Patent ID: 8488144

Claim:
A method implemented in a print job management apparatus for managing print jobs, the print job management apparatus being connected to a plurality of printers each having its characteristics, the method comprising: defining a plurality of virtual queues as a plurality of printing devices, each of the plurality of virtual queues designating one of the plurality of printers and having a first set of job parameters associated with the virtual queue, the first set of job parameters matching the characteristics of the designated printer; displaying, in a user interface display, a plurality of print destinations including the plurality of printers and the plurality of virtual queues; processing a first print job, including: receiving the first print job, the first print job having a second set of job parameters associated with it; comparing the second set of job parameters associated with the received first print job with the plurality of first sets of job parameters associated with the virtual queues to select one of the plurality of virtual queues based on the comparison; replacing values of the second set of job parameters associated with the first print job with corresponding values of the first set of job parameters associated with the selected virtual queue; and submitting the first print job to the printer designated by the selected virtual queue after replacing the job parameter values; and processing a second print job, including: receiving the second print job to be printed by a selected one of the plurality of printers, the second print job having a third set of at least one job parameters associated with it; and submitting the second print job to the selected printer with the third set of job parameters without replacing any of the third set of job parameter values, regardless of whether the third set of job parameters match the characteristics of the selected printer.