Image forming device, an image forming system, and a method of facilitating ordering of an imaging consumable
First Claim
1. An image forming device comprising:
- storage circuitry configured to store an initial variable configured to control the formulation of an initial one of a plurality of consumable order assist functions configured to assist replenishment of an imaging consumable;
imaging circuitry configured to consume the imaging consumable to form hard images;
a sensor configured to monitor a status of the imaging consumable and to output a signal indicative of the status;
processing circuitry configured to replace the initial variable with another variable configured to control the formulation of another of the consumable order assist functions, to receive the signal from the sensor, and to formulate the another consumable order assist function responsive to reception of the signal and the another variable; and
an interface configured to communicate the another consumable order assist function externally of the image forming device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An image forming device, an image forming system, and a method of facilitating ordering of an imaging consumable are provided. In one aspect, an image forming device includes storage circuitry configured to store an initial variable configured to control the formulation of an initial one of a plurality of consumable order assist functions configured to assist replenishment of an imaging consumable; imaging circuitry configured to consume the imaging consumable to form hard images; a sensor configured to monitor a status of the imaging consumable and to output a signal indicative of the status; processing circuitry configured to replace the initial variable with another variable configured to control the formulation of another of the consumable order assist functions, to receive the signal from the sensor, and to formulate the another consumable order assist function responsive to reception of the signal and the another variable; and an interface configured to communicate the another consumable order assist function externally of the image forming device.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An image forming device comprising:
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storage circuitry configured to store an initial variable configured to control the formulation of an initial one of a plurality of consumable order assist functions configured to assist replenishment of an imaging consumable; imaging circuitry configured to consume the imaging consumable to form hard images; a sensor configured to monitor a status of the imaging consumable and to output a signal indicative of the status; processing circuitry configured to replace the initial variable with another variable configured to control the formulation of another of the consumable order assist functions, to receive the signal from the sensor, and to formulate the another consumable order assist function responsive to reception of the signal and the another variable; and an interface configured to communicate the another consumable order assist function externally of the image forming device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An image forming system comprising:
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an image forming device configured to consume an imaging consumable to form hard images, to monitor a status of the imaging consumable, and to store an initial variable configured to control the formulation of an initial one of a plurality of consumable order assist functions configured to assist replenishment of the imaging consumable; a host device coupled with the image forming device and configured to provide another variable to the image forming device to control the formulation of another one of the consumable order assist functions, wherein the image forming device is configured to replace the initial variable with the another variable to control the formulation of the another consumable order assist function responsive to the detection of a predetermined status of the imaging consumable; and wherein the initial consumable order assist function comprises only one of an identifier of a supplier of the imaging consumable and an identifier of a purchaser of the imaging consumable and the another consumable order assist function comprises only an other of the identifier of the supplier of the imaging consumable and the identifier of the purchaser of the imaging consumable. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of facilitating ordering of an imaging consumable useable within an image forming device comprising:
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providing an image forming device configured to use an imaging consumable to form hard images; providing an initial variable within the image forming device to control the formulation of an initial one of a plurality of consumable order assist functions configured to assist replenishment of the imaging consumable; replacing the initial variable with another variable within the image forming device to control the formulation of another of the consumable order assist functions; detecting an amount of the imaging consumable being at a predetermined status; generating the another one of the consumable order assist functions responsive to the detecting and the replacing; and wherein the generating comprises generating the another consumable order assist function using the image forming device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of facilitating ordering of an imaging consumable useable within an image forming device comprising:
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providing an image forming device configured to use an imaging consumable to form hard images; providing an initial variable within the image forming device to control the formulation of an initial one of a plurality of consumable order assist functions configured to assist replenishment of the imaging consumable; replacing the initial variable with another variable within the image forming device to control the formulation of another of the consumable order assist functions; detecting an amount of the imaging consumable being at a predetermined status; generating the another one of the consumable order assist functions responsive to the detecting and the replacing; and wherein the initial consumable order assist function comprises one of an identifier of a supplier of the imaging consumable and an identifier of a purchaser of the imaging consumable and the another consumable order assist function comprises an other of the identifier of the supplier of the imaging consumable and the identifier of the purchaser of the imaging consumable, and wherein the initial and the another consumable order assist functions are different.
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Specification