Information processing apparatus, consumables stock management system, consumables stock managing method, consumables stock managing program, and memory medium

• US 20030050873A1
• Filed: 09/03/2002
• Published: 03/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Niki, Toru
• Granted Patent: US 8,407,109 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A frequency of a residual amount signal which includes the absence of consumables and is issued by a printing apparatus is analyzed, whether new consumables have been attached or not is properly discriminated, and proper stock management is made.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus for managing the number of stocks of consumables which are used in a printing apparatus from residual amount information which is notified by the printing apparatus which can communicate via a predetermined communication line, comprising:

discriminating means for discriminating whether said printing apparatus or said consumables has/have been driven or used by a predetermined amount for a period of time from timing based on reception of an empty signal notified via said predetermined communication line until reception of said residual amount information or not; and

managing means for managing an increase or a decrease in the number of stocks in accordance with a result of the discrimination of said discriminating means.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the timing based on the reception of said empty signal is timing when said empty signal is dissolved.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising monitoring means for monitoring a status of said printing apparatus,

and wherein said monitoring means requests the residual amount information of said printing apparatus via said predetermined communication line.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said residual amount information is the empty signal or information showing that said empty has been dissolved.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said managing means is means for subtracting the number of stocks.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined amount is elapsed time when said printing apparatus or said consumables has/have been driven or used, the number of print sheets, or a pixel count number.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

receiving means for receiving identification information of said printing apparatus; and

switching means for switching said predetermined amount in accordance with said identification information of the printing apparatus received by said receiving means.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said switching means specifies a function of said printing apparatus in accordance with said identification information of the printing apparatus received by said receiving means, and either said elapsed time or said number of print sheets is used as said predetermined amount in accordance with said specified function.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said discriminating means discriminates whether said printing apparatus or said consumables has/have been driven or used by said predetermined amount every printing apparatus or every kind of consumables or not, and said managing means manages the increase or decrease in the number of stocks in accordance with the result of the discrimination of every printing apparatus or every kind of consumables.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

input means for inputting a stock threshold value of every kind of consumables; and

storing means for storing said stock threshold value of every kind of consumables inputted by said input means in a form such that said stock threshold value can be referred to.

11. A consumables stock management system having a printing apparatus which can communicate via a predetermined communication line and an information processing apparatus for managing the number of stocks of consumables which are used in said printing apparatus from residual amount information which is notified by said printing apparatus, comprising:

notifying means for notifying the system of said residual amount information detected by residual amount information detecting means via said predetermined communication line;

discriminating means for discriminating whether said printing apparatus or said consumables has/have been driven or used by a predetermined amount for a period of time from timing based on reception of an empty signal notified by said notifying means via said predetermined communication line until reception of said residual amount information or not; and

managing means for managing an increase or a decrease in the number of stocks in accordance with a result of the discrimination of said discriminating means.

12. A consumables stock managing method by an information processing apparatus for managing the number of stocks of consumables which are used in a printing apparatus from residual amount information which is notified by the printing apparatus which can communicate via a predetermined communication line, comprising:

a discriminating step of discriminating whether said printing apparatus or said consumables has/have been driven or used by a predetermined amount for a period of time from timing based on reception of an empty signal notified via said predetermined communication line until reception of said residual amount information or not; and

a managing step of managing an increase or a decrease in the number of stocks in accordance with a result of the discrimination in said discriminating step.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the timing based on the reception of said empty signal is timing when said empty signal is dissolved.

14. A method according to claim 12, further comprising a monitoring step of monitoring a status of said printing apparatus,

and wherein in said monitoring step, the residual amount information of said printing apparatus is requested via said predetermined communication line.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein said residual amount information is the empty signal or information showing that said empty has been dissolved.

16. A method according to claim 12, wherein said managing step includes a process for subtracting the number of stocks.

17. A method according to claim 12, wherein said predetermined amount is elapsed time when said printing apparatus or said consumables has/have been driven or used, the number of print sheets, or a pixel count number.

18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising:

a receiving step of receiving identification information of said printing apparatus; and

a switching step of switching said predetermined amount in accordance with said identification information of the printing apparatus received by said receiving step.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein in said switching step, a function of said printing apparatus is specified in accordance with said identification information of the printing apparatus received by said receiving step, and either said elapsed time or said number of print sheets is used as said predetermined amount in accordance with said specified function.

20. A method according to claim 12, wherein in said discriminating step, whether said printing apparatus or said consumables has/have been driven or used by said predetermined amount or not is discriminated every printing apparatus or every kind of consumables, and in said managing step, the increase or decrease in the number of stocks is managed in accordance with the result of the discrimination of every printing apparatus or every kind of consumables.

21. A method according to claim 20, further comprising:

a setting step of setting a stock threshold value of every kind of consumables which were inputted; and

a storing step of storing said stock threshold value of every kind of consumables set by said setting step in a form such that said stock threshold value can be referred to.

22. A consumables stock managing method by a printing apparatus which can communicate via a predetermined communication line and an information processing apparatus for managing the number of stocks of consumables which are used in said printing apparatus from residual amount information which is notified by said printing apparatus, comprising:

a notifying step of notifying the apparatus of said residual amount information detected by a residual amount information detecting unit via said predetermined communication line;

a discriminating step of discriminating whether said printing apparatus or said consumables has/have been driven or used by a predetermined amount for a period of time from timing based on reception of an empty signal notified by said notifying step via said predetermined communication line until reception of said residual amount information or not; and

a managing step of managing an increase or a decrease in the number of stocks in accordance with a result of the discrimination by said discriminating step.

23. A consumables stock managing program which is executed by an information processing apparatus for managing the number of stocks of consumables which are used in a printing apparatus from residual amount information which is notified by the printing apparatus which can communicate via a predetermined communication line, comprising:

a discriminating step of discriminating whether said printing apparatus or said consumables has/have been driven or used by a predetermined amount for a period of time from timing based on reception of an empty signal notified via said predetermined communication line until reception of said residual amount information or not; and

a managing step of managing an increase or a decrease in the number of stocks in accordance with a result of the discrimination in said discriminating step.

24. A consumables stock managing program which is executed by a printing apparatus which can communicate via a predetermined communication line and an information processing apparatus for managing the number of stocks of consumables which are used in said printing apparatus from residual amount information which is notified by said printing apparatus, comprising:

a notifying step of notifying the information processing apparatus of said residual amount information detected by a residual amount information detecting unit via said predetermined communication line;

a discriminating step of discriminating whether said printing apparatus or said consumables has/have been driven or used by a predetermined amount for a period of time from timing based on reception of an empty signal notified by said notifying step via said predetermined communication line until reception of said residual amount information or not; and

a managing step of managing an increase or a decrease in the number of stocks in accordance with a result of the discrimination in said discriminating step.

25. A computer-readable memory medium which stores program codes for managing the number of stocks of consumables which are used in a printing apparatus from residual amount information which is notified by the printing apparatus which can communicate via a predetermined communication line, wherein said program codes are provided for executing:

a discriminating step of discriminating whether said printing apparatus or said consumables has/have been driven or used by a predetermined amount for a period of time from timing based on reception of an empty signal notified via said predetermined communication line until reception of said residual amount information or not; and

a managing step of managing an increase or a decrease in the number of stocks in accordance with a result of the discrimination in said discriminating step.

26. A computer-readable memory medium which stores program codes which are executed by a printing apparatus which can communicate via a predetermined communication line and an information processing apparatus for managing the number of stocks of consumables which are used in said printing apparatus from residual amount information which is notified by said printing apparatus, wherein said program codes are provided for executing:

a notifying step of notifying the information processing apparatus of said residual amount information detected by a residual amount information detecting unit via said predetermined communication line;

a discriminating step of discriminating whether said printing apparatus or said consumables has/have been driven or used by a predetermined amount for a period of time from timing based on reception of an empty signal notified by said notifying step via said predetermined communication line until reception of said residual amount information or not; and

a managing step of managing an increase or a decrease in the number of stocks in accordance with a result of the discrimination in said discriminating step.

27. A consumables stock managing apparatus for managing stocks of consumables, comprising:

receiving means for receiving an empty signal which is outputted from an apparatus using the consumables when an amount of consumables is equal to or less than a predetermined amount; and

subtracting means constructed in a manner such that if the empty signal is received before an elapse of a predetermined time after the reception of the empty signal, the stocks of the consumables are not subtracted, and if the empty signal is received after the elapse of the predetermined time after the reception of the empty signal, the stocks of the consumables are subtracted.

28. A consumables stock managing apparatus for managing stocks of consumables, comprising:

receiving means for receiving an empty signal which is outputted from an apparatus using the consumables when an amount of consumables is equal to or less than a predetermined amount; and

subtracting means constructed in a manner such that if the empty signal is received before a predetermined amount is printed after the reception of the empty signal, the stocks of the consumables are not subtracted, and if the empty signal is received after the predetermined amount was printed after the reception of the empty signal, the stocks of the consumables are subtracted.

29. A consumables stock managing method of managing stocks of consumables, comprising:

a discriminating step of discriminating whether an empty signal has been received before an elapse of a predetermined time after the reception of the empty signal which is outputted from an apparatus using the consumables when an amount of consumables is equal to or less than a predetermined amount or not; and

a subtracting step constructed in a manner such that if it is determined by said discriminating step that the empty signal has been received before the elapse of a predetermined time after the reception of the empty signal, the stocks of the consumables are not subtracted, and if it is determined by said discriminating step that said empty signal has been received after the elapse of a predetermined time after the reception of the empty signal, the stocks of the consumables are subtracted.

30. A consumables stock managing method of managing stocks of consumables, comprising:

a discriminating step of discriminating whether an empty signal has been received before a predetermined amount is processed after the reception of the empty signal which is outputted from an apparatus using the consumables when an amount of consumables is equal to or less than the predetermined amount or not; and

a subtracting step constructed in a manner such that if it is determined by said discriminating step that said empty signal has been received before the predetermined amount is processed after the reception of the empty signal, the stocks of the consumables are not subtracted, and if it is determined by said discriminating step that said empty signal has been received after the predetermined amount was processed after the reception of the empty signal, the stocks of the consumables are subtracted.

31. A computer-readable consumables stock managing program for managing stocks of consumables, comprising:

a discriminating step of discriminating whether an empty signal has been received before an elapse of a predetermined time after the reception of the empty signal which is outputted from an apparatus using the consumables when an amount of consumables is equal to or less than a predetermined amount or not; and

a subtracting step constructed in a manner such that if it is determined by said discriminating step that said empty signal has been received before the elapse of a predetermined time after the reception of the empty signal, the stocks of the consumables are not subtracted, and if it is determined by said discriminating step that said empty signal has been received after the elapse of a predetermined time after the reception of the empty signal, the stocks of the consumables are subtracted.

32. A computer-readable consumables stock managing program for managing stocks of consumables, comprising:

a discriminating step of discriminating whether an empty signal has been received before a predetermined amount is processed after the reception of the empty signal which is outputted from an apparatus using the consumables when an amount of consumables is equal to or less than the predetermined amount or not; and

a subtracting step constructed in a manner such that if it is determined by said discriminating step that said empty signal has been received before the predetermined amount is processed after the reception of the empty signal, the stocks of the consumables are not subtracted, and if it is determined by said discriminating step that said empty signal has been received after the predetermined amount was processed after the reception of the empty signal, the stocks of the consumables are subtracted.

33. A memory medium which stores a computer-readable consumables stock managing program for managing stocks of consumables, wherein said program comprises:

a discriminating step of discriminating whether an empty signal has been received before an elapse of a predetermined time after the reception of the empty signal which is outputted from an apparatus using the consumables when an amount of consumables is equal to or less than a predetermined amount or not; and

a subtracting step constructed in a manner such that if it is determined by said discriminating step that said empty signal has been received before the elapse of a predetermined time after the reception of the empty signal, the stocks of the consumables are not subtracted, and if it is determined by said discriminating step that said empty signal has been received after the elapse of a predetermined time after the reception of the empty signal, the stocks of the consumables are subtracted.

34. A memory medium which stores a computer-readable consumables stock managing program for managing stocks of consumables, wherein said program comprises:

a discriminating step of discriminating whether an empty signal has been received before a predetermined amount is processed after the reception of the empty signal which is outputted from an apparatus using the consumables when an amount of consumables is equal to or less than the predetermined amount or not; and

a subtracting step constructed in a manner such that if it is determined by said discriminating step that said empty signal has been received before the predetermined amount is processed after the reception of the empty signal, the stocks of the consumables are not subtracted, and if it is determined by said discriminating step that said empty signal has been received after the predetermined amount was processed after the reception of the empty signal, the stocks of the consumables are subtracted.