Software architecture for cable television home printing

A method for printing to a home printer over a cable television communication network comprising n Internet sites (where n≦3), with the cable television communication network connecting a cable head end to a home set top box to which the printer is connectable, the method comprising the steps of:

• executing a first client at a first Internet site which functions to create a print job, and to transmit the print job to a second Internet site downstream of the first Internet site;
• executing a first server at the second internet site complementary to said first client, said first server functioning to accept the print job from the first client, said first server being configured to create a spooler which includes a logical printer that functions to render the print job through a form tailored to a third Internet site downstream of the second Internet site;
• and
• executing a second client at the second Internet site which functions to transmit the print job to a second server at the third Internet site, the second client being complementary to the first client, the first server and the second server,
• wherein the first and second clients and the first and second servers include an identical application programming interface that permits access thereto by a client application and other applications.

An apparatus for printing to a home printer over a cable television communication network comprising n Internet sites (where n≧3), with the cable television communication network connecting a cable head end to a home set top box to which the printer is connectable, comprising:

• a program memory for storing process steps executable to perform a method for printing to a home printer over a cable television communication network, with the cable television communication network connecting a cable head end to a home set top box to which the printer is connectable, the executable process steps comprising the steps of:
• executing a first client at a first Internet site which functions to create a print job and to transmit the print job to a second Internet site downstream of the first Internet site;
• executing a first server at the second Internet site complementary to said first client, said first server functioning to accept the print job from the first client, said first server being configured to create a spooler which includes a logical printer that functions to render the print job through a form tailored to a third Internet site downstream of the second Internet site;
• and
• executing a second client at the second Internet site which functions to transmit the print job to a second server at the third Internet site, the second client being complementary to the first client, the first server and the second server,
• wherein the first and second clients and the first and second servers include an identical application programming interface that permits access thereto by a client application and other applications;
• and
• a processor for executing the process steps stored in said program memory.

Computer-executable process steps stored on a computer readable medium, said computer-executable process steps for printing to a home printer over a cable television communication network comprising n Internet sites (where n≧3), with the cable television communication network connecting a cable head end to a home set top box to which the printer is connectable, said computer-executable process steps comprising the steps of:

• executing a first client at a first Internet site which functions to create a print job, and to transmit the print job to a second Internet site downstream of the first Internet site;
• executing a first server at the second Internet site complementary to said first client, said first server functioning to accept the print job from the first client, said first server being configured to create a spooler which includes a logical printer that functions to render the print job through a form tailored to a third Internet site downstream of the second Internet site;
• and
• executing a second client at the second Internet site which functions to transmit the print job to a second server at the third Internet site, the second client being complementary to the first client, the first server and the second server,
• wherein the first and second clients and the first and second servers include an identical application programming interface that permits access thereto by a client application and other applications.

A computer-readable medium which stores computer-executable process steps, the computer-executable process steps for printing to a home printer over a cable television communication network comprising n Internet sites (where n≧3), with the cable television communication network connecting a cable head end to a home set top box to which the printer is connectable, said computer-executable process steps comprising the steps of:

• executing a first client at a first Internet site which functions to create a print job, and to transmit the print job to a second Internet site downstream of the first Internet site;
• executing a first server at the second Internet site complementary to said first client, said first server functioning to accept the print job from the first client, said first server being configured to create a spooler which includes a logical printer that functions to render the print job through a form tailored to a third Internet site downstream of the second Internet site;
• and
• executing a second client at the second Internet site which functions to transmit the print job to a second server at the third Internet site, the second client being complementary to the first client, the first server and the second server,
• wherein the first and second clients and the first and second servers include an identical application programming interface that permits access thereto by a client application and other applications.