METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STORING INCREMENT VALUES WITHOUT USING AN INCREMENT COUNTER
First Claim
1. A method for storing increment values without using an increment counter comprising:
- receiving, at one or more memory modules, a command signal transmitted from a processing device, wherein the command signal includes an increment counter command for instructing the one or more memory modules to increment a counter by a specific amount;
processing the command signal at the one or more memory modules by;
providing multiple storage locations;
determining if each of the multiple storage locations contains a stored value; and
storing in one of the multiple storage locations a value indicative of the specific amount when at least one of the multiple storage locations does not contain a stored value therein; and
outputting a stored base value as an increment count value.
4 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Electronic systems, such as printing systems, often use components that have integral memory. The integral memory can be used to store information about the component. In some printing systems this memory includes a portion that stores a value indicative of an amount of a consumable that has been used. Some printing systems do this by using a counter to count the amount of the consumable used and then sending a count command to the memory. The increment count command is processed to increment the value stored within the memory. Disclosed is a method and system for allowing the memory to be updated by a count command without having to increment the value stored. This method allows print cartridges to be used in printing systems that utilize counters without having to increment the counter each time an increment command is received.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for storing increment values without using an increment counter comprising:
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receiving, at one or more memory modules, a command signal transmitted from a processing device, wherein the command signal includes an increment counter command for instructing the one or more memory modules to increment a counter by a specific amount; processing the command signal at the one or more memory modules by; providing multiple storage locations; determining if each of the multiple storage locations contains a stored value; and storing in one of the multiple storage locations a value indicative of the specific amount when at least one of the multiple storage locations does not contain a stored value therein; and outputting a stored base value as an increment count value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of storing an amount of a consumable used in an imaging device comprising:
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receiving, at one or more memory modules, a command signal transmitted from a processing device, wherein the command signal includes an increment counter command for instructing the one or more memory modules to increment a counter by a specific amount; processing the command signal at the one or more memory modules by; providing multiple storage locations; determining if each of the multiple storage locations contains a stored value; and storing in one of the multiple storage locations a value indicative of the specific amount when at least one of the multiple storage locations does not contain a stored value therein; and outputting a stored base value as an increment count value. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A printing system comprising:
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at least one print cartridge having an integral memory, wherein the integral memory includes multiple storage locations; a communication path for providing command signals to the at least one print cartridge; and a counter for counting an amount of a consumable used by the at least one print cartridge, wherein a host device transmits the command signals to the at least one print cartridge, wherein the command signals include an increment counter command for instructing the integral memory to increment a counter by a specific amount, wherein the increment counter command is processed by determining if each of the multiple storage locations contains a stored value and storing in one of the multiple storage locations a value indicative of the specific amount when at least one of the multiple storage locations does not contain a stored value therein, wherein a stored base value is output as an increment count value. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for reading a stored value indicative of a total increment count value comprising:
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receiving, at one or more memory modules, a command signal transmitted from a processing device, wherein the command signal includes a read command, wherein the one or more memory modules has multiple storage areas and a base storage area; and outputting a value stored in the base storage area of the one or more memory modules as the total increment count value.
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24. A method for reading a stored value indicative of a total increment count value comprising:
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receiving, at one or more memory memory modules, a command signal transmitted from a processing device, wherein the command signal includes a read command, wherein the one or more memory modules has multiple storage areas and a base storage area; adding values stored in the multiple storage areas to a value stored in the base storage area to determine a total value; and outputting the total value. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification