Patent ID: 8818877

Claim:
A method for allowing the purchase of components for a hardware device using a computer system, the method comprising: using an operating system on the computer system to automatically determine the identity of a hardware device coupled to the computer system and in communication with the operating system; analyzing actual rate of use by a user, at the computer system, to make a prediction of when replacement or supplementary hardware device components will be needed prior to needing the replacement or supplementary hardware device components; responsive to the analysis, communicating over a network to receive current purchasing information from a server at the computer system related to the hardware device; and selecting by the computer system based on user input a purchase option on the computer system of at least one component for the hardware device based on the identity of the hardware device provided and displayed by the operating system, such that a user can select the at least one component for purchase, wherein the at least one component is compatible with and for use with the hardware device.