Patent ID: 7043523
Filing Date: 2006-05-09
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A consumable order-assistance system for computer peripheral devices, comprising: a personal computer having a messaging system; at least one computer peripheral device having a messaging system communicating with the messaging system of the personal computer; a communication link, signal coupling the personal computer with a seller of a consumable for the computer peripheral device; a server having a centralized management database including part numbers for consumables for the at least one computer peripheral device and alternative part numbers for alternative consumables for the at least on computer peripheral device; and a user interaction site configured to receive a notification from the computer peripheral device via the messaging system of the personal computer of a need to order a consumable and further configured to enable a user to retrieve an alternative part number for an alternative consumable for one of the at least one peripheral device; wherein the user interaction site is provided within one of: a single-connection environment as an end user interface; an unmanaged network environment as a workgroup administrator interface; and a server-based centralized network environment as a centralized system administrator interface.