Method and apparatus for automatically managing capabilities in a virtual printer group
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- forming a virtual printer group comprising a plurality of printers having different capabilities, each printer comprising a corresponding printer capabilities file that specifies a capability of the printer;
accessing the printer capabilities file of each printer to determine the capability of each printer in the virtual printer group, wherein determining comprises obtaining a list of printer options, and wherein obtaining a list of printer options comprises obtaining media size options;
merging the determined printer capabilities to create a super print capabilities file;
receiving a print command that comprises a set of printing options;
matching the print options to the super print capabilities file; and
executing the print command on one or more printers in the virtual printer group based on the matched print options.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for dynamically managing printers comprises a mechanism for printing from a network of printers that belong to a virtual printer group to meet the user'"'"'s request for printing. The invention does this by requesting an options and capabilities file from each printer and then generating a virtual printer group, such that when a user wants to print a file, the invention looks for the best suited printer for the user and sends a file to that printer for printing. The invention has the capability to keep track of each printer'"'"'s printing capabilities dynamically and to communicate to the user about the status of printing and printer location, and of informing a system administrator for manual intervention should the need arise.
25 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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forming a virtual printer group comprising a plurality of printers having different capabilities, each printer comprising a corresponding printer capabilities file that specifies a capability of the printer; accessing the printer capabilities file of each printer to determine the capability of each printer in the virtual printer group, wherein determining comprises obtaining a list of printer options, and wherein obtaining a list of printer options comprises obtaining media size options; merging the determined printer capabilities to create a super print capabilities file; receiving a print command that comprises a set of printing options; matching the print options to the super print capabilities file; and executing the print command on one or more printers in the virtual printer group based on the matched print options. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification