Abstract:
A system for ordering consumables includes a peripheral device that utilizes at least one consumable, an entitlement system established between a user of the peripheral device and a supplier of at least one consumable, wherein the user pre-purchases a quantity of at least one consumable from the supplier for subsequent delivery on an as-needed basis and the peripheral device being adapted to communicate with the supplier to request delivery of at least one consumable pursuant to the entitlement system.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This application relates to the supply and ordering of consumables and, more particularly, to systems and methods for ordering consumables directly from the operating panel of a printer or multifunction device. 
     Peripheral devices, such as printers, scanners, facsimile machines, multi-function peripherals (MFPs) and the like typically are used in the office environment for performing various tasks, such as printing, copying and/or scanning, and therefore may require a constant supply of various consumables. For example, the printing and copying functions of an MFP typically require a constant supply of paper and toner. As the MFP consumes the paper and toner, a user must re-supply the device with additional paper and toner. 
     A peripheral device may become inoperative temporarily with respect to certain functions (e.g., printing) if no consumables are available to re-supply the device. Typically, the downtime associated with the absence of the necessary consumables results in an inability to perform essential business tasks and potentially may lead to a loss of time and money. 
     Ordering consumables is often a cumbersome and time-consuming task. For example, ordering consumables may require a user to search the internet, search various catalogues, prepare order forms, make telephone calls and/or travel to a supply store. Furthermore, once a user is ready to make a purchase, the wrong types of products might be purchased. 
     Some users have attempted to overcome the problems associated with purchasing consumables by purchasing large stocks of such consumables and storing or warehousing them until needed. However, such an approach has many disadvantages, including, for example, the need for a large and potentially expensive space for storing the extra consumables, the potential that the stored consumables may degrade before being used, and the possibility that supplies may be lost or forgotten and never used. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method for ordering consumables, as needed, directly from the operating panel of a printer or multi-function device. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, a system for ordering consumables includes a peripheral device that utilizes at least one consumable, an entitlement system established between a user of the peripheral device and a supplier of at least one consumable, wherein the user pre-purchases a quantity of the at least one consumable from the supplier for subsequent delivery on an as-needed basis and the peripheral device is adapted to communicate with the supplier to request delivery of at least one consumable pursuant to the entitlement system. 
     In another aspect, a method for ordering a consumable is provided and includes establishing an entitlement system wherein a user of a peripheral device pre-purchases a predetermined quantity of a consumable from a supplier for subsequent delivery on an as-needed basis, the peripheral device subsequently communicating a request for at least one of the pre-purchased consumables to the supplier and, in response to the request, the supplier providing at least one of the pre-purchased consumables pursuant to the entitlement system. 
     In another aspect, a method for ordering a consumable is provided and includes establishing an entitlement system wherein a user of a peripheral device pre-purchases a predetermined quantity of a consumable from a supplier for subsequent delivery on an as-needed basis, the peripheral device subsequently determining that a quantity of a consumable being consumed by the device has fallen below a predetermined threshold value and communicating a request from the device to the supplier for at least one of the pre-purchased consumables maintained by the supplier pursuant to the entitlement system, and in response to the request, providing the requested consumable. 
     Other aspects of the system and method for ordering consumables will become apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of one aspect of a system for ordering consumables; and 
         FIG. 2  is a flow chart of another aspect of a system and method for ordering consumables. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , one aspect of a system for ordering consumables, generally designated  10 , may include a peripheral device  12 , in communication with a supplier  14  over a network  16 . The network  16  may be a public switched telephone network (PSTN), which may include a wireless or landline component, a local area network, a wide area network, the internet, an intranet or a combination thereof. 
     The device  12  may be a printer, a copier, a scanner, an all-in-one (AIO) device, an MFP or the like. In one aspect, the device  12  may include a processor  18  in communication with a user interface  20 , a print engine  22  and a scanning subsystem  24 . The print engine  22  may include a paper supply  26  and a toner supply  28 . A sensor  30  may be provided to monitor the paper supply  26  and send a signal to the processor  18  indicative of the paper supply, such as when the paper supply  26  has been exhausted or is in a “low” state. A sensor  32  may be provided to monitor the toner supply  28  and send a signal to the processor  18  indicative of the toner supply, such as when the toner supply  28  has been exhausted or is in a “low” state. 
     The user interface  20  may be a graphical user interface, a monitor, a series of buttons, a touch-sensitive display panel, voice-activated interface, a speaker or the like. In one aspect, the user interface  20  may serve as an operating panel for the device  12 . It is also within the scope of this aspect to utilize a computer, such as personal computer, having a monitor as the interface  20 . 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the multi-function device  12  may include various additional components, such as a facsimile, a copier or a card reader, and may use various consumables, such as ink, toner, paper and other media. All consumables capable of being sensed or monitored are contemplated herein. 
     The supplier  14  may be any device, system, process, person (other than a user of the device  12 ), organization or the like capable of communicating with, or receiving communications from, the device  12 . In one aspect, the supplier  14  may maintain, warehouse, order, request, supply, ship and/or facilitate the order, storage, supply and shipment of consumables. For example, the supplier  14  may be a manufacturer, retailer or wholesaler of multi-function devices and/or associated consumables and may supply a user with consumables when requested. In one aspect, as described in greater detail below, the supplier  14  may supply consumables for use by the device  12  when requested by the device. 
     In one aspect, the supplier  14  may provide consumables according to an entitlement system. The entitlement system may allow a user to pre-purchase a certain quantity of consumables and the supplier  14  may facilitate shipment of the consumables as necessary. For example, a user may pre-purchase 50 reams of paper and 15 toner cartridges. The user may initially take 1 ream of paper and 1 toner cartridge, leaving the paper entitlement at  49  and the toner entitlement at  14 . In one aspect, the balance of the entitlement may be maintained (e.g., warehoused) by the supplier  14 . As the user requires additional paper or toner cartridges, the user may notify the supplier  14  and the supplier  14  may ship the paper and/or toner to the user and deduct the appropriate quantity from the entitlement total. 
     Further, a receipt may be issued each time a deduction is made from the entitlement total. For example, the device  12  may be instructed to print a receipt when the device  12  requests consumables from the entitlement and/or when a deduction is made from the entitlement total. 
     The device  12  may be adapted to allow a user to request additional consumables directly from the user interface  20  of the device  12 . One aspect of such a process is illustrated in  FIG. 2  and is generally designated  40 . The process  40  may begin at block  42  when a user initiates a job at the device  12 . As used herein, the term “job” refers to any function of the device  12 , including without limitation, printing, copying, receiving or transmitting facsimiles or other electronic data, scanning or storing or retrieving documents, images or data locally or over a network. 
     In one aspect, prior to performing a job or proceeding with the process  40 , the device  12  may authenticate the user, as shown at block  44 . The authentication may be based upon a username/password, a radio frequency identification (RFID) card, a physical key, a biometric process (e.g., finger print scan) or the like. The authentication may be directed to the use of the device  12  and/or to determine whether the user has the authority required to request additional consumables from the supplier  14 . 
     At block  46 , the processor  18  may determine whether any of the consumables (e.g., the paper supply  26 ) are exhausted or at a “low” state. The determination may be made by communicating with the sensors  30 ,  32  or by any available means. When no “low” or exhausted state is detected, the device  12  may proceed with the requested job (block  48 ) and the process may come to an end (block  50 ). 
     When a “low” or exhausted state of consumables is detected, the device  12  may notify the user of the condition, as shown at block  52 . The notification may be communicated to the user in any one or more of a variety of ways, such as by displaying notice on the user interface  20  of the device  12  or printing a notification using the print engine  22  of the device  12 . 
     In one aspect, the device  12  may automatically request consumables from the supplier  14 . In another aspect, the device may prompt the user to request consumables from the supplier  14 , as shown at block  54 . For example, when the toner supply  26  is low, the user may be prompted, by way of the user interface  20 , as follows: “Toner is low. Request a toner cartridge from the supplier? Yes or No?” If the user chooses the “No” option, the device  12  may proceed with the requested job, as shown at block  48 , and the process  40  may come to an end, as shown at block  50 . If the user chooses the “Yes” option, the device  12  may request a toner cartridge from the supplier  14  over the network  16 , as shown at block  56 . When consumables are requested from the supplier  14 , the entitlement total may be adjusted, as shown at block  58 . For example, when one toner cartridge is requested from the supplier  14 , one toner cartridge is deducted from the entitlement total. 
     As shown at block  60 , the device  12  may print a receipt confirming that a toner cartridge was requested. In one aspect, the receipt may indicate the user&#39;s entitlement total (e.g., the number of pre-paid toner cartridges remaining with the supplier  14 ). 
     As shown at block  62 , when the entitlement total for a particular consumable falls at or below a predetermined value (e.g., there are only 0, 1 or 2 pre-paid toner cartridges remaining), the user may be notified, as shown at block  64 . In one aspect, the device  12  may prompt the user to purchase additional consumables with the supplier  14  pursuant to the entitlement system. 
     When the consumables have been requested and the entitlement total addressed, the device  12  may proceed with the requested job, as shown at block  48 , and the process  40  may come to an end, as shown at block  50 . 
     Accordingly, the disclosed system and method for ordering consumables allows a user to order various consumables directly at the user interface of the device  12 , as the consumables are needed, without the need for making multiple payments or maintaining a large inventory of consumables. 
     Although various aspects of the system and method for ordering consumables have been shown and described, modifications may occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification and any patent that may issue on this application includes such modifications and is limited only by the scope of the claims.