Ordering system and server system

Abstract

To provide an order system and a server system that deliver other consumable supplies together when a residual quantity of a consumable supply becomes a threshold or below.SOLUTION: An order system includes a recording device that records an image using a recording material included in a cartridge, and a server system that can communicate with the recording device. The recording device transmits status information including a value of a residual quantity of the recording material of the cartridge mounted on the recording device. The server system includes receiving means that receives the status information transmitted from the recording device, and ordering means that, when the status information received by the receiving means indicates that there is a cartridge in which the value of the residual quantity of the recording material is less than a predetermined threshold value, and the replacement product of the cartridge has not been ordered, issues order instruction of a replacement product of the cartridge for which a replacement product is not ordered among the cartridge mounted on the recording device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for ordering consumables for a recording device. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, recording devices that can connect to the Internet and communicate with web servers have been introduced. Patent Document 1 proposes a system in which a recording device detects the remaining amount of consumable parts such as ink cartridges or toner cartridges, and orders the consumable parts when the remaining amount of the consumable parts falls below a predetermined threshold. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2002-99594 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the technology of Patent Document 1, delivery is performed every time a consumable part (also called a consumable item) below a threshold appears, which results in poor delivery efficiency.

[0005] The present invention aims to improve the efficiency of delivery. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An ordering system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a recording device capable of mounting a plurality of containers for housing recording material, and a server system capable of communicating with the recording device, the recording device storing a value relating to a remaining amount of recording material contained in each of the plurality of containers mounted on the recording device. and identification information for uniquely identifying the plurality of containers. to the server system in response to at least the power being turned on, and the server system a management means for managing identification information of the plurality of containers attached to the recording device in association with order information indicating whether replacements for the plurality of containers have been ordered;a receiving means for receiving the status information transmitted from the recording device; and at least one value indicating a remaining amount of recording material contained in at least one of the plurality of containers, the remaining amount being specified based on the status information received by the receiving means, being smaller than a predetermined threshold value, and Included in the status information The at least one container Based on the order information managed in association with the identification information, Replacement item not yet ordered It is identified that and an ordering means for ordering, in the case where a replacement for the at least one container is not yet ordered, a replacement for a container other than the at least one container among the plurality of containers for which a replacement has not yet been ordered, the ordering means instructs, for a container other than the at least one container among the plurality of containers, to order a replacement for the container, regardless of a value indicating the remaining amount of recording material contained in the container, Included in the status information The container Based on the order information managed in association with the identification information, The replacement item has not yet been ordered Is to be identified The method is characterized in that an order for a replacement container is issued based on the result of the inspection. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the efficiency of delivery. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a consumables ordering system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the server device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a printer. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing a process for delivering consumables. [Diagram 5] 13 is a flowchart of a status information transmission process. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing status information. [Figure 7] 11 is a flowchart of a consumables ordering instruction transmission by the printer management server. [Figure 8]4 is an ink management table stored in a database of a printer management server. [Figure 9] 13 is a diagram showing a flow of updating replacement order information in response to a change in the remaining amount of ink. [Figure 10] 1 is a user management table stored in a database of a dealer server. [Figure 11] 11 is a flowchart of a consumables ordering instruction transmission by the printer management server. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiment does not limit the present invention, and not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiment are necessarily essential to the solution of the present invention. Note that the same components will be described with the same reference numerals.

[0010] <<First embodiment>> <Configuration of consumables ordering system> Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a consumables ordering system in this embodiment. The configuration of the consumables ordering system in this embodiment will be described below with reference to Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the consumables ordering system in this embodiment has a printer management server 101, a retail store server 102, and a printer 103 which is a recording device.

[0011] The printer management server 101 and the dealer server 102 are each connected to the Internet 100. The printer 103 can be connected to the Internet via a router 104. The printer management server 101 manages information sent from the printer 103, and can provide the information sent from the printer 103 to the dealer server 102 via the Internet 100. Each communication is controlled via HTTP or XMPP, etc. Note that the protocols are not limited to these, and other protocols may be used.

[0012] <Server configuration> Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the printer management server 101. The configuration of the printer management server 101 in this embodiment will be described below with reference to Fig. 2. The printer management server 101 has a CPU 201, a RAM 202, a ROM 203, a storage device 204, an operation unit 205, a display unit 206, a network communication unit 207, and a network connection unit 208.

[0013] The CPU 201 is a central processing unit for controlling each part of the printer management server 101. The RAM 202 plays the role of a working memory required when the CPU 201 executes a program. The ROM 203 is a read-only memory for storing a boot program required for starting the system. The storage device 204 is a device for storing the program executed by the CPU 201, a database 209, or various information, and is, for example, a non-volatile storage device such as a magnetic disk or a flash memory. The operation unit 205 is composed of a keyboard, a mouse, etc., for the user to perform various input operations. The display unit 206 is composed of, for example, an LCD, and displays various information and presents it to the user. The network communication unit 207 is connected to a network such as the Internet 100 via a network connection unit 208 and performs various communications. The above-mentioned units are connected to each other by a bus 210 and can transmit and receive data between each other.

[0014] The store server 102 has the same hardware configuration as the printer management server 101, and a description thereof will be omitted. However, the store server 102 may have a different hardware configuration from that of the printer management server 101.

[0015] 2, an example in which the printer management server 101 is configured from one server (information processing device) is described, but it may be configured from multiple servers. In other words, each function may be executed by multiple servers working in cooperation with each other. The dealer server 102 may also be configured from multiple servers. In this disclosure, a configuration consisting of one server or multiple servers is called a server system.

[0016] <Printer hardware configuration> FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the printer 103. The configuration of the printer 103 in this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 3. The printer 103 has a printer unit 301, a scanner unit 302, a memory card mounting unit 303, a memory card 304, and an ink tank unit 315. The printer 103 also has a CPU 305, a program memory 306, a work memory 307, a display unit 308, an operation unit 309, a network communication unit 310, a network connection unit 311, and a flash memory 312. In this embodiment, the printer 103, which is a multifunction machine, is taken as an example of a recording device, but the recording device to which this embodiment can be applied does not have to be a multifunction machine. An image recording device such as a copier or facsimile may be used, or a printer without a scanner function may be used. In addition, the recording device of this embodiment will be described as a printer that records using ink, but may be applied to a device that uses a recording material such as toner.

[0017] In the printer 103, the printing function is realized by a printer unit 301. Also, the scanner function is realized by a scanner unit 302, and the storage function is realized by a memory card mounting unit 303 and a memory card 304. The printer unit 301 records (i.e., prints) an image on a recording medium such as printing paper by an inkjet method based on image data received from the outside or image data stored in the memory card 304. Furthermore, the printer unit 301 also manages paper information including information on the remaining amount of ink and the number of sheets of loaded paper.

[0018] The scanner unit 302 optically reads an original placed on a platen (not shown) and converts it into electronic data, and further converts the image data into a specified file format, and transmits the image data to an external device via a network or stores it in a storage area (not shown) such as a HDD. The copy function is realized by transferring image data generated by reading an original placed on the platen with the scanner unit 302 to the printer unit 301, and the printer unit 301 records an image on a recording medium based on the image data. Various file data are stored in a memory card 304 mounted in a memory card mounting unit 303. This file data can be read from an external device via a network and edited. It is also possible to store file data in the memory card 304 in response to an instruction from the external device.

[0019] The CPU 305 is a central processing unit for controlling each part in the printer 103. The program memory 306 is composed of a ROM or the like, and various program codes and an application 314 for communicating with the printer management server 101 are stored in the program memory 306. The module of the application 314 generates printer status information, which will be described later. The work memory 307 is composed of a RAM or the like. Image data and the like are temporarily stored in the work memory 307 when each service is executed, and buffering is performed using the work memory 307. The display unit 308 is composed of, for example, an LCD, and displays various information. The operation unit 309 is composed of switches and the like for the user to perform various input operations. The network communication unit 310 connects to the router 104 via the network connection unit 311. That is, the network communication unit 310 connects to a network such as the Internet 100 via the network connection unit 311 and performs various communications. In various communications, control is performed through HTTP or XMPP. Note that the protocol is not limited to these, and other protocols may be used. The flash memory 312 is a non-volatile memory for storing image data and the like received by the network communication unit 310. The above-mentioned units are connected to each other via a bus 313, and can transmit and receive data to and from each other. The ink tank unit 315 is equipped with an ink cartridge including an ink tank that contains the ink used in the printer unit 301. If toner is used as the recording material, a toner cartridge may be equipped. The ink cartridge installed in the ink tank unit 315 is replaced by another ink cartridge by the user when the ink contained therein runs out or the remaining amount is extremely low. In other words, the ink cartridge installed in the ink tank unit 315 of this embodiment is a type of consumable that is replaced by a replacement ink cartridge when the ink runs out.

[0020] <Process until delivery of replacement ink cartridge> FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram of the process leading up to delivery of a replacement ink cartridge. The process up to delivery of a replacement ink cartridge in this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 4 and other figures. The series of processes shown in the sequence of FIG. 4 are performed by the CPUs of the printer 103, the printer management server 101, and the retail store server 102 by loading program code stored in a disk device or the like into RAM and executing it. Alternatively, some or all of the functions of the steps in FIG. 4 may be realized by hardware such as an ASIC or electronic circuit. The symbol "S" in the description of each process refers to a step in the sequence diagram. Below, the subject of each process is the CPU provided in the printer 103, the printer management server 101, and the retail store server 102.

[0021] In S401, the printer 103 transmits printer status information (hereinafter referred to as status information) including information on the ink cartridges to the printer management server 101. In this embodiment, the status information includes the ID (identification information), color information, and remaining ink amount information of each ink cartridge currently installed in the printer 103, and the contents of the data are updated according to the ink usage status. The flow of the printer 103 transmitting status information to the printer management server 101 will be described below.

[0022] Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in which the printer 103 transmits status information including information on the ink cartridges to the printer management server 101. The series of processing shown in the flowchart of Fig. 5 is performed by the CPU 305 of the printer 103 expanding program code stored in a disk device or the like into RAM and executing it. Note that it is assumed that the printer 103 is in a power-off state before the series of processing shown in the flowchart of Fig. 5 is started.

[0023] This flow starts when it is detected that the power button of the printer 103 is pressed. In S501, the CPU 305 switches the printer 103 from a power-off state to a power-on state. In S502, the CPU 305 transmits status information 600 indicating the state of the printer 103 to the printer management server 101.

[0024] 6 is a diagram showing an example of status information. Status information 600 includes a printer serial number 601, model name 602, color of each ink cartridge 603, model number 604, remaining ink amount 605, and a unique ID (hereinafter referred to as ink cartridge ID) 606 that identifies the ink cartridge. The ink cartridge ID is an ID that is unique to the cartridge, regardless of the color of ink contained therein. For example, an ink cartridge that is assigned "CRG000001" will be uniquely identified in this consumables ordering system.

[0025] In S503, the CPU 305 determines whether an event has occurred. An event is, for example, some operation on the printer 103, such as printing or copying, or opening the cover of the printer 103. If the determination result in this step is true, the process proceeds to S504. On the other hand, if the determination result in this step is false, the process proceeds to S506.

[0026] In S504, the CPU 305 determines whether there has been a change in the amount of ink remaining in the ink cartridges installed in the printer 103. If the determination result in this step is true, the process proceeds to S505. On the other hand, if the determination result in this step is false, the process proceeds to S506. In S505, the CPU 305 transmits the status information 600 to the printer management server 101.

[0027] In S506, the CPU 305 determines whether the printer 103 has been turned off. If the determination result in this step is true, the series of processes ends. On the other hand, if the determination result in this step is false, the process returns to S503 and repeats the processes from S503.

[0028] As described above, in this embodiment, the CPU 305 of the printer 103 sends status information 600 to the printer management server 101 both when the power is turned on and when a change occurs in the remaining amount of ink due to printing or copying.

[0029] 4, in S402, the printer management server 101 determines whether to place an order for a replacement. If a replacement order is to be placed, the process proceeds to S403. In S403, the printer management server 101 transmits an order for placing an order for a replacement to the dealer server 102.

[0030] 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing until the printer management server 101 issues an order instruction for a replacement ink cartridge to the retailer server 102. Note that the processing in each step of FIG. 7 is performed by the CPU 201 of the printer management server 101 in the ROM 203. Alternatively, the program code stored in the storage device 204 is loaded into the RAM 202 and executed.

[0031] In S701, the printer management server 101 receives the status information 600 sent by the printer 103. In S702, the CPU 201 determines whether the remaining ink amount included in the status information received in S701 is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold is, for example, an arbitrary value such as 0, 10, or 20 that indicates the percentage of remaining ink. Also, in the above description, it is stated that "the remaining ink amount is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold", but it is also acceptable for "the remaining ink amount to be less than a predetermined threshold", and this applies to all thresholds in the following embodiments. If the determination result in this step is true, the process proceeds to S703. On the other hand, if the determination result in this step is false, the process proceeds to S705.

[0032] In S703, the CPU 201 performs a process of determining whether the corresponding ink cartridge ID has not been ordered based on the replacement order information stored in the ink management table 801. Here, the replacement order information will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the ink management table 801 stored in the database 209 of the printer management server 101. The ink management table 801 stores replacement order information. The replacement order information is information that associates the ID of an ink cartridge with information that a replacement for the ink cartridge has been ordered. Note that the replacement order information does not include information on which ink cartridge has been ordered as a replacement. In other words, assuming that ink cartridge B has been ordered as a replacement for ink cartridge A, only information indicating that a replacement for ink cartridge A has been ordered is stored. Therefore, information that ink cartridge B has been ordered as a replacement for ink cartridge A is not stored. Note that in this embodiment, it is sufficient to specify whether a replacement for ink cartridge A has been ordered, so an example will be described in which information on the order of ink cartridge B is not stored, but the present invention is not limited to this example. Information that ink cartridge B has been ordered as a replacement for ink cartridge A may be stored as replacement order information. In either case, it is sufficient to be able to determine whether a replacement for ink cartridge A has been ordered. CPU 201 acquires replacement order information from ink management table 801 at a predetermined timing, or stores new replacement order information in ink management table 801. CPU 201 does not delete replacement order information stored in ink management table 801. In other words, even after status information received from printer 103 no longer includes information on that cartridge ID, replacement order information for that cartridge ID continues to be held in ink management table 801.

[0033] Also, the ink management table may store only the ink cartridge IDs. In that case, it means that all ink cartridge IDs stored in the ink management table have already been ordered. In other words, the ink management table itself may serve as replacement product ordering information.

[0034] Returning to the explanation of Fig. 7, as described above, in S703, CPU 201 performs processing to determine whether or not a replacement for the ink cartridge ID in question has not yet been ordered, based on the replacement order information stored in ink management table 801. If a replacement has not yet been ordered, the process proceeds to S704. On the other hand, if a replacement has already been ordered, the process proceeds to S705. In S704, CPU 201 adds the model number of the ink cartridge to the order list and stores it.

[0035] In S705, the CPU 201 determines whether the ink cartridge replacement order determination process has been performed for all colors of ink cartridges installed in the printer 103 (in other words, whether the processes of S702 to S704 have been performed). If the determination result of this step is true, the process proceeds to S706. On the other hand, if the determination result of this step is false (if there are unprocessed colors), the process returns to S702 and repeats the processes of S702 to S704 until processing of all colors of ink cartridges is completed.

[0036] In S706, the CPU 201 determines whether there is an ink cartridge that needs to be ordered even though it is not below the threshold value, by checking whether there is data in the order list. An ink cartridge that needs to be ordered is an ink cartridge for which the user has not ordered a replacement. In this embodiment, when there is an ink cartridge that needs to be ordered, if there is another ink cartridge for which the user has not ordered a replacement, ordering processing is also performed as described below. For this reason, processing from S707 onwards is performed.

[0037] In S707, CPU 201 determines whether there is an ink cartridge for which a replacement has not been ordered among the ink cartridges for which the remaining ink amount has not reached the threshold (the remaining ink amount is greater than the threshold) in S702. Specifically, CPU 201 refers to ink management table 801, and if replacement order information for the ink cartridge exists, determines that a replacement has been ordered, and if not, determines that a replacement has not been ordered. If a replacement has not been ordered, proceed to S708, and if a replacement has been ordered, proceed to S709.

[0038] In S708, the CPU 201 adds the model number of the ink cartridge for which it was determined in S707 that a replacement has not yet been ordered to the order list and stores it. In other words, ink cartridges for which a replacement has not yet been ordered will also be included in the items eligible for ordering a replacement at this time.

[0039] In S709, the CPU 201 determines whether replacement ink cartridge order determination processing has been performed for all colors of ink cartridges mounted in the printer 103 for which it was determined in S702 that the remaining ink amount has not reached the threshold. If the determination result in this step is true, the process proceeds to S710. On the other hand, if the determination result in this step is false (if there are unprocessed colors), the process returns to S707 and repeats the processing of S707 to S708 until processing of all remaining colors of ink cartridges is completed.

[0040] At S710, the CPU 201 transmits a replacement ordering instruction, including the order list and the serial number of the printer 103, to the dealer server 102. At S711, the CPU 201 adds the IDs of all ink cartridges added to the order list to the ink management table 801 as ink cartridges that have been ordered. The ink cartridge IDs added here are not the IDs of the replacement ink cartridges that have been ordered, but the IDs of the ink cartridges currently installed in the printer 103. In other words, the ink cartridge IDs added to the ink management table 801 mean that a replacement for that ink cartridge has already been ordered.

[0041] <Example> FIG. 9 shows the remaining ink amount of the ink cartridges mounted on the printer 103 in each of the cases (a) to (e) and the update status of the replacement order information stored in the ink management table 801. The flow of ordering a replacement will be explained below using a specific example. That is, the explanation will be given using FIG. 9 focusing on the remaining ink amount and the replacement order information. In FIG. 9, the explanation will be given assuming that the time series progresses in the order of (a) to (e). In FIG. 9, the ink cartridge ID is written in a simplified form to simplify the explanation. In addition, in this embodiment, the printer 103 is assumed to be mounted with two types of ink cartridges, color and black, and the remaining ink threshold for replacing each ink cartridge is set to 30.

[0042] 9A shows a state in which both the color and black inks installed in the printer 103 are greater than the threshold value and replacements have not yet been ordered. A and B are the color and black ink cartridge IDs currently installed in the printer 103. Hereinafter, a color ink cartridge with an ink cartridge ID of A will be referred to as color A, and so on.

[0043] In FIG. 9B, the remaining amount of color A is 30%, and the remaining amount of black B is 70%. Because the remaining amount of color A ink is below the threshold (below 30%), the CPU 201 determines whether a replacement for color A has not yet been ordered. At this point, nothing is stored in the replacement order information, so the model number of the ink cartridge that is below the threshold is added to the order list. In addition, the remaining ink amount for black has not yet reached the threshold (i.e. the remaining ink amount is greater than the threshold), but a replacement has not yet been ordered, so it is added to the order list. The CPU 201 executes an order instruction for the ink cartridges added to the order list, and stores in the replacement order information of the ink management table 801 that replacements for color A and black B have been ordered.

[0044] Figure 9(c) shows the state in which color A, which has run out of ink, has been replaced with color C, which has the delivered ink cartridge ID C. As for black D, which has the delivered ink cartridge ID D, it is kept by the user as inventory because black B is still in use.

[0045] FIG. 9(d) shows a state where the remaining ink level of black B is below the threshold. In this state, CPU 201 checks the replacement order information in ink management table 801 and determines that a replacement for black B has already been ordered. Therefore, the black ink cartridge is not added to the order list. In other words, an order is not placed for an ink cartridge below the threshold. In this case, even if other ink cartridges with remaining ink levels above the threshold have not yet been ordered, no order process is performed. Therefore, although a replacement for color C has not yet been ordered, it is not added to the order list. This is the same process as S706 in FIG. 7. Therefore, in the state of FIG. 9(d), the process ends without an order instruction being issued.

[0046] FIG. 9(e) shows a state in which the remaining ink level of color C is below the threshold level and black B, whose remaining ink level has reached 0, has been replaced with black D. In this state, a replacement for color C has not yet been ordered, so Color is added to the ordering list. Also, a replacement for black D has not yet been ordered, so Black is added to the ordering list. Therefore, the CPU 201 executes an instruction to order replacement ink cartridges for both color and black, and the replacement order information is updated to indicate that replacements for color C and black D have been ordered. This is the flow of updating the remaining ink levels in the ink cartridges installed in the printer 103 and the replacement order information in response to changes in the remaining ink levels.

[0047] 4, in S404, the retail store server 102 performs delivery processing based on the model number and serial number of the ink cartridge to be ordered received from the printer management server 101. The retail store server 102 obtains the address of the user linked to the received serial number from the user management table 1001, which will be described later, and performs delivery processing for the replacement ink cartridge.

[0048] <User management table> Fig. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the user management table 1001. The user management table stored in the database 209 of the dealer server 102 in this embodiment will be described below with reference to Fig. 10. The user management table 1001 stores information required for a service contract for ink management by the printer management server 101 after a user purchases the printer 103. Specifically, the serial number, which is an identifier of the printer under contract, is stored in association with the user ID, address, and email address of the contractor.

[0049] <Effects of this embodiment> According to this embodiment, the efficiency of delivery of consumables can be improved. That is, when the remaining amount of a consumable falls below a threshold, it is possible to automatically deliver other consumables together. More specifically, when the remaining amount of ink in an ink cartridge falls below a threshold, if a replacement for the ink cartridge has not been ordered, it is possible to order and deliver replacements for other cartridges that have not been ordered together with the ink cartridge, regardless of the remaining amount of ink. This allows efficient delivery of ink cartridges. In addition, since a replacement is not delivered for an ink cartridge for which a replacement has already been delivered, it is possible to prevent duplicate ordering. In the above example, the printer management server 101 is composed of one information processing device. However, this embodiment is not limited to such a form, and the printer management server 101 may be composed of multiple information processing devices. In other words, the function of the printer management server 101 may be realized by multiple information processing devices performing distributed processing.

[0050] Also, in the above example, the printer management server 101 performs the ordering instruction process for the replacement ink cartridge, but this embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the printer 103 may perform the replacement ink cartridge ordering determination process and transmit the ordering instruction to the retailer server 102. Also, in this embodiment, an example has been described in which the management server 101 holds the ink management table 801 itself, but this is not limiting, and the management server 101 may read and update a table held in an external device to manage an external table.

[0051] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the object of the order is ink, but it is not limited to ink and may be, for example, toner, as long as it is a recording material contained in a cartridge, which is a consumable item.

[0052] <<Embodiment 2>> In this embodiment, an embodiment will be described in which the printer management server 101 judges the remaining ink amount of an ink cartridge using two thresholds and issues an ordering instruction. In the first embodiment, if it is judged in S702 of FIG. 7 that there is an ink cartridge whose remaining ink amount is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, even if the ink amount of an ink cartridge is greater than the predetermined threshold, the ink cartridge is added to the ordering list regardless of the remaining ink amount if it has not been ordered. In this embodiment, a threshold is further set for the remaining ink amount of unordered ink cartridges, and only ink cartridges whose ink amount is equal to or less than the threshold are ordered. Note that in this embodiment, the description of the contents common to the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate, and the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0053] Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing up to when the printer management server 101 of this embodiment issues an ordering instruction for a replacement ink cartridge to the retailer server 102. The processing in each step of Fig. 11 is performed by the CPU 201 of the printer management server 101 expanding the program code stored in the ROM 203 or the storage device 204 into the RAM 202 and executing it. The processing from S1101 to S1106 is the same as the processing from S701 to S706 in Fig. 7, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0054] In S1107, the CPU 201 determines whether the remaining amount of ink is equal to or less than the second threshold value. The second threshold here is different from the threshold in S702 or S1102, and is a value such as 100 or 90 that indicates a state in which the remaining ink amount is large. Also, in order to determine ink cartridges with remaining ink amounts equal to or less than the second threshold amount from ink cartridges with remaining ink amounts greater than the predetermined threshold amount, the second threshold amount must be greater than the predetermined threshold amount in S1102. If the determination result in this step is true, it is determined that a replacement has not been ordered, and the process proceeds to S1108. On the other hand, if the determination result in this step is false, it is determined that a replacement has been ordered, and the process proceeds to S1110. The processes from S1108 to S1112 are similar to the processes from S707 to S711 in FIG. 7, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0055] <Effects of this embodiment> According to this embodiment, when ordering an unordered replacement, ink cartridges with ink levels close to those of new ink cartridges can be excluded from the order, thereby reducing the period for which inventory is held by the user.

[0056] <<Other embodiments>> The present invention can also be realized by a process in which a program for implementing one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more of the functions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 101 Printer Management Server 103 Printer 201 CPU

Claims

1. An ordering system including a recording device capable of mounting a plurality of containers for accommodating recording materials, and a server system capable of communicating with the recording device, The recording device includes: transmitting status information, the status information including a value relating to a remaining amount of recording material contained in each of the plurality of containers attached to the recording device and identification information for uniquely identifying the plurality of containers, to the server system at least in response to the power being turned on; The server system includes: a management means for managing identification information of the plurality of containers attached to the recording device in association with order information indicating whether replacements for the plurality of containers have been ordered; a receiving means for receiving the status information transmitted from the recording device; an ordering means for issuing an ordering instruction for a replacement for the at least one container and a replacement for a container other than the at least one container among the plurality of containers for which a replacement has not been ordered, when at least one value indicating a remaining amount of recording material contained in at least one container among the plurality of containers and identified based on the status information received by the receiving means is smaller than a predetermined threshold value and a replacement for the at least one container has not been ordered based on the ordering information managed in correspondence with identification information of the at least one container included in the status information; Equipped with The ordering system is characterized in that, for containers other than the at least one container among the plurality of containers, the ordering means instructs the ordering of a replacement for the container based on the determination that a replacement for the container has not been ordered, based on the order information managed in correspondence with the identification information of the container included in the status information, regardless of the value indicating the remaining amount of recording material contained in the container.

2. The ordering system described in claim 1, characterized in that when a value indicating the remaining amount of recording material contained in each of the plurality of containers, as determined based on the status information received by the receiving means, is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value, the ordering means does not order a replacement for the unordered container, even if there is a container among the plurality of containers for which a replacement has not been ordered.

3. 3. The ordering system according to claim 1, wherein the ordering means updates the ordering information by using the identification information of a container for which an order for a replacement has been instructed.

4. 4. The ordering system according to claim 3, wherein said ordering means does not delete said identification information from said order information even if said identification information is no longer included in said status information.

5. A management means for managing identification information of a plurality of containers attached to a recording device that records an image using a recording material and ordering information indicating whether replacements for the plurality of containers have been ordered, in association with each other; a receiving means for receiving status information transmitted in response to at least the power being turned on in the recording device, the status information including a value relating to the remaining amount of recording material contained in each of a plurality of containers attached to the recording device and identification information for uniquely identifying the plurality of containers; an ordering means for issuing an ordering instruction for a replacement for the at least one container and a replacement for a container other than the at least one container among the plurality of containers for which a replacement has not been ordered, when at least one value indicating a remaining amount of recording material contained in at least one container among the plurality of containers and identified based on the status information received by the receiving means is smaller than a predetermined threshold value and a replacement for the at least one container has not been ordered based on the ordering information managed in correspondence with identification information of the at least one container included in the status information; Equipped with The server system is characterized in that, for containers other than the at least one container among the plurality of containers, the ordering means instructs the ordering of a replacement for the container based on the determination that a replacement for the container has not been ordered, based on the order information managed in correspondence with the identification information of the container included in the status information, regardless of the value indicating the remaining amount of recording material contained in the container.

6. The server system described in claim 5, characterized in that when a value indicating the remaining amount of recording material contained in each of the plurality of containers, as determined based on the status information received by the receiving means, is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value, the ordering means does not order a replacement for the unordered container, even if there is a container among the plurality of containers for which a replacement has not been ordered.

7. 7. The server system according to claim 5, wherein said ordering means updates said order information by using said identification information of a container for which an order for a replacement has been instructed.

8. 8. The server system according to claim 7, wherein said ordering means does not delete said identification information from said order information even if said identification information is no longer included in said status information.

9. A method for controlling a server system, comprising: a management process for managing identification information of a plurality of containers attached to a recording device that records an image using a recording material in association with order information indicating whether replacements for the plurality of containers have been ordered; a receiving step of receiving status information transmitted in response to at least the power being turned on in the recording device, the status information including a value relating to the remaining amount of recording material contained in each of a plurality of containers attached to the recording device and identification information for uniquely identifying the plurality of containers; an ordering process for issuing an ordering instruction for a replacement for the at least one container and a replacement for a container other than the at least one container among the plurality of containers for which a replacement has not been ordered, when at least one value indicating a remaining amount of recording material contained in at least one container among the plurality of containers and identified based on the status information received by the receiving process is smaller than a predetermined threshold value and a replacement for the at least one container has not been ordered based on the ordering information managed in correspondence with identification information of the at least one container included in the status information; Equipped with The control method is characterized in that in the ordering process, for containers other than the at least one container among the multiple containers, an ordering instruction for a replacement container is given based on the ordering information managed in correspondence with the identification information of the container included in the status information, regardless of the value indicating the remaining amount of recording material contained in the container, and based on the determination that a replacement for the container has not been ordered.

10. Computer, A management means for managing identification information of a plurality of containers attached to a recording device that records an image using a recording material and order information indicating whether replacements for the plurality of containers have been ordered, in association with each other; a receiving means for receiving status information transmitted in response to at least the power being turned on in the recording device, the status information including a value relating to the remaining amount of recording material contained in each of a plurality of containers attached to the recording device and identification information for uniquely identifying the plurality of containers; an ordering means for issuing an ordering instruction for ordering a replacement for the at least one container and a replacement for a container other than the at least one container among the plurality of containers for which a replacement has not been ordered, when at least one value indicating a remaining amount of recording material contained in at least one container among the plurality of containers and identified based on the status information received by the receiving means is smaller than a predetermined threshold value and a replacement for the at least one container has not been ordered based on the ordering information managed in correspondence with identification information of the at least one container included in the status information; A program for causing the device to function as a The program is characterized in that, for a container other than the at least one container among the plurality of containers, the ordering means instructs an order for a replacement container based on the determination that a replacement for the container has not been ordered based on the order information managed in correspondence with the identification information of the container included in the status information, regardless of the value indicating the remaining amount of recording material contained in the container.

Images