Claims
- 1. A method for monitoring at least one print consumable of a compact disc (CD) printing system, comprising:
(a) estimating a number of images that can be printed before the print consumable reaches a low threshold or becomes depleted based upon a remaining print consumable amount defined as an amount of print consumable that is available to the CD printing system and a requested print consumable amount; and (b) displaying print consumable information including the number of the images that can be printed.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the requested print consumable amount relates to an amount of print consumable required to print a default image.
- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the requested print consumable amount relates to an average or maximum print consumable amount based upon a print history.
- 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the requested print consumable amount relates to an amount of print consumable required to print a single image or all images of a print job.
- 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the print consumable information includes at least one of a number of black and white images that can be printed, a number of color images that can be printed, the remaining print consumable amount, a remaining black ink print consumable amount, a remaining color ink print consumable amount, an average number of prints rendered per print consumable, a maximum number of prints rendered per print consumable, and a minimum number of prints rendered per print consumable.
- 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the print consumable information includes a graphical or textual representation of the number of images that can be printed.
- 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the graphical representation is a bar graph.
- 8. The method of claim 1, including a step (c) of updating the remaining print consumable amount and repeating steps (a) and (b).
- 9. A method for monitoring at least one print consumable of a compact disc (CD) printing system, comprising:
(a) receiving a print job, wherein the print job includes an image file representing an image and a copy number representing the number of times the image is to be printed; (b) determining a requested print consumable amount defined as an amount of print consumable needed to render the print job; (c) estimating a number of images that can be printed before the print consumable reaches a low threshold or becomes depleted based upon a remaining print consumable amount defined as an amount of print consumable that is available to the CD printing system and the requested print consumable amount; and (d) displaying print consumable information including the number of images that can be printed.
- 10. The method of claim 9, including a steps of:
(e) interrupting a rendering of the print job when the copy number exceeds the number of images that can be printed; and (f) rendering the print job when the copy number is less than or equal to the number of images that can be printed.
- 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the interrupting step (e) includes providing a warning indicating that there may be insufficient print consumable available to complete the print job.
- 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the interrupting step (e) comprises providing the user with an option of adjusting the copy number of the print job.
- 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the interrupting step (e) includes providing at least one option selected from a group consisting of adjusting a print quality setting of the print job, adjusting the remaining print consumable amount, rendering the print job without any adjustments, and canceling the rendering of the print job.
- 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the determining step (b) further comprises determining a single print consumable amount defined as the amount of print consumable needed to print a single copy of the image file, wherein the requested print consumable amount is determined by multiplying the single print consumable amount by the copy number.
- 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the rendering step (f) comprises:
(f)(i) printing an image represented by the image file; (f)(ii) updating the remaining print consumable amount; (f)(iii) updating the displayed print consumable information; and (f)(v) repeating steps (f)(i)-(f)(iii) until the print job is completely rendered.
- 16. The method of claim 9, wherein the print consumable information includes at least one of a number of black and white images that can be printed, a number of color images that can be printed, the remaining print consumable amount, a remaining black ink print consumable amount, a remaining color ink print consumable amount, an average number of prints rendered per print consumable, a maximum number of prints rendered per print consumable, and a minimum number of prints rendered per print consumable.
- 17. A compact disc (CD) printing system for processing a print job having an image file representing an image and a copy number representing a number of CD's on which the image is to be recorded, comprising:
a print consumable having a remaining print consumable amount; a print mechanism for recording the image of the print job onto a CD using the print consumable; a print consumable memory having print consumable information stored therein, the print consumable information including the a remaining print consumable amount; a display device; and at least one processor adapted to perform steps of:
(a) retrieving print consumable information from the print consumable memory; (b) estimating a number of images that can be printed before the print consumable reaches a low threshold or becomes depleted based upon the remaining print consumable amount and a requested print consumable amount; and (c) displaying print consumable information including the number of the images that can be printed.
- 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the requested print consumable amount relates to an amount of print consumable required to print a default image or an average print consumable amount calculated in accordance with a print history.
- 19. The system of claim 17, wherein the requested print consumable amount relates to an amount of print consumable required to print the image of the print job.
- 20. The system of claim 17, wherein the print consumable memory is a component of a personal computer, a CD printing device, or a print consumable cartridge housing the print consumable.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present invention claims the benefit of U.S. patent application ser. No. 09/488,091, entitled “A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING PRINT CONSUMABLES OF A PRINT DEVICE,” filed Jan. 18, 2000, which in turn claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Number 60/116,469, entitled “PRINT CONSUMABLES MONITORING AND PLANNING DEVICE,” and filed Jan. 20, 1999, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60116469 |
Jan 1999 |
US |