Patent ID: 7468804

Claim:
A method for printing, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: transmitting, by a particular printer of a plurality of printers that are configured with a same virtual network address, a signal to said virtual network address; at the particular printer: if said signal is acknowledged, then assuming a role as a slave printer by said particular printer; if said signal is not acknowledged and one or more other printers of said plurality of printers are active on said network, then negotiating with said one or more other printers to determine which one of said plurality of printers should assume a role as a first printer; and if said signal is not acknowledged and no other printers of said plurality of printers are active on said network, then the particular printer assuming the role as said first printer; receiving, at said first printer of said plurality of printers, a print job request that is addressed to said virtual network address, wherein said virtual network address is bound to said first printer in a manner such that print job requests addressed to said virtual network address are received only by the first printer; and sending, by said first printer, the print job request to a servicing printer, wherein said servicing printer is a printer in said plurality, of printers.