Method and System for Information Handling System Consumables Automated Ordering

Abstract

An automated consumable ordering system and method obtains an information handling system purchaser's preferences for ordering consumables used by devices of an information handling system ordered for manufacture and loads the consumable ordering preferences on a consumable ordering module of the information handling system during manufacture. Consumable usage by the information handling system is tracked to a predetermined level at which the module orders consumables automatically from the manufacturer. The order is placed with a message that uses a service tag number associated with the information handling system. The manufacturer determines account information for charging the order from the service tag. The module updates account information by directing the user of the information handling system to perform updates through a secure Internet connection with the manufacturer or other secure established connection.

1 . An information handling system comprising:
 one or more consumable-using devices;   a consumable usage tracking module interfaced with the consumable-using devices and operable to track consumable usage by the consumable-using devices; and   a consumable auto-order module interfaced with the consumable usage tracking module and operable to automatically order consumables if consumable usage reaches a predetermined value by sending a tag number to a distal server through a network.   
     
     
         2 . The information handling system of  claim 1  wherein the consumable-using devices comprise a printer and the consumable comprises printer ink. 
     
     
         3 . The information handling system of  claim 2  wherein the consumable further comprises printer paper. 
     
     
         4 . The information handling system of  claim 1  wherein the consumable-using device comprises a disk drive and the consumable comprises compact disks. 
     
     
         5 . The information handling system of  claim 1  further comprising a messaging system interfaced with the consumable auto-order module, the messaging system operable to present a message on the information handling system when consumable automatic orders occur. 
     
     
         6 . The information handling system of  claim 1  wherein the consumable auto-order module is populated with consumable order information at manufacture of the information handling system. 
     
     
         7 . The information handling system of  claim 6  wherein the consumable order information comprises consumable preferences input by the purchaser of the information handling system. 
     
     
         8 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method for manufacturing an information handling system, the method comprising:
 accepting an order for an information handling system from a purchaser through the Internet, the information handling system having one or more consumable-using devices;   presenting the purchaser with consumable preferences to select, the consumable preferences associated with the automatic ordering of consumables for the consumable-using devices; and   loading a module on the ordered information handling system for automatic ordering of consumables according to the selected consumable preferences.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the consumable preferences comprise account information for charging ordered consumables, the method further comprising:
 storing the account information at the information handling system manufacturer;   associating the account information with an information handling system service tag; and   providing the service tag to the module for use in communicating consumable orders to the manufacturer.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the consumable-using device comprises a printer and the module is operable to order printer ink. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  17  wherein the consumable-using device comprises a disk storage drive and the module is operable to order storage disks. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the consumable-using device comprises a printer and the module is operable to order paper.