Electrophotography – Remote monitoring
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-10
2001-05-15
Pendegrass, Joan (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Remote monitoring
C399S015000, C399S024000, C705S014270
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233408
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to image forming electronic devices and more particularly to an apparatus and method for informing the operator that an image forming device that one or more consumables components of the apparatus is approaching the end of its life, and providing the user with the proper information and also an incentive to replace said consumables with the recommended original equipment manufacture (OEM) replacement parts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Most image forming electronic devices, such as facsimile machines, printers, copiers, and most recently home photo printers, utilize any number of consumables, e.g. toner, ink, ribbon, receiver media, etc. which need to be replaced at the end of their lives. Today, more and more of these electronic devices are designed to be portable requiring a DC power supply. In this situation, the power supply is also a consumable, and needs to be replaced at the end of its service life.
The service life for a consumable is generally designed by the manufacturer and is monitored by the print device in which it operates. Optimally, near the end of the consumable's life, the print device displays a message to the user on a display of the device or on a host device, such as a personal computer, concerning the status of the consumable. The message is generally limited to nothing more than a “toner low” or “paper out” indication.
Typically, image forming electronic devices are packaged for sale so that all the components required to form an image are included in the package. And because equipment manufacturers design equipment for optimal performance using particular consumables having specific designated requirements, these particular consumables are also included in the packaging.
Also included in the package of the image forming electronic device is a User's Manual which instructs the user how to assemble the components of the device, and how to successfully form images using the device. Usually included at the end of the User's Manual, or as a separate document, is a “Statement of Limited Warranty”. This statement includes, but is not limited to, information regarding covered repair services on the device if the device fails to operate within a certain period of time from date of purchase. The warranty may not include services for failure caused by use of other than the properly designed consumables in the device.
Replacement OEM consumables for image forming electronic devices are available for purchase from a wide selection of retail centers, as well as mail order from the Internet. In addition, there may be a family of similar devices each having the same or different requirements. Also available for purchase are numerous non-OEM replacement consumables, which are typically available to the consumer at a lower cost.
This invention provides a method and apparatus for communicating with the user of an image forming electronic device, and providing the user with an incentive to purchase and replace exhausted consumable with OEM parts or authorized parts. The invention advantageously utilizes sensors currently present in the image forming electronic device, which are typically built into the printing device. When the status indicator senses that a particular consumable is exhausted or nearing exhaustion, the device automatically prints a hard copy of a token which is redeemable on the purchase of that particular OEM consumable. The token will give the user an incentive to purchase an OEM product in the form of cash savings vs. an after market product.
In one embodiment, this is accomplished using a software program implementation within the image forming electronic device. In addition to, or in lieu of, a traditional low-level status light indicator, the low-level sensor sets a flag within the software program of the device, which prompts the user to make a decision about printing a token. The prompt can be in the form of a dialog box that is displayed on a screen of a computer that is connected to the electronic printing device. A “yes” response causes one or more pages to be printed by the device, a “no” response calls for no action. If the user selects the “yes” option, token information is printed on these pages. Alternately, the token can be printed automatically without requiring any action from the user. The token information contained in these pages can be completely pre-stored within a memory device such as a ROM (read only memory) or NVRAM (non-volatile random access memory). The pages can be hand carried by the user and redeemed at a place of purchase for the consumables.
The present invention provides a printing apparatus which senses the level of its consumables, indicates when the level is low, and offers the user an opportunity to purchase OEM replacement consumables at a reduced cost.
The present invention also provides an incentive for the user to purchase OEM replacement consumables.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above, and other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the accompanying detailed description thereof when considered in conjunction with the following drawings.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided an electronic image forming device comprising:
a. at least one replaceable consumable;
b. at least one sensor for automatically sensing when the replaceable consumable reaches a predetermined condition, and
c. a software program for initiating printing of a token by the image forming device when the predetermined condition is reached.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided an electronic image forming device comprising:
a. at least one replaceable consumable;
b. at least one sensor for automatically sensing when the replaceable consumable reaches a predetermined condition,
c. a status indicating device responsive to the one sensor for indicating when the replaceable consumable has reached the predetermined condition; and
d. an activating device for a user to activate the image forming device to print a token.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of notifying a user that a particular replaceable consumable may need to be purchased for use with an electronic imaging device, comprising the steps of:
a. sensing when the replaceable consumable has reached a predetermined condition; and
b. printing a token for the purchase of the replaceable consumable whenever the predetermined condition is reached.
In still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of notifying a user that a particular replaceable consumable may need to be purchased for use with an electronic imaging device, comprising the steps of:
a. sensing when the replaceable consumable has reached a predetermined condition;
b. automatically contacting a remote site when replaceable consumable has reached a predetermined condition and communicating this condition to the site;
c. the site controlling printing a token at the electronic imaging device for the purchase of a new replaceable consumable.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of notifying a user that a particular replaceable consumable may need to be purchased for use with an electronic imaging device, comprising the steps of:
a. sensing when the replaceable consumable has reached a predetermined condition;
b. indicating when the replaceable consumable reaches the predetermined condition; and
c. enabling the user to print a token for purchase of the replaceable consumable when the predetermined condition is reached.
In accordance with still yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer software product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer program which when loaded into a computer of an image forming device causes the computer to perform the following steps:
a. sensing when the replaceable consumable has reached a predetermined condition in the image for
Eastman Kodak Company
Pendegrass Joan
Pincelli Frank
LandOfFree
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