Contract-Based Printer Consumable Shipment Amount Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing management systems for consumable shipments in printers lack detailed mechanisms for managing shipments under user contracts, particularly in terms of adjusting shipment amounts based on contract conditions.
Innovation Solution
A management system and method that adjusts shipment amounts of consumables like ink cartridges based on contract terms, allowing for setting a first amount of shipment in short-term contracts and a larger second amount in longer-term contracts, with options for combined shipping to optimize inventory and reduce costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed unit-shipment-amount is set for all contracts, then the shipping process is simple, but it cannot prevent excessive shipments or optimize inventory for different contract terms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic shipment amount determination based on contract terms. The management device automatically adjusts the unit-shipment-amount according to the correspondence between contract period and consumption amount, transitioning from a fixed to a variable shipment system that adapts to different contract conditions without requiring manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of shipment amount based on contract parameters (period and consumption amount). By establishing a relationship where the unit-shipment-amount is determined by contract terms, the system achieves adaptability while maintaining automated parameter adjustment without complex manual configuration
2Loss of energy
If combined shipping is implemented to reduce shipping costs, then cost efficiency improves, but it may result in excessive inventory for users with short-term or low consumption contracts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the unit-shipment-amount parameter based on contract period and consumption amount. For short-term or low consumption contracts, the system sets a smaller shipment amount, while for long-term or high consumption contracts, it increases the shipment amount, thereby optimizing the balance between shipping cost efficiency and inventory appropriateness
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic determination of shipment amounts by evaluating contract characteristics. The management device automatically adjusts whether to implement combined shipping and how many units to ship based on the correspondence between contract terms and consumption patterns, preventing both excessive shipping costs and excessive inventory accumulation
3Productivity
If the system automatically determines shipment amounts based on contract terms, then shipping optimization is achieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The management device performs self-service by automatically determining the unit-shipment-amount based on contract terms without requiring manual intervention. The system autonomously evaluates the correspondence between contract period and consumption amount, and automatically sets the appropriate shipment amount, thereby improving efficiency while keeping the operational complexity low for users
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from contract terms (period and consumption amount) to automatically adjust shipment amounts. By establishing a feedback mechanism where contract characteristics directly influence shipment determination, the system achieves automated optimization without requiring complex external management intervention
Data Source
AI summary
A non-transitory storage medium stores a program executable by a computer of a management device configured to manage shipment of first consumables consumed in a printer under a contract with the user. When executed by the computer, the program is configured to execute, in a case where the terms of the contract includes a first terms, setting a first amount of shipment to a unit-shipment-amount indicating an amount of the first consumables shipped at a time to the user, and, in a case where the terms of the contract includes a second term indicating an amount of the first consumables consumed in the printer in a corresponding-period is larger than that of the first term, setting a second amount of shipment to the unit-shipment-amount. The amount of the first consumables indicated by the second amount of shipment is larger than that indicated by the first amount of shipment.