MEAP™

Smart Applications on Next-generation MEAP Technology

Companies spend plenty of time, money, and human resources developinga document management strategy and investing in document imagingtechnologies. Yet one challenge remains: How to implement that strategyand enable users to effectively utilize technologies such as multifunc-tional peripherals, or MFPs.

Smart, user-friendly applications, developed for—and delivered on—MEAP-compatible MFP devices, is the answer. Multifunctional EmbeddedApplication Platform, or MEAP, is a new embedded platform on Canon’sMFP devices that can run business applications, display customGraphical User-interfaces (GUI), and enable a seamless, two-way workflowof digital information and hard-copy documents.

MEAP enables solution developers to think outside-the-desktop-box, andtowards a platform, such as the imageRUNNER® MFPs, for building docu-ment applications. With MEAP applications, businesses can finally unleashthe full potential of their MFP infrastructure, and produce, retrieve, andmanage their information on demand. Welcome to Office Nirvana!

Integrated Business Solutions: The Key to Growth and

Improved Productivity

As the leader in office equipment solutions, Canon has met the challengesof the modern business environment—first, by developing the digital MFPto combine copy, print, scan, and fax functions in a single device; andsecond, by introducing an award-winning imageRUNNER® platform, basedon a unified architecture and consistent user-interface.

Now, MEAP technology reaffirms Canon’s strength in integrated solutions,enabling MFP devices to function not just in document-processing silos,but as part of an integrated enterprise solution involving computing, net-working, storage, and communication devices. MEAP on MFP devicesprovides the first opportunity to integrate hard-copy operations directlyinto the workflow of enterprise software applications, such as reporting,administration, document management, ERP, financials, HR, and customermanagement. The benefits of integration can mean only one thing for anorganization—simplicity and higher productivity.

Canon Introduces MEAP™—an

Embedded Platform for Building

Smart, Integrated, and Customized

Document Solutions

Canon Introduces MEAP™—an

Embedded Platform for Building

Smart, Integrated, and Customized

Document Solutions

Intelligent Customization: Unfolding New Opportunities

The greatest potential of MEAP is in enabling MFP devices to deliver personalized applications for its users. MEAP-compatible devices can run dedicated departmental tasks, enable industry-specific documentmanagement, or offer multiple specialized document services to a diversecustomer base at a pay-per-use printing shop.

MEAP applications deliver powerful customization, and yet are simple todevelop due to the availability of several built-in functionalities, such asnative capabilities of the MFP device (Mail Box, print/scan operationcounters, print/scan job control, etc.), Java/J2ME engine, MEAP systemservices and utilities supporting authentication, encryption, applicationmanagement, Single Sign-on, HTTP, FTP, USB, and secure network connec-tions. So, whether the need is to perform intelligent routing, streamlinedocument workflow, automate special procedures, or reduce administrativeoverhead, there are truly limitless possibilities for an organization to createand employ unique MEAP solutions.

Good to Great Companies: Enhancing Your Information

Flow Processes

Canon technology has provided a competitive edge to many businessesthrough its industry-leading document management and imaging products.Yet in today’s economy, firms also need to maximize margins, leverageexisting investments, and optimize capital expenditures while meetingthe sophisticated and growing needs of their users.

How does MEAP help you accomplish this?

• MEAP applications on MFP devices provide an intelligent, network-aware solution to help your business with hard-copy operations,records management and distribution, document workflow, and devicemanagement services.

• Organizations can extend the functional life of MFP devices by intro-ducing newer software applications without the necessity to makeexpensive hardware purchases or upgrades.

• MEAP is built on industry-standard Java technology (specifically J2ME),and supports several standard protocols (HTTP, TCP/IP, Ethernet, USB),making it a flexible and productive application platform for the softwaredevelopment community.

So, make the leap from a good organization to a great organization.Assess your information flow, analyze your infrastructure, evaluate yourbusiness requirements, and discover the MEAP solution that’s right foryou. Come attain a competitive advantage.

Manage Your Information Exactly

the Way You Want, Where You

Want, and How You Want.

Manage Your Information Exactly

the Way You Want, Where You

Want, and How You Want.

Allow Customers To Do Their Own Data Entry

Would you like your employees to spend more time on creative and revenue-oriented functions and less time on routine business opera-tions? At public services agencies, insurance companies, physicianoffices, bank retail branches, and other environments, paper forms havenot disappeared; in fact, they are often recreated to supplementinformation and for verification purposes. But this doesn’t mean thatemployees should spend their days processing forms.

MEAP-compatible devices with customized applications can take on significant form-processing tasks, including printing forms on demand,scanning completed applications, distributing and storing image data,and performing basic verification. Customers can, therefore, interactdirectly with MEAP front-end applications which, in turn, feed into back-end, centralized enterprise applications. Thus, organizations not only canenhance the accuracy of customer data and improve turnaround times,but also can reduce the costs of customer service.

Self-service Print Kiosks

MEAP applications can transform MFPs to self-service kiosks that offereasy-to-use functions to walk-up users.* Companies can provide kiosk-based invoice scanning and management for shipping or logisticspersonnel at remote locations. At hospitals, MEAP applications can providesingle-touch access to different functions of records scanning and processing, and alleviate the administrative burdens of healthcare per-sonnel. Self-service kiosks at photocopy centers can generate increasedrevenue with sophisticated MEAP applications that target specific customerneeds. MEAP indeed offers a remarkable front-end, customer-touch tech-nology to complement the back-office applications that have emergedover the last decade.

* MEAP applications discussed herein, and other parts of this document,are for illustrative purposes only, intended to highlight the potential ofthe software platform.

Solution Scenario: Self-service

and Process Automation

Solution Scenario: Self-service

and Process Automation

One Size Doesn’t Fit All. Developing

For Unique Industry-needs.

Industry-needs regarding information flow and processing are different interms of business operations, customer service, regulatory compliance,and personnel and records management, among others. Enterprises alsodemand precise, custom, and cost-effective solutions to ever-changingbusiness challenges. Making infrastructure technologies, such as the MFP,adapt to different organizations and provide customized workflows is theessence of MEAP technology. Additionally, software vendors or system inte-grators can develop MEAP solutions to address unique customer needs, orMEAP-based packaged applications to capitalize on broad industry oppor-tunities. MEAP has a flexible, robust, and standards-based architecture toenable rapid product development in either scenario.

Government and Public Use

In the wake of state and federal paperwork reduction acts and freedom ofinformation initiatives, government agencies are bringing documentarchives on-line to reduce the cost of serving the public. At the sametime, agencies are moving towards electronic processing of form docu-ments, along with electronic signatures in accordance with the PrivacyAct. MEAP services, with their ability to handle paper as well as electronicdocuments, are ideal gateway applications for managing the flow of infor-mation within the government, and between the government and citizensor companies.

MEAP-compatible devices represent a hybrid platform—offering print/scanas well as computing and communication features—to uniquely serve incertain processing environments. Whether it’s for Electronic RecordsManagement Initiative, Sarbanes-Oxley Act, HIPAA, or an application atthe local DMV office, there are clear opportunities for development anduse of MEAP services to enhance productivity, reduce costs, and improveresponse times.

Solution Scenario: Customized

Industry Applications

Solution Scenario: Customized

Industry Applications

What is MEAP?

MEAP, or Multifunctional Embedded Application Platform, enablesCanon’s MFP devices to support document and other services above andbeyond the standard functions of digital copy, print, scan, and send-to-E-mail/file/fax/Mail Box. MEAP is based on Java 2 Micro Edition ( J2ME)technology, which is an embedded Java runtime environment for deviceslike the MFP. MEAP is factory-installed as firmware on every MEAP-compatible MFP device, at no additional cost to the customer.

In functional terms, MEAP provides application developers the followingfeatures to build higher-level document and workflow applications:

• Graphical User-interface (GUI) development

• Job control of print and scan operations

• Files, data, event control, and networking services

• Authentication, security, device interface, encryption, and other utilities

MEAP Architecture

MEAP software consists of the following primary components:

• A complete J2ME application environment, including Java VirtualMachine ( JVM), Connected Device Configuration (CDC), and Personal Profile

• CPCA Class Library: Provides device control functions. CPCA is Canon’s proprietary device control architecture.

• Application Manager: Provides a framework for managing softwareservices. For instance, MEAP Service Management Service (SMS) isbased on this framework.

• Utility Class Library: Provides security algorithms, image processingfunctions, and USB and card reader interfaces.

• MEAP System Services: They are Java applications that provide higher-level system functions, such as authentication, Single Sign-on (SSO), HTTP and SSL services, license management, application install/uninstall, etc.

• Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) for GUI development, job control, device control, resource control, and other low-levelsystem functions.

MEAP Application Types

MEAP services may be classified into three types from the standpointof user-interfaces, as follows:

• Applet Type Service: Displays a user-interface on the device console.

• Servlet Type Service: Displays Web pages on a Web browser of aremote computer.

• Esplet Type Service: Doesn’t have any user-interface.

There is no difference among these types of services in terms of availabilityof API functions.

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MEAP Technical OverviewMEAP Technical Overview

What is the MEAP SDK?

The MEAP Software Development Kit (SDK)contains MEAP development tools and docu-mentation necessary for building MEAPapplications. In addition, a Java developmentenvironment, such as Sun’s Java 2 SDK or anyother, needs to be independently obtainedby the software developer.

The MEAP SDK includes the following:

• Documentation–Service developmentmanuals, class libraries and referencedocumentation, device specifications(such as restrictions for specificimageRUNNER models)

• Sample code

• Testing tools—Remote console (a Javaapplication for displaying debug information about MEAP services)

• TrueType® fonts for Windows® environment(for MEAP application to display these fonts)

• Other tools and information

The MEAP software platform itself is avail-able on the MEAP-enabled MFP device asfactory-installed firmware.

How To Sign Up for MEAP Application

Development?

Canon U.S.A., Inc. has recently released theMEAP Software Development Kit (SDK) to thedeveloper community. The SDK is available forpurchase, and comes with one year of tech-nical support included. Customers will needto qualify under the authorized MEAP software

developer program prior to receiving theMEAP SDK. As part of the qualificationprocess, the developer will need to showtechnical capability for software development,and sign appropriate MEAP SDK licensingagreements with Canon U.S.A., Inc. Specificdetails can be found at the following Website:www.developersupport.canon.com.

If you’re interested in MEAP applicationdevelopment opportunities, please contact aCanon field specialist or an authorized salesrepresentative for more information.

Software Licensing and Distribution

MEAP software applications need to beinstalled with valid, unexpired licenses onMFP devices, at client sites. License manage-ment, including distribution to end-users andlicense generation, is the responsibility of thesoftware developer or publisher, and can beperformed from a secure Canon-run Website.

MEAP applications without appropriatelicense files are prevented from being loadedand run on an MFP device. In addition, theapplications are encrypted prior to distribu-tion and use. Thus, software developersobtain sufficient protection for their intellec-tual property against piracy and reverse engi-neering, and Canon, in turn, can verify basiccompatibility of third-party MEAP applica-tions with MEAP-enabled MFP devices.

CPCA

CPCA, or Common Peripheral ControllingArchitecture, is a proprietary peripheral devicecontrol model developed by Canon and imple-mented in many Canon peripheral devices.CPCA defines object-oriented, application-levelprotocols and application program interfacesfor use by a MEAP application developer. TheCPCA object model represents logical andphysical functions of devices. A client can con-trol a device by managing the life cycle ofCPCA objects in the device.

CPCA is implemented in MEAP as a Java classlibrary. A service can submit and control aprinter, scanner, or copier job by invoking the class library. A service can also manage a device and control its resources, such asresident fonts.

MEAP System Services

MEAP system services support system-widefunctions; other services cannot run withoutthem. A few significant system services follow:

• AVS (Applet Viewer Service)

Shows the user-interface provided by serv-ices on the console or touch-panel display.

• HTTP Service

Web server for supporting the servletinterface. Enables device to respond toHTTP requests from a Web browser of aremote PC.

• LMS (License Management Service)

Manages application licenses includinginstall-time control and usage controlbased on number of licenses, expirationperiod, and device serial numbers.

• SMS (Service Management Service)

Provides a user-interface on a Web browser for managing the life cycle ofservices, including application install/ uninstall, application start/stop, andlicense install/update.

• LLS (Local Login Service)

Provides an interface to acquire informa-tion about the user, and sends notificationof login events to applet-based MEAPapplications.

• RLS (Remote Login Service)

Provides an interface to acquire informa-tion about the user currently logged-in,and sends notification of login events toservlet-based MEAP applications.

MEAP Technical Overview(Continued)

MEAP Technical Overview(Continued)

MEAP Software DevelopmentWhat a Software Developer Needs To Know

MEAP Software DevelopmentWhat a Software Developer Needs To Know

MEAP Enterprise Service Manager

MEAP Enterprise Service Manager (ESM) is a utility that supports centralized deployment ofMEAP applications, along with valid licenses, onto multiple MFP devices on the network. WhileService Management Service (SMS) is capable of managing a single device, ESM simplifies thejob of a system administrator, managing an enterprise-size installed base of MEAP-compatibleMFP devices.

Cost Accounting of Print/Scan Operations for Each Application

MEAP enables tracking or cost accounting of print/scan/copy operations at the level of indi-vidual applications. Using MEAP-application counters, it’s possible to count and control thenumber of prints and scans for each MEAP application. MEAP-application counters, used aloneor incorporated in another business application, can help software developers and systemadministrators to implement charge-back and pay-per-use business models in an enterprise.These accounting features essentially give managers tremendous insight into the activities andassociated costs of document production and distribution within their organizations.

MEAP Applications: Number of Applications and Resource Constraints

System administrators should be aware of the device information, system constraints, andMEAP application usage and license terms as part of managing MEAP installations. The numberof installable MEAP applications on a MEAP device is currently restricted to 18. Of these, thenumber of user-interface-type MEAP applications (i.e., applet types) that are active/running isrestricted to nine. (Therefore, MEAP applets are presented at the device console in three appli-cation tabs, with three applets per tab.) The other nine applications need to be installed asservlets, esplets, or inactive applets.*

MEAP applications can also be restricted by specific software license requirements in terms oflicense expiration period, supported MFP device models, or supported MFP device serial numbers.Thus, it’s important to understand the system requirements for any MEAP application from theconcerned software vendor.

*Actual installation numbers could be further limited by the nature of MEAP applications and each application’s requirements for memory, hard disk as well as the system resources such as number of threads, sockets, and file descriptors.

MEAP Software ManagementWhat a Systems Administrator Needs To Know

MEAP Software ManagementWhat a Systems Administrator Needs To Know

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1-800-OK-CANONwww.usa.canon.com

Canon U.S.A., Inc.

One Canon Plaza

Lake Success, NY 11042

0041W179

0104-MEAP-15M

printed on recycledpaper in the u.s.a.E

Java is a trademark or registered trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and othercountries. TrueType is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. Windows is a registered trade-mark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Canon and Canon KnowHow are registered trademarks, and MEAP is a trademark of Canon Inc. IMAGERUNNER is a registeredtrademark of Canon Inc. in the U.S. and Canada. IMAGEANYWARE is a service mark of Canon U.S.A.,Inc. All other terms and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respec-tive owners, and are hereby acknowledged.

Specifications are subject to change without notice.