Ink cartridge management mode, in the mode which manages

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To estimate the residual quantity of ink accurately at all times. ;SOLUTION: An ink cartridge 19 being loaded to an ink jet printer 5 stores cartridge management data containing 'ink capacity', 'total quantity of used ink', and 'cartridge identification information'. A host unit 1 stores host management data containing 'total quantity of used ink' and 'cartridge identification information' of each cartridge. The host unit 1 collates cartridge management data read out by a printer 5 with each stored host management data and determines an accurate 'total quantity of used ink'. Upon finishing print operation, the printer 5 calculates the quantity of ink used for printing and the host unit 1 updates the 'total quantity of used ink' based on the calculated quantity. The printer 5 updates the 'total quantity of used ink' recorded in the cartridge management data with the 'total quantity of used ink' updated by the host unit 1.;COPYRIGHT: (C)2001,JPO