Consumable order-assistance system for computer peripheral devices within a centralized network environment and method for replenishing consumable components
First Claim
1. A consumable component replenishment and maintenance assistance system for a centralized network environment, comprising:
- a computer network;
at least one computer peripheral device within the network and having a consumable component;
a personal computer within the network and having a user interface usable by a maintainer to maintain operation of the at least one computer peripheral device; and
a server within the network and having a consumable component consolidation program operative to monitor the at least one computer peripheral device to identify a need to replenish a consumable component and/or perform maintenance, and to notify a maintainer of the identified need by rendering instructions that are sent to the maintainer at the personal computer.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A consumable component replenishment and maintenance assistance system is provided within a centralized network environment. The system includes a computer network, at least one computer peripheral device, a personal computer, and a centralized server. The at least one computer peripheral device is provided within the network and has an embedded web server and a consumable component. The personal computer is provided within the network and has a user interface usable by a maintainer to maintain operation of the at least one computer peripheral device. The server is provided within the network and has a consumable component consolidation program. The program is operative to monitor the at least one computer peripheral device to identify a need to replenish a consumable component and/or perform maintenance, consolidate the identified need to replenish the consumable component or perform maintenance for one or more of the at least one computer peripheral device in the network environment, and notify a maintainer of the consolidated, identified need by rendering instructions that are sent to the maintainer at the personal computer. A method is also provided.
96 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A consumable component replenishment and maintenance assistance system for a centralized network environment, comprising:
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a computer network;
at least one computer peripheral device within the network and having a consumable component;
a personal computer within the network and having a user interface usable by a maintainer to maintain operation of the at least one computer peripheral device; and
a server within the network and having a consumable component consolidation program operative to monitor the at least one computer peripheral device to identify a need to replenish a consumable component and/or perform maintenance, and to notify a maintainer of the identified need by rendering instructions that are sent to the maintainer at the personal computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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14. A consumable order assistance system for a computer peripheral device within a centralized network environment, comprising:
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a personal computer having a user interface;
a computer peripheral device including a consumable;
a centralized server having a consumable re-order program including instructions to send a consumable re-order notification to a consumables purchaser at the personal computer; and
a computer network interconnecting the personal computer, the computer peripheral device, and the centralized server.
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23. A computer-implemented system which implements a program in which consumable components of computer peripheral devices in a centralized network system are replenished, the system comprising:
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a monitoring system which identifies a need to replenish one or more consumable components and/or perform maintenance for any one of a plurality of unique computer peripheral devices within the network system;
a notification system which notifies a user of the identified need to replenish components and/or perform maintenance; and
a consumable order placement system which generates an order with a supplier of consumables in response to a user authorizing the order.
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37. A method for replenishing consumable components of at least one computer peripheral device within a centralized network, comprising:
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providing a centralized server within the network communicating with the at least one computer peripheral device;
identifying a need to replenish a consumable component and/or perform maintenance for each of the at least one computer peripheral components; and
consolidating the identified need to replenish the consumable component or perform maintenance for one or more of the at least one computer peripheral device in the network.
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Specification