Network printing system using a process power broker for directing print job from busy machines to idle machines for processing only before printing

摘要

A compute cycle brokering apparatus and method includes a network and a plurality of machines connected to the network wherein some machines are idle and some machines are busy. A process power broker is connected to the network for locating available process power on idle machines and directing pending jobs from busy machines to the idle machines for processing. Further, a job director is provided for directing job output either back to the busy machine for output or to the first available idle machine on the network for output once processing is completed.