A printer output coverage estimation system permits a user of print
services to obtain an accurate estimate of the amount of toner required
by a print job. Providers of print services, including coverage
estimations, may be identified through the Internet and selected by the
user from a web interface. The estimate request may then be transmitted
directly to the provider that fulfills the request using excess computing
capacity. Alternatively, providers may register excess computing capacity
with a broker. The broker matches job requests with a grid of providers
and directs the job request to the matched provider(s). Thus, users of
print services have an alternative to purchasing in-house computing
resources that may remain idle much of the time.