System and method for transmitting information regarding supplies and suppliers for image forming equipment

A method for providing a user with supplies information for an image forming equipment, comprising:

• maintaining and storing in a storage device at a user side, under control of a user side controller connected to the storage device, status information for an image forming equipment, the status information including (i) model information indicative of a model of the image forming equipment and (ii) supplies usage information indicative of supplies usage status of the image forming equipment;
• transmitting, under control of the user side controller, from the user side through a computer network to a supplies center computer the status information for the image forming equipment;
• and
• receiving a the user side, under control of the user side controller and through the computer network, from the supplies center computer supplies information which is customized for the image forming equipment according to the status information for the image forming equipment and includes supplies availability information indicative of a plurality of recommended order or purchase options for available supplies specific to the image forming equipment at the user side.

A method for providing a user with supplies information for an image forming equipment, said method comprising:

• storing in at least one supplies center storage device information regarding supplies for each available image forming equipment;
• connecting a user side controller through a computer network to a supplies center computer;
• receiving by the supplies center computer from the user side controller, through the computer network, status information regarding a user side image forming equipment, the status information including supplies usage information indicative of supplies usage status or the user side image forming equipment;
• retrieving at least some of the information regarding supplies from said at least one supplies center storage device;
• generating, by the supplies center computer, supplies information for the user side image forming equipment, by using the retrieved information regarding supplies and customizing the supplies information for the user side image forming equipment according to the status information regarding the user side image forming equipment;
• and
• transmitting the supplies information for the user side image forming equipment from the supplies center computer to the user side controller,
• wherein the supplies information for the user side image forming equipment includes supplies availability information indicative of a plurality of recommended order or purchase options for available supplies specific to the image forming equipment at the user side.

A supplies center system for providing a user with supplies information for an image forming equipment, comprising:

• at least one storage device configured to store information regarding supplies for each available image conning equipment;
• and
• a control unit connected through a computer network to a user side controller, and configured through one or more programs of instructions executing on the control unit to receive status information regarding a user side image forming equipment, the status information including supplies usage information indicative of supplies usage status of the user side image forming equipment,
• wherein the control unit generates the supplies information for the user side image forming equipment by using the information regarding supplies retrieved from said at least one supplies center storage device and customizing the supplies information for the user side image forming equipment according to the status information regarding the user side image forming equipment, transmits the supplies information for the user side image forming equipment to the user side through the computer network, and
• wherein the supplies information for the user side image forming equipment includes supplies availability information indicative of a plurality of recommended order or purchase options for available supplies specific to the image Forming equipment at the user side.

A system for providing a user with supplies information for an image forming equipment, comprising:

• a connection device for connecting through a computer network to a user side;
• a storage device for storing information regarding supplies for each available image forming equipment;
• a reception device for receiving status information regarding a user side image forming equipment from the user side through the computer network, the status information including supplies usage information indicative of supplies usage status of the user side image forming equipment;
• a data processing device for generating supplies information for the user side image forming equipment, by using the information regarding supplies retrieved from said at least one system storage device and customizing the supplies information for the user side image forming equipment according to the status information regarding the user side image forming equipment;
• and
• a communication device for transmitting the supplies information for the user side image forming equipment through the computer network to the user side,
• wherein the supplies information for the user side image forming equipment includes supplies availability information indicative of a plurality of recommended order or purchase options for available supplies specific to the image forming equipment at the user side.