초록 ▼

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 controllabl

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.

대표청구항 ▼

1. 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

1. 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; anda 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. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the cabinet device is a vending machine. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the management device receives the request to replenish the supply order for at least one consumable item from the at least one printing system, the vending machine, or a combination thereof. 4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of printing devices. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the management device receives a request to replenish a supply order for a plurality of consumable items. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the management device comprises a managing component in the form of software instructions stored in memory and which are executed by a processor of the management device. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the services device comprises a servicing component in the form of software instructions stored in memory and which are executed by a processor of the services device. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the services device defines a minimum and maximum quantity of the consumable item for the asset model. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network and the second network is selected from the group consisting of a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a fax over internet protocol (FoIP) network, a PSTN, a WiFi network, and a combination thereof. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the consumable item is selected from the group consisting of paper, toner, a fuser module, a fuser web, staples, other consumables, and combinations thereof. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the consumable item is toner. 12. 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; andproviding 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. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the cabinet device is a vending machine. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the management device receives the request to replenish at least one consumable item from at least one printing system, the vending machine, or a combination thereof. 15. The method of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of printing devices. 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the management device receives a request to replenish a supply order for a plurality of consumable items. 17. The method of claim 12, wherein the services device defines a minimum and maximum quantity of the consumable item for the asset model. 18. 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; anda 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. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the vending machine further comprises an authentication component configured to: acquire the authentication code sent from the services device;determine whether the acquired authentication code is accepted; andin response to determining that the authentication code is accepted, withdraw at least one consumable item from the vending machine for the printing device. 20. The system of claim 18, wherein the services device comprises a generating component in the form of software instructions stored in memory and which are executed by a processor of the services device. 21. The system of claim 18, wherein the vending machine comprises an authenticating component in the form of software instructions stored in memory and which are executed by a processor of the services device.