Patent ID: 8289536

Claim:
In a rendering server, a method for detailed job accounting for thin client rendering, comprising: receiving a job request, wherein: the job request comprises at least one accounting detail requirement, the at least one accounting detail requirement specifies at least one accounting detail to be determined as part of the job request, and an accounting detail tracks information relating to the job request; determining whether the at least one accounting detail requirement is supported by a rendering device, wherein the at least one accounting detail requirement is supported by the rendering device if the rendering device is capable of determining the at least one accounting detail specified by the at least one accounting detail requirement; if the at least one accounting detail requirement is supported by the rendering device, facilitating determination by the rendering device of the at least one accounting detail corresponding to the at least one accounting detail requirement; and if the at least one accounting detail requirement is not supported by the rendering device, determining the at least one accounting detail corresponding to the at least one accounting detail requirement by performing a job simulation, wherein the job simulation determines an amount of resources that will be consumed according to the at least one accounting detail.