Computer program, control device, and control method

Abstract

To make a flexible notification regarding a remaining amount of consumables.SOLUTION: A computer program includes: acquiring remaining amount data regarding a remaining amount of a consumable item; calculating a predicted execution time at which predetermined processing relating to replenishment of the consumable item is executed, with using the remaining amount data; determining whether a first specific condition is satisfied or not, with using a plurality of pieces of information including a period for discount sale of the consumable item and the predicted execution time; and executing processing for notifying a user of first information including information regarding the discount sale of the consumable item when it is determined that the first specific condition is satisfied. The program also includes: acquiring remaining amount data regarding a remaining amount of a consumable item in a printer; and executing processing for notifying a user of second information including information regarding purchase of a product for sale associated with a secular change in remaining amount indicated by the remaining amount data, out of a plurality of kinds of consumable items for sale when a second specific condition is satisfied.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present specification relates to a technique for managing consumables. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, printers have been used to print images. Printers are equipped with various consumable parts such as printing materials (ink, toner, etc.), transport rollers, etc. Patent Document 1 proposes a technology for selecting replacement parts to be replaced from among the consumable parts in order of lowest cost, and notifying a user of the replacement parts in order of lowest cost. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2003-66788 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, printers are equipped with consumables, such as printing materials, whose remaining amount decreases as a result of printing. As a process for replenishing the consumables, for example, a notification regarding the remaining amount may be issued. For example, a user may consider purchasing the consumables based on this notification. There is room for improvement in such notifications regarding consumables.

[0005] This specification discloses a technique that allows for flexible notification regarding consumables. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The technology disclosed in this specification can be realized in the following application examples.

[0007] [Application Example 1] A computer program for a computer that controls notifications regarding consumables, the computer program realizing the following functions on the computer: an acquisition function that acquires remaining amount data regarding the remaining amount of consumables in a printer; an execution timing calculation function that uses the remaining amount data to calculate a predicted execution timing for a specified process related to replenishing the consumables; a first judgment function that uses a plurality of information including a discount sale period for the consumables and the calculated execution timing to determine whether a first specific condition is satisfied; and a notification function that, when it is determined that the first specific condition is satisfied, executes a process to notify a user of first information including information regarding the discount sale of the consumables.

[0008] According to this configuration, whether or not the first specific condition is satisfied is determined using multiple pieces of information including the period of discounted sales of the consumables and the calculated execution time, so that, when appropriate, the user can be notified of the first information including information regarding discounted sales of the consumables. [Application example 2] The computer program according to Application Example 1, the first specific condition includes the end of the discount sale period of the consumable product before the calculated execution time; Computer program. [Application example 3] The computer program according to application example 1 or 2, the printer is configured to print an image using L types of consumables (L is an integer equal to or greater than 1); The remaining amount data relates to remaining amounts of L consumables of L types, The first specific condition is satisfied when a first discount condition is satisfied, the first discount condition including that the price of the discounted sale of N items (N is an integer of 2 or more) consisting of one or more types of consumables among the L types of consumables is lower than the price of a set of the N items, The information regarding the discount sale of the consumables included in the first information includes information regarding the discount sale of the N sales items. Computer program. [Application example 4] A computer program according to any one of application examples 1 to 3, The first specific condition includes that the user does not have stock of the consumable that is the subject of the notification. Computer program. [Application example 5] A computer program according to any one of application examples 1 to 5, the remaining amount data indicates a remaining amount of the consumable; the first specific condition includes that the remaining amount of the consumable is equal to or less than a remaining amount threshold value; Computer program.

[0009] [Application Example 6 ]A computer program for a computer that controls notifications regarding consumables, the computer program realizing an acquisition function that acquires remaining amount data regarding the remaining amount of the consumable in the printer, and a notification function that, when a second specific condition is satisfied, executes processing to notify a user of the second information including information regarding the purchase of a sales item, among multiple types of sales items of the consumable, that corresponds to the change over time in the remaining amount indicated by the remaining amount data.

[0010] According to this configuration, it is possible to notify the user of information regarding the purchase of consumable items suitable for changes in the remaining amount over time. [Application Example 7] The computer program according to Application Example 6, The change over time within a first range is associated with a first size of product for sale; A second range of the change over time, which indicates a faster rate of decrease in the remaining amount than the first range, is associated with a second size of the product for sale that is larger than the first size. Computer program. [Application Example 8] The computer program according to Application Example 7, The second specific condition includes that the price of the second size of the product is equal to or less than a price equivalent to the second size based on a discounted sale price of the first size of the product, Computer program.

[0011] The technology disclosed in this specification can be realized in various forms, for example, as a control method and a control device, a computer program for realizing the functions of the method or device, a recording medium on which the computer program is recorded (e.g., a non-transitory recording medium), etc. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a system 1000. [Diagram 2] 13A and 13B are explanatory diagrams showing examples of management data. [Diagram 3] 13A and 13B are explanatory diagrams showing examples of management data. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a printer information transmission process. [Diagram 5] 13A and 13B are flowcharts illustrating an example of a low remaining amount notification process and an exchange registration process, respectively; [Figure 6] 13A to 13E are schematic diagrams showing examples of notification information. [Figure 7] 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a cartridge purchasing process. [Figure 8] 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control process for controlling a notification. [Figure 9] 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control process for controlling a notification. [Figure 10] 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control process for controlling a notification. [Figure 11] 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process for calculating a low remaining amount notification date. [Figure 12] 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a large capacity determination process. [Figure 13] 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a multiple color set determination process. [Figure 14] 13A to 13C are schematic diagrams showing examples of processing by the control process. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing another example of processing by the control processing. [Figure 16] 13A to 13C are schematic diagrams showing another example of processing by the control processing. [Figure 17] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing another example of processing by the control processing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] A. First Example: A-1. System 1000 Configuration: Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a system 1000. The system 1000 includes a printer 100, a user terminal 200, a control server 500, and a sales site server 600. The control server 500 and the sales site server 600 are connected to the Internet IT. The printer 100 and the user terminal 200 are connected to a local area network LN. The local area network LN is connected to the Internet IT. These devices 100, 200, 500, and 600 can communicate with each other.

[0014] The printer 100 includes a CPU 110, a storage device 115, a display unit 140, an operation unit 150, a print execution unit 900, and a communication interface 180. These elements are connected to each other via a bus. The storage device 115 includes a volatile storage device 120 and a non-volatile storage device 130.

[0015] The display unit 140 is a device that displays an image, and is, for example, a liquid crystal display. The operation unit 150 is a device that receives operations by a user, and includes, for example, a touch panel that is arranged over the display unit 140. The user can input various instructions to the printer 100 by operating the operation unit 150. The communication interface 180 is an interface for communicating with other devices (for example, a wired LAN interface, a wireless interface of IEEE802.11). In this embodiment, the communication interface 180 is connected to a local area network LN. The print execution unit 900 is a device that prints an image on paper (an example of a print medium) using a printing material in a predetermined method (for example, a laser method or an inkjet method). In this embodiment, the print execution unit 900 is an inkjet type printing device that can print color images using four types of ink: cyan C, magenta M, yellow Y, and black K. The print execution unit 900 is provided with an attachment unit 950. Four types of normal ink cartridges CC, CM, CY, and CK corresponding to the four colors CMYK are mounted in the mounting portion 950 (hereinafter, the normal ink cartridges will also be simply referred to as normal cartridges). In this embodiment, instead of the normal ink cartridges CC, CM, CY, and CK, large-capacity cartridges CCx, CMx, CYx, and CKx that contain larger amounts of ink can be mounted in the mounting portion 950. When the remaining amount of ink is low, the cartridge is removed from the mounting portion 950 and a new cartridge (normal cartridge or large-capacity cartridge) is mounted in the mounting portion 950 to replenish the ink.

[0016] The CPU 110 is an example of a data processing device. The volatile storage device 120 is, for example, a DRAM, and the non-volatile storage device 130 is, for example, a flash memory. The non-volatile storage device 130 stores a program PG1. The CPU 110 executes various processes by executing the program PG1. The CPU 110 temporarily stores various intermediate data used in the execution of the program PG1 in a storage device 115 (for example, the volatile storage device 120 or the non-volatile storage device 130). Details of the processes executed by the CPU 110 will be described later. In this embodiment, the program PG1 is stored in advance in the non-volatile storage device 130 as firmware by the manufacturer of the printer 100.

[0017] The control server 500 is an example of a computer that controls notifications regarding the remaining amount of ink in each of a plurality of printers including the printer 100. The control server 500 includes a CPU 510, a storage device 515, and a communication interface 580. These elements are connected to each other via a bus. The storage device 515 includes a volatile storage device 520 and a non-volatile storage device 530.

[0018] The communication interface 580 is an interface for communicating with other devices (for example, a wired LAN interface, or an IEEE802.11 wireless interface). In this embodiment, the communication interface 580 is connected to the Internet IT.

[0019] The CPU 510 is an example of a data processing device. The volatile storage device 520 is, for example, a DRAM, and the non-volatile storage device 530 is, for example, a flash memory. The non-volatile storage device 530 stores a program PG5 and management data DB1-DB4. The CPU 510 controls notifications regarding the remaining amount of ink by executing the program PG5. The CPU 510 temporarily stores various intermediate data used in the execution of the program PG5 in a storage device 515 (for example, the volatile storage device 520 or the non-volatile storage device 530). The processes executed by the CPU 510 and the management data DB1-DB4 will be described in detail later.

[0020] The user terminal 200 is a terminal device of a user who manages the printer 100 (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet computer, etc.). Using the user terminal 200, the user can receive notifications regarding the remaining amount of ink in the printer 100. The user terminal 200 includes a CPU 210, a storage device 215, a display unit 240, an operation unit 250, and a communication interface 280. These elements are connected to each other via a bus. The storage device 215 includes a volatile storage device 220 and a non-volatile storage device 230.

[0021] The display unit 240 is a device that displays images, such as a liquid crystal display. The operation unit 250 is a device that receives operations by a user, and in this embodiment includes a touch panel that is superimposed on the display unit 240. The user can input various instructions to the user terminal 200 by operating the operation unit 250.

[0022] The communication interface 280 is an interface for communicating with other devices (for example, a wired LAN interface, an IEEE802.11 wireless interface), and in this embodiment, the communication interface 280 is connected to a local area network LN.

[0023] The CPU 210 is an example of a data processing device. The volatile storage device 220 is, for example, a DRAM, and the non-volatile storage device 230 is, for example, a flash memory. The non-volatile storage device 230 stores a program PG2. The CPU 210 executes the program PG2 to execute various functions related to the printer 100 (details will be described later).

[0024] The CPU 210 temporarily stores various intermediate data used in the execution of the program PG2 in a storage device (for example, the volatile storage device 220 or the non-volatile storage device 230). In this embodiment, the program PG2 is provided by a server (not shown). Alternatively, the program PG2 may be provided by a portable recording medium such as a memory card.

[0025] The sales site server 600 is a server that sells cartridges that contain printing materials (ink, toner, etc.) by mail order. Although not shown in the figure, the hardware configuration of the sales site server 600 is the same as the hardware configuration of the control server 500.

[0026] A-2. Management data structure: 2(A), 2(B), 3(A), and 3(B) are explanatory diagrams showing examples of management data used to manage the printer 100. FIG. 2(A) shows an example of the first management data DB1 (also simply referred to as the first data DB1). The first data DB1 is data relating to the configuration of each of a plurality of printers and the remaining amount of ink. Specifically, the first data DB1 shows the correspondence between the printer identifier PID, the first type T11, the second type T12, the cartridge replacement date D1, and the remaining amount of consumables A1. The printer identifier PID is the identification information of the printer. The first type T11 shows the printing method of the printer. In this embodiment, the first type T11 is "ink (inkjet method)" or "laser (laser method)". The second type T12 shows the type of printing color of the printer. In this embodiment, the second type T12 is "color (color printer)" or "mono (monochrome printer)". A color printer prints color images using four color printing materials, CMYK. A monochrome printer prints monochrome images using K (black) printing material. The cartridge replacement date D1 indicates the last replacement date and the date before last replacement date for each cartridge usable by the printer. The consumables remaining amount A1 indicates the remaining amount of each printing material usable by the printer (in this embodiment, the unit is percentage). The information PID, T11, T12, and A1 about the printer are registered in advance by the administrator of the control server 500. The remaining amount of each printing material in the consumables remaining amount A1 is set to a predetermined initial value (for example, 100%). The cartridge replacement date D1 and the consumables remaining amount A1 are updated by the printer information transmission process described later.

[0027] FIG. 2(B) shows an example of the second management data DB2 (also simply referred to as the second data DB2). The second data DB2 is data related to a user and a printer owned by the user. Specifically, the second data DB2 shows the correspondence between a user identifier UID, authentication data D2, name NM, address AD, owned printer UPID, and cartridge inventory CS. The user identifier UID is user identification information. The authentication data D2 is authentication data (e.g., a hash value of a password) for receiving services from the control server 500. The name NM and address AD are the name and address of the user. The owned printer UPID is an identifier PID of the printer owned by the user. The cartridge inventory CS is the number of cartridges owned by the user, and indicates the number of each cartridge that can be installed in the printer. The information UID, D2, NM, AD, and UPID about the user are registered in advance by the administrator of the control server 500. The number of each cartridge in the cartridge inventory CS is set to a predetermined initial value (for example, 0). The cartridge inventory CS is updated by processes (printer information transmission process, purchase process, etc.) described later.

[0028] FIG. 3(A) shows an example of the third management data DB3 (also simply referred to as the third data DB3). The third data DB3 is data related to a limited-time discount sale of a cartridge. Specifically, the third data DB3 shows the correspondence between a code name N31, a product name N32, a discount rate R3, a distribution start date D31, an expiration date D32, and a notified user NU. The code name N31 is identification information of the discount sale. The product name N32 is the product name of the cartridge subject to the discount sale. The discount rate R3 is the discount rate of the price due to the discount sale. The distribution start date D31 is the start date of the discount sale. The expiration date D32 is the expiration date of the discount sale, that is, the end date of the discount sale. In this embodiment, the information D31 and D32 show a combination of a year, a month, and a day. The notified user NU is an identifier UID of a user who has been notified about the discount sale. When multiple users have been notified about one discount sale, the notified user NU indicates the identifiers UID of the multiple notified users. The CPU 510 of the control server 500 acquires information about the discount sale from the sales site server 600, and updates the information N31, N32, R3, D31, and D32 in the third data DB3 based on the acquired information. The notified user NU is updated by processing (such as control processing) described later.

[0029] FIG. 3B shows an example of the fourth management data DB4 (also simply referred to as the fourth data DB4). The fourth data DB4 is data related to the cartridges sold through the sales site server 600. Specifically, the fourth data DB4 shows the correspondence between the country code CD, the type T4, the product name N32, the unit price PR, and the stock quantity NC. The country code CD is identification information of the country in which the product is sold. The type T4 is the type of the product. In this embodiment, the type of the product is one of a plurality of types including "monochrome", "four-color pack", "two-pack", "large-capacity monochrome", "large-capacity four-color pack", and "large-capacity two-pack". "Monochrome" is one normal cartridge of any one of the colors CMYK. "Four-color pack" is a pack of four normal cartridges of CMYK. "Two-pack" is a pack of two normal cartridges of any one of the colors CMYK. "Large-capacity monochrome" is one large-capacity cartridge of any one of the colors CMYK. A "large-capacity four-color pack" is a pack of four large-capacity cartridges of CMYK. A "large-capacity two-pack" is a pack of two large-capacity cartridges of one of the colors CMYK. Product name N32 is the product name of the item for sale. Unit price PR is the unit price of the item for sale. Stock quantity NC is the number of items in stock for sale via the sales site server 600. Information CD, T4, N32, PR, and NC relating to the items for sale is registered in advance by the administrator of the control server 500. Stock quantity NC is updated by processes (such as purchase processes) described below. Furthermore, when the stock for sale is replenished, the administrator updates the stock quantity NC.

[0030] A-3. Printer information transmission process: Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the printer information transmission process. The printer information transmission process is a process for registering the printer usage history in the control server 500 (Fig. 1). The process of Fig. 4 will be described below assuming that the usage history of the printer 100 is to be registered. The CPU 110 of the printer 100 executes the process of Fig. 4 in accordance with the program PG1. In this embodiment, the CPU 110 starts the process of Fig. 4 in response to the start-up of the printer 100.

[0031] In S110, the CPU 110 executes a user registration process. The user operates the operation unit 150 to input his / her user identifier UID and his / her authentication key (password, private key, etc.) to the printer 100. Hereinafter, the input user identifier UID is also called the "noted user identifier UID", the input authentication key is also called the "input authentication key", and the user associated with the noted user identifier UID is also called the "noted user". The CPU 110 transmits registration data indicating the noted printer identifier PID, which is a predetermined printer identifier PID of the printer 100, the noted user identifier UID, and the input authentication key to the control server 500. Hereinafter, the printer 100 associated with the noted printer identifier PID is also called the noted printer 100. The CPU 510 of the control server 500 performs user authentication using the input authentication key and authentication data D2 (FIG. 2(B)) associated with the noted user identifier UID.

[0032] If the user authentication is successful, the CPU 510 of the control server 500 searches the second data DB2 for a noteworthy correspondence between the noteworthy user identifier UID and the noteworthy printer identifier PID. If the noteworthy correspondence is not found, the CPU 510 adds the noteworthy correspondence to the second data DB2. The CPU 510 determines other information D2, NM, and AD related to the noteworthy user to values ​​previously associated with the noteworthy user identifier UID, respectively. The CPU 510 determines the cartridge inventory CS to a predetermined initial value (for example, the respective numbers of all cartridges are zero). If the noteworthy correspondence is found in the second data DB2, the CPU 510 does not change the second data DB2. In either case, the CPU 510 notifies the printer 100 of the end of the process.

[0033] If the user authentication is not successful, the CPU 510 transmits data indicating the authentication failure to the printer 100 (not shown). The CPU 110 of the printer 100 displays information indicating the authentication failure on the display unit 140, and ends the processing of Fig. 4. The CPU 110 may prompt the user to input a new combination of the user identifier UID and the authentication key.

[0034] After S110, the CPU 110 of the printer 100 repeatedly executes the determination processes of S120 and S140 described below (for example, S120 and S140 are executed multiple times a day).

[0035] In S120, the CPU 110 determines whether the printer 100 has printed since the previous S120. If the determination result in S120 is Yes, in S130, the CPU 110 transmits remaining amount history data indicating information regarding the remaining ink amount of the printer 100 to the control server 500. In this embodiment, the remaining amount history data indicates the target printer identifier PID and the remaining amount of each printing material.

[0036] Although not shown, in this embodiment, the print execution unit 900 of the printer 100 (FIG. 1) is equipped with a remaining amount measuring device that measures the remaining amount of printing material. The printer 100 CPU 110 transmits remaining amount history data indicating the remaining amount of each color measured by the remaining amount measuring device to the control server 500. The remaining amount measuring device may be various devices that measure the remaining amount of printing material. When the print execution unit 900 is an inkjet printer, the remaining amount measuring device may include, for example, a light source that irradiates a portion of the ink cartridge that contains ink (for example, a storage chamber) and an optical sensor that detects reflected light from the storage chamber or transmitted light that has passed through the storage chamber. When the print execution unit 160 is a laser printer, the remaining amount measuring device may be, for example, a device that measures electrostatic capacitance that changes depending on the remaining amount of toner. Also, the remaining amount measuring device may be omitted. In this case, the CPU 110 may calculate the remaining amount of each color by calculating the amount of printing material used in printing. For example, the CPU 110 may calculate the remaining amount by subtracting the amount of printing material used from the remaining amount when a new cartridge of printing material is installed (eg, 100%).

[0037] S135 and S137 are processes performed by the control server 500 in response to receipt of remaining amount history data. The CPU 510 of the control server 500 executes the processes of S135 and S137 in accordance with the program PG5. In S135, the CPU 510 updates the remaining amounts of each printing material in the consumable remaining amount A1 associated with the target printer identifier PID indicated by the remaining amount history data in the first data DB1 (FIG. 2A) to the remaining amounts indicated by the remaining amount history data.

[0038] At S137, CPU 510 executes a low remaining amount notification process. Fig. 5(A) is a flowchart showing an example of the low remaining amount notification process. The low remaining amount notification process is a process for notifying the user of a low remaining amount when the remaining amount is equal to or less than a notification threshold. The notification threshold is determined in advance, and is, for example, a value between 10% and 30%.

[0039] In S910, the CPU 510 of the control server 500 initializes the notification candidate color list to "empty."

[0040] In S915, the CPU 510 selects an unprocessed color as the target color from the colors of printing materials usable by the target printer 100. In S920, the CPU 510 refers to the first data DB1 (FIG. 2(A)) and determines whether the remaining amount of the target color indicated by the consumable remaining amount A1 associated with the target printer identifier PID is equal to or less than the notification threshold.

[0041] If the remaining amount of the color of interest is equal to or less than the notification threshold (S920: Yes), in S925, the CPU 510 adds the color of interest to the notification candidate color list and proceeds to S930. If the remaining amount of the color of interest is greater than the notification threshold (S920: No), the CPU 510 skips S925 and proceeds to S930.

[0042] In S930, the CPU 510 determines whether or not processing has been completed for all printing materials (i.e., all colors) that can be used by the target printer 100. If unprocessed colors remain (S930: No), the CPU 510 proceeds to S915 and processes a new color.

[0043] If the processing of all colors has been completed (S930: Yes), in S935, CPU 510 determines whether or not the notification candidate color list is empty. If the notification candidate color list is empty (S935: Yes), CPU 510 ends the processing of Fig. 5(A), i.e., S137 of Fig. 4, without notifying of a low remaining amount.

[0044] If the notification candidate color list includes one or more colors (S935: No), in S940, CPU 510 determines whether or not recommendation information has been set. The recommendation information is information regarding the purchase of cartridges recommended to the user of interest, such as the purchase of a "two pack (FIG. 3(B))", and can be set by the "large capacity determination process" and the "multiple color set determination process" described later.

[0045] If the recommended information is not set (S940: No), in S950, CPU 510 generates notification data indicating the notification information using the notification candidate color list. The notification information indicates that the remaining amount of each color in the notification candidate color list is low. In S955, CPU 510 transmits the notification data to a terminal device (in this embodiment, user terminal 200) that is associated in advance with the noted user identifier UID. In response to receiving the notification data, CPU 210 of user terminal 200 notifies the user of the notification information (in this embodiment, the notification information is displayed on display unit 240). CPU 210 executes program PG2 to perform notification processing.

[0046] Although not shown in the figure, the user identifier UID is previously associated with identification information of the terminal device. For example, the second data DB2 (FIG. 2(B)) may further include data indicating identification information of the terminal device associated with the user identifier UID. The identification information of the terminal device may be any information for identifying the terminal device (for example, a serial number, IP address, MAC address, etc., unique to the device).

[0047] 6(A)-6(E) are schematic diagrams showing examples of notification information. In each diagram, the display unit 240 of the user terminal 200 is shown. A first message MS1 is displayed on the display unit 240 in FIG. 6(A). The first message MS1 indicates that the remaining amount of black K is low. The first message MS1 is an example of notification information generated in S950 (FIG. 5(A)). The CPU 210 uses a message display function of the operating system running on the user terminal 200 to display the message on the display unit 240. Alternatively, the program PG2 may realize a function of displaying a message on the display unit 240 as a function of an application running in the background.

[0048] If the recommended information is set (FIG. 5(A), S940: Yes), in S945, the CPU 510 generates notification data indicating the notification information using the recommended information in addition to the notification candidate color list. The notification information indicates that the remaining amount of each color in the notification candidate color list is low, as well as information regarding the recommended information. Then, the CPU 510 proceeds to S955. The messages MS2a and MS3a in FIG. 6(B) and FIG. 6(D) are examples of notification information generated using the recommended information. The message MS2a (FIG. 6(B)) indicates that the remaining amount of yellow Y is low and that a four-color pack is recommended. The message MS3a (FIG. 6(D)) indicates that the remaining amount of black K is low and that a large-capacity cartridge is recommended. In this embodiment, the displayed image (e.g., message MS2a, etc.) can be operated by operating (e.g., tapping, swiping, etc.) a portion of the operation unit 250 that overlaps with the displayed image.

[0049] Message MS2b in FIG. 6(C) is an example of information displayed in response to tapping message MS2a (FIG. 6(B)). Message MS2b shows a purchase button B2a for the regular set and a purchase button B2b for the four-color pack. The user can start the purchase process by tapping either purchase button B2a or B2b (described later). Note that the notification data (S945, S950) may include commands for displaying messages in two stages in this manner.

[0050] Message MS3b in Fig. 6(E) is an example of information displayed in response to tapping message MS3a (Fig. 6(D)). Message MS3b shows a purchase button B3a for a normal cartridge and a purchase button B3b for a large-capacity cartridge. The user can start the purchase process by tapping either purchase button B3a or B3b (described later).

[0051] After S955, the CPU 510 of the control server 500 ends the process of FIG. 5(A), that is, S137 of FIG.

[0052] 4, the CPU 110 of the printer 100 proceeds to S140. This proceeds without waiting for the completion of S135 and S137. Alternatively, the CPU 510 of the control server 500 may transmit a completion notification to the printer 100 when S137 is completed. Then, the CPU 110 of the printer 100 may proceed to S140 in response to receiving the completion notification.

[0053] If the determination result in S120 is No, the CPU 110 skips S130 (and further S135 and S137) and proceeds to S140.

[0054] In S140, CPU 110 determines whether or not the cartridge has been replaced since the previous S140. Any method may be used to determine whether or not the cartridge has been replaced. In this embodiment, CPU 110 determines that the cartridge has been replaced when the remaining amount of printing material has increased. Alternatively, mounting unit 950 (FIG. 1) may be provided with a switch (not shown) that detects the cartridge. CPU 110 may detect the replacement of the cartridge using a signal from the switch.

[0055] If it is determined that the cartridge has been replaced since the previous S140 (SS140: Yes), in S150, CPU 110 transmits replacement history data indicating information regarding the cartridge replacement to control server 500. In this embodiment, the replacement history data indicates the noted user identifier UID, the noted printer identifier PID, the color of the printing material of the replaced cartridge (referred to as the replacement color), and the replacement date (year, month, and day). CPU 110 obtains the year, month, and day when the cartridge was replaced using data from a timer (not shown) provided in printer 100. If multiple cartridges have been replaced, the replacement history data indicates information regarding all of the replaced cartridges.

[0056] The exchange registration process of S155 is a process that is performed by the control server 500 in response to reception of the exchange history data. The CPU 510 of the control server 500 executes the process of S155 in accordance with the program PG5.

[0057] Fig. 5(B) is a flow chart showing an example of replacement registration processing. In S980, CPU 510 updates first data DB1 (Fig. 2(A)) based on the replacement history data. CPU 510 updates the cartridge replacement date D1 associated with the target printer identifier PID indicated by the replacement history data from the replacement date before last to the previous replacement date of the replacement color, and updates the previous replacement date of the replacement color to the replacement date indicated by the replacement history data.

[0058] In S985, the CPU 510 updates the second data DB2 (FIG. 2(BR)) based on the replacement history data. The CPU 510 updates the inventory of the replacement color in the cartridge inventory CS associated with the combination of the noted user identifier UID and the noted printer identifier PID indicated by the replacement history data to a value obtained by subtracting 1 from the value before the update.

[0059] When the replacement history data indicates information on a plurality of cartridges, the CPU 510 updates the information on each cartridge (that is, each replacement color) in each of S980 and S985.

[0060] In response to the completion of S985, CPU 510 ends the process of Fig. 5(B), i.e., the process of S155 in Fig. 4. After S150, CPU 110 of printer 100 proceeds to S120. This proceeding is performed without waiting for completion of S155. Alternatively, CPU 510 of control server 500 may transmit a completion notification to printer 100 when S155 is completed. Then, CPU 110 of printer 100 may proceed to S120 in response to receiving the completion notification.

[0061] If the determination result in S140 is No, the CPU 110 skips S150 (and therefore S155) and proceeds to S120.

[0062] Thereafter, the CPU 110 repeats the above-mentioned process, whereby the CPU 510 of the control server 500 can update the data DB1 and DB2 so that they indicate the latest information.

[0063] A-4.Purchase process: Fig. 7 is a flow chart showing an example of cartridge purchasing processing. The purchasing processing is performed according to a user's instruction. For example, when the purchase buttons B2a, B2b, B3a, and B3b in Fig. 6(C) and Fig. 6(E) are tapped, the purchasing processing of the cartridge associated with the button is executed. The following description will be given on the assumption that the user of the user terminal 200 purchases a cartridge.

[0064] In S210, the CPU 210 of the user terminal 200 transmits purchase instruction data to the control server 500 according to the program PG2. The purchase instruction data indicates a user identifier UID and purchase information. The purchase information includes purchased cartridge information, which is identification information of the cartridge to be purchased, and the number of cartridges to be purchased. The CPU 510 of the control server 500 processes the purchase instruction data according to the program PG5. In this embodiment, the CPU 510 transmits the purchase instruction data to the sales site server 600. The sales site server 600 performs a settlement process for purchase based on the purchase information by a method previously associated with the user identifier UID indicated by the purchase instruction data (for example, a credit card associated with the user identifier UID is used for settlement). Although not shown in the figure, the sales site server 600 also executes a process (for example, transmission of shipping instruction data to a computer of a shipping facility) for shipping the purchased item to the address AD (FIG. 2(B)) associated with the user identifier UID.

[0065] In S220, the CPU 510 of the control server 500 uses the purchase instruction data to update the second data DB2 (FIG. 2(B)). The CPU 510 refers to the cartridge inventory CS associated with the combination of the user identifier UID indicated by the purchase instruction data and the owned printer UPID indicating the printer previously associated with the purchased cartridge information. The CPU 510 then updates the inventory corresponding to the purchased cartridge information in the cartridge inventory CS to a value obtained by adding the number of purchases to the value before the update.

[0066] In S230, the CPU 510 uses the purchase instruction data to update the fourth data DB4 (FIG. 3B). The CPU 510 updates the stock quantity NC associated with the product name N32 of the purchased cartridge information to a value obtained by subtracting the purchase quantity from the value before the update.

[0067] After S230, the CPU 510 ends the processing of Fig. 7. Through the processing of Fig. 7, the CPU 510 can update the data DB2 and DB4 to indicate the latest information.

[0068] A-5. Control processing: 8-10 are flow charts showing an example of a control process for controlling notification. FIG. 9 shows a continuation of the process of FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 shows a continuation of the process of FIG. 9. In this embodiment, the CPU 510 of the control server 500 repeatedly executes the control process (for example, once a day) according to the program PG5. The CPU 510 also executes the control process for each of the multiple printer identifiers PID. Here, the control process will be described assuming that the printer 100 is the target of the control process. Hereinafter, the printer identifier PID that is the target of the control process will be referred to as the noted printer identifier PID, and the printer associated with the noted printer identifier PID will be referred to as the noted printer. Also, the user identifier UID of the owner of the printer associated with the noted printer identifier PID will be referred to as the noted user identifier UID, and the user associated with the noted user identifier UID will be referred to as the noted user.

[0069] In S310, the CPU 510 requests information on discount sales from the sales site server 600. In response to the request, the sales site server 600 transmits discount sales data indicating the latest information on discount sales to the control server 500. The discount sales data indicates information N31, N32, R3, D31, and D32 in FIG. 3(A). The CPU 510 updates the third data DB3 based on the discount sales data. As a result, the CPU 510 adds information on new discount sales to the third data DB3 and deletes information on discount sales that have ended from the third data DB3.

[0070] In S315, the CPU 510 refers to the third data DB3 to search for valid and unnotified discount sales. If the current date is within the period from the distribution start date D31 to the expiration date D32, the discount sale is valid. Also, if the notified user NU does not include the noted user identifier UID, the discount sale is unnotified. The CPU 510 refers to the second data DB2 (FIG. 2(B)) to obtain the user identifier UID associated with the noted printer identifier PID as the noted user identifier UID.

[0071] In S320, CPU 510 determines whether or not a valid and unannounced discount sale has been detected. If no such discount sale has been detected (S320: No), CPU 510 ends the control process.

[0072] If one or more discount sales are detected (S320: Yes), in S325, the CPU 510 initializes the notification candidate color list to "empty" and initializes the notification candidate discount list to "empty."

[0073] In S330, the CPU 510 selects an unprocessed discount sale from the discount sales detected in S315 as a target discount sale. In S335, the CPU 510 selects an unprocessed color from the colors of the printing material used by the target printer 100 as a target color. If the target printer 100 is a color printer, the target color is selected from CMYK. If the target printer is a monochrome printer, the target color is black K.

[0074] In S340, the CPU 510 refers to the data DB2 (FIG. 2B) and acquires the stock quantity of the target color from the cartridge stock CS associated with the target user identifier UID.

[0075] In S345, CPU 510 determines whether the inventory of the color of interest is zero. If the inventory of the color of interest is zero (S345: Yes), in S350, CPU 510 executes a calculation process for the notification date of low remaining amount. The notification of low remaining amount is the notification performed in S137 of FIG.

[0076] 11 is a flow chart showing an example of a calculation process for the low remaining amount notification date. In S510, CPU 510 refers to cartridge replacement date D1 in first data DB1 (FIG. 2(A)) and acquires the latest cartridge replacement date of the target color (the previous replacement date in this embodiment), which is the replacement date associated with the target printer identifier PID. In S515, CPU 510 refers to consumable remaining amount A1 in first data DB1 and acquires the current remaining amount of the target color, which is the remaining amount associated with the target printer identifier PID.

[0077] In S520, the CPU 510 uses the replacement date and the remaining amount to calculate the date (hereinafter referred to as the predicted notification date) when a low remaining amount notification is predicted to be executed. In this embodiment, the CPU 510 uses the latest replacement date and the remaining amount on the replacement date (i.e., 100%), the current date, and the current remaining amount to calculate the rate of decrease of the remaining amount (decrease rate = (100% - current remaining amount) / (current date - latest replacement date)). Assuming that the remaining amount decreases at this decrease rate, the CPU 510 calculates the number of days for the remaining amount to reach the notification threshold (FIG. 5 (A): S920) (number of days = (current remaining amount - notification threshold) / decrease rate). The CPU 510 calculates the predicted notification date by adding the calculated number of days to the current date. Then, the CPU 510 ends the process of FIG. 11, i.e., S350 of FIG. 8.

[0078] In S355 of Fig. 8, the CPU 510 refers to the third data DB3 (Fig. 3(A)) to obtain the expiration date D32 of the targeted discount sale. Then, the CPU 510 determines whether the targeted discount sale will end before the predicted notification date.

[0079] If the target discount sale ends before the predicted notification date (S355: Yes), in S360, the CPU 510 obtains the current remaining amount of the target color. The process of S360 is the same as the process of S515 in FIG.

[0080] In S365, CPU 510 determines whether the remaining amount of the color of interest is equal to or less than a predetermined remaining amount threshold. The remaining amount threshold is determined so that, when the remaining amount of the color of interest is equal to or less than the remaining amount threshold and the user purchases a new cartridge of the color of interest, use of the new cartridge will begin in the near future (e.g., before the expiration date of the cartridge). The remaining amount threshold may be the same as the notification threshold (FIG. 5(A): S920) or may be greater than the notification threshold. The remaining amount threshold may be, for example, a value between 20% and 80%.

[0081] If the remaining amount of the noticeable color is equal to or less than the remaining amount threshold (S365: Yes), the CPU 510 adds the noticeable color to the notification candidate color list in S370 of Fig. 9. Then, the CPU 510 proceeds to S375.

[0082] If the determination result in any one of the three steps S345, S355, and S365 is No, the CPU 510 skips S370 (FIG. 9) and proceeds to S375.

[0083] In S375, the CPU 510 determines whether or not processing has been completed for all colors of the printing material used by the target printer 100. If there are unprocessed colors remaining (S375: No), the CPU 510 proceeds to S335 in FIG. 8 and processes the new color.

[0084] If the processing for all colors has been completed (S375: Yes), CPU 510 determines in S380 whether all colors subject to the discount in the featured discount sale (i.e., all cartridges subject to the discount) are included in the notification candidate color list. If the determination result in S380 is Yes, CPU 510 executes a large capacity determination process in S385.

[0085] FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of large capacity determination processing. The large capacity determination processing is processing for determining whether or not to recommend the purchase of a large capacity cartridge rather than a cartridge purchase in the featured discount sale. In S610, CPU 510 calculates the reduction rate V of the remaining amount for each of all colors that are discounted in the featured discount sale. The calculation method of reduction rate V is the same as the calculation method explained in S520 of FIG. 11. In S610, CPU 510 may reuse the reduction rate calculated in S520 of FIG. 11 without calculating reduction rate V. Hereinafter, the discounted colors in the featured discount sale are also referred to as discounted colors.

[0086] In S620, the CPU 510 uses the reduction rate V to calculate the number of days Dc required to consume the large capacity Am, which is the capacity of the large capacity cartridge (Dc=Am / V). The number of days Dc is calculated for each discounted color. In this embodiment, the large capacity Am is 200%.

[0087] In S630, the CPU 510 judges whether or not the consumption condition that the number of days Dc is equal to or less than a predetermined large-capacity threshold DcT is satisfied. The consumption condition indicates that the rate of decrease V of the remaining amount is faster so that a large-capacity cartridge is recommended over a normal cartridge. The number of days Dc being equal to or less than the large-capacity threshold DcT indicates that the rate of decrease V is equal to or greater than a predetermined rate threshold (=Am / Dct). The large-capacity threshold DcT is preferably equal to or less than the number of days until the expiration date of the large-capacity cartridge. The number of days until the expiration date is a number of days determined according to the large-capacity cartridge, and may be, for example, any of the number of days from the date of manufacture, the number of days from the date of opening, and the number of days from the date of replacement. In addition, the large-capacity threshold DcT is preferably large. The large-capacity threshold DcT may be, for example, a value of 100 days or more and 700 days or less. In this embodiment, if one or more discount target colors satisfy the consumption condition, the judgment result in S630 is Yes. Hereinafter, the discount target color that satisfies the consumption condition is also referred to as a large-capacity recommended color.

[0088] If none of the discounted colors satisfy the consumption conditions (S630: No), the CPU 510 determines that the purchase of the large-capacity cartridge is not recommended (S690) and ends the process of FIG. 12, that is, the process of S385 in FIG.

[0089] If one or more discount target colors satisfy the consumption condition (S630: Yes), in S640, the CPU 510 calculates the number Q of regular cartridges to replenish the same amount of printing material as the large capacity Am. In this embodiment, the large capacity Am is twice the normal capacity, which is the capacity of the regular cartridge. Therefore, the number Q is "2". Then, the CPU 510 refers to the third data DB3 (FIG. 3(A)) to obtain the price P11 (referred to as the discount price P11) for purchasing Q cartridges through the featured discount sale. The CPU 510 also refers to the fourth data DB4 (FIG. 3(B)) to obtain the price P12 of the large capacity cartridge (referred to as the large capacity price P12). The CPU 510 obtains the prices P11 and P12 for each large capacity recommended color.

[0090] It should be noted that the large-capacity Am does not have to be an integer multiple of the normal capacity. For example, the large-capacity Am may be 1.5 times the normal capacity. In this case, the number Q is 1.5. Thus, the number Q may be a value that is not an integer. When the number Q is not an integer, the discount price P11 may be a value obtained by multiplying the price of purchasing one normal cartridge through a featured discount sale by the number Q. Thus, the discount price P11 may be a price equivalent to the large-capacity Am based on the discounted price of normal-capacity printing materials (i.e., a price obtained by multiplying the discounted price of normal-capacity printing materials by the ratio (large-capacity Am / normal capacity)).

[0091] In S650, the CPU 510 judges whether the discount recommendation condition that the discount price P11 is lower than the large-volume price P12 is satisfied. In this embodiment, if all the large-volume recommended colors satisfy the discount recommendation condition, the judgment result in S650 is Yes. If one or more large-volume recommended colors do not satisfy the discount recommendation condition, the judgment result in S650 is No.

[0092] If one or more of the recommended large capacity colors do not satisfy the discount recommendation conditions (S650: No), then in S670, the CPU 510 determines that the purchase of a large capacity cartridge is recommended. In S680, the CPU 510 sets recommendation information indicating that the purchase of a large capacity cartridge is recommended for the recommended large capacity colors that do not satisfy the discount recommendation conditions. This recommendation information will be used in S940 and S945 of the future low remaining amount notification process (FIG. 5(A)). Then, the CPU 510 ends the process of FIG. 12, i.e., the process of S385 of FIG. 9.

[0093] For example, assume that the featured discount sale is a discount sale of a regular cartridge CK of black K, and that black K is included in the notification candidate color list (FIG. 9: S380: Yes). Furthermore, assume that for black K, the number of days Dc is equal to or less than the large-capacity threshold DcT (FIG. 12: S630: Yes), and the discount price P11 is equal to or greater than the large-capacity price P12 (FIG. 12: S650: No). In this case, in S680, CPU 510 sets recommendation information indicating that the purchase of a large-capacity cartridge of black K is recommended. Message MS3a in FIG. 6(D) is an example of a notification based on such recommendation information.

[0094] If all of the large capacity recommended colors satisfy the discount recommendation conditions (S650: Yes), the CPU 510 determines that the purchase of the large capacity cartridge is not recommended (S660) and ends the process of FIG. 12, that is, the process of S385 in FIG.

[0095] After S385 (FIG. 9), in S390, the CPU 510 determines whether or not the purchase of a large-capacity cartridge is recommended based on the result of S385. If the purchase of a large-capacity cartridge is not recommended (S390: No), the CPU 510 executes a multi-color set determination process in S395. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the multi-color set determination process. The multi-color set determination process is a process for determining whether or not the purchase of a set of cartridges of multiple colors should be recommended, rather than the purchase of cartridges at a special discount sale. Hereinafter, a set of cartridges of multiple colors will also be referred to as a multi-color set. In this embodiment, a four-color pack (FIG. 3(B)) is an example of a multi-color set.

[0096] In S730, CPU 510 determines whether each color of the multi-color set (in this embodiment, each color of CMYK) is included in the notification candidate color list. If one or more colors of the multi-color set are not included in the notification candidate color list (S730: No), CPU 510 determines that the purchase of the multi-color set is not recommended (S790) and ends the process of Fig. 13, i.e., the process of S395 in Fig. 9.

[0097] If each color of the multi-color set is included in the notification candidate color list (S730: Yes), in S740, CPU 510 refers to third data DB3 (FIG. 3(A)) and obtains price P21 for purchasing each cartridge of the multi-color set through the featured discount sale (referred to as discount price P21). CPU 510 also refers to fourth data DB4 (FIG. 3(B)) and obtains price P22 of the multi-color set (referred to as set price P22).

[0098] In S750, CPU 510 determines whether discount price P21 is lower than set price P22. If discount price P21 is equal to or higher than set price P22 (S750: No), in S770 CPU 510 determines that the purchase of the multi-color set is recommended. In S780, CPU 510 sets recommendation information indicating that the purchase of the multi-color set is recommended. This recommendation information will be used in future S940 and S945 of the low remaining amount notification process (FIG. 5(A)). Then, CPU 510 ends the process of FIG. 13, i.e., the process of S395 of FIG. 9.

[0099] For example, assume that the featured discount sale is a discount sale of regular ink cartridges of yellow Y, and the four colors of CMYK are included in the notification candidate color list (FIG. 9: S380: Yes, FIG. 13: S730: Yes). In this case, the discount price P21 is the sum of the regular price of three regular cartridges CC, CM, and CK of CMK and the discount price of the regular ink cartridge CY of Y. The set price P22 is the regular price of a four-color pack. Here, if the discount price P21 is equal to or higher than the set price P22 (FIG. 12: S750: No), in S780, the CPU 510 sets recommendation information indicating that the purchase of a multi-color set is recommended. The message MS2a in FIG. 6(B) is an example of a notification based on such recommendation information.

[0100] If the discount price P21 is lower than the set price P22 (S750: Yes), the CPU 510 determines that the purchase of the multi-color set is not recommended (S760) and ends the process of FIG. 13, that is, the process of S395 in FIG.

[0101] After S395 (FIG. 9), in S400, the CPU 510 determines whether or not the purchase of the multi-color set is recommended based on the result of S395. If the purchase of the multi-color set is not recommended (S400: No), the CPU 510 adds the featured discount sale to the notification candidate discount list in S405 and proceeds to S410.

[0102] If any one of the determination results of "S380: No", "S390: Yes", or "S400: Yes" is obtained, the CPU 510 skips S405 and proceeds to S410.

[0103] In S410, the CPU 510 determines whether or not all of the processes for the discount sales detected in S315 (FIG. 8) have been completed. If there are any unprocessed discount sales remaining (S410: No), the CPU 510 proceeds to S330 (FIG. 8) and processes new discount sales.

[0104] When the processing for all discount sales is completed (S410: Yes), the CPU 510 judges whether the notification candidate discount list is empty or not in S415 (FIG. 10). When the notification candidate discount list includes one or more discount sales (S415: No), the CPU 510 judges whether the number ND of notification candidate discount sales (i.e., discount sales included in the notification candidate discount list) is 2 or more in S420.

[0105] If the number ND is 2 or more (S420: Yes), in S425, the CPU 510 searches for the sale that shows the largest discount amount among the ND discount sales, and adopts the found sale as the discount sale to be notified. Here, the discount amounts for the same amount of printing material (for example, the discount amount per normal cartridge) are compared. Then, the CPU 510 proceeds to S430.

[0106] If the number ND is 1 (S420: No), the CPU 510 skips S425 and proceeds to S430. In this case, the CPU 510 adopts one discount sale in the notification candidate discount list as the discount sale to be notified.

[0107] In S430, the CPU 510 transmits discount information data indicating discount information related to the discount sale to be notified to a terminal device (in this embodiment, the user terminal 200) previously associated with the noted user identifier UID. In response to receiving the discount information data, the CPU 210 of the user terminal 200 notifies the user of the discount information (in this embodiment, the discount information is displayed on the display unit 240). An example of the displayed discount information will be described later.

[0108] In S435, the CPU 510 adds the noted user identifier UID to the notified user NU of the notified discount sale (i.e., the notified discount sale) in the third data DB3 (FIG. 3(A)). Then, the CPU 510 ends the control process of FIGS. 8 to 10.

[0109] A-6. Example of processing by control processing: FIG. 14(A)-FIG. 14(C) are schematic diagrams showing a processing example by the control process. FIG. 14(A) shows a first situation ST1 and a processing example P1 proceeding under the first situation ST1. In the first situation ST1, the user of interest owns a monochrome inkjet printer that uses black K ink. Three discount sales are valid (each of which expires on December 31, 2020). The first discount sale and the second discount sale are discount sales of black K cartridges, and the third discount sale is a discount sale of yellow Y cartridges. The current date is December 1, 2020. The previous replacement date is August 20, 2020. The notification threshold is 20%, the remaining amount threshold is 60%, and the large capacity threshold is 360 days. The color, remaining amount, and inventory number (in parentheses) are shown in the figure. In the first situation ST1, the remaining amount of black K is 50%, and the stock quantity of black K is zero. Note that the stock quantity is the number of cartridges owned by the noted user.

[0110] In the process example P1, the contents of various steps of the control process are shown. Since the inventory quantity of Black K is zero, the judgment result of S345 (FIG. 8) for Black K is Yes. In S350, the predicted notification date is calculated as follows. The number of days from the last exchange date to the present is 104 days. During this time, the remaining amount has decreased from 100% to 50%. Therefore, the decrease speed V is 50 / 104=0.481 (% / day). At this decrease speed V, the number of days required for the remaining amount to decrease from the current remaining amount (50%) to the notification threshold (20%) is (50-20) / V=62.4 days. The predicted notification date is January 31, 2021, which is obtained by adding 62.4 days to the current date (December 1, 2020). For all discount sales, the predicted notification date is later than the expiration date, and the judgment result of S355 (FIG. 8) is Yes. As for black K, since the remaining amount (50%) is equal to or less than the remaining amount threshold value (60%), the determination result in S365 (FIG. 8) is Yes. As a result of the above, the notification candidate color list indicates black K.

[0111] The number of days Dc calculated in S385 of FIG. 9 (specifically, S620 of FIG. 12) is Am / V=200 / V=416. Since Dc>DcT, the judgment result of S630 (FIG. 12) is No, and the judgment result of S390 (FIG. 9) is No. Also, since the target printer is a monochrome printer, the notification candidate color list shows only black K. Therefore, the judgment result of S730 of FIG. 13 executed in S395 of FIG. 9 is No, and the judgment result of S400 (FIG. 9) is No. As a result of the above, the first discount sale and the second discount sale related to black K are included in the notification candidate discount list (FIG. 9: S405).

[0112] In S425 of FIG. 10, the CPU 510 calculates the discount amount for each of the two discount sales. In this processing example, the CPU 510 compares the discount amount per normal cartridge. Here, the price of a normal cartridge of black K is 2500 yen, and the price of two packs of black K is 4500 yen. The first discount sale is a 20% discount on a single color, so the discount amount is 2500*0.2=500 yen. The second discount sale is a 5% discount on two packs, so the discount amount is (4500*0.05) / 2=112 yen. Therefore, in S425 (FIG. 10), the CPU 510 adopts the first discount sale, which shows the largest discount amount, as the notification target.

[0113] FIG. 14(B) and FIG. 14(C) are examples of discount information notified in S430 (FIG. 10). In each figure, the display unit 240 of the user terminal 200 is shown. A message MS4a is displayed on the display unit 240 in FIG. 14(B). The message MS4a proposes limited-time discount information. The message MS4b in FIG. 14(C) is an example of information displayed in response to tapping the message MS4a (FIG. 14(A)). The message MS4b indicates that a 20% discount sale will be held from December 1st to December 31st. The user can start the purchase process at the discount sale by tapping this message MS4b. The discount information data transmitted from the control server 500 to the user terminal 200 in S430 (FIG. 10) may include a command for displaying the message in two stages in this way.

[0114] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing another processing example by the control process. FIG. 15 shows a second situation ST2 and a processing example P2 proceeding under the second situation ST2. In the second situation ST2, the user of interest owns a color inkjet printer. Three discount sales are valid. The three discount sales are the same as the three discount sales in FIG. 14(A). The current date is December 1, 2020. The last replacement date of K is October 30, 2020, and the last replacement date of CMY is September 30, 2020. The notification threshold, remaining amount threshold, and large capacity threshold are the same as those in FIG. 14(A). In the figure, the remaining amount and stock quantity (in parentheses) of each of K, M, C, and Y are shown.

[0115] In the process example P2, the contents of various steps of the control process are shown. Since the stock quantity of each of KMCY is zero, the judgment result of S345 (FIG. 8) is Yes for each color. In S350, the predicted notification date of each of KMCY is calculated. The calculation method is the same as the method described in FIG. 14(A). In FIG. 15, the "decrease rate V", "number of days until predicted notification date", and "predicted notification date" of each of KMCY are shown. The judgment results of S355 and S365 for M and C are as follows. For each of the three discount sales, the judgment result of S355 is Yes, and the judgment result of S365 is Yes. For K and Y, the following is true. For each of the three discount sales, the judgment result of S355 is No. As described above, for each of the three discount sales, the notification candidate color list (FIG. 9: S370) shows M and C. As shown in the figure, the discount sale of three items is a discount sale of K or Y. Therefore, for each of the three discount sales, the judgment result of S380 is No, the notification candidate discount list is empty, and the judgment result of S415 (FIG. 10) is Yes. As a result, notification of discount information (FIG. 10: S430) is not executed.

[0116] Figs. 16(A)-16(C) are schematic diagrams showing another processing example by control processing. Fig. 16(A) shows a third situation ST3 and a processing example P3 that proceeds under the third situation ST3. There are two differences from the first situation ST1 in Fig. 14(A). The first difference is that the second discount sale and the third discount sale among the three discount sales are omitted. The second difference is that the previous replacement date is September 30, 2020. The other parts of the third situation ST3 are the same as the corresponding parts of the first situation ST1.

[0117] The content of various steps of the control processing is shown in the processing example P3. Similar to the processing example P1 (Fig. 14(A)), the judgment result of S345 (Fig. 8) is Yes. In S350, the predicted notification date of K is calculated. In the example of Fig. 16(A), the predicted notification date is January 6, 2021. Since the predicted notification date is after the expiration date, the judgment result of S355 (Fig. 8) is Yes. Also, since the remaining amount (50%) is less than or equal to the remaining amount threshold (60%), the judgment result of S365 (Fig. 8) is Yes. Thus, the notification candidate color list indicates black K (Fig. 9: S370).

[0118] The number of days Dc calculated in S385 of Fig. 9 (specifically, S620 of Fig. 12) is Am / V = 200% / V = 252. Since Dc < DcT, the judgment result of S630 (Fig. 12) is Yes. In S640, the discounted price P11 and the large-capacity price P12 are calculated. Here, assume that the price of the normal cartridge of black K is 2500 yen and the price of the large-capacity cartridge of black K is 4500 yen. The discounted price P11 is 2500 * 2 * 0.8 = 4000 yen. The large-capacity price P12 is 4500 yen. Since P12 > P11 (Fig. 12: S650: No), the judgment result of S390 (Fig. 9) is No. Also, since the printer of interest is a monochrome printer, the notification candidate color list indicates only black K. Therefore, the judgment result of S730 of Fig. 13 executed in S395 of Fig. 9 is No, and the judgment result of S400 (Fig. 9) is No. Thus, the first discount sale related to black K is included in the notification candidate discount list (Fig. 9: S405), and the judgment result of S420 (Fig. 10) is No.

[0119] FIG. 16(B) and FIG. 16(C) are examples of discount information notified in S430 (FIG. 10). In each figure, the display unit 240 of the user terminal 200 is shown. A message MS5a is displayed on the display unit 240 in FIG. 16(B). The message MS5a proposes limited-time discount information. The message MS5b in FIG. 16(C) is an example of information displayed in response to a tap on the message MS5a (FIG. 16(A)). The message MS5b indicates that a 20% discount sale will be held from December 1st to December 31st. The user can start the purchase process at the discount sale by tapping this message MS5b.

[0120] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing another processing example by the control process. FIG. 17 shows a fourth situation ST4 and a processing example P4 proceeding under the fourth situation ST4. There are three differences from the second situation ST2 of FIG. 15(A). The first difference is that the first discount sale and the second discount sale are omitted from the three discount sales. The second difference is that the previous exchange date of K and Y is September 20, 2020, and the previous exchange date of M and C is September 30, 2020. The third difference is that the remaining amount of K is 45% and the remaining amount of Y is 60%. The other parts of the fourth situation ST4 are the same as the corresponding parts of the second situation ST2.

[0121] In the process example P4, the contents of various steps of the control process are shown. Since the stock quantity of each of KMCY is zero, the judgment result of S345 (FIG. 8) is Yes for each color. In S350, the predicted notification date of each of KMCY is calculated. The calculation method is the same as that described in FIG. 14(A). In FIG. 15, the "decrease rate V", "number of days until predicted notification date", and "predicted notification date" of each of KMCY are shown. For each of KMCY, the judgment result of S355 (FIG. 8) is Yes, and the judgment result of S365 is Yes. As a result of the above, the notification candidate color list (FIG. 9: S370) shows KMCY. Since the third discount sale is a discount sale of Y, the judgment result of S380 is Yes. In S385 of FIG. 9 (specifically, S620 of FIG. 12), the number of days Dc is calculated for Yellow Y, which is the discount target color of the third discount sale (Dc=200 / V=365 days). Since Dc>DcT, the judgment result of S630 (FIG. 12) is No, and the judgment result of S390 (FIG. 9) is No. As described above, since the notification candidate color list indicates KMCY, the judgment result of S730 of FIG. 13 executed in S395 of FIG. 9 is Yes. In S740, the discount price P21 and the set price P22 are acquired. Here, the price of each regular cartridge of KMCY is 2500 yen, and the price of the four-color pack is 9000 yen. Since the third discount sale is a 10% discount on Yellow Y, the discount price P21 is 2500*3+2500*0.9=9750 yen. The set price P22 is 9,000 yen. Since P21>P22, the result of the judgment in S750 (FIG. 13) is No, and the result of the judgment in S400 (FIG. 9) is Yes. As a result, the notification candidate discount list is empty, and the result of the judgment in S415 (FIG. 10) is Yes. Then, the notification of the discount information (FIG. 10: S430) is not executed.

[0122] As described above, in this embodiment, the CPU 510 of the control server 500 executes a control process for controlling notifications regarding consumables (ink, which is an example of printing material in this embodiment) (FIGS. 8-10). At S350 in FIG. 8, specifically, at S510 and S515 in FIG. 11, the CPU 510 acquires data indicating the latest cartridge replacement date and the current remaining amount. The data acquired at S510 and S515 is an example of remaining amount data regarding the remaining amount of printing material in the printer. At S520, the CPU 510 uses the remaining amount data (here, the replacement date and remaining amount) to calculate a predicted notification date. The predicted notification date is the execution time (year, month, and date in this embodiment) when a process for notifying a user of a low remaining amount (FIG. 5(A), S955) is predicted to be executed. The process for notifying a user of a low remaining amount is an example of a predetermined process related to refilling printing materials. In S430 of FIG. 10, the CPU 510 transmits discount information data indicating the first information including discount information to the user terminal 200. Through this process, the CPU 210 of the user terminal 200 notifies the user of the first information including information regarding discount sales of the printing material (specifically, the CPU 210 displays a message on the display unit 240. For example, FIG. 14(B), FIG. 14(C), FIG. 16(B), FIG. 16(C)). The transmission process of discount information data by the CPU 510 is an example of a process for notifying the user of information regarding discount sales. In the process of FIG. 8-FIG. 10, the condition that should be satisfied for the execution of the transmission process of discount information data (S430) is an example of a first specific condition for notifying the user of the first information including information regarding discount sales. As shown in S350 and S355 of FIG. 8, the first specific condition includes the result of the determination in S355 being Yes. The determination in S355 is made using the expiration date D32 and the predicted notification date. In this way, CPU 510 uses a plurality of pieces of information including the discount sale period of the printing material (specifically, the period from the distribution start date D31 to the expiration date D32 in FIG. 3A) and the predicted execution time (specifically, the predicted notification date) to determine whether the first specific condition is satisfied. Thus, CPU 510 can notify the user of the first information including information regarding the discount sale of the consumables when appropriate.

[0123] 8, the first specific condition includes that the discount sale period of the printing material (the period from the distribution start date D31 to the expiration date D32) ends before the predicted notification date. Therefore, when it is estimated that the discount sale will have already ended on the day when the low remaining amount notification is to be made, the CPU 510 can notify the user of the first information including information related to the discount sale.

[0124] The control process of FIG. 8-FIG. 10 may also be applied to a color printer. The color printer is configured to print an image using, for example, four types of printing materials (for example, KCMY). The CPU 510 executes S350 of FIG. 8 (S510, S515 of FIG. 11) for each of KCMY. That is, the CPU 510 acquires remaining amount data regarding the remaining amounts of the four pieces of the four types of printing materials. The first specific condition includes the determination result of S400 of FIG. 9 being No. The determination of S400 is made based on the process of S395, that is, the process of FIG. 13. As described in S740 of FIG. 13, the CPU 510 acquires a discount price P21 and a set price P22. The discount price P21 is the discounted price of four sales items consisting of four types of printing materials. The set price P22 is the price of a set of four sales items. As described in S750, when the condition (also called the first discount condition) including that the discount price P21 is lower than the set price P22 (S750: Yes) is satisfied, the judgment result of S400 in FIG. 9 is No. In the embodiment of FIG. 13, the first discount condition includes that the judgment result of S730 is Yes. The first discount condition also includes other conditions of FIG. 8-FIG. 10 for executing S430 in FIG. 10 (for example, the judgment result of S355 in FIG. 8 is Yes). In this way, when the first discount condition is satisfied, the first specific condition is satisfied. Then, when the first discount condition is satisfied, in S430 in FIG. 10, the CPU 510 transmits discount information data indicating information regarding the discount sale of the four sales items of KCMY (not shown). In this way, the CPU 510 can notify the user of advantageous information. 13 is No, regardless of the magnitude relationship between the discount price P21 and the set price P22, the determination result of S400 in Fig. 9 is No. In this way, the first specific condition can be satisfied even if the first discount condition is not satisfied.

[0125] 8, the first specific condition includes a condition that the user does not have the printing material that is the subject of the notification in stock. Therefore, the user can receive the notification when the printing material is not in stock.

[0126] 8, the first specific condition includes that the remaining amount of printing material is equal to or less than the remaining amount threshold. Therefore, the user can be notified when the remaining amount is equal to or less than the remaining amount threshold.

[0127] As described above, the CPU 510 of the control server 500 acquires remaining amount data relating to the remaining amount of printing material in the printer at S350 in FIG. 8, specifically, at S510 and S515 in FIG. 11. At S385 in FIG. 9, the CPU 510 executes the process of FIG. 12. At S610 in FIG. 12, the CPU 510 acquires the decreasing speed V of the remaining amount indicated by the remaining amount data. The determination result of S630 is Yes when the decreasing speed V is equal to or greater than the threshold value (Am / DcT). In this case, the CPU 510 may execute S680. At S680, the CPU 510 sets recommendation information indicating that the purchase of a large-capacity cartridge is recommended. At S945 and S955 in FIG. 5(A), the CPU 510 executes a process for notifying the user of information relating to the purchase of a large-capacity cartridge indicated by this recommendation information (FIGS. 6(D) and 6(E)). 12 is No (i.e., the decrease rate V is less than Am / DcT), S680 is not executed. In this case, in S950 and S955 of FIG. 5A, the CPU 510 executes a process for notifying the user of information related to the purchase of a normal cartridge (FIG. 6A). In this way, the CPU 510 executes a process (S945, S950, S955) for notifying the user of information related to the purchase of a sales item associated with the decrease rate V of the remaining amount. Therefore, the CPU 510 can notify the user of information related to the purchase of a sales item of printing material suitable for the decrease rate V of the remaining amount. Note that the condition to be satisfied for executing the notification of information associated with the decrease rate V (S945, S950, S955) is an example of a second specific condition for notifying the user of the second information including information related to the purchase of a sales item associated with the change over time of the remaining amount. In this embodiment, the second specific condition includes the determination result of S920 being Yes (that is, the remaining amount is equal to or less than the notification threshold).

[0128] 12, a first range, which is a range of the decrease speed V below the threshold (Am / DcT), is associated with a normal cartridge. A second range, which is a range of the decrease speed V equal to or greater than the threshold (Am / DcT), is associated with a large-capacity cartridge. Therefore, when the decrease speed V is high, the CPU 510 can notify the user of information regarding the purchase of a large-size printing material (i.e., a large-capacity cartridge).

[0129] In this embodiment, as shown in S640 and S650 in FIG. 12, when the judgment result of S630 is Yes and the judgment result of S650 is No, S680 is executed. When the judgment result of S650 is Yes, even if the judgment result of S630 is Yes, S680 is not executed. In this way, the second specific condition for notifying the user of information related to the purchase of the sales item associated with the remaining amount reduction speed V includes the judgment result of S650 in FIG. 12 being No. As described above, when the large-volume price P12 is equal to or less than the discount price P11, the judgment result of S650 is No. The discount price P11 is a price equivalent to the large-volume Am based on the price of the normal-volume printing material at a discount. The second specific condition includes the large-volume price P12 being equal to or less than the discount price P11. Therefore, the CPU 510 can notify the user of advantageous information.

[0130] B. Variations: (1) In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the CPU 510 judges whether a large-capacity cartridge is recommended in S385 and S390, and judges whether a multi-color set is recommended in S395 and S400. The CPU 510 may further judge whether a two-pack is recommended. The judgment process of whether a two-pack is recommended may be, for example, a process obtained by replacing "multi-color set" with "two-pack" in the judgment process of FIG. 13. Such a judgment process may notify the purchase of the following cartridges. The target printer is a monochrome printer. The price of a regular cartridge of black K is 1000 yen, and the price of two packs of black K is 1600 yen. In addition, the discount sale is 10% off the regular cartridge of black K. In this case, the price of purchasing two cartridges at the discount sale is 1000*0.9*2=1800 yen. The price of the two packs (1600 yen) is lower than the discounted price (1800 yen). In this case, CPU 510 sets recommendation information indicating that the purchase of the two packs is recommended, similar to S780 of Fig. 13. Then, in the process of Fig. 5, CPU 510 executes S945 and S955 to notify the user of information regarding the purchase of the two packs indicated by the recommendation information.

[0131] In general, the printer may be configured to print an image using L types of consumables (L is an integer equal to or greater than 1). The L types of consumables may be configured with any number of any types of printing materials, such as one type of printing material, black K, and four types of printing materials, CMYK, or three types of printing materials, CMY, or two types of printing materials, K and Y. In S510 and S515 of FIG. 11, the CPU 510 acquires remaining amount data indicating information regarding the remaining amount of L of the L types of printing materials. Then, the CPU 510 may determine whether a set of N items (N is an integer equal to or greater than 2) is recommended according to the modified first discount condition described below. The set of N items may be a set of N cartridges of N types of printing materials, such as a four-color pack, or a set of N cartridges of one type of printing material, such as two packs of black K. The modified first discount condition includes that the price of N items (N is an integer of 2 or more) made up of one or more types of printing materials among the L types of printing materials is lower than the price of a set of the N items. If this first discount condition is satisfied, the first specific condition is satisfied. Then, in S430 of FIG. 10, the CPU 510 transmits discount information data indicating information regarding the discount sale of the N items. If the price of the set of N items is lower than the price of the discount sale of the N items, the CPU 510 sets recommendation information indicating that the purchase of the set of N items is recommended, as in S780 of FIG. 13. Then, in S945 and S955 of FIG. 5(A), the CPU 510 executes processing for notifying the user of information regarding the purchase of the set of N items indicated by this recommendation information.

[0132] (2) The first specific condition for notifying the discount information is not limited to the conditions described in the above embodiment and modified example, and may be various conditions. For example, S650 in FIG. 12 may be omitted. Here, when the determination result of S630 is Yes, the CPU 510 may execute S670 and S680. The condition of S355 in FIG. 8 may be that the target discount sale ends before the day of the predicted notification date + U days (U is a predetermined integer of 1 or more). Also, S350 and S355 in FIG. 8 may be omitted. S340 and S345 in FIG. 8 may be omitted. S385 and S390 in FIG. 9 may be omitted. S395 and S400 in FIG. 9 may be omitted. In general, the first specific condition may be various conditions determined using a plurality of information including the period of discount sale of consumables and the execution time when a predetermined process related to the refill of printing material (for example, a low remaining amount notification) is predicted to be executed. For example, the first specific condition may be a condition including that the period for discounted sales of consumables ends before a reference date determined based on the predicted execution time (e.g., the predicted notification date, the predicted notification date + U day, etc.).

[0133] (3) In the embodiment of FIG. 12, the range of the reduction speed V is divided into two ranges by the threshold value (Am / DcT). The number of ranges of the reduction speed V may be three or more. For example, the CPU 510 may divide the range of the reduction speed V into a low speed range, a medium speed range, and a high speed range. The low speed range may be associated with a normal cartridge, the medium speed range may be associated with a large capacity cartridge, and the high speed range may be associated with a two-pack. When the reduction speed V is within the low speed range, the CPU 510 may determine that a large capacity cartridge or a two-pack is not recommended, as in the case where the determination result in S630 is No. When the reduction speed V is within the medium speed range or the high speed range, the CPU 510 may determine whether to recommend the product associated with the reduction speed V by using the price of the product associated with the reduction speed V and the discounted price of a product equivalent to the product associated with the reduction speed V, as in the case where the determination result in S630 is Yes.

[0134] In addition, the second specific condition for notifying the second information including information regarding the purchase of the sales item associated with the change over time of the remaining amount (for example, the decrease speed V) is not limited to the conditions described in the above embodiment and modified example, and may be various conditions. For example, the condition regarding the price of the sales item may be omitted. In general, the second specific condition may be any condition determined in advance. For example, the second specific condition may include that the current date is within a discount sale period of the sales item (called the corresponding sales item) associated with the change over time of the remaining amount indicated by the remaining amount data. In addition, the second specific condition may include that the price of the corresponding sales item is a price calculated based on the price of a type of sales item (called a different type of sales item) different from the corresponding sales item and is equal to or lower than a price equivalent to the amount of consumables of the corresponding sales item. For example, the corresponding sales item may be a large-capacity cartridge or a "two pack" of normal cartridges, and the different type of sales item may be one normal cartridge. Here, the different type of sales item is a sales item of the same consumables as the corresponding sales item. Furthermore, the price of the miscellaneous product may be the discounted price of the miscellaneous product.

[0135] (4) The notification control process is not limited to the process described in the above embodiment and modified example, and may be various processes. For example, if the process of FIG. 10 is omitted and the determination result of S410 in FIG. 9 is Yes, the CPU 510 may end the control process. That is, the notification of the discount information may be omitted. In this case, the control process may also set recommendation information for recommending the purchase of a specific product, such as a large-capacity cartridge or a multi-color set (for example, S385, S395 in FIG. 9).

[0136] (5) The remaining amount data is not limited to data indicating the latest cartridge replacement date and the current remaining amount, but may be data indicating various information regarding the remaining amount. For example, the remaining amount data may be data indicating the number of pages printed per unit time (e.g., one month). The more pages printed per unit time, the faster the printing material consumption rate V. The number of pages printed per unit time is an example of information regarding the remaining amount.

[0137] (6) The process of calculating the predicted notification date is not limited to the process using the remaining amount reduction rate V as in the process of FIG. 11, and may be various other processes. For example, a remaining amount-days relationship, which is a correspondence relationship between the remaining amount and the number of days required for the remaining amount to decrease to the notification threshold, may be determined in advance. CPU 510 may calculate the predicted notification date by referring to the remaining amount-days relationship. Here, the remaining amount-days relationship may be used in common by multiple users.

[0138] (7) The predetermined process related to the refilling of printing materials may be various processes related to the refilling of printing materials instead of the process of notifying the user of a low remaining amount (FIG. 5(A), S955). For example, a process of replacing a cartridge by the user, a process by the control server 500 for shipping a new cartridge, a process of ordering a new cartridge by the user terminal 200, etc. may be adopted. In any case, in S350 of FIG. 8, the CPU 510 calculates the execution time predicted to be executed by using the remaining amount data. It is preferable that the CPU 510 calculates the predicted execution time so that the execution time approaches as the remaining amount reduction speed V indicated by the remaining amount data is faster. The predicted execution time may be a period having a width of two or more days instead of a date. The judgment condition in S355 may be that the featured discount sale ends before the predicted execution time begins.

[0139] (8) Notification of information to the user may be any notification instead of displaying a message. For example, notifications may be adopted such as displaying an image such as a pictogram on the user's terminal, sending an e-mail to the user's e-mail address, sending an SMS (Short Message Service) message to the user's phone number, sending an MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) message to the user's terminal, outputting a sound from the user's terminal, etc. In any case, the CPU 510 of the control server 500 may execute processing for such notification (e.g., sending message data, etc.) in S955 (FIG. 5(A)) and S430 (FIG. 10).

[0140] (9) The printer may have various configurations capable of printing images, instead of the configuration of the printer 100 in FIG. 1. The printer may be various devices having a print execution unit configured to perform printing. For example, the printer may be a device including a print execution unit and a read execution unit, such as a multifunction machine, a copy machine, or a facsimile machine. The read execution unit is a device that optically reads an original document and generates image data of the read original document. The print execution unit may be a thermal transfer type or LED type device instead of an inkjet type or laser type device. The LED type is a method of exposing a photosensitive body using an LED head. The LED type, like the laser type, prints an image using toner. The thermal transfer type prints an image using an ink ribbon. The consumables related to the notification are not limited to ink or toner, and may be any consumables used for printing images (for example, ink ribbon). If the consumables are ink ribbons, the consumables sold may be rolls of ink ribbons or cassettes that accommodate ink ribbons. Furthermore, the consumables may be other types of consumables other than printing materials, such as ink, toner, and ink ribbons.

[0141] (10) Various other devices may control notifications instead of the control server 500. For example, the printer 100 may execute the processes of the control server 500 instead of the control server 500. Also, multiple devices (e.g., computers) that can communicate with each other via a network may share part of the functions of the process to control notifications and provide the process functions as a whole (a system including these devices corresponds to a control device).

[0142] In each of the above embodiments, a part of the configuration realized by hardware may be replaced by software, and conversely, a part or all of the configuration realized by software may be replaced by hardware. For example, the function of the calculation process (S350) in FIG. 8 may be realized by a dedicated hardware circuit.

[0143] Furthermore, when some or all of the functions of the present invention are realized by a computer program, the program can be provided in a form stored in a computer-readable recording medium (e.g., a non-transitory recording medium). The program can be used in a state stored in the same or a different recording medium (computer-readable recording medium) from when it was provided. "Computer-readable recording medium" is not limited to portable recording media such as memory cards and CD-ROMs, but can also include internal storage devices within a computer, such as various ROMs, and external storage devices connected to a computer, such as a hard disk drive.

[0144] The present invention has been described above based on examples and modifications, but the above-described embodiments of the invention are intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention may be modified or improved without departing from the spirit of the invention, and equivalents thereof are included in the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0145] 100... printer, 110... CPU, 115... storage device, 120... volatile storage device, 130... non-volatile storage device, 140... display unit, 150... operation unit, 160... print execution unit, 180... communication interface, 200... user terminal, 210... CPU, 215... storage device, 220... volatile storage device, 230... non-volatile storage device, 240... display unit, 250... operation unit, 280... communication interface, 500... control server, 510... CPU, 515... storage device, 520... volatile storage device, 530... non-volatile storage device, 580... communication interface, 600... sales site server, 900... print execution unit, 950... mounting unit, 1000... system, IT... Internet, LN... local area network, PG1, PG2, PG5... program

Claims

1. A computer program for controlling notifications regarding consumables, comprising: An acquisition function for acquiring remaining amount data regarding remaining amounts of consumables in the printer; an execution time calculation function that calculates a predicted execution time for a predetermined process related to the replenishment of the consumables by using the remaining amount data; a first determination function for determining whether a first specific condition is satisfied using a plurality of pieces of information including the discount sale period of the consumables and the calculated execution time; a notification function that executes a process for notifying a user of first information including information related to the discount sale of the consumable when it is determined that the first specific condition is satisfied; This is realized on a computer. the first specific condition includes the end of the discount sale period of the consumable product before the calculated execution time; the notification function executes a process for notifying a user of the first information including information on the discount sale prior to the calculated execution time when it is determined that the first specific condition is satisfied. Computer program.

2. 2. A computer program according to claim 1, comprising: the printer is configured to print an image using L types of consumables (L is an integer equal to or greater than 1); The remaining amount data relates to remaining amounts of L consumables of L types, The first specific condition is satisfied when a first discount condition is satisfied, the first discount condition including that the price of N items (N is an integer of 2 or more) consisting of one or more types of consumables among the L types of consumables at the discount sale is lower than the price of a set of the N items, The information regarding the discount sale of the consumables included in the first information includes information regarding the discount sale of the N sales items. Computer program.

3. A computer program according to claim 1 or 2, the first specific condition includes that the user does not have stock of the consumable product that is the subject of the notification; Computer program.

4. A computer program according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the remaining amount data indicates a remaining amount of the consumable; the first specific condition includes that the remaining amount of the consumable is equal to or less than a remaining amount threshold value; Computer program.

5. A control device for controlling notifications regarding consumables, an acquisition unit that acquires remaining amount data relating to remaining amounts of consumables in the printer; an execution timing calculation unit that uses the remaining amount data to calculate a predicted execution timing for a predetermined process related to replenishing the consumables; a first determination unit that determines whether a first specific condition is satisfied using a plurality of pieces of information including a discount sale period of the consumable product and the calculated execution time; a notification unit that executes a process for notifying a user of first information including information related to the discount sale of the consumable when it is determined that the first specific condition is satisfied; Equipped with the first specific condition includes the end of the discount sale period of the consumable product before the calculated execution time; the notification unit, when it is determined that the first specific condition is satisfied, executes a process for notifying a user of the first information including information related to the discount sale prior to the calculated execution time. Control device.

6. A method for controlling a notification regarding a consumable item, comprising: An acquisition step of acquiring remaining amount data relating to remaining amounts of consumables in the printer; an execution time calculation step of calculating a time when a predetermined process related to replenishing the consumables is to be executed using the remaining amount data; a first determination step of determining whether a first specific condition is satisfied using a plurality of pieces of information including a discount sale period of the consumable product and the calculated execution time; a notification step of executing a process for notifying a user of first information including information related to the discount sale of the consumable when it is determined that the first specific condition is satisfied; Equipped with the first specific condition includes the end of the discount sale period of the consumable product before the calculated execution time; The notification step includes, when it is determined that the first specific condition is satisfied, executing a process for notifying a user of the first information including information related to the discount sale prior to the calculated execution time. Control methods.

Images