Reorder-assistance functionality levels
First Claim
1. A consumable order assistance system for computer peripheral devices, comprising:
- a personal computer having a web browser, a messaging system, and a consumable order assistance computer program;
at least one computer peripheral device having an embedded web server and a messaging system provided by the embedded web server; and
a communication link signal coupling the personal computer with a seller of a consumable for the computer peripheral device via the web browser;
wherein the consumable order assistance computer program is configured to a) receive a notification from the computer peripheral device of a need to order a consumable via the messaging system of the personal computer and the messaging system of the at least one computer peripheral device, b) alert a user of the personal computer of the notification, and c) provide an order location to the user for the consumable; and
wherein the consumable order assistance computer program is configured for multiple unique functionality levels to provide consumable order assistance when ordering the consumable, the multiple unique functionality levels being configured to be at a level that is customer defined, and wherein the embedded web server is configured to push information from the computer peripheral device to the personal computer.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
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, a communication link, and a consumable order assistance computer program. The personal computer has a web browser and 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 via the web browser. The consumable order assistance computer program is provided on the personal computer and is configured to receive a notification from the computer peripheral device via the messaging system of a need to order a consumable, alert a user of the personal computer of the notification, and provide an order location to the user for the consumable. A method is also provided.
60 Citations
24 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 web browser, a messaging system, and a consumable order assistance computer program; at least one computer peripheral device having an embedded web server and a messaging system provided by the embedded web server; and a communication link signal coupling the personal computer with a seller of a consumable for the computer peripheral device via the web browser; wherein the consumable order assistance computer program is configured to a) receive a notification from the computer peripheral device of a need to order a consumable via the messaging system of the personal computer and the messaging system of the at least one computer peripheral device, b) alert a user of the personal computer of the notification, and c) provide an order location to the user for the consumable; and wherein the consumable order assistance computer program is configured for multiple unique functionality levels to provide consumable order assistance when ordering the consumable, the multiple unique functionality levels being configured to be at a level that is customer defined, and wherein the embedded web server is configured to push information from the computer peripheral device to the personal computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer-implemented system which implements a program in which consumable components of computer peripheral devices are replenished, the system comprising:
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a notification system that alerts a user of a personal computer that the user needs to order a consumable for a computer peripheral device associated with the personal computer, the computer peripheral device having an embedded web server, and the notification system being provided in the embedded web server for notifying the user at the personal computer; a facilitation system that provides a communication link with a reseller of the consumable via the personal computer; and at least one from a list of a) a consolidation system for consolidating a plurality of orders, b) an authorization system for confirming that a user is authorized to place an order for the consumable, and c) an order assistance system that places an order for the consumable; wherein the computer-implemented system is configured to establish multiple unique functionality levels at the personal computer to provide consumable order assistance when ordering the consumable from the personal computer, the multiple unique functionality levels being configured to be at a level that is customer defined. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of providing order assistance, comprising:
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providing a computer peripheral device, a personal computer having a communication link with a reseller of a consumable, and a messaging system extending between the computer peripheral device and the personal computer; detecting a need to replenish a consumable at the computer peripheral device; notifying a user at the personal computer of the need to replenish the consumable by communicating the need from the computer peripheral device to the personal computer through an embedded web server located on the peripheral device; providing an order address location to the user at the personal computer for a reseller that sells the consumable; and placing an order for the consumable with the reseller using the personal computer to communicate with the reseller; configuring a computer program operable on the computer peripheral device and the personal computer to operate in at least one of multiple unique functionality levels to provide consumable order assistance when ordering the consumable, the multiple unique functionality levels being configured to be at a level that is customer defined. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A consumable order assistance system for computer peripheral devices, comprising:
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a personal computer having a web browser and a messaging system; at least one computer peripheral device having an embedded web server and a messaging system each configured to communicate on a one-to-one relation bi-directionally with the personal computer; a bi-directional communication link signal coupling the personal computer with a seller of a consumable for the computer peripheral device via the web browser, the bi-directional communication link configured to enable a user to interact with the computer peripheral device to obtain information on a consumable for one computer peripheral device including at least one of a) consumable levels, b) media levels and types, c) warnings, d) notifications, e) job assurance, and f) printer capabilities; a consumable order assistance computer program executable on the personal computer and configured to a) receive a notification from the computer peripheral device via the messaging system of a need to order a consumable, b) alert a user of the personal computer of the notification, and c) provide an order location to the user for the consumable; and a server communicating with one of the personal computer and the at least one computer peripheral device and including a centralized management database having information pulled from the Internet and comprising at least one of consumable part numbers, alternative consumable part numbers, and information for selecting a reseller; wherein the consumable order assistance computer program system is configured for multiple unique functionality levels to provide consumable order assistance when ordering the consumable, the multiple unique functionality levels being configured to be at a level that is customer defined, and wherein the embedded web server is configured to push information from the computer peripheral device to the personal computer. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification