Printer consumable ordering direct from printer

• US 7,660,539 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2007
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Chai, Song Poh, Tye, Bee June
• Primary Examiner(s): Brase, Sandra L
• Application Number:
  US11/775,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20090016743A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 399/8, 399/9, 399/24, 399/25, 399/27, 399/81
• US Class Current: 399/24
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5079 for maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/55 Self-diagnostics; Malfunction or lifetime display
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/553 Monitoring or warning means for exhaustion or lifetime end of consumables, e.g. indication of insufficient copy sheet quantity for a job
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00109 Remote control of apparatus, e.g. by a host

Abstract

A system for enabling ordering of printer supplies directly via a printer. The system provides an option for a user to request value bundled information before placing a printer supply order. By providing the option of requesting value bundled information, a customer can obtain information about printer supply promotions directly via the printer without the need for an information handling system to be coupled to the printer. Additionally, the system provides an encouragement to a customer to purchase a plurality of printer suppliers by providing the customer with incentives for the purchase.

Claims

1. A method for ordering printer consumables directly from a printer, the printer comprising a display and a control system, the method comprising:

determining when a printer consumable is close to depletion;

informing a user that the printer consumable is close to depletion via the display based upon the determining; and

,

ordering a replacement to the printer consumable from a printer consumables supplier directly from the printer via the control system; and

wherein

the ordering comprises automatically providing the printer consumables supplier with a unique identifier of the printer; and

,

the replacement to the printer consumable is based upon the unique identifier of the printer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the ordering comprises determining whether the printer is coupled to a network connection capable of communicating via the Internet.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

when a network connection is present, communicating with the printer consumables supplier directly via the printer.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein:

when a network connection is present, automatically communicating with the printer consumables supplier to determine whether any consumables promotions are available for the printer.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the unique identifier comprises a printer service tag.

6. An apparatus for ordering printer consumables directly from a printer, the printer comprising a display and a control system, the method comprising:

means for determining when a printer consumable is close to depletion;

means for informing a user that the printer consumable is close to depletion via the display based upon the determining; and

,

means for ordering a replacement to the printer consumable from a printer consumables supplier directly from the printer via the control system; and

wherein

the ordering comprises automatically providing the printer consumables supplier with a unique identifier of the printer; and

,

the replacement to the printer consumable is based upon the unique identifier of the printer.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein:

the ordering comprises determining whether the printer is coupled to a network connection capable of communicating via the Internet.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein:

when a network connection is present, communicating with the printer consumables supplier directly via the printer.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein:

the unique identifier comprises a printer service tag.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein:

when a network connection is present, automatically communicating with the printer consumables supplier to determine whether any consumables promotions are available for the printer.

11. A printer comprising:

a control system;

a display coupled to the control system;

a system for ordering printer consumables directly from the printer, the system comprising instructions executable by the control system for;

determining when a printer consumable is close to depletion;

informing a user that the printer consumable is close to depletion via the display based upon the determining; and

,

ordering a replacement to the printer consumable from the printer consumables supplier directly from the printer via the control system; and

wherein

the ordering comprises automatically providing the printer consumables supplier with a unique identifier of the printer; and

,

the replacement to the printer consumable is based upon the unique identifier of the printer.

12. The printer of claim 11 wherein the system for ordering printer consumables directly from the printer further comprises the instructions executable by the control system for:

determining whether the printer is coupled to a network connection capable of communicating via the Internet.

13. The printer of claim 12 wherein the system for ordering printer consumables directly from the printer further comprises the instructions executable by the control system for:

communicating with the printer consumables supplier directly via the printer when a network connection is present.

14. The printer of claim 12 wherein the system for ordering printer consumables directly from the printer further comprises the instructions executable by the control system for:

automatically communicating with the printer consumables supplier to determine whether any consumables promotions are available for the printer when a network connection is present.

15. The printer of claim 11 wherein:

the unique identifier comprises a printer service tag.