Distributed printing
First Claim
1. An automated scheduling method for a network having a plurality of printers located at various locations within said network, an input means, a scheduling means, and a communication link to connect said plurality of printers with each other and to said input means and said scheduling means, the network being capable of scheduling a complex of remote and local printers located on the network, the method comprising the steps of:
- inputting from said input means a plurality of criteria relating to a print job requested by a user to said scheduling means, said criteria including at least the number of copies of said job requested, locations within said network where said job is to be printed, and a requested completion time for said job;
electronically analyzing said plurality of printers to determine availability of one or more of said plurality of said printers at each of said locations;
automatically electronically scheduling printing of said job at said locations;
electronically prompting said user if any of said locations cannot complete said job; and
electronically prompting said user of an estimate of when completion of said print job can be expected.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A printshop management scheduling routine and system which provide optimum scheduling of printer jobs on a network. The scheduling routine utilizes the total complex of printers available at local location and/or remote locations to allocate and complete printer jobs based on a plurality of criteria, including requested completion time for the project. If requested completion time does not allow printing of the print job by a sole printer, the print job is allocated to a plurality of available printers, each printing a portion of the complete print job.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. An automated scheduling method for a network having a plurality of printers located at various locations within said network, an input means, a scheduling means, and a communication link to connect said plurality of printers with each other and to said input means and said scheduling means, the network being capable of scheduling a complex of remote and local printers located on the network, the method comprising the steps of:
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inputting from said input means a plurality of criteria relating to a print job requested by a user to said scheduling means, said criteria including at least the number of copies of said job requested, locations within said network where said job is to be printed, and a requested completion time for said job; electronically analyzing said plurality of printers to determine availability of one or more of said plurality of said printers at each of said locations; automatically electronically scheduling printing of said job at said locations; electronically prompting said user if any of said locations cannot complete said job; and electronically prompting said user of an estimate of when completion of said print job can be expected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An automated scheduling method for a network having a plurality of printers located at various locations within said network, an input means, a scheduling means, and a communication link to connect said plurality of printers with each other and to said input means and said scheduling means, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) submitting a job to a selected network printer; (b) determining the length of said job; (c) electronically examining the selected network printer print queue; (d) electronically determining if the selected network printer can complete the job by a requested time; (e) electronically allocating a portion of the job that can be completed by the requested time to the selected network printer for printing; (f) electronically searching for other available printers; (g) electronically allocating any unallocated portion of the job to an available printer; and (h) informing a user of the job schedule. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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Specification