Patent ID: 7191938

Claim:
A method for producing identification cards of a plurality of card types using a plurality of card issuance machines that are located in a plurality of locations, wherein the card issuance machines are communicably coupled to an enterprise server through an enterprise network, the method comprising the steps of: generating a request in a client process to produce an identification card wherein said request includes information regarding a type of card to be produced from a plurality of card types; transmitting said request from said client process to the enterprise server through an enterprise network to manage the production of said identification card; evaluating a rule set and placing the request into one of a card issuance component queue where cards are ready for immediate production and a production queue for later production based on the evaluation, wherein the rule set includes card type criteria and geographic location criteria, and further comprising linking said request based at least in part on the requested card type and a geographic location where the request originated to one of the card issuance component queue and the production queue; and forwarding said request from said card issuance component queue to a card issuance controller process coupled to the plurality of card issuance machines for production of the identification card; producing the identification card using one of the card issuance machines.