Supply ordering apparatus

• US 6,798,997 B1
• Filed: 09/14/2000
• Issued: 09/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Hayward, Ken, Krolczyk, Marc J., Marchlonda, Dawn M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FADOK, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US09/662,198
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 399/24, 399/12
• US Class Current: 399/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0605 Supply or demand aggregation

Abstract

An automatic supply ordering system for electronically ordering a consumable component or replaceable part in a marking machine. The system provides electronic identification of a condition of a replaceable component and automatically electronically sends an offer to purchase a replacement part upon identification of a threshold condition.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one consumable component adapted to be replaceable in the apparatus;

at least one sensor in communication with the consumable component;

at least one processor and software logic system for identifying a condition in the at least one consumable component; and

at least one wireless communications link associated with the at least one sensor and at least one processor and software logic system;

wherein at least one of the at least one sensor and the at least one processor and software logic system are adapted to wirelessly communicate with the at least one consumable component and automatically wirelessly electronically communicate an authorization code for authentication and an electronic offer to purchase to a third party for a replacement of the at least one consumable component to at least one of an electronic address and a URL address defined by a condition of the at least one consumable component for a replacement of the at least one consumable component.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one processor and software logic system includes instructions for occurrence of threshold conditions relating to the consumable component, the threshold conditions including at least one of:

(1) supply;

(2) wear;

(3) usage;

(4) rate of depletion;

(5) rate of wear;

(5) predicted date of depletion of supply;

(5) predicted date of need of consumable component;

(6) delivery schedule of consumable component; and

(7) statistical data for consumable component.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an output device adapted to communicate with the at least one communication link and receive a communication relating to at least one of a present condition and a prediction of a future condition of the at least one consumable component for use by at least one of a user, supplier, manufacturer, and third party.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the apparatus and electronic order system is adapted to electronically initiate and form a contract with a supplier for purchase of a consumable component using an electronic signature.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the apparatus is at least one of a copy device, printing device, xerographic device, and marking device.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the electronic offer to purchase is in at least one of a human readable and computer readable format.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the at least one consumable component is at least one of an ink cartridge, toner cartridge, photoreceptor cartridge, paper, and printhead.

8. An imaging apparatus comprising:

at least one consumable part, the at least one consumable part having a first condition upon installation, at least one intermediate condition after use, and a third condition when a replacement of the at least one consumable part is substantially necessary; and

a software and sensor system wirelessly associated with the at least one consumable part for;

(a) electronic monitoring of the condition of the at least one consumable part; and

(b) sending a signal relating to the condition of the at least one consumable part to a device;

wherein the software and sensor system is adapted to wirelessly electronically communicating an electronic signature and an offer to purchase a replacement of the at least one consumable part at an occurrence of at least one of the first condition, intermediate condition, and third condition to at least one of an electronic address and a URL address defined by a condition of the at least one consumable part for a replacement of the at least one consumable part.

9. The imaging apparatus of claim 8 wherein the software and sensor system is adapted to predict a future condition of the at least one consumable part prior to electronically conveying the offer to purchase.

10. The imaging apparatus of claim 8 wherein the device is adapted to communicate an offer to purchase at least one consumable part prior to an occurrence of the third condition.

11. The imaging apparatus of claim 8 wherein the imaging apparatus is adapted to request delivery of the at least one consumable part to a specified location.

12. The imaging apparatus of claim 10 wherein an acceptance of the offer to purchase the at least one consumable part occurs prior to the third condition.

13. The imaging apparatus of claim 8 wherein the at least one consumable part is delivered to the user between the first condition and the third condition.

14. The imaging apparatus of claim 8 wherein the electronic communication includes at least one of:

(1) a present condition of the at least one consumable part;

(2) a prediction of a future condition of the at least one consumable part;

(3) an inquiry relating to the at least one consumable part; and

(4) an offer to purchase the at least one consumable part.

15. A xerographic imaging system comprising:

a xerographic apparatus including a development station and at least one replaceable part; and

a processor and wireless communications link associated with the xerographic apparatus;

wherein the processor includes logic and is adapted to;

(a) monitor a condition of the replaceable part associated with the xerographic apparatus; and

(b) automatically wirelessly initiate an authorization code for authentication and an electronic offer to purchase a replacement part for the replaceable part upon identification of a threshold condition in the replaceable part to at least one of an electronic address and a URL address defined by a condition of the at least one replaceable part for a replacement of the at least one replaceable part.

16. The imaging system of claim 15 wherein the communication of the offer is made through at least one of a modem, Internet, and a processor.

17. A peripheral apparatus comprising:

a marking apparatus including a sensor and software system to electronically sense a condition in the peripheral apparatus and to electronically communicate information relating to the sensed condition to an address defined by the condition, the sensor and software system including logic adapted to initiate a purchase offer defined by the condition and provide an electronic signature to authenticate the purchase offer to at least one of an electronic address and a URL address defined by a condition of at least one consumable component for a replacement of the at least one consumable component.

18. An imaging apparatus comprising:

development station;

at least one replaceable part in the imaging apparatus; and

a sensor and software system adapted to electronically sense a condition in the at least one replaceable part and to electronically communicate information relating to the condition to an address defined by the condition, the sensor and software system including;

(a) indicia relating to at least one of;

(1) method of shipment, (2) shipping address, (3) phone number;

(4) address, (5) method of payment;

(6) authorization code;

(7) credit card account number; and

(8) return electronic address for the at least one replaceable part; and

(b) logic to automatically initiate an offer to purchase;

wherein the imaging apparatus is adapted to automatically electronically communicate to a third party an offer to purchase and an electronic signature to at least one of an electronic address and URL address defined by the condition for a replacement part for the at least one replaceable part upon occurrence of the defined condition.

19. The imaging apparatus of claim 18 wherein the at least one replaceable part is at least one of ink, ink cartridge, toner, toner cartridge, photoreceptor cartridge, and printhead.

20. A cartridge for use in an electrostatographic apparatus, the cartridge comprising:

a housing; and

a sensor and software system associated with the housing, the sensor and software system adapted to electronically identify a present condition and a predicted future condition in the cartridge and to electronically communicate information relating to an identified condition to an address defined by the identified condition, the sensor and software system adapted to automatically electronically offer to purchase a replacement for the cartridge including an electronic signature to authenticate the offer upon identification of a threshold identified condition in the cartridge to at least one of an electronic address and a URL address defined by a condition of the cartridge for a replacement of the cartridge.

21. An electrostatographic apparatus comprising:

a photoreceptor adapted to be replaceable in an electrostatographic apparatus;

at least one sensor in communication with the photoreceptor;

at least one processor and software logic system for identifying a condition in the photoreceptor; and

at least one communications link associated with the at least one sensor and at least one processor and software logic system;

wherein at least one of the at least one sensor and the at least one processor and software logic system are adapted to communicate with the photoreceptor and automatically electronically communicate an electronic offer to purchase to a URL address defined by an occurrence of a threshold condition of wear in the photoreceptor for replacement of the photoreceptor.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the at least one communications link is wireless.

23. An apparatus comprising

at least one consumable component adapted to be replaceable in the apparatus;

at least one sensor in communication with the consumable component;

at least one processor and software logic system for identifying a condition in the at least one consumable component; and

at least one wireless communications link associated with the at least one sensor and at least one processor and software logic system;

wherein at least one of the at least one sensor and the at least one processor and software logic system are adapted to wirelessly communicate with the at least one consumable component and automatically electronically communicate an electronic offer and an electronic signature to at least one of an electronic address and a URL address defined by a condition of the at least one consumable component for a replacement of the at least one consumable component.