Abstract:
The present invention includes an embodiment for estimating ink usage of a print job, comprising connecting a computer peripheral device to a host computer having predefined information relating to the peripheral device and offering pricing and estimation of ink and image consumables to complete the print job, before the print job is performed. The present invention also includes an embodiment as an ink usage monitoring system for estimating ink usage of a print job, comprising a computer peripheral device for performing the print job and a host computer connected to the computer peripheral device and having predefined information relating to the peripheral device. The host computer has pricing and estimation of ink and image consumables to complete the print job, before the print job is performed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    One embodiment of the present invention generally relates to image forming devices and in particular to a system and method for estimating ink usage with a stand alone generic printer driver or a remote printer driver associated with a server.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Inkjet printers are becoming common in network environment systems, which may employ a combination of computers and combinations of peripheral devices in Internet workflow subsystems, as well as in systems linked directly through the Internet. One such environment comprises a home environment including a personal computer (PC) and a dedicated computer peripheral device such as a printer that is coupled with the PC via a local (or system) bus. Such an environment has been referred to as a single-connection environment, and is exclusive of a computer network environment, but may include a connection to an external network such as the Internet.  
           [0003]    Another environment comprises an unmanaged network environment including a personal computer, an unmanaged network, and a computer peripheral device having an embedded web server. Yet another environment comprises a managed, enterprise network environment including a server, one or more personal computers, and one or more computer peripheral devices. These systems provide lines of communication, and at various points in the systems, they require hard copy output engines.  
           [0004]    As computer systems and data communication systems have developed, the number and variety of hard copy output engines employed in network environments has grown. Examples include photocopiers, facsimile machines, printers, and devices incorporating a combination of these peripheral devices. As need for these types of hard copy output engines has grown, a number of different manufacturers have developed different hard copy output engines providing different operational characteristics and capabilities. While some consumable commodities associated with these devices are common to most or all such devices (e.g. standardized paper sizes), other consumable commodities, such as toner supply cartridges or ink reservoirs, tend to be unique to a specific product line from that manufacturer.  
           [0005]    Additionally, different hard copy output engines have different paper capacities, capabilities for accepting more or fewer paper sizes and different toner or other pigment supply requirements and capacities. Further, as hard copy output engines have been developed to provide increasing capabilities, the number of different consumable supplies utilized by the hard copy output engines has grown.  
           [0006]    In the past, the ordering of consumables for computer peripheral devices within any one or more of the above environments was a manual process. For example, consumables were manually ordered by single connection environment users for photocopiers, facsimile machines, printers and multiple function peripheral devices. More recently, self adjusting consumable order assistance systems have been configured for use in multiple environments including single connection environments, unmanaged network environments, and centralized server based network environments.  
           [0007]    However, these systems do not inform the user of the amount of imaging consumables used prior to the job commencing. In addition the user is unable to compare the requirements of producing images on one system with that of another or a plurality of other systems. Therefore, what is needed is a system and method that overcomes these problems.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    To overcome the limitations in the prior art described above, and to overcome other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, the present invention includes an embodiment for estimating ink usage of a print job. This embodiment comprises connecting a computer peripheral device to a host computer having predefined information relating to the peripheral device and offering pricing and estimation of ink and image consumables for completing the print job, before the print job is performed.  
           [0009]    The present invention also includes an embodiment as an ink usage monitoring system for estimating ink usage of a print job, comprising a computer peripheral device for performing the print job and a host computer connected to the computer peripheral device and having predefined information relating to the peripheral device. The host computer has pricing and estimation of ink and image consumables for completing the print job, before the print job is performed.  
           [0010]    The present invention as well as a more complete understanding thereof will be made apparent from a study of the following detailed description of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings and appended claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    Embodiments of present invention can be further understood by reference to the following description and attached drawings that illustrate the preferred embodiment. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is an exemplary printer that incorporates one embodiment of the invention and is shown for illustrative purposes only.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a communication system incorporating one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart depicting how the print job is sent to the host according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]    In the following description of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific example in which embodiments of the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]    I. Exemplary Printing System  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is an exemplary high-speed printer that incorporates one embodiment of the present invention printing system  100  for estimating ink usage with a stand alone generic printer driver or a remote printer driver associated with a server and is shown for illustrative purposes only. Generally, the printing system  100  includes a tray  122  for holding print media. When a printing operation is initiated, print media, such as paper, is fed into printer  100  from tray  122  preferably using a sheet feeder  126 . The sheet then brought around in a U direction and travels in an opposite direction toward output tray  128 . Other paper paths, such as a straight paper path, can also be used.  
         [0018]    The sheet is stopped in a print zone  130 , and a scanning carriage  134 , supporting one or more printhead assemblies  136 , is then scanned across the sheet for printing a swath of ink thereon. After a single scan or multiple scans, the sheet is then incrementally shifted using, for example, a stepper motor and feed rollers to a next position within the print zone  130 . Carriage  134  again scans across the sheet for printing a next swath of ink. The process repeats until the entire sheet has been printed, at which point it is ejected into output tray  128 .  
         [0019]    One embodiment of the present invention is equally applicable to alternative printing systems (not shown) that utilize alternative media and/or printhead moving mechanisms, such as those incorporating grit wheel, roll feed or drum technology to support and move the print media relative to the printhead assemblies  136 . With a grit wheel design, a grit wheel and pinch roller move the media back and forth along one axis while a carriage carrying one or more printhead assemblies scans past the media along an orthogonal axis. With a drum printer design, the media is mounted to a rotating drum that is rotated along one axis while a carriage carrying one or more printhead assemblies scans past the media along an orthogonal axis. In either the drum or grit wheel designs, the scanning is typically not done in a back and forth manner as is the case for the system depicted in FIG. 1.  
         [0020]    The print assemblies  136  can be removeably mounted or permanently mounted to the scanning carriage  134 . Also, the printhead assemblies  136  can have self-contained ink reservoirs as the ink supply. The self-contained ink reservoirs can be refilled with ink for reusing the print assemblies  136 . Alternatively, each print cartridge  136  can be fluidically coupled, via a flexible conduit  140 , to one of a plurality of fixed or removable ink containers  142  acting as the ink supply. As a further alternative, the ink supplies can be one or more ink containers separate or separable from printhead assemblies and removeably mountable to carriage  134 .  
         [0021]    II. General Overview:  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an overall communication system incorporating one embodiment of the present invention for estimating ink usage with a stand alone generic printer driver or a remote printer driver associated with a server. Namely, the user host communication system  200  of one embodiment of the present invention can include generic printer drivers  202 ,  204 ,  206 , which are independent network environments. The generic printer drivers  202 ,  204 ,  206  can be linked to the internet  208 , which can also link the users to suppliers  210 , and the host  212 . The host  212  is preferably a computer system which is linked to the server printer driver  214 , and in turn to the server  216 .  
         [0023]    A consumable order assistance system could be provided for the computer environment and peripheral devices of FIG. 2. The system may include a PC, one or more computer peripheral devices, and a user interaction site. The PC has a messaging system as well as the peripheral device. The communication link signal couples the PC with a seller, reseller or other provider of a consumable for the computer peripheral device. The user interaction site is configured to receive notification from the computer peripheral device via the messaging system of a need to order a consumable. The user interaction site is provided within one of a single connection environment as an end user interface, an unmanaged network environment as a work group administrator interface, or a server based centralized network environment as a centralized system administrator interface.  
         [0024]    A computer implemented self adjusting consumable order assistance system could be provided which implements a program in which consumable components of computer peripheral devices are replenished. Also, a method of providing order assistance could be provided. The method could include: providing a computer peripheral device, a PC having a communication link with a provider of a consumable, a messaging system extending between the computer peripheral device and the PC, and a user interaction site; determining an environment in which the computer peripheral device and the PC are provided by detecting the presence of a parallel cable or the presence of a network environment; for the case where the presence of a network environment is detected, further broadcasting a discovery protocol to detect the presence of a centralized order assistance solution; and abased on the determined environment, providing the user interaction site in the form of a user interface, web server, or centralized system administrator.  
         [0025]    In turn, this has led to an ability to detect the need for consumables, as well as an ability order greater amounts of consumables, some of which are specific, to specific types of hard copy output engines, through internet sub-systems. One such method employs image forming devices to facilitate the ordering of imaging consumables.  
         [0026]    Image forming devices may include an interface adapted to communicate with a communication medium external of the image forming device, imaging circuitry configured to use an imaging consumable to form hard images, a sensor to monitor the status of the imaging consumable, and processing circuitry coupled with the sensor and configured to generate a message indicating the status of the imaging consumable. This message could be communicated externally at a predetermined moment in time through the interface.  
         [0027]    Such systems could control the formulation of one or a plurality of consumable order assist functions configured to assist replenishment of an imaging consumable. These systems have an ability to report the quantity of consumables used in the various scheduled jobs. The reports may include the amount and type of print media used and remaining in the system, the amount of ink/toner used and remaining in the system etc. In addition the user may be automatically alerted to the need for the replacement of consumables and be linked to suppliers related to the products in the system.  
         [0028]    While these systems give an accurate estimate of the consumables used, and the consumables remaining in the system, they do not inform the user of the amount of imaging consumables used prior to the job commencing. In addition the user is unable to compare the requirements of producing images on one system with that of another or a plurality of other systems.  
         [0029]    III. Details of the Operation:  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 3 shows for illustrative purposes only a flowchart depicting how the print job is sent to the host printer driver  214  or to the printer driver  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,of the stand alone system according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the independent network environment of the user  202 , includes a peripheral device for producing print images designated for these purposes, but not limited to, a printer  302 . The printer  302  contains print consumables for print a print job  304 . Pre printing, the print job, which could be in the form of a data file or other data storage medium, could be analyzed at the stand alone printer driver  202 ,  204 ,  206 , or forwarded via a communication link, which could be the Internet  208 , to a host  212 .  
         [0031]    The printer driver  214  in the host  212  computer system, contains the print job analyzer  310  and the ink cartridge data  312  forwarded from the user. The print job analyzer  310 , analyzes the print job  304  to determine the parameters of the print job  304  that impinge on ink usage. These parameters may include but would not be limited to, printhead temperature, print quality, pages to be printed, printer type, paper type, inks to be used etc. The printer driver  214  would include the relevant ink cartridge data  312 , such as type of ink cartridge, inks, ink reservoirs etc., and would forward these data, along with the print job analyzer  310  data to the server  216 .  
         [0032]    The server  216  in one embodiment of the present invention incorporates the instrument driver  1 -n, and the printer  1 -n. Data from the printer driver  214  are linked to the printer  302  of the user and to the generic printer driver  202 , as well as to options within the server  216 . These options are various combinations of instrument driver and printer. Combinations could be by specific request of the user, or could be the result of a request by the user for a range of options. The server  216  produces the various compilations of data as specific files, file data  1 -n,  330 .  
         [0033]    File data  330  are forwarded to the file data analyzer  332  which determines the amount of print image consumables for the print job  304 . The amount of print image consumable is compared to the data from the ink cartridge data  312 , in the supply analyzer  336 . The amount of consumable to complete the print job  304  is referred to the user via the digital internet workflow subsystem  340  through the internet  208 .  
         [0034]    Simultaneously, the cost analyzer  334 , receives information on print image consumables from the file data analyzer  332 , and determines the cost to the user of the various print options computed by the server  216 . These costs are referred to the user via the digital Internet workflow subsystem  340  and the Internet  208 .  
         [0035]    A number of benefits to the user are evident by the incorporation of this system. First, the user does not have to have instrument drivers or multiple peripheral image producing devices on the user network system saving money. Second, the user can access the best of a variety of choices from instrument driver  320  and printer  302  before proceeding with a print job  304 . Also, the variety of choices can be processed simultaneously saving the user time. In addition, the user is apprised ahead of time of the cost of the print job  304 , so that an alternative can be selected if desired. Next, the user is informed before printing, if there is sufficient image printing consumables to complete the submitted print job  304 . Further, the user is linked by a communication system such as the internet  208 , to a supplier  210  who may be an integral factor in a pro-active system to replace and upgrade print image consumables.  
         [0036]    IV. Ink Usage Monitoring Alternative Embodiment  
         [0037]    In an alternative embodiment, ink usage monitoring can be accomplished with the printer driver. For example, at the beginning of each print job, the printer driver can synchronize with the printer and query the printer for calibrated (adjusted for temperature) drop count information. The driver then can record the ink drop count information in a log file, which is later retrieved for ink usage analysis and other market research purposes. A printhead identification number can be similarly queried and recorded to ensure the drop count information is consistent, in other words, to account for situations such as mid-job printhead changes.  
         [0038]    Also, the query can determine and track ink refills for warranty programs and can also void warranties if the printhead is tampered with or refilled. Further, ink usage data can also be used to provide other customer benefits, such as automatic low ink reminders and target advertisement/incentive programs. For example, the customer can be directed to certain World Wide Web site for ordering products or offering customers discounted ink cartridge purchase prices for customers with high ink usage.  
         [0039]    The foregoing has described the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of one embodiment of the present invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed. The above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive, and it should be appreciated that variations may be made in those embodiments by workers skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.