Patent ID: 8823990
Filing Date: 2014-09-02
Classification: G06F,G06K

Abstract:
1. A computer program product for print job distribution, the computer program product comprising: one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media, the program instructions comprising: program instructions to determine an amount of a first consumable resource for each of a plurality of printers; program instructions to determine an estimated usage of the first consumable resource for each of the plurality of printers for one or more printer jobs in a printer queue; program instructions to access a predetermined maintenance schedule for replacing the first consumable resource for each of the plurality of printers; and program instructions to determine a print distribution plan for each print job in the printer queue based at least in part on the amount of the first consumable resource for each of the plurality of printers, the estimated usage of the first consumable resource for the plurality of printers for each printer job in a printer queue, and the predetermined maintenance schedule for replacing the first consumable resource for each of the plurality of printers, wherein: the print distribution plan operates to decrease the amount of the first consumable resource wasted upon being replaced based on the predetermined maintenance schedule; and the print distribution plan operates to minimize the amount of downtime of the plurality of printers based on the predetermined maintenance schedule.