Abstract: Internet-based printing to a home printer in which the print job is pre-rasterized at the cable head end and sent in rasterized format to the set top box. Because the print job is pre-rasterized at the cable head end, and not at the set top box, resources are not wasted at the set top box when they are more readily available at the cable head end. In addition, because of the high speed communication network already in existence between the cable head end and the set top box, even large pre-rasterized print jobs can be transmitted to the set top box in reasonable amounts of time, meaning more quickly than a situation in which it was the set top box that performed rasterization.

Abstract: Internet-based printing to a home printer in which the print job is pre-rasterized at the cable head end and sent in rasterized format to the set top box. Because the print job is pre-rasterized at the cable head end, and not at the set top box, resources are not wasted at the set top box when they are more readily available at the cable head end. In addition, because of the high speed communication network already in existence between the cable head end and the set top box, even large pre-rasterized print jobs can be transmitted to the set top box in reasonable amounts of time, meaning more quickly than a situation in which it was the set top box that performed rasterization.

Abstract: Push printing from internet sources to a set top box through a cable head end connected to the set top box by a digital cable network. Push printing includes printing by unicast (point-to-point) printing from a remote internet source to a specifically designated printer connected to a specifically addressed set top box, multicast (one-to-many) printing from a single remote web source to multiple ones of printers connected to respective set top boxes, and one-to-group printing from a single remote web source to a group of set top boxes defined at the cable head end. Both unicast and multicast printing are accomplished from the remote internet site to a cable head end connected to the internet, with the cable head end transmitting the print job via a digital cable network to subscriber set top boxes. Notification of print status is provided from the set top box back to the cable head end, thereby allowing the cable head end to provide notification of successful printout back to the remote internet site.

Abstract: A software architecture for printing to a home printer via a cable television communication network includes complementary clients and servers executing on each of the internet components participating in the internet-based printing. A client executes at the remote internet-based site that originates the print job, and transmits the print job to a complimentary server at the cable head end. A server at the cable head end spools the print job and preferably converts the print job into a format more suitable for a next-downstream device, such as a cable set top box. The cable head end further includes a client which transmits the print job from the cable head end's server to a server at the set top box. The server at the set top box spools the print job to an attached printer.

Abstract: A set top box obtains a printer driver from a cable head end, the set top box and the cable head end residing on a digital cable network, the set top box having a printer attached thereto, wherein said set top box detects the need for a printer driver, the set top box sends a request for a printer driver to the cable head end over the digital cable network, the cable head end obtains a printer driver in response to the request for a printer driver, the cable head end sends to the set top box the obtained printer driver, and the obtained printer driver is loaded in the set top box for subsequent use by said printer.

Abstract: A set top box obtains a printer driver from a cable head end, the set top box and the cable head end residing on a digital cable network, the set top box having a printer attached thereto, wherein said set top box detects the need for a printer driver, the set top box sends a request for a printer driver to the cable head end over the digital cable network, the cable head end obtains a printer driver in response to the request for a printer driver, the cable head end sends to the set top box the obtained printer driver, and the obtained printer driver is loaded in the set top box for subsequent use by said printer.

Abstract: A software architecture for printing to a home printer via a cable television communication network includes complementary clients and servers executing on each of the internet components participating in the internet-based printing. A client executes at the remote internet-based site that originates the print job, and transmits the print job to a complimentary server at the cable head end. A server at the cable head end spools the print job and preferably converts the print job into a format more suitable for a next-downstream device, such as a cable set top box. The cable head end further includes a client which transmits the print job from the cable head end's server to a server at the set top box. The server at the set top box spools the print job to an attached printer.

Abstract: A data structure for a universal printer description file, the description file for storing printer-specific description data for use in the configuration of a printer driver in a computer system that is utilizing any one of several operating systems, thereby enabling the printer driver to provide the necessary data and control interface between application programs in the computer system and the printer, regardless of the operating system being utilized by the computer system.

Abstract: Conversion of JETSEND-compressed image data into PCL raster image data compatible with a PCL printer. The JETSEND-compressed image data is not decompressed prior to conversion of PCL raster image data, but rather is converted to a PCL raster image in situ by monitoring control byte information in the compressed image data so as to determine where one scan line ends and another begins.