Abstract:
A method and an electronic image forming device having at least one replaceable consumable. At least means is provided for automatically sensing when the replaceable consumable in the mage forming device reaches a predetermined condition. A software program automatically initiates an offer to the user of the electronic image forming device when the predetermined condition is reached. The offer may include a discount for the purchase of a new consumable or related item. The software program may also initiate communication with a remote site for ordering of a replaceable consumable.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to image forming electronic devices and more particularly to an apparatus and method for informing the operator that an image forming device that one or more consumables components of the apparatus is approaching the end of its life, and providing the user with the proper information and also an incentive to replace said consumables with the recommended original equipment manufacture (OEM) replacement parts. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Most image forming electronic devices, such as facsimile machines, printers, copiers, and most recently home photo printers, utilize any number of consumables, e.g. toner, ink, ribbon, receiver media, etc. which need to be replaced at the end of their lives. Today, more and more of these electronic devices are designed to be portable requiring a DC power supply. In this situation, the power supply is also a consumable, and needs to be replaced at the end of its service life. 
     The service life for a consumable is generally designed by the manufacturer and is monitored by the print device in which it operates. Optimally, near the end of the consumable&#39;s life, the print device displays a message to the user on a display of the device or on a host device, such as a personal computer, concerning the status of the consumable. The message is generally limited to nothing more than a “toner low” or “paper out” indication. 
     Typically, image forming electronic devices are packaged for sale so that all the components required to form an image are included in the package. And because equipment manufacturers design equipment for optimal performance using particular consumables having specific designated requirements, these particular consumables are also included in the packaging. 
     Also included in the package of the image forming electronic device is a User&#39;s Manual which instructs the user how to assemble the components of the device, and how to successfully form images using the device. Usually included at the end of the User&#39;s Manual, or as a separate document, is a “Statement of Limited Warranty”. This statement includes, but is not limited to, information regarding covered repair services on the device if the device fails to operate within a certain period of time from date of purchase. The warranty may not include services for failure caused by use of other than the properly designed consumables in the device. 
     Replacement OEM consumables for image forming electronic devices are available for purchase from a wide selection of retail centers, as well as mail order from the Internet. In addition, there may be a family of similar devices each having the same or different requirements. Also available for purchase are numerous non-OEM replacement consumables, which are typically available to the consumer at a lower cost. 
     This invention provides a method and apparatus for communicating with the user of an image forming electronic device, and providing the user with an incentive to purchase and replace exhausted consumable with OEM parts or authorized parts. The invention advantageously utilizes sensors currently present in the image forming electronic device, which are typically built into the printing device. When the status indicator senses that a particular consumable is exhausted or nearing exhaustion, the device automatically prints a hard copy of a token which is redeemable on the purchase of that particular OEM consumable. The token will give the user an incentive to purchase an OEM product in the form of cash savings vs. an after market product. 
     In one embodiment, this is accomplished using a software program implementation within the image forming electronic device. In addition to, or in lieu of, a traditional low-level status light indicator, the low-level sensor sets a flag within the software program of the device, which prompts the user to make a decision about printing a token. The prompt can be in the form of a dialog box that is displayed on a screen of a computer that is connected to the electronic printing device. A “yes” response causes one or more pages to be printed by the device, a “no” response calls for no action. If the user selects the “yes” option, token information is printed on these pages. Alternately, the token can be printed automatically without requiring any action from the user. The token information contained in these pages can be completely pre-stored within a memory device such as a ROM (read only memory) or NVRAM (non-volatile random access memory). The pages can be hand carried by the user and redeemed at a place of purchase for the consumables. 
     The present invention provides a printing apparatus which senses the level of its consumables, indicates when the level is low, and offers the user an opportunity to purchase OEM replacement consumables at a reduced cost. 
     The present invention also provides an incentive for the user to purchase OEM replacement consumables. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above, and other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the accompanying detailed description thereof when considered in conjunction with the following drawings. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided an electronic image forming device comprising: 
     a. at least one replaceable consumable; 
     b. at least one sensor for automatically sensing when the replaceable consumable reaches a predetermined condition, and 
     c. a software program for initiating printing of a token by the image forming device when the predetermined condition is reached. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided an electronic image forming device comprising: 
     a. at least one replaceable consumable; 
     b. at least one sensor for automatically sensing when the replaceable consumable reaches a predetermined condition, 
     c. a status indicating device responsive to the one sensor for indicating when the replaceable consumable has reached the predetermined condition; and 
     d. an activating device for a user to activate the image forming device to print a token. 
     In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of notifying a user that a particular replaceable consumable may need to be purchased for use with an electronic imaging device, comprising the steps of: 
     a. sensing when the replaceable consumable has reached a predetermined condition; and 
     b. printing a token for the purchase of the replaceable consumable whenever the predetermined condition is reached. 
     In still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of notifying a user that a particular replaceable consumable may need to be purchased for use with an electronic imaging device, comprising the steps of: 
     a. sensing when the replaceable consumable has reached a predetermined condition; 
     b. automatically contacting a remote site when replaceable consumable has reached a predetermined condition and communicating this condition to the site; 
     c. the site controlling printing a token at the electronic imaging device for the purchase of a new replaceable consumable. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of notifying a user that a particular replaceable consumable may need to be purchased for use with an electronic imaging device, comprising the steps of: 
     a. sensing when the replaceable consumable has reached a predetermined condition; 
     b. indicating when the replaceable consumable reaches the predetermined condition; and 
     c. enabling the user to print a token for purchase of the replaceable consumable when the predetermined condition is reached. 
     In accordance with still yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer software product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer program which when loaded into a computer of an image forming device causes the computer to perform the following steps: 
     a. sensing when the replaceable consumable has reached a predetermined condition in the image forming device; and 
     b. printing a token for the purchase of the replaceable consumable whenever the predetermined condition is reached. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer software product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer program which when loaded into a computer of an image forming device causes the computer to perform the following steps: 
     a. sensing when the replaceable consumable has reached a predetermined condition; 
     b. automatically contacting a remote site when replaceable consumable has reached a predetermined condition and communicating this condition to the site; 
     c. the site controlling printing a token at the electronic imaging device for the purchase of a new replaceable consumable. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an image forming electronic device comprising the consumable end of life messaging feature and token printing capabilities; 
     FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing one possible software program implementation of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a sample of a printed token; and 
     FIG. 4 is sample of yet another token made in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the figures, an image forming electronic device  10  is shown in schematic representation in FIG.  1 . While this representation is indicative of a inkjet type printer, it should be understood that the invention is not so limited and is applicable to other image forming electronic devices such as facsimile machines, thermal printers, laser printers, LED printers, LCD printers, and virtually any other kind of image forming electronic device which uses consumable components to create the images. 
     The term “image forming electronic device” for the purposes herein, shall be used to describe any image forming electronic device. 
     Consumable components can be defined as such items that are consumed in use during the printing operation or general operation of the device. Often the consumables are typically pre-measured and housed in their own container or cartridge. The type of printer designates the type of consumables that are required by the printer. In many cases, the printer requires at least two separate consumable components to make an image, some sort of donor material, and some sort of receiver material. Several examples of donor material can be ink, thermal ribbon, or electrostatically charged particles, etc. and receiver material can be film, paper or plastic coated paper, etc. Generally, printers today run on AC, but there is a growing demand for portable electronic components. To satisfy this demand, portable printers that run on DC are now available, and accordingly a portable power supply can be added to the list of consumables. 
     Inkjet printers typically require a cartridge containing ink. If the printer is of the portable type, it may also require batteries or a power pack. Thermal printers typically require a cartridge containing a donor ribbon and a cartridge containing receiver media. In the case of a thermal facsimile machine, only a cartridge containing media is required since the media itself contains the donor chemistry. 
     The printer/image forming device  10  includes a digital print engine  12  to print on media  38 , such as paper, using a disposable ink cartridge  28 . The printer further includes a formatter  14 , a printer controller  16 , and an input  18  for receiving data to be printed. The formatter  14  provides the supporting electronic control for the print engine  12 . Additionally, the formatter  14  interprets signals received from the print engine  12  such as a low ink level signal which is used in this embodiment to trigger a visual message to the user that the level of ink is nearing exhaustion. The formatter  14  comprises software  20  containing memory  22 , a microprocessor  24 , a strip output buffer  26 , and a counter. 
     In the embodiment illustrated, the disposable ink cartridge  28  is of the type that includes an ink supply and a number of heater resistors. In order to track ink usage of the ink cartridge  28 , the formatter  14  counts print head dots to be fired and updates a cumulative count from a counter  30  into memory  22  which is a non-volatile RAM (NVRAM) at the end of each page printed by the printer  10 . The method of counting dots and managing ink level data is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,691,750. This information is used to determine when the ink supply in the cartridge is near exhaustion. Thus, prior to actually running out of ink, the operator is advised of the need to replace the ink cartridge prior to actually exhausting the ink therefrom. It is to be under any appropriate monitoring and/or sensing method or device may be employed for monitoring of the item to be exhausted. This may include the counting of the number of pages that have been printed thereon by the image forming device  10 . 
     A low level status indicator  25  such as light emitting diodes (LED&#39;s) or a LCD is provided on the printer  10  or on the display panel of printer  10  for low level ink indications. When a “low ink” level is sensed by a low level sensor  27  in the formatter  14 , the low level status indicator  25  is energized communicating to the operator that the ink level in the disposable ink cartridge  28  is at or below a pre-determined set point, and nearing exhaustion. The sensor  27  may be of any suitable type capable of monitoring the supply of ink in the cartridge. In addition to the level status indicator  25 , the low-level sensor  27  sets a flag within software program  20  of the printer  10 . When the printer  10  determines that the level of ink is exhausted or nearing exhaustion, the printer  10  automatically prints data in the form of a token  32  (see FIG.  3 ). The token  32  is an incentive to purchase a particular product to replace the exhausted item. In the embodiment illustrated the token is in the form of coupon which provides cash savings on the purchase of a designated replacement item. FIG. 3 shows an example of the printed token  32 . Alternately, a message can be displayed on the display panel prompting the user to make a decision about their desire to print the token  32 . An activating device, such as selection buttons adjacent the display panel, enables the user to input their preference. The user is asked to select “yes” to print the token  32 , or “no” for no action. A “yes” selection causes the printer  10  to automatically print a redeemable token  32  on the media within the printer  10 . Data regarding tokens  32  are stored in memory  22  of the software program  20  of print engine  12  so that the appropriate token can be printed. Since the device may have more than one consumable, which may be depleted at a different rate, the software is pre-programmed to print the appropriate token. In addition to, or in lieu of, a traditional low-level status indicator  25  on the display panel of printer  10 , a signal can be sent to a monitor  34  of a host computer  36 . 
     The above description is based on, but not limited to, a disposable ink cartridge in an inkjet printer. It is well known that there are other types of sensing systems in an inkjet printer as in other types of printers as well. For example, a media sensor for sensing when the media being printed on is approaching exhaustion, and a battery sensor for battery operated units to sense when the energy level remaining in the battery or batteries is nearing exhaustion. In all cases, when the sensor reaches a predetermined set point, a message is given to the user to indicate the status of the consumable. A token is either printed automatically for the user, or the user is given an option whether or not to print a token. 
     Referring to FIG. 2 there is illustrated a flow chart as to an example of the operation of a software program that has been preprogrammed in to the software  20  of image forming device  10  in accordance with the present invention. At step  40 , a print job is request. At step  42  the printer request is received and analyzed by the software in the computer. At step  44  it is determined if the one of the consumables is low. If not, the printing operation continues normally. If the answer is Yes, a flag at step  46  is set. The step  48  causes an indicator to advise the user of the low consumable condition. This may be a light indicator or a screen display providing details of the low consumable condition and the options presented to the user. At step  50  the user decides to print the token. If no, the printing operation runs in its normal routine. If the decision is to print a token, then at step  52  the token can be printed. The printing operation can of course also continue its normal operation. 
     While in the preferred embodiment the instructions for the production of the token is provided in the software, the present invention is not so limited. Quite often the printer is connected to a host computer, as illustrated in FIG. 1, that has communication capabilities. For example, most personal computers can be connected to the Internet which in turn allows the personal computer to be connected to any other computer that is also connected to the Internet. Today, most corporations and businesses which manufacture and/or sell printers and consumables for these devices have a home web page which can be accessed through the Internet. Therefore instead of the printer  10  printing the token directly, it is possible that the software in printer  10  is designed to automatically connect to a web page of the original manufacturer or designated seller of authorized replacement parts. In this way the manufacturer or authorized seller may be able to offer the latest offering and/or upgrades of consumables and printer that the user may not have been aware of. The user can also be aware of special promotions being offered, such as trading in the printer for an update version. In addition this method can avoid the need to print any token or promotional discount at the image forming device  10 . The user can simply order a new consumable directly from the manufacturer, or seller, for direct shipment to the user or pick-up by the user. FIG. 4 illustrates an example of token that is send to the user upon receiving a message from the image forming device  10  that a particular consumable is low. FIG. 4 merely illustrates the type of consumable that may be offered by identifying it as Component A. The actual component would be provided as the actual date also referred to in FIG.  4 . The token is merely an example and may take any appropriate form and offer any desired promotion. 
     It is to be understood that various other modifications made be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, the present invention being defined by the claims that follow. 
     PARTS LIST 
       10  printer/image forming device 
       12  digital print engine 
       14  formatter 
       16  printer controller 
       18  input 
       20  software 
       22  memory 
       24  microprocessor 
       25  low level status indicator 
       26  strip output buffer 
       27  low level sensor 
       28  disposable ink cartridge 
       30  counter 
       32  token 
       34  monitor 
       36  host computer 
       38  media 
       40  step 
       42  step 
       44  step 
       46  step 
       48  step 
       50  step 
       52  step