Patent ID: 6052547
Filing Date: 2000-04-18
Classification: G03G,G07F

Abstract:
A method for accurately metering usage of an electrophotographic printer/copier (EPC), comprising the steps of:a) determining a toner parameter value related to an amount of toner used on each page imaged in said EPC, wherein said toner parameter value is based, at least in part, on a count of a total number of pixels that are imaged on a page;b) counting a number of pages ejected to an output bin of said EPC;c) incrementing a user charge value for a page only if said page is ejected to said output bin in step b;d) accumulating a total user charge value based on a determined result from step c;e) writing said total user charge value to a first nonvolatile memory;f) writing said total user charge value to second nonvolatile memory in said EPC; andg) upon power-up of said EPC, comparing a total user charge value in said second nonvolatile memory and a total user charge value from said first nonvolatile memory and if there is a difference in values therebetween, commencing a remedial action.