Patent ID: 7880912

Claim:
A network printing system, comprising: a plurality of network printers; a plurality of computer terminals; and at least one processor in operative communication with the plurality of printers and the plurality of computer terminals, wherein the at least one processor executes application software for receiving a print data request having a print job from at least one of the plurality of computer terminals, the at least one processor comprising: an automated selection service module for analyzing printer-related data corresponding to each of the plurality of printers, determining a group consisting of at least one prospective network destination printer from the plurality of printers in accordance with a first analysis using at least a portion of the printer-related data, attempting to select at least one of the plurality of printers from the group of the at least one prospective network destination printer in accordance with a second analysis using at least another portion of the printer-related data different from the portion of the printer-related data used for the first analysis, determining if at least one of the plurality of printers was selected as at least one destination printer, and transmitting the print data request to the at least one selected destination printer if a selection of the at least one destination printer has been made; wherein the printer-related data corresponding to each of the plurality of network printers includes fixed characteristics and time varying characteristics, wherein the fixed characteristics are cost per page and one of toner colorants and halftone screens used during the first analysis, wherein the time varying characteristics are one of color gamut and tone reproduction curve used during the second analysis, wherein the automated selection service module further proposes at least two printing scenarios and requests a user to select one of the at least two printing scenarios, and wherein the at least two printing scenarios include at least two printing scenarios selected from the group consisting of: a printing scenario for performing the print job by printing at least a portion of a document with a first printer and printing at least another portion of the document with a second printer; a printing scenario for performing the print job using a third printer but not being able to complete the print job for a specified period of time; and a printing scenario for performing the print job using a fourth printer located at a certain distance from the user.