apparatus comprising: a token-enabler unit proximately located to the non token-enabled printer for receiving and responding to queries from the mobile computing device requesting identification of document services available at the non token-enabled printer; wherein the token-enabler unit establishes a communication channel with the mobile computing device for receiving the queries from the mobile computing device; the token-enabler unit responding to the queries by transmitting to the mobile computing device over the communication channel information for accessing through the token-enabled server document services available at the non token-enabled printer;. and wherein the token-enabler unit operates independent from a network forming part of the distributed system over which the mobile computing device, the token-enabled server, and the non token-enabled printer communicate to deliver an electronic document identified by a document token stored on the mobile computing device to the non token-enabled printer through the token-enabled server for printing.

Claim 23

In a distributed system for providing document services with a mobile computing device having a memory for storing document tokens that reference electronic documents stored on file servers accessible by a token-enabled server, an apparatus for providing access from the mobile computing device to a non token-enabled printer adapted to provide document services for the electronic documents identified by the document tokens, said apparatus comprising: a token-enabler unit proximately located to the non token-enabled printer for receiving and responding to queries from the mobile computing device requesting identification of document services available at the non token-enabled printer; wherein the token-enabler unit establishes a communication channel with the mobile computing device for receiving the queries from the mobile computing device; the token-enabler unit responding to the queries by transmitting to the mobile computing device over the communication channel information for accessing through the token-enabled server document services available at the non token-enabled printer;. and wherein the token-enabler unit operates independent from a network forming part of the distributed system over which the mobile computing device, the token-enabled server, and the non token-enabled printer communicate to deliver an electronic document identified by a document token stored on the mobile computing device to the non token-enabled printer through the token-enabled server for printing.