Software Development Kits
In addition to specific software packages, many vendors also provide the ability for the user to develop software to communicate with the MFP through a Software Development Kit. Different vendors have different licensing models, from completely "closed" proprietary systems (often with large costs involved) to open strategies with no direct cost involved. An incomplete list of these technologies is:
- Canon MEAP (Multifunctional Embedded Application Platform)
- Konica Minolta OpenAPI
- ABBYY FineReader Engine
- Sharp OSA (Open Systems Architecture)
- Xerox EIP (Extensible Interface Platform)
- Samsung J-Scribe
- HP Open Extensibility Platform (OXP)
- Ricoh’s Device SDK
- Lexmark Embedded Solutions Framework (eSF)
In general, these technologies fall in to one of two technical models - Server based, or MFP internal software.
Server based technologies use a method to communicate information to and from the MFP (often SOAP/XML based), running the operating code on a suitably powered computer on the network. This method has the advantage of being very flexible, in that the software is free to do anything that the developer can make the computer do. The only limit from the MFP itself is the capability of the MFP to display a user interface to the workings of the application. As many of the applications are based around custom printing, scanning and authentication requirements, the MFP manufacturers that use this method gravitate towards these core technologies in the user interface.
MFP internal software, by comparison, has the advantage of not requiring anything outside of the MFP. The software runs within the MFP itself and so even a complete network outage will not disrupt the software from working (unless of course the software requires a network connection for other reasons). MFP internal software is often, but not always, Java based and runs in a Java Virtual Machine within the MFP. The negative side to this kind of software is usually that it is much more limited in capabilities than Server based systems.
Read more about this topic: Multifunction Printer
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