Localizing client purchasing of consumables for hardcody output engine and method

• US 7,526,438 B1
• Filed: 09/18/2000
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Haines, Robert E., Harper, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender; F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): THEIN, MARIA TERESA T
• Application Number:
  US09/665,349
• Time in Patent Office: 3,144 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 399/11, 399/21, 399/23, 399/18, 358/1.15
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A method of programming a memory unit in a hard copy output engine includes determining a geographical area or economic region within which the hard copy output engine is to be deployed, determining an electronic address for a consumables supplier appropriate to the geographical area and programming the electronic address into the memory.

Claims

1. A method of programming a non-volatile memory unit in a hard copy output engine comprising:

determining a geographical area within which the hard copy output engine is to be deployed;

determining an electronic address for a consumables supplier appropriate to the geographical area; and

programming the electronic address into the non-volatile memory.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the electronic address comprises determining a universal resource locator for an original equipment manufacturer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the electronic address comprises determining a universal resource locator for a reseller of consumable supplies associated with the hard copy output engine.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising programming the non-volatile memory with product descriptors for consumable supplies associated with the hard copy output engine.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the electronic address for the consumables supplier is obsolete;

determining a revised electronic address for the consumables supplier appropriate to the geographical area; and

re-programming the non-volatile memory with the revised electronic address to replace the obsolete electronic address.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the hard copy output engine is chosen from a group consisting of:

facsimile machines, photocopiers and printers.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the electronic address comprises determining a universal resource locator for the consumables supplier chosen from a group consisting of:

an original equipment manufacturer, a reseller or a supplier of office supplies including hard copy output engine consumables.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determinings and the programming are performed prior to deployment of the hard copy output engine in an end user environment.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the programming comprises programming into the non-volatile memory resident within the hard copy output engine.

10. A method of obtaining consumable supplies for a hard copy output engine comprising:

determining that an amount of consumable for the hard copy output engine is less than a threshold amount;

extracting an electronic address for a vendor of the consumable from a non-volatile memory included in the hard copy output engine;

initiating communication with the vendor using the electronic address; and

directly communicating with the vendor from the hard copy output engine;

wherein extracting the electronic address comprises extracting a universal resource locator for the vendor of consumables appropriate to a geographical area within which the hard copy output engine is deployed.

11. A computer implemented control system for a hard copy output engine, the system comprising:

non-volatile memory included in the hard copy output engine and configured to store data representing an electronic address for a supplier of consumables for the hard copy output engine; and

processing circuitry configured to;

determine that an amount of a consumable for the hard copy output engine is less than a threshold amount;

extract the electronic address from the non-volatile memory; and

communicate with the supplier using the electronic address;

wherein the processor configured to extract the electronic address comprises a processor configured to extract a universal resource locator for the supplier of consumables appropriate to a geographic area within which the hard copy output engine is deployed.

12. A method of obtaining consumable supplies for a hard copy output engine, comprising:

determining a geographical area within which the hard copy output engine is to be deployed;

determining an electronic address for a consumables supplier appropriate to the geographical area;

storing the electronic address in a non-volatile memory of the hard copy output engine; and

proactively initiating communication with the consumables supplier from the hard copy output engine using the stored electronic address responsive to an amount of a consumable for the hard copy output engine being less than a predetermined threshold.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the determinings and the storing are performed prior to deployment of the hard copy output engine in an end user environment.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the proactively initiating communication comprises sending an electronic message from the hard copy output engine to the supplier without user intervention.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the proactively initiating communication comprises directly communicating with the supplier using the hard copy output engine.