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US 8,788,373 B2Granted
Call center integrated printing device consumable cabinet device service
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsJeremy Lee Reitz, Carl Robertson, Neeraj Wadhera
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for tracking, controlling, and replenishing consumption of at least one consumable item in a printing system are disclosed. The system includes a first network and a printing device coupled to the first network. A cabinet device coupled to the first network stores and controllably dispenses the at least one consumable item.
Claims21
A system for tracking, controlling, and replenishing consumption of at least one consumable item in a printing system comprising:
- a first network;
- a printing device coupled to the first network and consuming the at least one consumable item;
- a cabinet device coupled to the first network that stores and controllably dispenses the at least one consumable item;
- a management device coupled to the first network that receives a request to replenish a supply order for the at least one consumable item;
- a second network, the second network in communication with the first network;
- and
- a services device coupled to the second network, the services device being adapted to define an inventory of the cabinet device by creating a supply cabinet model being similarly configured to the cabinet device, the cabinet device model being adapted to virtually store at least one consumable item, the services device being further adapted to:
- in response to receiving an alert of the request from the management device, determine whether the request is valid using the supply cabinet model for asset association to the cabinet device, and,
- in response to determining a valid request, initiate a replenishment of the consumable item to the printing device from the cabinet device by adjusting a balance in the supply cabinet model and sending a message to a user indicating a location of the cabinet device dispensing the consumable item.
6 more elements
A method for tracking, controlling, and replenishing consumption of at least one consumable item in a printing system comprising:
- providing a printing device coupled to a first network, the printing device consuming the at least one consumable item;
- providing a cabinet device coupled to the first network for storing and controllably dispensing the consumable item;
- providing a management device coupled to the first network for receiving a request to replenish the at least one consumable item, and sending an alert of the request;
- and
- providing a services device coupled to a second network wherein the second network is in communication with the first network,
- defining by the services device an inventory of the cabinet device by creating a supply cabinet model being similarly configured to the cabinet device and virtually storing at least one consumable item in the supply cabinet model;
- receiving at the services device the alert of the request;
- determining at the services device whether a supply order of the consumable item is available in the cabinet device;
- and,
- in response to determining that the supply order is available, adjusting a balance in the supply cabinet model and sending a message to a user indicating a location of the cabinet device dispensing the consumable item.
7 more elements
A system for tracking, controlling, and replenishing consumption of at least one consumable item in a printing system comprising:
- a first network;
- a plurality of printing devices coupled to the first network, each printing device consuming the at least one consumable item;
- a vending machine coupled to the first network that stores and controllably dispenses the at least one consumable item;
- a management device coupled to the first network that receives a request to replenish the at least one consumable item at a printing device;
- a second network, the second network in communication with the first network;
- and
- a services device coupled to the second network, the services device being adapted to define an inventory of the cabinet device by creating a supply cabinet model being similarly configured to the cabinet device, the cabinet device model being adapted to virtually store at least one consumable item, the services device being further adapted to:
- in response to receiving an alert of the request from the management device, initiate a replenishment of the consumable item to the printing device from the vending machine by adjusting a balance in the supply cabinet model and sending a message to a user indicating a location of the cabinet device dispensing the consumable item.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.