Abstract:
Systems and methods of printer resource sharing in a communication network are provided. In one embodiment, the system may comprise, for example, at least one communication device, a communication network, print server software, and at least one personal printer resource. The communication device may be deployed at a location. The communication network may be communicatively coupled to that communication device. The print server software may receive from the communication device via the communication network a request for printing of information content. The print server software may respond by coordinating the printing of the information content. The at least one personal printer resource may be communicatively coupled to the at least one communication device. The print server software may reside outside of the at least one personal printer resource, and the at least one personal printer resource may be accessed for printing by the communication device via the communication network.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
       [0001]    This application makes reference to, claims priority to, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/469,329 (Attorney Docket No. 14988US01), entitled “Printer Resource Sharing in a Media Exchange Network”, filed on May 9, 2003, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/457,179 (Attorney Docket No. 14825US01), entitled “Server Architecture Supporting a Personal Media Exchange Network”, filed on Mar. 25, 2003, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/461,717 (Attorney Docket No. 14824US01), “Secure Media Peripheral Association with Authentication in a Media Exchange Network”, filed on Apr. 10, 2003, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/432,472, entitled “Personal Inter-Home Media Exchange Network” (Attorney Docket No. 14185US01), filed Dec. 11, 2002, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/443,894, entitled “Personal Access And Control Of Media Peripherals On A Media Exchange Network” (Attorney Docket No. 14274US01), filed Jan. 30, 2003, the complete subject matter of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. 
         [0002]    In addition, the applicants hereby incorporate the complete subject matter herein by reference, in their entirety, of U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Personal Inter-Home Media Exchange Network” (Attorney Docket No. 14185US02), filed on Sep. 8, 2003, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Personal Access And Control Of Media Peripherals On A Media Exchange Network” (Attorney Docket No. 14274US02), filed on Sep. 11, 2003, the complete subject matter of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0003]    [Not Applicable] 
       SEQUENCE LISTING 
       [0004]    [Not Applicable] 
       MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE 
       [0005]    [Not Applicable] 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The manner in which printing resources are utilized is somewhat limiting. For example, a first user may have a personal printer, which is directly connected to a first personal computer (PC). A network printer is connected to an Ethernet which, in turn, is connected to the first PC. The network printer is accessible to the first user via the first PC and the Ethernet. The personal printer is only accessible to the first user via the first PC. A different PC user using a second PC that is connected to the Ethernet can also access the same network printer. However, from the second PC, the second user cannot access or print on the personal printer, which is directly connected to the first PC. 
         [0007]    Limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Aspects of the present invention may be found in, for example, systems and methods of printer resource sharing in a communication network. A system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention may comprise, for example, at least one communication device, a communication network, print server software, and at least one personal printer resource. The communication device may be deployed at a location. The communication network may be communicatively coupled to that communication device. The print server software may receive from the communication device via the communication network a request for printing of information content. The print server software may respond by coordinating the printing of the information content. The at least one personal printer resource may be communicatively coupled to the at least one communication device. The print server software may reside outside of the at least one personal printer resource, and the at least one personal printer resource may be accessed for printing by the communication device via the communication network. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, a system may comprise, for example, a first communication device, a second communication device, a communication network, information content, a print server software, and a personal printer resource. The first communication device may be deployed at a first location. The second communication device may be deployed at a second location. The communication network may be communicatively coupled to the first location and the second location. The information content may reside on the first communication device. The print server software may reside on the second communication device and may coordinate the printing of the information content. The personal printer resource may be communicatively coupled to the communication network, so that the first communication device may push the information content to the second communication device for printing on the personal printer resource. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, a method in accordance with the present invention may comprise, for example, one or more of the following: searching through a plurality of video frames on a communication network via a communication device, the communication device being communicatively coupled to the communication network; selecting a video frame of the plurality of video frames using the communication device; transcoding the selected video frame using the communication device to obtain a single image frame; and printing the single image frame from the communication device on at least one network printer resource, the at least one network printer resource being communicatively coupled to the communication device via the communication network. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment, a method in accordance with the present invention may comprise, for example, one or more of the following: selecting or generating an image frame on a communication device, the communication device being communicatively coupled to the communication network; calling up printer resources available on the communication network using the communication device; selecting a printer resource from the available printer resources using the communication device; viewing printing parameters of the selected printer resource using the communication device; accepting the printer resource and the printing parameters using the communication device; and printing the image frame on the accepted printer resource. 
         [0012]    These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the present invention, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1A  is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a media exchange network comprising an architecture to support the sharing of printer resources, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1B  is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of an MPS (media processing system) on the media exchange network of  FIG. 1A  interfacing to printer resources, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1C  is a diagram illustrating embodiments of an NAS (network attached storage) unit and an SAN (storage area network) interfacing between MPS&#39;s and printer resources on the media exchange network of  FIG. 1A , in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2A  is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method to select and launch a frame for printing on the media exchange network of  FIG. 1A , in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2B  is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method to select a printing resource and route a print job on the media exchange network of  FIG. 1A , in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram of a first exemplary media exchange network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a schematic block diagram of performing personal media exchange over a second exemplary media exchange network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a schematic block diagram of performing third-party media exchange over a third exemplary media exchange network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is an exemplary illustration of a TV guide channel user interface in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is an exemplary illustration of several instantiations of a TV guide channel user interface of  FIG. 4  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is an exemplary illustration of a TV guide channel user interface showing several options of a pushed media in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 9A  is a schematic block diagram of a media processing system (MPS) interfacing to media capture peripherals in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 9B  illustrates an alternative embodiment of a media processing system (MPS) in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a schematic block diagram of a PC and an MPS interfacing to a server on a media exchange network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a schematic block diagram of a PC interfacing to personal media capture devices and remote media storage on a media exchange network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]      FIG. 1A  is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a media exchange network  100  comprising an architecture to support the sharing of printer resources, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. Specifically, the media exchange network  100  is a communication network comprising a media exchange server  101 , a printer service server  102 , a first MPS (media processing system)  103 , a second MPS  104 , a network laser printer  105 , a personal ink jet printer  106 , a third MPS  107 , a personal photo printer  108 , a printer # 1   109  through a printer #N  110 , and a communication network infrastructure  111 . The media exchange server  101 , the printer service server  102 , the MPS  103 , the MPS  104 , and the MPS  107  each connect to the communication network infrastructure  111 . In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the communication network infrastructure  111  may comprise the Internet, broadband access headends, cable infrastructure, DSL infrastructure, satellite infrastructure, and any combination thereof. A broadband access headend may comprise a cable headend, a satellite headend, or a DSL headend, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0029]    The printer # 1   109  through the printer #N  110  interface to the printer service server  102 . The personal ink jet printer  106  and the network laser printer  105  interface to the MPS  104 . The personal photo printer  108  interfaces to the MPS  107 . Any of the interfaces of the media exchange network  100  may be wired or wireless in any combination in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. The MPS  104  includes a print server software component  112 . The network laser printer  105  includes a print server software component  113 . The MPS  107  includes a print server software component  114 . In an embodiment of the present invention, the printers may be wireless. 
         [0030]    The media exchange network  100  solves the problem of sharing printer resources on the media exchange network  100 . In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the media exchange server  101  provides functionality on the media exchange network  100  including digital printer registration, media transcoding, billing and payment, device registration, channel/program setup and management, and security. 
         [0031]    The various elements of the media exchange network  100  include storage locations for digital media and data. The storage locations may comprise, for example, hard disk drives, a DVD player, a CD player, floppy disk drives, RAM, or any combination of these. The storage locations may also include, for example, memory sticks, PCMCIA cards, compact flash cards, or any combination of these. 
         [0032]    The MPS&#39;s ( 103 ,  104 , and  107 ) are essentially enhanced set-top boxes, in one embodiment. The MPS&#39;s ( 103 ,  104 , and  106 ) may each include a TV screen for viewing and interacting with various user interfaces, media, data, and services that are available on the media exchange network using, for example, a remote control. The MPS&#39;s include functional software to support interaction with the various elements of the media exchange network  100 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0033]    Other embodiments of the present invention may comprise various combinations and/or multiple instantiations of the elements of  FIG. 1A , in accordance with various aspects of the present invention, along with PC&#39;s (personal computers) and MP (media peripheral) devices. 
         [0034]    The printer service server  102  performs the functions of user authorization, billing, and buffering of print jobs from various devices on the media exchange network  100 . The printer service server  102  also delivers print jobs to any of the printers  109  through  110 . 
         [0035]    For example, the MPS  103  may desire to print an image of a digital picture taken with a digital camera but currently stored in the MPS  103 . The user of the MPS  103  routes the image to the printer service server  102  via the communication network infrastructure  111  for printing. The printer service server  102  may then deliver the print job of the image to be printed to printer # 1   109  where the image is printed. 
         [0036]    In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, an MPS may comprise a set-top box (STB), a PC, or a TV with a media management system (MMS). An MMS is known herein as a media exchange software (MES) platform. 
         [0037]    An MMS comprises a software platform operating on at least one processor to provide certain functionality including user interface functionality, distributed storage functionality, and networking functionality. For example, an MMS may provide control of media peripheral devices, status monitoring of media peripheral devices, and inter-home MPS routing selection, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0038]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the print server software components  112 ,  113 , and  114  each perform the functions of buffering up print jobs on the media exchange network  100  and delivering those jobs to printers connected to a corresponding MPS. In general, a print server software component may be located anywhere on a media exchange network including in, for example, an MPS, a PC, a TV, a NAS, a SAN, a media exchange server, a headend, etc. 
         [0039]    For example, the user of the MPS  103  may push an image to be printed as a print job to the MPS  104  via the communication network infrastructure  111 . The print server software component  112  in the MPS  104  may then buffer up and deliver the print job to the personal ink jet printer  106 . The personal ink jet printer  106  does not include any print server functionality and, therefore, relies on the print server software component  112  to provide the print server functionality. 
         [0040]    However, the MPS  104  may route the print job from the MPS  103  to the network laser printer  105 . In such a scenario, the network laser printer  105  includes the print server software component  113  to perform the print server functions. As a result, the print server software component  112  is not used by the MPS  104  when routing print jobs to the network laser printer  105 . 
         [0041]    By definition herein, any network printer on the media exchange network  100  includes a print server software component to provide print server functionality. A network printer includes a network card, runs network server software, and supports multiple devices. IP addressed-based print jobs are sent to a network printer and a network printer sends IP confirmation back to the sources of the print jobs. A network printer may be connected directly to a media exchange network without having to go through an MPS or a PC. 
         [0042]    However, any personal printer on the media exchange network  100  does not include a print server software component and relies on an MPS with a print server software component, or a printer service server to perform the printer server functions. A personal printer may connect to a PC or an MPS via a serial port or a parallel port. A PC or an MPS includes a network card and software to take print job requests from 3 rd  parties and pump the print jobs to the personal printer. For example, the personal ink jet printer  106  relies on the print server software component  112  in the MPS  104 , and the personal photo printer  108  relies on the print server software component  114  in the MPS  107 . The network laser printer  105  includes its own print server software component  113 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 1B  is a diagram illustrating an embodiment  120  of an MPS (media processing system)  121  on the media exchange network  100  of  FIG. 1A  interfacing to printer resources  122  and  123 , in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. The MPS  121  comprises a TV screen  125 , a TV broadcast processing platform  124 , a TV exchange processing platform  126 , communication interfaces  127 , and a NAS (network attached storage) unit  128 . The TV exchange processing platform  126  provides the functionality of media/data manipulation  129 , setup/authorization  130 , and service support  131 . 
         [0044]    The TV broadcast processing platform  124  includes circuitry for broadcast channel tuning, amplification, and decoding for media consumption and is not used for the functions of media/data manipulation, set up/authorization, and service support, except for that image generation circuitry which is used to drive the TV screen for display of a TV channel guide user interface, for example. 
         [0045]    The communication interfaces  127  in the MPS  121  allow media/data communication between the MPS  121  and other devices on the media exchange network  100 . The communication interfaces  127  may also allow communication with the TV screen  125 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0046]    The NAS unit  128  in the MPS  121  comprises a collection of mass storage devices contained in a single unit with a built-in operating system. An NAS unit is a dedicated computer that manages storage devices and is “tuned up” to store media. The NAS may serve many users on a media exchange network at the same time. The NAS buffers up storage, retrieval and print jobs and may include, for example, an Ethernet card for connectivity. 
         [0047]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the NAS unit  128  includes a print server software component to provide print server functionality as previously described herein. The NAS unit  128  interfaces with the personal printer  123  and the network printer  122 . The interfaces may be wired or wireless interfaces such as, for example, Ethernet or 802.11b. The NAS unit  128  may include a large hard disk as well as a set of SCSI connectors to attach additional disks, CD-ROM drives, tape drives, etc. The NAS unit  128  is managed by its own embedded operating system. 
         [0048]      FIG. 1C  is a diagram illustrating embodiments  140  and  150  of a NAS (network attached storage) unit  142  and a SAN (storage area network)  146  interfacing between MPS&#39;s and printer resources on the media exchange network of  FIG. 1A , in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. A SAN comprises a network that allows storage functions to be physically separated from data-processing functions on a network. This helps reduce network traffic by isolating large data transfers. The embodiment  150  comprises an MPS  141  interfacing to the NAS  142 , and a network printer  144  and a personal printer  143  also interfacing to the NAS  142 . The embodiment  140  comprises an MPS  145  interfacing to the SAN  146 , and a network printer  148  and a personal printer  147  also interfacing to the SAN  146 . In such embodiments, the NAS  142  and the SAN  146  are outside of the MPS&#39;s  141  and  145 . The interface between the NAS  142  and the printers  143  and  144  may be wired or wireless, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. Similarly, the interface between the SAN  146  and the printers  147  and  148  may be wired or wireless, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. For example, the interfaces may comprise Ethernet interfaces. 
         [0049]    To support personal printers, the NAS  142  and the SAN  146  include print server software components. For network printers, the NAS  142  and SAN  146  simply route print jobs to the network printers. 
         [0050]      FIG. 2A  is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method  200  to select and launch a frame for printing on the media exchange network  100  of  FIG. 1A , in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. In step  201 , video frames are searched for on an MPS on a media exchange network using a remote control while viewing the video frames on a TV screen of the MPS. In step  202 , a single video frame or a window of video frames is frozen and selected on the TV screen of the MPS using the remote control. In step  203 , the selected video frame or window of video frames is transcoded within the MPS to generate a single image frame. In step  204 , printing of the single image frame is launched on the media exchange network. 
         [0051]    For example, referring to  FIG. 1A , a user of the MPS  103  may search for and find a window of video frames within a movie. The user may freeze and select the window of video frames. The user may then command the MPS  103  to transcode the window of video frames from an MPEG format to a JPEG image format to generate a single JPEG image frame. The user of the MPS  103  may then launch the single JPEG image frame onto the media exchange network  100  for printing on, for example, the network laser printer  105  at the location of the user of the MPS  104 . 
         [0052]    Some examples of video formats include the MPEG family of video formats, the Windows media formats, the Real-Player format, the Quick-Time video format, the H.263 video format, the H.323 video format, and other new video formats. Some examples of image formats include JPEG, TIFF, bit map, GIF, and PCX, and any other new image formats. 
         [0053]      FIG. 2B  is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method  210  to select a printing resource and route a print job on the media exchange network  100  of  FIG. 1A , in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. In step  211 , an image frame is selected or generated on an MPS of a media exchange network to be printed, using a remote control. In step  212 , a print button is selected on the remote control to call up a list of printing resources on a TV screen of the MPS. In step  213 , a printer is selected from the displayed printing resources using the remote control. In step  214 , parameters of the selected printer are displayed and viewed on the TV screen of the MPS. In step  215 , the selected printer, along with its parameters, are accepted on the MPS using the remote control. In step  216 , the MPS routes the print job to a print service server on the media exchange network via a communication network infrastructure. 
         [0054]    As an example, referring to  FIG. 1A , a user of the MPS  103  may select an image stored on the MPS  107  using a remote control. The user may then select a print button on the remote control to call up the various printing resources on a TV screen of the MPS  103 . The list of printing resources displayed includes the network laser printer  105 , the personal ink jet printer  106 , the personal photo printer  108 , and the printer # 1   109  through the printer #N  110 , and any other printing resources that may be registered on the media exchange server  111 . The user then selects printer #N  110  from the list using the remote control. A set of parameters come up on the TV screen of the MPS  103  corresponding to the printer #N  110 . The parameters include, for example, the cost of using the printer, and may queue the user to select a print size and type of color. The user finalizes the parameter selections and accepts the printer and parameters using the remote control. Once accepted, the MPS  103  then routes the print job of the image to the printer service server  102  via the communication network infrastructure  111 . The printer service server  102  buffers up the print job and eventually delivers the print job to the printer #n  110  for printing. 
         [0055]    As another example, a user of the MPS  103  may go through the same process as before but now, selects the personal ink jet printer  106  at his brother&#39;s house who is the user of the MPS  104 , for example. In such a scenario, once the print job arrives at the MPS  104 , the user of the MPS  104  (i.e., the brother) manually accepts the print job using his remote control associated with the MPS  104 . Once accepted, the print server software component  112  buffers up and delivers the print job to the personal ink jet printer  106  for printing. In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the user of the MPS  104  does not have to accept the print job. The print job may, instead, be automatically routed to the personal ink jet printer  106  by the MPS  104  using the print server software component  112 . 
         [0056]    As a further example, the user of the MPS  107  may wish to print an image stored in the MPS  107 . The user goes through the process of selecting the image and selecting the personal photo printer  108 . The personal photo printer  108  is owned by the user of the MPS  107  and is at the same location as the MPS  107 . Therefore, a second step of acceptance, as in the previous example by the user of the MPS  104 , is not performed in this case. The print job is delivered by the print server software component  114  to the personal photo printer  108  once the user of the MPS accepts the personal photo printer  108  as in steps  215  and  216  of the method  210 . 
         [0057]    As a final example, a mother may have a personal printer connected to an MPS at her house. The MPS does not include any print server functionality. A son desires to send a print job to the mother via his MPS. The son&#39;s MPS sends the print job to the mother&#39;s MPS via some route on the media exchange network. However, the print server functionality is handled somewhere outside of the mother&#39;s house. For example, the son&#39;s MPS may handle the print server functionality or a printer service server may handle the print server functionality. Once the print job reaches the mother&#39;s MPS, the mother may accept the print job and the MPS simply sends the print job to the mother&#39;s personal printer. 
         [0058]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the MPS&#39;s of the media exchange network  100  may or may not include a NAS or a SAN as shown in  FIG. 1B . Also, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the media exchange network  100  may include standalone NAS&#39;s and/or SAN&#39;s, as shown in  FIG. 1C , in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. A NAS or a SAN may connect anywhere on the media exchange network including to a headend, an MPS, a PC, etc. 
         [0059]    A major challenge is to be able to transfer and share many different types of digital media, data, and services between one device/location and another with ease while being able to index, manage, and store the digital media and data. 
         [0060]    For example, it is desirable to be able to distribute and store many types of digital media in a PC and/or television environment in a user-friendly manner without requiring many different types of software applications and/or unique and dedicated interfaces. Any networking issues or other technical issues should be transparent to the users. It is also desirable to take advantage of existing hardware infrastructure, as much as possible, when providing such capability. 
         [0061]    In an embodiment of the present invention, a media exchange network is provided that enables many types of digital media, data, and/or services to be stored, indexed, viewed, searched for, pushed from one user to another, and requested by users, using a TV channel guide look-and-feel user interface. The media exchange network also allows a user to construct personal media channels that comprise his personal digital media (e.g., captured digital pictures, digital video, digital audio, etc.), request that third-party media channels be constructed from third-party digital media, and access the media channels pushed to him by other users on the media exchange network. 
         [0062]    PC&#39;s may be used but are not required to interface to the media exchange network for the purpose of exchanging digital media, data, and services. Instead, set-top boxes or integrated MPS&#39;s (media processing systems) may be used with the media exchange network to perform all of the previously described media exchange functions using a remote control with a television screen. 
         [0063]    Current set-top boxes may be software enhanced to create an MPS that provides full media exchange network interfacing and functionality via a TV screen with a TV guide look-and-feel. PC&#39;s may be software enhanced as well and provide the same TV guide look-and-feel. Therefore, the media exchange network supports both PC&#39;s and MPS&#39;s in a similar manner. Alternatively, a fully integrated MPS may be designed from the ground up, having full MPS capability. 
         [0064]    In the case of an MPS configuration, the user takes advantage of his remote control and TV screen to use the media exchange network. In the case of a PC configuration, the user takes advantage of his keyboard and/or mouse to use the media exchange network. 
         [0065]    An MPS, or enhanced PC, is effectively a storage and distribution platform for the exchange of personal and third party digital media, data, and services as well as for bringing the conventional television channels to a user&#39;s home. An MPS and/or PC connects to the media exchange network via an existing communication infrastructure which may include cable, DSL, satellite, etc. The connection to the communication infrastructure may be hard-wired or wireless. 
         [0066]    The media exchange network allows users to effectively become their own broadcasters from their own homes by creating their own media channels and pushing those media channels to other authorized users on the media exchange network, such as friends and family members. 
         [0067]      FIG. 3  comprises a media exchange network  300  for exchanging and sharing digital media, data, and services in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The media exchange network  300  is a secure, closed network environment that is only accessible to pre-defined users and service providers. The media exchange network of  FIG. 3  comprises a first PC  301  and a first media processing system (MPS)  302  at a user&#39;s home  303 , a communication infrastructure  304 , external processing hardware support  305 , remote media storage  306 , a second PC  307  at a remote location  308  such as an office, and a second MPS  309  at a parent&#39;s home  310 . 
         [0068]    The PC&#39;s  301  and  307  and the MPS&#39;s  302  and  309  each include a media exchange software (MES) platform  311  and a networking component  312  for connectivity. The MES platform  311  provides multiple capabilities including media “push” capability, media “access” capability, media channel construction/selection, image sequence selection, text and voice overlay, channel and program naming, inter-home routing selection, authorship and media rights management, shared inter-home media experience, billing service, and an integrated TV channel guide look-and-feel. 
         [0069]    The external processing hardware support  305  comprises at least one server such as a centralized Internet server, a peer-to-peer server, or cable head end. The server may alternatively be distributed over various hosts or remote PC&#39;s. The MES platform  311  may also reside on the external processing hardware support server  305 . The remote media storage  306  may comprise user media storage and distribution systems  313  and/or third party media storage and distribution systems  314 . 
         [0070]    The communication infrastructure  304  may comprise at least one of Internet infrastructure, satellite infrastructure, cable infrastructure, dial-up infrastructure, cellular infrastructure, xDSL infrastructure, optical infrastructure, or some other infrastructure. The communication infrastructure  304  links the user&#39;s home  303 , parent&#39;s home  310 , remote media storage  306 , and remote location office  308  to each other (i.e., the communication infrastructure  304  links all users and service providers of the media exchange network  300 ). 
         [0071]    The various functions  315  of the media exchange network  300  comprise generating personal network associations, personal storage management, media capture device support, security/authentication/authorization support, authorship tracking and billing and address registration and maintenance. These media exchange management functions  315  may be distributed over various parts of the media exchange network  300 . For example, the personal network associations and personal storage management functions may be integrated in the PC  301  at the user&#39;s home  303 . 
         [0072]      FIG. 4  illustrates an example of personal media exchange over a media exchange network  400  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In step  1 , the media exchange software (MES) platform  401  is used to construct personal media channels on a PC  402  by a user at “my house”  403 . For example, with various media stored on the PC  402  such as digital pictures  404 , videos  405 , and music  406 , the MES platform  401  allows the digital media to be organized by a user into several channels having a TV channel guide look-and-feel user interface  407  on the PC  402 . 
         [0073]    In step  2 , the user at “my house”  403  pushes a media channel  408  (e.g., “Joe&#39;s Music”) to “brother&#39;s house”  409  and pushes two media channels  410  and  411  (e.g., “Vacation Video” and “Kid&#39;s Pictures”) to “Mom&#39;s house”  412  via a peer-to-peer server  413  over the Internet-based media exchange network  400 . “Brother&#39;s house”  409  includes a first MPS  414  connected to the media exchange network  400 . “Mom&#39;s house”  412  includes a second MPS  415  connected to the media exchange network  400 . The MPS&#39;s  414  and  415  also provide a TV channel guide look-and-feel user interface  407 . 
         [0074]    In step  3 , brother and/or Mom access the pushed media channels via their respective media processing systems (MPS&#39;s)  414  and  415  using their respective MPS TV screens and remote controls. 
         [0075]      FIG. 5  illustrates an example of third-party media exchange over a media exchange network  500  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In step  1 , a PC-initiated third-party request is made by a first party  501  via an Internet-based media exchange network  500  using a TV channel guide look-and-feel user interface  502  on a PC  503 . In step  2 , an anonymous delivery of the requested third-party channel  504  is made to a second party  505  via the Internet-based media exchange network  500 . In step  3 , the second party  505  accesses the third-party channel  504  using a TV channel guide look-and-feel user interface  506  on a TV screen  507  that is integrated into an MPS  508 . 
         [0076]    Similarly, in step A, an MPS-initiated third-party request is made by a second party  505  via an Internet-based media exchange network  500  using a TV channel guide look-and-feel user interface  506  on a TV screen  507  using a remote control  509 . The second party  505  may key in a code, using his remote control  509 , that is correlated to a commercial or some other third party broadcast media. In step B, an anonymous delivery of the requested third-party channel  504  is made to a first party  501  via the Internet-based media exchange network  500 . In step C, the first party  501  accesses the third-party channel  504  using a TV channel guide look-and-feel user interface  502  on a PC  503 . 
         [0077]      FIG. 6  illustrates a TV channel guide user interface  600  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The TV channel guide user interface  600  may be displayed on a TV screen  608  and controlled by a remote control device  609 . Also, the TV channel guide user interface  600  may be displayed on a PC monitor and controlled by a keyboard or mouse. 
         [0078]    The TV channel guide user interface  600  may be configured not only for conventional TV channels but also for personal media channels  601  that are constructed by a user of a media exchange network, friend&#39;s and family&#39;s media channels  602  constructed by friends and family, and third party channels  603  that are constructed by third parties either upon request by a user of a media exchange network or based on a profile of a user. 
         [0079]    The personal media channels  601  may include, for example, a “family vacations channel”, a “kid&#39;s sports channel”, a “my life channel”, a “son&#39;s life channel”, a “my music channel”, and a “kid&#39;s music channel”. The friends and family media channels  602  may include, for example, a “brother&#39;s channel”, a “Mom&#39;s channel”, and a “friend&#39;s channel”. The third party media channels  603  may include, for example, a “Sears Fall sale channel” and a “car commercials channel”. 
         [0080]    Each media channel may correspond to a schedule  604  showing, for example, a week  605  and a year  606 . For example, under the “kid&#39;s sports channel”, Ty&#39;s soccer game could be scheduled to be viewed on Tuesday of the current week  605  and current year  606 . For each media channel, a sub-menu  607  allows for selection of certain control and access functions such as “play”, “send to list”, “send to archive”, “confirm receipt”, “view”, “purchase”, and “profile”. 
         [0081]      FIG. 7  illustrates possible multiple instantiations of a TV channel guide user interface  700  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The TV channel guide user interface  700  may be viewed with a schedule having formats of, for example, “month, year”, “week#, year”, “day, week#”, or “hour, day”. 
         [0082]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a user of a media exchange network may push a media channel (e.g., “Vacation in Alaska Video”) to a friend who is on the same media exchange network. The TV channel guide user interface  800  may give the friend several options  801  for how to accept and download the pushed media in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0083]    For example, a first, most expensive option  803  may be “Express Delivery” which would deliver the pushed media to the friend in 18 minutes using queuing and cost $1.20, for example. The pushed media may be stored in a file in an MPEG 2 format that was recorded at a rate of 4 Mbps, for example. Queuing comprises buffering and delivering a previous part of the media and then buffering and delivering a next part of the media. For example, a first six minutes of the “Vacation in Alaska Video” may be buffered and delivered first, then a second six minutes may be buffered and delivered next, and so on until the entire media is delivered. 
         [0084]    A second, less expensive option  802  may be “Normal Delivery” which would deliver the pushed media in 2 hours and 13 minutes without queuing and cost $0.59, for example. The pushed media may be stored in a file in an MPEG 2 format that was recorded at a rate of 1.5 Mbps, for example. 
         [0085]    A third, least expensive option  804  may be “Overnight Delivery” which would deliver the pushed media by the next morning and cost only $0.05, for example. The pushed media may be stored in a file in an MPEG 2 format that was recorded at a rate of 19 Mbps and stored on a server, for example. 
         [0086]      FIG. 9A  illustrates the detailed elements of a media processing system (MPS)  900  and media capture devices  901  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The media capture devices  901  may comprise audio, video, and image players, such as digital cameras, digital camcorders, and MP3 players, that each include a temporary storage area  902  and a communication interface  903  such as, for example, a USB interface or a wireless interface. The media capture devices  901  have the capability to interface to an MPS and a PC. 
         [0087]    The MPS  900  comprises a media processing unit (MPU)  904 , remote user interface(s)  905 , and a TV screen  918  to provide integrated media processing capability and indirect user interface capability. The remote user interfaces  905  may comprise a voice or keyed remote control  906 , keyboards and pads  907 , a remote PC access interface  908 , and a remote media system access interface  909  (i.e., providing access from another MPS). 
         [0088]    The media processing unit (MPU)  904  comprises TV and radio tuners  910  for image and audio consumption, communications interfaces  911 , channel processing  912  (creating, storing, indexing, viewing), storage  913 , media players  914  (CD, DVD, Tape, PVR, MP3), an integrated user interface  915  (to provide a TV channel guide look-and-feel), networking components  916  to provide client functions such as consumption (billing), authorization (e.g., using digital certificates and digital ID&#39;s), registration, security, and connectivity. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the networking components  916  may include a distributed server element  917  that is part of a distributed server. 
         [0089]      FIG. 9B  illustrates an alternative embodiment of a media processing system (MPS)  920  in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. The MPS  920  is essentially an enhanced set-top box for viewing and interacting with various user interfaces, media, data, and services that are available on the media exchange network using, for example, a remote control. The MPS  920  comprises a media peripheral  921 , a MMS (media management system)  922 , and a broadband communication interface  923 . 
         [0090]    The media peripheral  921  may include a TV (television), a PC (personal computer), and media players (e.g., a CD player, a DVD player, a tape player, and an MP3 player) for video, image, and audio consumption of broadcast and/or personal channels. The broadband communication interface  923  may include internal modems (e.g., a cable modem or DSL modem) or other interface devices in order to communicate with, for example, a cable or satellite headend. 
         [0091]    The MMS  922  includes a software platform to provide functionality including media “push” capability, media “access” capability, media channel construction/selection, image sequence selection, text and voice overlay, channel and program naming, inter-home routing selection, authorship and media rights management, shared inter-home media experience, billing service, and a media guide user interface providing an integrated TV channel guide look-and-feel. 
         [0092]      FIG. 10  illustrates connectivity between a PC  1000 , an MPS  1001 , and external processing hardware  1002  (e.g., a server) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The PC  1000  and MPS  1001  include networking components  1003  to provide client functions such as consumption (billing), authorization, registration, security, and connectivity. Alternatively, the PC  1000  and MPS  1001  may include a distributed server element  1004  that is part of a distributed server. 
         [0093]    The PC  1000  and MPS  1001  connect to the external processing hardware  1002  via wired or wireless connections. The external processing hardware  1002  comprises a distributed server or peer-to-peer server. The external processing hardware  1002  also comprises communication interfaces  1005  (e.g., cable interfaces, optical interfaces, etc.) and a media exchange software (MES) platform  1006 . The MES platform  1006  in the external processing hardware  1002  allows for communication with the PC  1000  and MPS  1001  which may also use the same MES platform  1006 . The external processing hardware  1002  also includes networking server components  1007  to provide the similar client functions such as consumption (billing), authorization, registration, security, and connectivity at the server side. 
         [0094]      FIG. 11  illustrates connectivity between a PC  1100 , remote media storage  1101 , and personal media capture devices  1102  when the PC  1100  is used as the primary distributor of digital media such as in the case of PC-to-PC operation, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The personal media capture devices  1102  and remote media storage  1101  connect to the PC  1100  via a wireless or wired connection. The remote media storage  1101  provides user media storage and distribution  1103  as well as third party media storage and distribution  1104 . The personal media capture devices  1102  provide temporary storage  1114  and communication interfaces  1115 . 
         [0095]    Viewing is done using a PC monitor  1105  instead of a television screen. The PC  1100  may include storage  1106 , TV/radio tuners  1107  for media consumption, media players  1108 , and communication interfaces  1109  and user interfaces  1110  similar to those for the MPS of  FIG. 9 . The PC  1100  includes a media exchange software (MES) platform  1111  that provides channel construction capability  1112  and networking capability  1113 . The channel construction capability  1112  allows third party and personal media access, sequencing, editing, media overlays and inserts, billing, scheduling, and addressing. 
         [0096]    In summary, some embodiments according to the present invention may provide systems and methods that support printer resource sharing in a communication network. 
         [0097]    While the present invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the present invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.