Monitoring usage of electronic equipment
First Claim
1. Apparatus for monitoring usage of an image projector, said apparatus comprising:
- a usage sensor arranged to sense usage of the image projector; and
a control unit adapted to monitor usage of the image projector in response to an output from said sensor.
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method for the rental of image projectors, in which a customer is provided with an image projector over an extended period. In accordance with embodiments of the invention, the image projector is arranged to sense and monitor usage during the extended period and, in at least one aspect of the invention, transmit a signal indicative of the same to a remote processing system. The remote processing system evaluates a cost corresponding to the usage and the customer is charged accordingly. The transmitted signal includes data relating to a temporal characteristic of the monitored usage within the extended period, in particular the time that the equipment was actually in use, so that the customer is only charged for the time that the image projector was actually in use.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. Apparatus for monitoring usage of an image projector, said apparatus comprising:
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a usage sensor arranged to sense usage of the image projector; and
a control unit adapted to monitor usage of the image projector in response to an output from said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A data processing system for processing data relating to usage of audio-visual equipment, the data processing system comprising:
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a data receiver arranged to receive said data indicative of usage of audiovisual equipment;
accounting means arranged to evaluate a cost associated with said usage on the basis of a predetermined charging function; and
output means arranged to output the evaluated cost, wherein said received data includes data relating to a temporal characteristic of the usage of the audio-visual equipment. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of monitoring usage of an image projector, including:
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sensing usage of the image projector;
transmitting data indicative of said sensed usage to a processing system; and
processing the sensed usage data on the basis of a predetermined cost criterion so as to identify a cost associated therewith;
in which said transmitted data includes data relating to a temporal characteristic of the monitored usage. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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- 34. A method for the rental of electronic equipment, in which a customer is provided with electronic equipment over an extended period, and the image projector is provided with a usage monitoring system adapted to monitor usage of the image projector, whereby a signal indicating actual usage of the equipment during the extended period is monitored, and the customer is charged in accordance with a temporal characteristic of the monitored signal.
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37. Apparatus for monitoring usage of audio-visual equipment, said apparatus comprising:
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a usage sensor arranged to sense usage of the audio-visual equipment; and
a control unit adapted to monitor usage of the audio-visual equipment in response to an output from said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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Specification