Cloud-based parallel ink estimation for production printers

A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying programmed instructions which, when executed by a processor, are operable for:

• receiving, at a cloud event service, from a client computer, a print job and a plurality of potential configurations of a printer selected for printing the print job, wherein the cloud event service is operable on a cloud-based computing system;
• initializing, via the cloud event service, a plurality of virtual printers, wherein each virtual printer corresponds with one of the plurality of potential configurations, wherein the plurality of virtual printers is operable on the cloud-based computing system;
• operating all of the plurality of virtual printers in parallel to estimate amounts of ink used for each of the plurality of potential configurations during printing of the print job;
• and
• storing the estimated amounts of ink in a cloud storage.

A method dynamic ink use estimation, comprising:

• receiving, at a cloud event service, from a client computer, a print job and a plurality of potential configurations of a printer selected for printing the print job, wherein the cloud event service is operable on a cloud-based computing system;
• initializing, via the cloud event service, a plurality of virtual printers, wherein each virtual printer corresponds with one of the plurality of potential configurations, wherein the plurality of virtual printers is operable on the cloud-based computing system;
• operating all of the plurality of virtual printers in parallel to estimate amounts of ink used for each of the plurality of potential configurations during printing of the print job;
• and
• storing the estimated amounts of ink in a cloud storage.