Division 32 Digital front-end (DFE) — A functionally integrated server that hosts other computers and applications and acts as an interface to imaging equipment. A DFE provides greater functionality to the imaging product. A DFE is defined as either:

• Type 1 DFE: A DFE that draws its DC power from its own AC power supply (internal or external), which is separate from the power supply that powers the imaging equipment. This DFE may draw its AC power directly from a wall outlet, or it may draw it from the AC power associated with the imaging product’s internal power supply.

• Type 2 DFE: A DFE that draws its DC power from the same power supply as the imaging equipment with which it operates. Type 2 DFEs must have a board or assembly with a separate processing unit that is capable of initiating activity over the network and can be physically removed, isolated, or disabled using common engineering practices to allow power measurements to be made.

A DFE also offers at least three of the following advanced features:

1. (a)

   network connectivity in various environments;

2. (b)

   mailbox functionality;

3. (c)

   job queue management;

4. (d)

   machine management (e.g. waking the imaging equipment from a reduced power state);

5. (e)

   advanced graphical user-interface (UI);

6. (f)

   ability to initiate communication with other host servers and client computers (e.g. scanning to e-mail, polling remote mailboxes for jobs); or

7. (g)

   ability to post-process pages (e.g. reformatting pages prior to printing).