Image forming device, an image forming system, and a method of facilitating ordering of an imaging consumable
US6985241B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 10, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jan 10, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 11, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N2201/0082
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An image forming device, an image forming system, and a method of facilitating ordering of an imaging consumable are provided. In one aspect, an image forming device includes storage circuitry configured to store an initial variable configured to control the formulation of an initial one of a plurality of consumable order assist functions configured to assist replenishment of an imaging consumable; imaging circuitry configured to consume the imaging consumable to form hard images; a sensor configured to monitor a status of the imaging consumable and to output a signal indicative of the status; processing circuitry configured to replace the initial variable with another variable configured to control the formulation of another of the consumable order assist functions, to receive the signal from the sensor, and to formulate the another consumable order assist function responsive to reception of the signal and the another variable; and an interface configured to communicate the another consumable order assist function externally of the image forming device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.