Mobile document output systems

Mobile document output systems (MDOS or MDO systems) are systems that prepare digital documents on the server so that they can be read or processed on mobile devices . In addition to outputting a document on the mobile devices themselves, e.g. B. for display or editing, mobile document output systems also enable the forwarding of the output data to an output device connected via an interface such as e. B. printers, projectors or mobile computers. The main tasks of a mobile document output system are, on the one hand, the generation of a format that can be interpreted on mobile devices (or output devices connected to them) directly or by a locally available application, and on the other hand, the output data in their size for wireless transmission Optimize mobile devices.

Structure and processes

Mobile document output systems consist of software components operated locally and / or on the server. Often these are systems that are integrated into an existing client-server environment, but purely local mobile document output systems that are only influenced by applications and the end device platform and that are executed directly on a mobile device are available.

If the mobile services of a mobile document output system are provided by a server, this can either be located within a company network or be hosted by a third party.

The main task of mobile document output systems is to generate documents that are not optimized for output on a mobile device in an appropriate format and in a data size appropriate for the transfer (in the case of client-server architectures ) to the mobile device if necessary, to be transferred, as well as to be displayed or to be transferred to an output device.

In this context, documents are, on the one hand, e-mail messages and e-mail attachments that have been transmitted or downloaded to a mobile device via POP3 , IMAP or push mail mechanisms, as well as documents created or stored locally or on the server Type (image and text files, or other documents created using e.g. Office or CAD applications) - each depending on the document type supported by a mobile document output system.

The aim of mobile document output systems is to make documents available on the move in an appropriate form that can be used promptly. Mobile document output systems must therefore output documents in a form that can be interpreted by mobile devices directly or by connected output devices - these may be proprietary formats that can be interpreted by appropriate software on the mobile device or the output device. In addition to the mobile device itself, possible output devices such. B. printers, fax machines or projectors and other mobile computers.

Document output via a mobile document output system is usually triggered by a user action, which then either triggers a server-side process or addresses a corresponding component held locally on the mobile device, which initiates the document output and, if necessary, carries it out directly no other components (software or output device) required to interpret the output data are involved.

The various mobile document output systems differ in the type of document output and the supported document types, as well as in the support of different output devices. Another distinction can be found in the structure of the respective mobile document output system, which either only requires a corresponding application locally on the end device in order to receive and hold the output data, or pass it on, or use a server with corresponding software components. Using internet technology, it is also possible to control the document output via a web browser available on the mobile device, via which a mobile document output system is accessed and which displays the output data.

application areas

Within the mobile business mobile document output systems play an increasingly important role, as the output option on mobile devices by how limited ago for lack of available mobile applications, but also due to transmission rates and communication mechanisms. The limited display options on mobile devices are often the main reason for the use of mobile document output systems, but also the general need for other types of output than the purely digital on one, with limited display options, mobile devices are the trigger for the use of mobile Document output systems.

Mobile document output systems can be used in conjunction with other mobile solutions such as B. ERP and CRM systems (also E-CRM ), but also for applications in areas such as sales force automation or supply chain management, play an important role.

The areas of application for mobile document output systems are still dependent on the respective output options offered by a system. Mobile document output is often used in the management of all branches and industries, in the areas of service technology and administration, construction and construction, but also in forwarding and logistics service providers - i.e. wherever a locally independent document output is relevant.