Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for automatically detecting the topology of output devices present in a network, and for automatically configuring those output devices for outputting a specific media type. One or more network devices are present in a computer network environment configured for processing orders for physical and/or electronic photographic prints. Such network devices may have one or more output devices attached thereto for fulfilling consumer orders for photographic prints. In accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the system and method described herein query the network devices to determine the numbers and characteristics of output devices that are attached to and active on each network device, update a listing of such available output devices on an administrative management unit attached to the network, and configure each such output device for outputting specific media types.

Abstract: To provide a printing control system capable of efficiently utilizing a printer installed in an event hall or the like. A printing control system 10 includes a printing management unit 24 capable of generating a printing command for causing a printer 40 to print an image received from a multifunctional portable terminal 50. The printing management unit 24 is configured to exclude, when a creation date and time of the received image is out of a predetermined printable period, the received image from an item to be printed, or to exclude, when the number of received images is out of a predetermined printable number, at least a part of the received images, which exceeds the printable number, from an item to be printed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for calibrating multiple printers, and particularly color printers, in a networked environment using data embedded in select color patches in target sheets generated by each printer, which embedded data allows automated processing of the target sheets and association of appropriate target sheet data with the correct printer. The embedded data preferably includes an identification of which of multiple printers a particular target sheet corresponds to, along with data about the target sheet itself.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus 100 that provides an order separator 330 for photographic order fulfillment. The present invention includes one or more output print devices 110 that print one or more photographic prints 320 of a photographic order 402/404/406 using photographic paper 300. Additionally included is a separator print 330 that is a sheet of photographic paper 300 that is larger than the photographic prints 302 of the photographic order 402/404/406. The present invention further includes a system controller 102 that controls the utilization of the photographic paper 300 of the output print devices 110 for the photographic prints 320. The system controller 102 controls whether to create the separator print 330 or the photographic prints 320. The individual separator print 330 creates a tab 401/403/405 separating different photographic orders 402/404/406 of the photographic prints when multiple photographic orders 400 are stacked together.