US 2004/0070774 A1Published application

Printer, printer setting method and corresponding program, and cartridge

AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation

InventorsOsamu Ishibashi, Kazuhiro Ichikawa

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A color laser printer 10 compares a pervious printer, which a toner cartridge 40 has been attached to immediately before attachment to the current printer, with the current printer. In the case where the previous printer is different from the current printer, the color laser printer 10 obtains setting information on the previous printer, which is stored in a storage element 50 of the toner cartridge 40, and applies the obtained setting information for the current printer. The various settings in the previous printer are thus turned over to the current printer, when the toner cartridge 40 is detached from the previous printer and is attached to the current printer. This arrangement ensures smooth printing operations without requiring any troublesome settings to use the current printer.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A printer that carries out printing on a printing medium, said printer comprising:

a cartridge that has a storage element for storing identification information and setting information on a previous printer, which said cartridge has been attached to immediately before attachment to said current printer;
an identification information acquisition module that obtains the identification information on said previous printer, which is stored in the storage element of said cartridge, when said cartridge is attached to said current printer;
an identification information storage module that stores identification information on said current printer;
an identification information judgment module that determines whether the identification information on said previous printer obtained by said identification information acquisition module is identical with or different from the identification information on said current printer stored in said identification information storage module;
and
a setting information acceptance module that, when said identification information judgment module determines that the identification information on said previous printer is different from the identification information on said current printer, obtains the setting information on said previous printer, which is stored in the storage element of said cartridge, and applies the obtained setting information for said current printer.

3 more elements

A printer setting method according to computer software, said printer comprising a cartridge that has a storage element for storing identification information and setting information on a previous printer, which said cartridge has been attached to immediately before attachment to said current printer, and an identification information storage module that stores identification information on said current printer, said printer setting method comprising the step of:

(a) obtaining the identification information on said previous printer, which is stored in the storage element of said cartridge, when said cartridge is attached to said current printer;
(b) determining whether the identification information on said previous printer obtained in said step (a) is identical with or different from the identification information on said current printer stored in said identification information storage module;
and
(c) when it is determined in said step (b) that the identification information on said previous printer is different from the identification information on said current printer, obtaining the setting information on said previous printer, which is stored in the storage element of said cartridge, and applying the obtained setting information for said current printer.

1 more element

A printer setting program that causes one or multiple computers mounted on a printer to execute multiple steps, said printer comprising a cartridge that has a storage element for storing identification information and setting information on a previous printer, which said cartridge has been attached to immediately before attachment to said current printer, and an identification information storage module that stores identification information on said current printer, said multiple steps including:

(a) obtaining the identification information on said previous printer, which is stored in the storage element of said cartridge, when said cartridge is attached to said current printer;
(b) determining whether the identification information on said previous printer obtained in said step (a) is identical with or different from the identification information on said current printer stored in said identification information storage module;
and
(c) when it is determined in said step (b) that the identification information on said previous printer is different from the identification information on said current printer, obtaining the setting information on said previous printer, which is stored in the storage element of said cartridge, and applying the obtained setting information for said current printer.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/443,144Filed 22 May 2003
Priority: JP 2002-14730922 May 2002
Published: 15 Apr 2004
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G06F 3/1205
Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management: resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings,…
G06F 3/1229
Specifically adapted to use a particular technique: printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
G06F 3/1257
Configuration of print job parameters, e.g. using UI at the client: by using pre-stored settings, e.g. job templates, presets, print styles
G06F 3/1284
Specifically adapted to adopt a particular infrastructure: local printer device