Dynamic print job routing in a distributed printing environment

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are described for dynamic print job routing in a distributed printing environment. A data store may include a set of rules for dynamically determining an identified print job destination based on at least one characteristic of a print job generated by a print job source. A rules engine may be configured to receive a notification of the print job, identify the characteristic of the print job from the received notification, and apply the set of rules in the data store to the identified characteristic of the print job to dynamically determine an updated print job destination for the print job. The updated print job destination is associated with at least one printer.

1 . A distributed printing system comprising:
 a print job source configured to generate a print job;   a plurality of printers;   a data store comprising a set of riles for dynamically determining an updated print job destination for the print job based on at least one characteristic of the print job; and   a rules engine configured to:
 receive a notification of the print job; 
 identify the at least one characteristic of the print job from the received notification; and 
 apply the set of rules in the data store to the identified at least one characteristic of the print job to dynamically determine the updated print job destination for the print job, wherein the updated print job destination is associated with at least one printer in the plurality of printers. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rules engine is further configured to:
 identify a location of the print job source as the at least one characteristic of the print job; and   determine the updated print job destination based on the location of the print job source.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rules engine is further configured to:
 determine a time of day associated with the print job; and   determine the updated print job destination based on the time of day associated with the print job.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rules engine is further configured to:
 determine that the print job is of a certain type; and   determine the updated print job destination based on the type of the print job.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rules engine is further configured to:
 determine a status of at least one possible print job destination; and   determine the updated print job destination based on the status of the at least one possible print job destination.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rules engine is further configured to replace a print job destination previously associated with the print job with the updated print job destination. 
     
     
         7 . A method of dynamic print routing in a distributed printing environment, comprising
 receiving a notification of a print job from a print job source;   identifying at least one characteristic of the print job from the received notification; and   dynamically determining an updated print job destination for the print job based on the at least one characteristic of the print data, wherein the updated print job destination is associated with at least one printer.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the dynamically determining the updated print job destination for the print job is performed by a rules engine configured to enforce a set of rules stored in a data store. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 identifying a location of the print job source as the at least one characteristic of the print job; and   determining the updated print job destination based on the location of the print job source.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 determining that the location of the print job source has changed; and   dynamically determining the updated print job destination for the print job in response to the determination that the location of the print job source has changed.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 determining that the print job is of a certain type; and   determining the updated print job destination based on the type of the print job.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 determining a status of at least one possible print job destination; and   determining the updated print job destination based on the status of the at least one possible print job destination.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 determining a current time of day; and   determining the updated print job destination based on the current time of day.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 replacing a previous print job destination associated with the print job with the updated print job destination.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the previous print job destination comprises a virtual print job destination. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 changing a default print job destination associated with the print job source.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 determining a plurality of possible print job destinations based on the at least one characteristic of the print job;   providing the plurality of possible print job destinations to the print job source;   receiving a selection of one of the plurality of possible print job destinations from the print job source; and   determining the updated print job destination based on the selection received from the print job source.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the updated print job destination comprises at least one of a print server or a printer. 
     
     
         19 . A rules engine apparatus, comprising:
 a receiving module configured to receive a notification of a print job from a print job source;   an identification module configured to identify at least one characteristic of the print job from the received notification; and   a destination updating module configured to dynamically determine an updated print job destination for the print job based on the at least one characteristic of the print job, wherein the updated print job destination is associated with at least one printer.   
     
     
         20 . The rules engine apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the rules engine apparatus is implemented by at least one central server computer system.