Automated detection and notification of the need for service and/or supplies replenishment in a machine

1. A system for automatically detecting the need for services in a machine, comprising:

a processor;

at least one of a device component and supply component;

said processor including:

means for detecting a condition of said at least one of a device component and supply component,

means for storing data indicative of past usage of said at least one of a device component and supply component, and

means for determining a time for at least one of repair, replacement and replenishment of said at least one of a device component and supply component, based on extrapolation of said detected condition and said past usage data; and

means for transmitting a report including said data indicative of past usage, wherein

said means for detecting is configured to detect said condition in accordance with start-up of the machine

said means for determining is configured to perform said extrapolation based on past usage over a time interval, said time interval configurable in accordance with expected frequency of use of the machine, and

said means for transmitting is configured to transmit successive reports upon expiration of successive time intervals.

2. A system according to claim 1 , further including a communication device accessible by at least one of a supplier or user of said machine.

3. A system according to claim 2 , wherein said communication device is located at said machine.

4. A system according to claim 3 , wherein said communication device is a user interface.

5. A system according to claim 1 , further including a remote communication device associated with a service provider or supplier and a communication network coupling said machine with said remote communication device for transmitting a report indicative of said time for said at least one of repair, replacement or replenishment.

6. A system according to claim 5 , wherein said remote communication device further includes means for receiving and interpreting said report sent from said machine and creating an order to at least one of ship said at least one of a device component and supply component for said machine, or to repair said device component for said machine and take no action, as appropriate.

7. A system according to claim 1 , wherein said means for detecting the condition of said at least one of a device component and supply component includes at least one counter.

8. A system according to claim 7 , wherein said counter is at least one of a unit counter and a level counter.

9. A system according to claim 8 , wherein said unit counter is at least one of a mechanical counter and electronic counter.

10. A system according to claim 1 , wherein said means for storing data includes at least one counter set to a predetermined value indicating a threshold.

11. A system according to claim 1 , wherein said machine is a printer or copier.

12. A system according to claim 1 , wherein said device component is a customer replaceable part selected from a marking device and fuser roller.

13. A system according to claim 1 , wherein said supply component is one of toner, fuser oil, sheet media, transparencies, continuous feed roll media and staples.

14. A method for automatically detecting the need for service in a machine, comprising:

providing a processor in said machine;

monitoring a condition of at least one of a device component and a supply component in said machine;

storing data in said processor indicating past usage of said at least one of a device component and a supply component;

extrapolating said monitored condition and said past usage data to determine an estimated time at which said at least one of a device component and a supply component will need at least one of repair, replacement and replenishment; and

transmitting a signal report including said data indicating past usage,

wherein

said monitoring is performed in accordance with start-up of the machine

said extrapolating is performed based on past usage over a time interval, said time interval configurable in accordance with expected frequency of use of the machine, and

said transmitting is performed upon expiration of successive time intervals.

15. A method according to claim 14 , further comprising:

providing a communication device accessible by at least one of a supplier or user of said machine; and wherein

said signal report is transmitted from said processor to said communication device indicating said estimated time for at least one of repair, replacement and replenishment.

16. A method according to claim 14 , wherein said estimated time is determined by comparing a value of a usage counter against a value of a threshold counter.

17. A method according to claim 15 , wherein said communication device is located at said machine.

18. A method according to claim 17 , wherein said communication device is a user interface.

19. A method according to claim 15 , wherein said communication device is a remote device located at a service provider or supplier.

20. A method according to claim 19 , wherein said remote device communicates with said machine via a remote network.

21. A method according to claim 14 , wherein said device component is a customer replaceable part.

22. A method according to claim 14 , wherein said device component is one of a marking device and fuser roller.

23. A method according to claim 14 , wherein said supply component is one of toner, fuser oil, sheet media, transparencies, continuous feed roll media and staples.

24. A method according to claim 15 , wherein said communication device interprets the report sent from said machine and proceeds to at least one of creating an order to at least one of ship said at least one of a device component and supply component for said machine and repair said device component, and taking no action, as appropriate.

25. A method according to claim 14 , wherein said machine is a printer or copier.

26. A machine comprising:

at least one of a device component and a supply component;

a processor

said processor including,

means for detecting a condition of said at least one of a device component and supply component;

means for storing data indicative of past usage of said at least one of a device component and a supply component;

means for determining a time for at least one of repair, replacement and replenishment of said at least one of a device component and supply component, based on extrapolation of said detected condition and said past usage data, and

means for transmitting a signal to a remote communications device associated with a provider or supplier of said at least one device component and supply component,

wherein

said means for detecting is configured to detect said condition in accordance with start-up of the machine

said means for determining is configured to perform said extrapolation based on past usage over a time interval, said time interval configurable in accordance with expected frequency of use of the machine, and

said means for transmitting is configured to transmit successive reports upon expiration of successive time intervals.

27. A machine according to claim 26 , further including means for creating an order to at least one of ship said at least one of a device component and supply component and repair said device component for said machine.

28. A machine according to claim 26 , wherein said means for detecting the condition of said at least one of a device component and supply component includes at least one counter.

29. A machine according to claim 28 , wherein said counter is at least one of a unit counter and a level counter.

30. A machine according to claim 29 , wherein said unit counter is at least one of a mechanical counter and electronic counter.

31. A machine according to claim 26 wherein said means for storing data includes at least one counter set to a predetermined value indicating a threshold.

32. A machine according to claim 26 wherein said machine is a printer or copier.