Patent ID: 7599864

Claim:
A system for providing a user with supplies information for an image forming equipment, comprising: an image forming equipment at a user side which includes a controller configured to provide status information for the image forming equipment through a network, the status information including (a) model information indicative of a model of the image forming equipment, (b) supplies usage information indicative of supplies usage status of the image forming equipment, and (c) an e-mail address; and a supplies center computer connected through the network to the image forming equipment, and including a control unit configured through one or more programs of instructions executing on the control unit to include (i) a receiver configured to receive the status information of the image forming equipment, (ii) an analyzer configured to analyze the status information of the image forming equipment and find appropriate model information and retailer/dealer information in a database of suppliers information, and (iii) an email transmitter configured to send email to the email address included in the status information from the user side, the email including order information indicative of a plurality of choices for obtaining available supplies and for a user to select quantity and retailer/dealer information for the analyzed image forming equipment, wherein said receiver of said supplies center computer is further configured to receive from the user side a final determination of supplies to be ordered and purchased for the image forming equipment, based on selection from the order information included in the e-mail.