Systems and methods for intelligent communicating storage of condition monitorable replaceable components

• US 7,653,570 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2005
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: May, Jerome E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gart; Matthew S
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADE, OGER GARCIA
• Application Number:
  US11/091,377
• Publication Number:
  US 20060224472A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,764 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 399/111
• US Class Current: 399/107
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

An intelligent communicating supply storage unit is provided, tailored to storing one or more replaceable components for one or more supply-consuming devices. The storage unit may provide capabilities: (a) to sense a presence or absence of replaceable components for associated devices, which may include determining that the correct components are available, and to monitor a status of an internal characteristic of a stored replaceable component by accessing information stored on an externally readable component monitoring module attached to the stored replaceable component; (b) to maintain an updated inventory of the status of supplies on hand to include introduction of supplies into the storage unit for storage, and removal of supplies from the storage unit for use of disposal; and/or (c) to communicate storage unit supply status or inventory from the storage unit to an external source such as, for example, a supply providing organization.

Claims

1. A storage system, comprising:

a storage unit that stores a replaceable component associated with a device, the storage unit being functionally separated from the device, wherein the stored replaceable component has an associated externally-readable monitoring module, the monitoring module monitoring at least a dynamic characteristic of the stored replaceable component and reporting the status of that characteristic;

a data exchange interface for reading data from the externally-readable monitoring module while the stored replaceable component is stored in the storage unit, the data including information regarding the dynamic characteristic; and

an external communications interface for interfacing with a communication path in order that information regarding the stored replaceable component, including the data read by the data exchange interface from the externally-readable monitoring module associated with the stored replaceable component, is transmitted to a receiving node that is external to the storage system, wherein

the dynamic characteristic of the stored replaceable component is automatically updated to the receiving node.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the storage unit comprises at least one of a cabinet, a room within a facility, a garage, a warehouse, a floor within a garage or a warehouse, or shelves.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the dynamic characteristic is at least one of use information and remaining service life information.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring module comprises a power device to provide power to the monitoring module.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a power interface, located external to the stored replaceable component, usable to transfer power from the system to the power device of the monitoring module.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the power interface and the power device comprise complementary parts of at least one of an air core transformer or a photoelectric circuit.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the data exchange interface comprises at least one of a wired, wireless or optical connection.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the data exchange interface is usable to write information from the system to the monitoring module.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication path comprises at least one of a telephone line, a network interface, or an Internet communication interface.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface usable to allow a user in proximity to the system to at least one of monitor status of the system, modify control of the system or review data available in the system.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one data storage device that stores at least one of status information or control information for the system, replaceable component inventory data, or external communications and control information associated with the external communications interface.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller usable to cause the system to at least one of update or transmit stored replaceable component inventory information, based on at least one of (a) a time or date schedule, (b) an indication of change in inventory status, (c) a local user initiated system request, or (d) a request initiated by at least one receiving node.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one receiving node comprises a replaceable component supply facility.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the stored replaceable component is associated with an image forming device.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the stored replaceable component is a customer replaceable unit associated with a xerographic image forming device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the monitoring module is a customer replaceable unit monitor associated with a customer replaceable unit for a xerographic image forming device.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the customer replaceable unit is an image producing medium holding component.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the image producing medium holding component holds at least one of ink or toner.

19. A method for monitoring a replaceable component inventory associated with a device, comprising:

storing, within a storage unit, a replaceable component, the replaceable component having an associated monitoring module for monitoring at least a dynamic characteristic of the replaceable component, the monitoring module being externally readable by a data exchange interface that is separate from the replaceable component, and that is associated with the storage unit;

collecting data from the component monitoring module regarding the dynamic characteristic of the stored replaceable component while the stored replaceable component is stored in the storage unit;

compiling information regarding the stored replaceable component including the collected data regarding the dynamic characteristic of the replaceable component; and

transmitting the compiled information to at least one receiving node, that is external to the storage unit, via an external communications interface, wherein

the dynamic characteristic of the stored replaceable component is automatically updated to the receiving node.

20. A computer-readable digital data storage medium on which is stored a program for causing a computer to implement the method of claim 19.