US Patent 8199342 Tailoring image data packets to properties of print heads

Techniques, systems, and computer program products that facilitate tailoring image data packets to properties of print heads in a printing system. Control software in the printing system remote from the print head(s) may send a query to a print head over a control channel and receive a reply include information characterizing parameters of the print head, e.g., specific configuration information or a part number. The control software may use the information characterizing the properties of the print head to look up specification details of the layout of print elements in the print head and use that information to configure image data packet generating components in the control software for the particular print head layout.