Image forming devices and consumable marketing methods
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsTravis J. Parry, Robert Sesek
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Image forming devices and consumable marketing methods are provided. An image forming device according to one aspect includes: an image engine configured to use a consumable to form a plurality of hard images; and processing circuitry coupled with the image engine and configured to control the formation of the hard images, the processing circuitry being further configured to monitor a state of the consumable of the image forming device, to access price information regarding the consumable of the image forming device, and to communicate a message including the price information responsive to the monitoring.
Claims30
An image forming device comprising:
- an image engine configured to use a consumable to form a plurality of hard images;
- and
- processing circuitry coupled with the image engine and configured to control the formation of the hard images, the processing circuitry being further configured to monitor a state of the consumable of the image forming device, to access price information regarding the consumable of the image forming device, and to communicate a message including the price information responsive to the monitoring.
A consumable marketing method comprising:
- providing an image forming device configured to use a consumable to form a plurality of hard images;
- monitoring a state of the consumable of the image forming device;
- accessing price information regarding the consumable of the image forming device;
- and
- communicating a message including the price information of the consumable responsive to the monitoring.
A consumable marketing method comprising:
- providing a printer configured to use a consumable to print a plurality of hard images;
- providing a host device configured to communicate with the printer;
- accessing price information regarding the consumable from the consumable;
- monitoring a state of the consumable;
- formulating a message regarding the consumable comprising a coupon including the price information;
- and
- communicating the message responsive to the monitoring, the communicating comprising at least one of printing the message and outputting the message to the host device.
A consumable marketing method comprising:
- registering a plurality of image forming devices individually configured to use a consumable to form a plurality of hard images;
- providing price information of the consumable;
- communicating the price information of the consumable to the registered image forming devices;
- and
- communicating a message including the price information of the consumable using the image forming devices.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.