Patent ID: 6433884
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
A printing process in which a printer determines which of several print jobs in a queue to print next based on comparing current printer setting parameters with printer setting parameters specified by the respective print jobs in the queue rather than solely based on the order in which the printer received the print jobs, comprising the steps of:a. providing a printer; b. storing current printer setting parameters at said printer, said current printer setting parameters stored at the printer indicating at least one of a plurality of emulation modes for the printer and one of a plurality of resolutions for the printer; c. receiving at said printer print jobs each including information specifying respective printer setting parameters for the print job; d. storing the print jobs received in said receiving step as a queue of print jobs stored at the printer; e. comparing said current printer setting parameters stored at said printer with the printer setting parameters of the print jobs in said queue stored at the printer; f. selecting the print job that will be printed next by the printer from among the print jobs in the queue stored at the printer depending on results of said comparing step; wherein the print job that will be printed next includes printer setting parameters matching more current printer setting parameters than other print jobs stored at said printer. g. if the printer setting parameters of the print job selected for printing next in said selecting step differ from said current printer setting parameters, automatically replacing the current printer setting parameters stored at said printer with the printer setting parameters of the selected print job; h. repeating steps c. through g. for print jobs remaining in the queue; and i. printing print jobs selected in said selecting step using said printer.