Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for dynamic print server generation in a distributed printing environment. In these methods, systems, and devices, a print router may receive a print job from a print source over a unidirectional print data path. The print router may transmit the print job to a print job destination associated with a printer of a number of printers in communication with the print router. The print router may receive a message from the printer and transmit the message from the printer to the print job source over a network path separate from the unidirectional print data path.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for centralized print job routing in a distributed printing environment. A data store may include a first table of identifiers for printers, a second table of identifiers for print servers, a third table of identifiers for drivers, and an association between identifiers of the first, second, and third tables. A print router may be configured to determine a printer selected for a print job. Based on the association between the identifiers of the first, second, and third tables, the print router may map a print server to the selected printer and a driver to the print server.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for dynamic print server generation in a distributed printing environment. A data store may store multiple operating systems. A central server computer system is in communication with the data store. The central server computer system may receive notification of a print job, select a printer for the print job, map a stored driver to the selected printer, select an operating system associated with the driver from the data store, and dynamically load the operating system associated with the driver to generate a print server for the print job.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for bidirectional print router communication in a distributed printing environment. In these methods, systems, and devices, a print router receives a print job from a print job source over a unidirectional print data path. The print router forwards the print job to a first print job destination associated with a first printer, and receives a first message from the first printer. The first message may be forwarded to the print job source, and a second message from the print job source may also be received. The print job is then transmitted from the print router to a second print job destination associated with a second printer based on the first message from the first printer, a set of rules, and/or the second message received from the print job source.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for centralized print driver distribution in a distributed printing environment. A set of drivers may be stored at one or more centralized data stores, and distributed to print servers. This distribution may occur on a per-print job basis. Drivers may be automatically removed from the print servers based on certain criteria.