{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-8502996","patent":{"patent_number":"US-8502996","title":"Method and system for matching distributed users with distributed multi-function devices","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2009-09-10T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2013-08-06T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["G06F","G06F","G06F","G06F","H04N","H04N","H04N","H04N","H04N","H04N","H04N","H04N","H04N","H04N"],"num_claims":19,"abstract":"A method and system for matching distributed users with distributed MFDs is disclosed, which incorporates a MFD cloud, a back end unit, and a client application. The MFD cloud is composed of a large number of geographically distributed MFDs and can be logically divided into a public cloud and a private cloud. The back end unit maintains a persistent state of each MFD associated with the MFD cloud. The client application permits the distributed users to submit a rendering job in association with a job criterion to the back end unit which responds with a sorted list of nearby available MFDs that meet the job criterion. The user can select a MFD from the list and turn-by-turn directions from a user's current location to the selected MFD can be provided for collecting the rendering job. The system data can be kept current by periodically sending a status associated with each MFD."},"analysis":{"summary":null,"layman_explanation":null,"technical_analysis":null,"business_analysis":null,"faqs":null,"topics":[],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"Method and system for matching distributed users with distributed multi-function devices","description":"A method and system for matching distributed users with distributed MFDs is disclosed, which incorporates a MFD cloud, a back end unit, and a client application. The MFD cloud is composed of a large n","keywords":[]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-8502996","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-8502996","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Method and system for matching distributed users with distributed multi-function devices\" (US-8502996). https://patentable.app/patents/US-8502996","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-8502996","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-8502996","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-05-30T19:52:19.695Z"}