Patent ID: 8737862

Claim:
A method for operating a selectively interconnected modular printing system, comprising: (a) providing a selectively interconnected modular printing system that includes a plurality of selectively interconnected modules, the system is responsive to an operational preference setting, determined and selected by a user via an interface having a display, among selectable system operational parameters that are derived from associated configuration information for each of the modules and that are displayed on the display; (b) communicating the associated configuration information for each of the selectively interconnected modules to a system controller; (c) using the system controller to automatically derive the selectable system operational parameters from the associated configuration information for each of the selectively interconnected modules; (d) using the system controller to display the selectable system operational parameters on the display; (e) determining an operational preference setting from the selectable system operational parameters displayed on the display wherein the operational preference setting includes at least one of the following; throughput, cost, energy requirements, image quality, or startup load; (f) selecting the operational preference setting; (g) using the system controller to determine specific operational parameters based on the selected operational preference setting; and (h) storing the specific operational parameters so that the selectively interconnected modular printing system is effective for operation.