Set-Top Box Web Content Printing via Print Spooler
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current television systems connected to IP networks lack the feature functionality available through personal computers, specifically the ability to print web-based content directly from set-top boxes.
Innovation Solution
A set-top box system that receives web-based content and provides an option to print it by communicating with a printer via a network or through a connected computer, using an embedded printer driver and graphical user interface to facilitate printing while allowing users to interact with web pages and select print options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a set-top box is connected to an IP network to provide web-based services, then the breadth and convenience of television programming is enhanced, but the ability to print web-based content directly from the set-top box is not available
Solution Approach 1:
The set-top box is enhanced to perform multiple functions including not only traditional television programming and web browsing but also direct printing of web-based content. By integrating a printer driver and print spooler into the set-top box, it becomes a multi-functional device that can handle display and printing operations, eliminating the need for separate printing devices or computers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a print spooler as an intermediary component that manages the printing process. The spooler receives print jobs from the set-top box, manages the print queue, and communicates with the printer via the network. This intermediary layer enables seamless printing functionality without requiring direct complex communication between the set-top box and printer.
2Adaptability or versatility
If printing functionality is added to the set-top box, then the usefulness of web-based content is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The print spooler acts as a mediator that simplifies the overall system architecture. Instead of requiring complex direct integration between the set-top box and printer, the spooler handles the communication protocol, job management, and error handling, thereby reducing the complexity burden on the set-top box while still providing full printing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The set-top box is configured to automatically manage printing operations through its integrated printer driver and spooler. The system automatically handles print job submission, queue management, and printer communication without requiring user intervention for complex configurations, thereby adding functionality while maintaining operational simplicity.
3Ease of operation
If a printer driver and graphical user interface are integrated into the set-top box, then user convenience is improved, but the loss of information increases due to additional processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The printer driver creates an accurate digital copy of the web-based content in a print-ready format. This copying process preserves the original content's structure, text, and formatting information, allowing high-fidelity reproduction on paper without significant information loss. The spooler manages this copying and translation process efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated printer driver and GUI enable the set-top box to automatically handle the complex tasks of content formatting, print job preparation, and printer communication. This self-service capability ensures that content is processed and transmitted to the printer with minimal information loss, as the system automatically optimizes the output format while preserving essential content elements.
Data Source
AI summary
A set-top box (STB) of a television system receives web-based content, such as a web page, from a wide area network such as the Internet. The web-based content is provided to the STB for display. In response to an instruction, the STB provides all or a portion of the web-based content to a printer for printing. The printer can be connected to the STB via a network or through a computer connected to the STB on the same network. By providing an option to print the web-based content, the usefulness of the content is enhanced.