Managed print service automated and integrated system

US9573807B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Distribution Management, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Michelle Therese Weaver Kaufman · Chesterfield, US
• Joachim Landes · Newberg, US
• Mark Montgomery · Wolcott, US
• Travis Cottrell · Derby, US
• Bernard Raphael Kister · Chesterfield, US
• Ronald Harold Alphin · Imperial, US
• Douglas L. Johnson · Lebanon, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 12, 2011
• Grant date: Feb 21, 2017
• Expiry date: Sep 23, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/1143
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A managed print service (MPS) system is used to analyze the costs associated with creating hardcopies on document output devices in end user customer environments, develop proposals to optimize the placement and use of document output devices based on the end user customer's desired workflow, and manage the resulting optimized document output device fleet in the replenishment of supplies. MPS providers can also use the system to manage break/fix services to maintain the uptime, or availability, of the fleet of document output devices. The system provides a predictive supplies replenishment module that accounts for variations in user behaviors when determining whether a replacement supply is needed and identifies replacement supplies according to multiple trigger thresholds that are based on calculations of the remaining days of the supplies in the devices. The system also provides device-specific routing labels for different supply parts that are sent to the same shipping address.