Print consumables monitoring

• US 20020105668A1
• Filed: 11/09/2001
• Published: 08/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Primera Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Primera Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Hoge, Steven S., Lilland, Kevin R.
• Application Number:
  US10/012,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20020105668A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.14
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17566 Ink level or ink residue control
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4071 Printing on disk-shaped media, e.g. CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1823 for evaluating the resources needed, e.g. rasterizing time, ink, paper stock

Abstract

A method for monitoring print consumables of a compact disc (CD) printing system estimates a number of images that can be printed before a print consumable of the CD printing system becomes depleted or reaches a low threshold level. The estimation is based upon a remaining print consumable amount that is available to the CD printing system and a requested print consumable amount. Print consumable information including the number of images that can be printed is then displayed.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring at least one print consumable of a compact disc (CD) printing system, comprising:

(a) estimating a number of images that can be printed before the print consumable reaches a low threshold or becomes depleted based upon a remaining print consumable amount defined as an amount of print consumable that is available to the CD printing system and a requested print consumable amount; and

(b) displaying print consumable information including the number of the images that can be printed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the requested print consumable amount relates to an amount of print consumable required to print a default image.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the requested print consumable amount relates to an average or maximum print consumable amount based upon a print history.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the requested print consumable amount relates to an amount of print consumable required to print a single image or all images of a print job.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the print consumable information includes at least one of a number of black and white images that can be printed, a number of color images that can be printed, the remaining print consumable amount, a remaining black ink print consumable amount, a remaining color ink print consumable amount, an average number of prints rendered per print consumable, a maximum number of prints rendered per print consumable, and a minimum number of prints rendered per print consumable.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the print consumable information includes a graphical or textual representation of the number of images that can be printed.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the graphical representation is a bar graph.

8. The method of claim 1, including a step (c) of updating the remaining print consumable amount and repeating steps (a) and (b).

9. A method for monitoring at least one print consumable of a compact disc (CD) printing system, comprising:

(a) receiving a print job, wherein the print job includes an image file representing an image and a copy number representing the number of times the image is to be printed;

(b) determining a requested print consumable amount defined as an amount of print consumable needed to render the print job;

(c) estimating a number of images that can be printed before the print consumable reaches a low threshold or becomes depleted based upon a remaining print consumable amount defined as an amount of print consumable that is available to the CD printing system and the requested print consumable amount; and

(d) displaying print consumable information including the number of images that can be printed.

10. The method of claim 9, including a steps of:

(e) interrupting a rendering of the print job when the copy number exceeds the number of images that can be printed; and

(f) rendering the print job when the copy number is less than or equal to the number of images that can be printed.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the interrupting step (e) includes providing a warning indicating that there may be insufficient print consumable available to complete the print job.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the interrupting step (e) comprises providing the user with an option of adjusting the copy number of the print job.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the interrupting step (e) includes providing at least one option selected from a group consisting of adjusting a print quality setting of the print job, adjusting the remaining print consumable amount, rendering the print job without any adjustments, and canceling the rendering of the print job.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the determining step (b) further comprises determining a single print consumable amount defined as the amount of print consumable needed to print a single copy of the image file, wherein the requested print consumable amount is determined by multiplying the single print consumable amount by the copy number.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the rendering step (f) comprises:

(f)(i) printing an image represented by the image file;

(f)(ii) updating the remaining print consumable amount;

(f)(iii) updating the displayed print consumable information; and

(f)(v) repeating steps (f)(i)-(f)(iii) until the print job is completely rendered.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the print consumable information includes at least one of a number of black and white images that can be printed, a number of color images that can be printed, the remaining print consumable amount, a remaining black ink print consumable amount, a remaining color ink print consumable amount, an average number of prints rendered per print consumable, a maximum number of prints rendered per print consumable, and a minimum number of prints rendered per print consumable.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the requested print consumable amount relates to an amount of print consumable required to print a default image or an average print consumable amount calculated in accordance with a print history.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the requested print consumable amount relates to an amount of print consumable required to print the image of the print job.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the print consumable memory is a component of a personal computer, a CD printing device, or a print consumable cartridge housing the print consumable.

17. A compact disc (CD) printing system for processing a print job having an image file representing an image and a copy number representing a number of CD'"'"'s on which the image is to be recorded, comprising:

a print consumable having a remaining print consumable amount;

a print mechanism for recording the image of the print job onto a CD using the print consumable;

a print consumable memory having print consumable information stored therein, the print consumable information including the a remaining print consumable amount;

a display device; and

at least one processor adapted to perform steps of;

(a) retrieving print consumable information from the print consumable memory;

(b) estimating a number of images that can be printed before the print consumable reaches a low threshold or becomes depleted based upon the remaining print consumable amount and a requested print consumable amount; and

(c) displaying print consumable information including the number of the images that can be printed.