Dynamic load balancing for a tandem printing system
AssigneeToshiba Tech Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorDaniel A. Danknick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for allocating a print job among multiple printers. The apparatus includes one or more computer workstations that are communicatively coupled to a controller. The controller is communicatively coupled to plural multifunction peripherals (MFPs) for printing. The system provides a user an option of designating a print job as a tandem mode job, wherein a controller utilizes the multiple MFPs in printing the job in order to decrease the overall print time. In one embodiment, the controller utilizes only two MFPs. In another embodiment, more than two MFPs are utilized. Regardless of the number of MFPs utilized, all of the MFPs are desirably controlled by the same controller.
Claims12
A method of sending a print job from a computer workstation to one or more printers in a plurality of printers, each of the plurality of printers communicatively coupled to the same control unit, the control unit being communicatively coupled to a computer workstation on a computer network, the method comprising:
- (a) the control unit identifying one or more error-free printers;
- (b) the control unit polling the error free printers to ascertain a print queue for each printer, the print queue comprising a list of one or more print jobs scheduled to be printed by a printer;
- (c) the control unit identifying a first printer, the first printer comprising the error-free printer with the lowest quantity of print jobs in its print queue;
- (d) the control unit routing the print job to the first printer for printing;
- (e) the control unit monitoring a status of the print job with respect to the first printer;
- (f) the control unit detecting an error in the first printer with respect to the print job, wherein the error causes the first printer to be unable to complete the print job;
- (g) the control unit repeating (a) through (c) and identifying an alternate printer, wherein the alternate printer comprises the error-free printer with the lowest quantity of print jobs in its print queue;
- (h) the control unit deleting the print job from the first printer and rerouting the print job to the alternate printer for printing;
- (i) if the control unit detects an error in the alternate printer with respect to the print job, the control unit identifying subsequent alternate printers and rerouting the print job to the subsequent alternate printers until the print job is completely printed.
A control unit for instructing a printer to print a document, the control unit including computer readable software for causing the control unit to:
- (a) identify one or more error-free printers;
- (b) pool the error free printers to ascertain a print queue for each printer, the print queue comprising a list of one or more print jobs scheduled to be printed by a printer;
- (c) identify a first printer, the first printer comprising the error-free printer with the lowest quantity of print jobs in its print queue;
- (d) route the print job to the first printer for printing;
- (e) monitor a status of the print job with respect to the first printer;
- (f) detect an error in the first printer with respect to the print job, wherein the error causes the first printer to be unable to print the print job;
- (g) repeat (a) through (c) and identify an alternate printer, wherein the alternate printer comprises the error-free printer with the lowest quantity of print jobs in its print queue;
- (h) delete the print job from the first printer and rerouting the print job to the alternate printer for printing;
- (i) if the control unit detects an error in the alternate printer with respect to the print job, identify subsequent alternate printers and rerouting the print job to the subsequent alternate printers until the print job is completely printed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.