The present invention relates to methods and systems for providing printing
services over a communications network. In particular, the present
invention enables a user to obtain print jobs at an unspecified location
which may be remote from the source of the print job. A spooling server is
used to store a print job received via the network from a print job
source. A printer polling device, which may be at a location remote from
the print job source, is capable of polling the spooling server via the
network to identify whether any print jobs associated with the printer
polling device are available for printing at an associated printer. The
spooling server need not initiate contact with the printer through a
firewall, since it is polled by the printer polling device. Thus, network
security is maintained. A fee can be charged for the printing services
provided.
