Patent ID: 8229314

Claim:
A supply control system for managing customer color orders associated with at least one printer device, the supply control system comprising: a processor; and a supply control module including a series of programmable instructions executable by the processor for: receiving color usage data from the at least one printer device indicative of consumption of one or more of a plurality of color toners; calculating for each printer device of the at least one printer device a permissible amount of each color toner of the plurality of color toners that can be ordered for the printer device by a customer based on a contract; and receiving a customer color order request for selectively ordering an amount of one or more color toners of the plurality of color toners for a printer device of the at least one printer device under the contract; wherein the supply control module limits the requested customer color order which can be ordered when the requested amount exceeds a permissible amount calculated for each color toner of the plurality of color toners for the printer device.