Image forming device consumable monitoring methods, consumable monitoring systems and image forming devices
First Claim
1. An image forming device consumable monitoring method comprising:
- storing information regarding a plurality of consumables usable to form hard images, wherein the stored information for an individual one of the consumables includes a stored consumable identifier which identifies the respective consumable and a stored party identifier utilized to identify a proper party of the respective consumable;
receiving information regarding a consumable to be verified including a received consumable identifier which identifies the consumable to be verified and a received party identifier utilized to identify the proper party associated with the consumable to be verified;
comparing the received consumable identifier with at least one of the stored consumable identifiers;
comparing the received party identifier with at least one of the stored party identifiers;
outputting a message responsive to the comparings to indicate use of the consumable to be verified by an unauthorized party who is not authorized to use the consumable; and
wherein the comparing the received consumable identifier comprises comparing the received consumable identifier with at least one of the stored consumable identifiers, further comprising matching the received consumable identifier with one of the stored consumable identifiers, and wherein the comparing the received party identifier comprises comparing after the matching.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Image forming device consumable monitoring methods, consumable monitoring systems and image forming devices are described. According to one aspect, an image forming device consumable monitoring method includes storing information regarding a plurality of consumables usable by an image forming device to form hard images, wherein the stored information for an individual one of the consumables includes a stored consumable identifier which identifies the respective consumable and a stored party identifier utilized to identify a proper party of the respective consumable; receiving information regarding a consumable to be verified including a received consumable identifier which identifies the consumable to be verified and a received party identifier utilized to identify the proper party associated with the consumable to be verified; comparing the received consumable identifier with at least one of the stored consumable identifiers; and comparing the received party identifier with at least one of the stored party identifiers.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An image forming device consumable monitoring method comprising:
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storing information regarding a plurality of consumables usable to form hard images, wherein the stored information for an individual one of the consumables includes a stored consumable identifier which identifies the respective consumable and a stored party identifier utilized to identify a proper party of the respective consumable; receiving information regarding a consumable to be verified including a received consumable identifier which identifies the consumable to be verified and a received party identifier utilized to identify the proper party associated with the consumable to be verified; comparing the received consumable identifier with at least one of the stored consumable identifiers; comparing the received party identifier with at least one of the stored party identifiers; outputting a message responsive to the comparings to indicate use of the consumable to be verified by an unauthorized party who is not authorized to use the consumable; and wherein the comparing the received consumable identifier comprises comparing the received consumable identifier with at least one of the stored consumable identifiers, further comprising matching the received consumable identifier with one of the stored consumable identifiers, and wherein the comparing the received party identifier comprises comparing after the matching. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A consumable monitoring system comprising:
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a database configured to store information regarding a plurality of consumables usable to form hard images, wherein the stored information for an individual one of the consumables includes a stored consumable identifier which identifies the respective consumable, and a stored party identifier utilized to identify a proper party associated with the respective consumable; an interface adapted to receive information regarding a consumable to be verified including a received consumable identifier which identifies the consumable to be verified and a received party identifier utilized to identify the proper party associated with the consumable to be verified; processing circuitry configured to compare the received consumable identifier with the stored consumable identifiers and to compare the received party identifier with the stored party identifier of a respective one of the consumables corresponding to the received consumable identifier; wherein the processing circuitry is configured to control outputting of a communication responsive to the received party identifier not matching the stored party identifier of the respective consumable and wherein the communication indicates the failure of the received party identifier to match the stored party identifier of the respective consumable; and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to compare the received consumable identifier with the stored consumable identifiers before the comparison of the received party identifier with the stored party identifier. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An image forming device consumable monitoring method comprising:
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storing information regarding a plurality of consumables usable to form hard images, wherein the stored information for an individual one of the consumables includes a stored consumable identifier which identifies the respective consumable and a stored party identifier utilized to identify a proper party of the respective consumable; receiving information regarding a consumable to be verified including a received consumable identifier which identifies the consumable to be verified and a received party identifier utilized to identify the proper party associated with the consumable to be verified; comparing the received consumable identifier with at least one of the stored consumable identifiers; comparing the received party identifier with at least one of the stored party identifiers; outputting a message responsive to the comparings to indicate use of the consumable to be verified by an unauthorized party who is not authorized to use the consumable; and wherein the comparing the received consumable identifier occurs before the comparing the received party identifier and the outputting comprises outputting the message responsive to the received consumable identifier matching at least one of the stored consumable identifiers and the received party identifier failing to match a stored party identifier of the respective consumable associated with the at least one stored consumable identifier. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification