Ink cartridge management system, printer, and ink cartridge

A ink cartridge management system comprising:

• printers, each having information on identification of a respective printer;
• an ink cartridge mountable to the printers, the ink cartridge having a first storage system storing therein information on ink consumption amount of the ink cartridge, and on identification of a printer that is used with the ink cartridge when the information on the ink consumption amount is created;
• a second storage system storing therein information on identification of a printer communicating with the second storage system;
• and
• a CPU comparing the information stored in the first storage system of the ink cartridge with the information stored in the second storage system to determine a precise ink consumption amount of the ink cartridge.

A method of determining a precise ink consumption amount, comprising the steps of:

• obtaining cartridge management data from a first storage device provided in an ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is mounted to a printer, or power for the printer on which the ink cartridge is mounted is turned on, the cartridge management data including ink consumption amount information and at least one of cartridge identification information and cartridge history information in connection with the ink cartridge;
• obtaining host management data stored in a second storage device, the second storage device storing as the host management data ink consumption amount information and at least one of cartridge identification information and cartridge history information in connection with ink cartridges that have ever been mounted to the printer;
• and
• comparing at least one of the cartridge identification information and the cartridge history information contained in the cartridge management data with at least one of the cartridge identification information and cartridge history information contained in the host management data to determine whether the ink consumption amount information contained in the cartridge management data is correct or should be replaced with the ink consumption amount information contained in the host management data.

A method of determining a precise ink consumption amount in a case where whether a first ink cartridge having a first storage device is identical to a second ink cartridge having a second storage device and whether the second ink cartridge mounted to a first printer was used with another second printer are unclear, the method comprising the steps of:

• storing first cartridge management data into the first storage device provided in the first ink cartridge when the first ink cartridge is detached from the first printer, or power for the first printer on which the first ink cartridge is mounted is turned off, the first cartridge management data including ink consumption amount information and at least one of cartridge identification information and cartridge history information in connection with the first ink cartridge;
• copying at least part of the cartridge management data in a third storage device as host management data when the first ink cartridge is detached from the first printer or power for the first printer on which the first ink cartridge is mounted is turned off;
• reading at least part of second cartridge management data from the second storage device provided in the second ink cartridge when the second ink cartridge is attached to the first printer, or power for the first printer on which the second ink cartridge is mounted is turned on, wherein the second cartridge management data was stored in the second storage device when the second ink cartridge was detached from the first or second printer, or when power for the first or second printer on which the second ink cartridge was mounted was turned off, the second cartridge management data including ink consumption amount information and at least one of cartridge identification information and cartridge history information in connection with the second ink cartridge;
• comparing the ink consumption amount information of the second cartridge management data with the ink consumption amount information of the host management data.

An ink cartridge management system of managing the state of an ink cartridge placed in an ink jet printer, wherein:

• the ink cartridge comprises a storage medium storing cartridge management data containing printer identification information of a printer or printers using the ink cartridge in the past;
• the ink jet printer is connected to a host so that the ink jet printer and the host constitutes a print system;
• the print system comprises:
• a read system for reading the cartridge management data from the storage medium of the ink cartridge;
• a determination system for determining an ink jet printer or ink jet printers using the ink cartridge in the past with reference to the printer identification information contained in the read cartridge management data;
• an execution system for selecting, based on a result of determination by the determination system, for one from a plurality of management methods that are predetermined to manage the ink cartridge in accordance with the determined ink jet printer or printers, and executing the selected management method;
• and
• a write system for writing the printer management information into the storage medium of the ink cartridge.

An ink jet printer comprising:

• a read system for reading, from a storage medium provided in an ink cartridge, cartridge management data containing printer identification information of a printerorprinters using the ink cartridge in the past;
• a determination system for determining an ink jet printer or ink jet printers using the ink cartridge in the past with reference to the printer identification information contained in the read cartridge management data;
• an execution system for selecting, based on a result of determination by the determination system, one from a plurality of management methods that are predetermined to manage the ink cartridge in accordance with the determined ink jet printer or printers, and executing the selected management method;
• and
• a write system for writing the printer identification information into the storage medium of the ink cartridge.

A computer-readable record medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute:

• a read step of reading, from a storage medium contained in an ink cartridge, cartridge management data containing printer identification information of a printer or printers using the ink cartridge in the past;
• a determination step of determining an ink jet printer or ink jet printers using the ink cartridge in the past with reference to the printer identification information contained in the read cartridge management data, and
• an execution step of selecting, based on a result of determination by the determination step, one from a plurality of management methods that are predetermined to manage the ink cartridge in accordance with the determined ink jet printer or printers, and executing the selected management method;
• and
• a write step of writing the printer identification information into the storage medium of the ink cartridge.

A system of estimating an ink consumption amount of an ink cartridge placed in an ink jet printer, wherein:

• the ink cartridge comprises a storage medium storing cartridge management data containing information defining cartridge identification and ink consumption amount;
• the ink jet printer is connected to a host so that the ink jet printer and the host constitutes a print system;
• the print system comprises:
• a read system for reading the cartridge management data from the storage medium of the ink cartridge;
• a storage system for storing system management data containing information defining cartridge identification and ink consumption amount corresponding to each of one or more ink cartridges;
• a retrieval system for retrieving the system management data corresponding to the ink cartridge placed in the ink jet printer with reference to the information defining the cartridge identification contained in the read cartridge management data;
• and,
• a determination system for comparing the information defining the ink consumption amount contained in the cartridge management data with the information defining the ink consumption amount contained in the retrieved system management data, and determining information defining a current ink consumption amount.

A host device connectable to an ink jet printer, comprising:

• a storage system for storing host management data containing information defining cartridge identification and ink consumption amount corresponding to each of one or more ink cartridges adaptable to the ink jet printer;
• a receiving system for receiving read cartridge management data containing information defining cartridge identification and ink consumption amount stored in a storage medium provided in an ink cartridge;
• a retrieval system for retrieving the host management data corresponding to the ink cartridge placed in the ink jet printer with reference to the information defining the cartridge identification contained in the received cartridge management data;
• a determination system for comparing the information defining the ink consumption amount contained in the cartridge management data with the information defining the ink consumption amount contained in the retrieved system management data, and determining information defining a current ink consumption amount;
• and
• a sending system for sending the determined information defining the current ink consumption amount so that the determined information defining the current ink consumption amount can be written into the storage medium of the ink cartridge.

An ink jet printer to which an ink cartridge having a storage medium storing cartridge management data containing information defining cartridge identification and ink consumption amount is placed, the ink jet printer comprising:

• a read system for reading the cartridge management data from the storage medium of the ink cartridge;
• a storage system for storing system management data containing information defining cartridge identification and ink consumption amount corresponding to each of one or more ink cartridges;
• a retrieval system for retrieving the system management data corresponding to the ink cartridge placed in the ink jet printer with reference to the information defining the cartridge identification contained in the read cartridge management data;
• and
• a determination system for comparing the information defining the ink consumption amount contained in the cartridge management data with the information defining the ink consumption amount contained in the retrieved system management data, and determining information defining a current ink consumption amount.

An ink jet printer connectable to ahost device, to which an ink cartridge having a storage medium storing cartridge management data containing information defining cartridge identification and ink consumption amount is placed, the inkjet printer comprising:

• a read system for reading the cartridge management data from the storage medium of the ink cartridge;
• a sending system for sending the read cartridge management data to the host device, the host device including a storage system for storing system management data containing information defining cartridge identification and ink total consumption amount corresponding to each of one or more ink cartridges, a retrieval system for retrieving the system management data corresponding to the ink cartridge placed in the ink jet printer with reference to the information defining the cartridge identification contained in the sent cartridge management data, a determination system for comparing the information defining the ink consumption amount contained in the cartridge management data with the information defining the ink consumption amount contained in the retrieved system management data, and determining information defining a current ink consumption amount, and a sending system for sending the determined information defining the current ink consumption amount to the inkjet printer;
• and
• a receiving system for receiving the determined information defining the ink consumption amount from the host device;
• a write system for writing the received information defining the current ink consumption amount into the storage medium of the ink cartridge.

An ink consumption amount estimating method comprising:

• a read step of reading cartridge management data containing information defining cartridge identification and ink consumption amount from a storage medium of an ink cartridge;
• a storage step of storing system management data containing information defining cartridge identification and ink consumption amount corresponding to each of one or more ink cartridges;
• a retrieval step of retrieving the system management data corresponding to the ink cartridge placed in the ink jet printer with reference to the information defining the cartridge identification contained in the read cartridge management data;
• a determination step of comparing the information defining the ink consumption amount contained in the cartridge management data with the information defining the ink consumption amount contained in the retrieved system management data, and determining information defining a current ink consumption amount;
• and
• a write step of writing the determined information defining the current ink consumption amount into the storage medium of the ink cartridge.

A computer-readable record medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute:

• a receiving step of receiving read cartridge management data containing information defining cartridge identificationand ink consumption amount from a storage medium of an ink cartridge;
• a storage step of storing system management data containing information defining cartridge identification and ink consumption amount corresponding to each of one or more ink:
• cartridges;
• a retrieval step of retrieving the system management data corresponding to the ink cartridge placed in the ink jet printer with reference to the information defining the cartridge identification contained in the read cartridge management data;
• a determination step of comparing the information defining the ink consumption amount contained in the cartridge management data with the information defining the ink consumption amount contained in the retrieved system management data, and determining information defining a current ink consumption amount;
• and
• a sending step of sending the determined information defining the current ink consumption amount to write the determined information defining the current ink consumption amount into the storage medium of the ink cartridge.

An ink jet printer comprising an ink jet record head and a control system for controlling the ink jet record head in accordance with print data, the ink jet printer being adapted to receive at least one of ink cartridges each for supplying ink to the ink jet record head, each of the ink cartridges having a storage system storing at least identification data for identifying the respective ink cartridge and data concerning an ink remaining amount of the respective ink cartridge, and the storage system including an electrically writable or rewritable storage-system, wherein:

• a cartridge data storage system is provided for storing identification data of ink cartridges and data concerning ink remaining amounts in relation to the ink cartridges;
• the control system compares, just after power is turned on or just after an ink cartridge is placed as a currently placed ink cartridge, identification data stored in a storage system of the currently placed ink cartridge with identification data of the ink cartridges, stored in the cartridge data storage system and;
• if the identification data stored in the cartridge data storage system contain first identification data identical to the identification data of the currently placed ink cartridge, the control system corrects the data concerning the ink remaining amount in the storage system of the currently ink cartridge with data concerning the ink remaining amount related to the first identification data.

An ink cartridge management method for an ink cartridge adapted to be used with printers, each having information on identification of a respective printer, the method comprising the steps of:

• reading, from a first storage system of an ink cartridge, information on ink consumption amount of the ink cartridge and on identification of a printer that is used with the ink cartridge when the information on the ink consumption amount is created;
• reading, from a second storage system, information on identification of a printer communicating with the second storage system;
• and
• comparing the information read from the first storage system of the ink cartridge with the information read from the second storage system to determine a precise ink consumption amount of the ink cartridge.

A printer system comprising:

• an ink cartridge having a storage medium storing cartridge management data containing information defining cartridge identification and ink consumption amount;
• a read system for reading the cartridge management data from the storage medium of the ink cartridge;
• a storage system for storing system management data containing information defining cartridge identification and ink consumption amount corresponding to each of one or more ink cartridges;
• a retrieval system for retrieving the system management data corresponding to the ink cartridge placed in the ink jet printer with reference to the information defining the cartridge identification contained in the read cartridges management data;
• and
• a determination system for comparing the information defining the ink consumption amount contained in the cartridge management data with the information defining the ink consumption amount contained in the retrieved system management data, and determining information defining a current ink consumption amount.

An ink cartridge management method, comprising the steps of:

• reading, from a storage medium of an ink cartridge, cartridge management data containing information defining cartridge identification and ink consumption amount;
• checking a storage system with reference to the information defining the cartridge identification contained in the read cartridge management data to obtain system management data corresponding to the ink cartridge;
• and
• comparing the information defining the ink consumption amount contained in the cartridge management data with information defining ink consumption amount contained in the obtained system management data to determine information defining a current ink consumption amount of the ink cartridge.