Self-adjusting consumable order-assistance system and method
First Claim
1. A consumable order-assistance system for computer peripheral devices, comprising:
- a personal computer having a messaging system;
at least one computer peripheral device having a messaging system communicating with the messaging system of the personal computer;
a communication link, signal coupling the personal computer with a seller of a consumable for the computer peripheral device;
a server having a centralized management database including part numbers for consumables for the at least one computer peripheral device and alternative part numbers for alternative consumables for the at least on computer peripheral device; and
a user interaction site configured to receive a notification from the computer peripheral device via the messaging system of the personal computer of a need to order a consumable and further configured to enable a user to retrieve an alternative part number for an alternative consumable for one of the at least one peripheral device;
wherein the user interaction site is provided within one of;
a single-connection environment as an end user interface;
an unmanaged network environment as a workgroup administrator interface; and
a server-based centralized network environment as a centralized system administrator interface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A consumable order-assistance system is provided for computer peripheral devices. The system includes a personal computer, at least one computer peripheral device, and a user interaction site. The personal computer has a messaging system. The at least one computer peripheral device has a messaging system. The communication link signal couples the personal computer with a provider of a consumable for the computer peripheral device. The user interaction site is configured to receive a notification from the computer peripheral device via the messaging system of a need to order a consumable. The user interaction site is provided within one of: a single-connection environment as an end user interface; an unmanaged network environment as a workgroup administrator interface; and a server-based centralized network environment as a centralized system administrator interface. A method is also provided.
40 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A consumable order-assistance system for computer peripheral devices, comprising:
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a personal computer having a messaging system; at least one computer peripheral device having a messaging system communicating with the messaging system of the personal computer; a communication link, signal coupling the personal computer with a seller of a consumable for the computer peripheral device; a server having a centralized management database including part numbers for consumables for the at least one computer peripheral device and alternative part numbers for alternative consumables for the at least on computer peripheral device; and a user interaction site configured to receive a notification from the computer peripheral device via the messaging system of the personal computer of a need to order a consumable and further configured to enable a user to retrieve an alternative part number for an alternative consumable for one of the at least one peripheral device; wherein the user interaction site is provided within one of;
a single-connection environment as an end user interface;
an unmanaged network environment as a workgroup administrator interface; and
a server-based centralized network environment as a centralized system administrator interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer-implemented self-adjusting consumable order-assistance system which implements a program in which consumable components of computer peripheral devices are replenished, the system comprising:
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a personal computer having a messaging system; at least one computer peripheral device having a messaging system communicating with the messaging system of the personal computer; a communication link, signal coupling the personal computer with a reseller of a consumable; a server having a centralized management database including part numbers for consumables for the at least one computer peripheral device and alternative part numbers for alternative consumables for the at least on computer peripheral device; and a user interface comprising an end user interaction interface, a workgroup administrator interface, or a centralized system administrator interface, the end user interaction interface including the personal computer configurable for interaction by a user that is exchanging information with a computer peripheral device associated with the personal computer, the workgroup administrator interface operative to manage one computer peripheral device at a time, the centralized system administrator interface communicating with a server of a centralized network environment and further configured to enable a user to retrieve an alternative part number from the database for an alternative consumable for one of the at least one peripheral device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification