Patent ID: 7769619

Claim:
A method for automating management of a service contract for a business machine associated with a user, the method comprising steps of: providing a data capture device proximate to a business machine, the business machine comprising a selection from the group consisting of a copier, a printer, a fax machine, a scanner, and any combination thereof; receiving identification of a threshold event associated with the service contract, the threshold event set by a user with a web interface allowing remote modification of the service contract to thereby modify the threshold event, and the threshold event comprising a selection from the group consisting of a usage count for the business machine, a detected error in the business machine, a predetermined time period, and any combination thereof; programming the threshold event into the data capture device, wherein the data capture device monitors the business machine to log an occurrence of the threshold event; receiving notification from the data capture device that the threshold event was logged by the data capture device, wherein the logging of the threshold event triggers the notification; and reporting information related to the service contract electronically and automatically to the user based, at least in part, upon the receiving step.