Patent ID: 7123848

Claim:
A method for managing print jobs for a printer, the method comprising: (a) examining a print queue of print jobs for a printer based on a level of consumable resources available in the printer the examining step (a) further comprises (a 1 ) selecting a first print job in the print queue and (a 2 ) comparing a needed level of consumable resources for the print job to the level of consumable resources available; and (b) adjusting an order of the print jobs in the print queue to prioritize printing of the print jobs that can be completely printed with the consumable resources available, wherein the printer realizes increased throughput and minimized downtime; wherein when the needed level is less than the level of consumable resources available, (c) the first print job is performed; wherein when the needed level exceeds the level of consumable resources available, (d) the first print job is put on hold and an owner of the first print job is notified of a servicing requirement of the printer repeating steps (a 1 ) and (a 2 ) and (c) or (d) for each next print job in the print queue; and (e) initiating printing of a first remaining print job regardless of the level of consumable resources available when all print jobs in the print queue have been examined and none remain that can be completely printed.