Image forming devices and consumable marketing methods

• US 7,031,013 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2001
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Sesek, Robert, Parry, Travis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Poon, King Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Divine, Lucas
• Application Number:
  US09/861,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20020171866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,796 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/1.16, 399/9, 399/12, 399/25, 399/26, 399/27, 399/28, 399/29, 399/30, 399/35, 399/61, 399/110, 399/111, 399/119, 399/120, 399/258, 399/262, 399/24, 347/19, 347/7
• US Class Current: 358/1.16
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/002 Interacting with the operator

Abstract

Image forming devices and consumable marketing methods are provided. An image forming device according to one aspect includes: an image engine configured to use a consumable to form a plurality of hard images; and processing circuitry coupled with the image engine and configured to control the formation of the hard images, the processing circuitry being further configured to monitor a state of the consumable of the image forming device, to access price information regarding the consumable of the image forming device, and to communicate a message including the price information responsive to the monitoring.

Claims

1. An image forming device comprising:

an image engine configured to use a consumable to form a plurality of hard images;

processing circuitry coupled with the image engine and configured to control the formation of the hard images, the processing circuitry being further configured to monitor a state of the consumable of the image forming device, to access price information regarding the consumable of the image forming device, and to communicate a message including the price information responsive to the monitoring;

wherein the processing circuitry is configured to forward the message to the image engine to communicate the message, and wherein the image engine is configured to form at least one of the hard images comprising the message in a form of a coupon including the price information; and

wherein the consumable includes the price information, and further comprising an interface configured to receive the price information from the consumable.

2. The device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an interface adapted to couple with a host device external of the image forming device and to receive the price information from the host device.

3. The device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an interface adapted to couple with a host device external of the image forming device, and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to communicate the message to the host device using the interface.

4. The device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry is configured to monitor usage of the consumable to monitor the state of the consumable.

5. The device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry is configured to monitor frequency of usage of the consumable to monitor the state of the consumable.

6. The device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry is configured to monitor insertion of the consumable into the image forming device to monitor the state of the consumable.

7. The device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry is configured to receive information regarding the state of the consumable to monitor the state of the consumable.

8. The device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an interface adapted to couple with a host device external of the image forming device, and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to generate a consumable information request to access the price information, and wherein the interface is configured to Communicate the request to the host device and to receive the price information after the communication of the request.

9. The device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising memory configured to store the price information, and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to retrieve the price information from the memory to access the price information.

10. The device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry is configured to access the message to access the price information.

11. The device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the image engine comprises a print engine configured to use the consumable to print the hard images.

12. A consumable marketing method comprising:

providing an image forming device configured to use a consumable to form a plurality of hard images;

monitoring a state of the consumable of the image forming device;

accessing price information regarding the consumable of the image forming device;

communicating a message including the price information of the consumable responsive to the monitoring including communicating the message to an external host device; and

wherein the accessing comprises receiving the price information from the consumable.

13. The method in accordance with claim 12 further comprising receiving the price information from an external host device coupled with the image forming device.

14. The method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the communicating further comprises forming a hard image comprising the message in a form of a coupon including the price information.

15. The method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the monitoring comprises monitoring usage of the consumable.

16. The method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the monitoring comprises monitoring frequency of usage of the consumable.

17. The method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the monitoring comprises monitoring insertion of the consumable into the image forming device.

18. The method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the monitoring comprises receiving the state of the consumable.

19. The method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the accessing comprises communicating a consumable information request to a host device and receiving the price information after the communicating.

20. The method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the providing comprises providing a printer.

21. The method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the accessing comprises accessing the message.

22. A consumable marketing method comprising:

providing a printer configured to use a consumable to print a plurality of hard images;

providing a host device configured to communicate with the printer;

accessing price information regarding the consumable from the consumable;

monitoring a state of the consumable;

formulating a message regarding the consumable comprising a coupon including the price information; and

communicating the message responsive to the monitoring, the communicating comprising at least one of printing the message and outputting the message to the host device.