Abstract: An apparatus for tracking usage information for an image forming device is provided which includes an image forming device, processing circuitry and memory. The processing circuitry is associated with the image forming device and is operative to detect consumable usage information at the image forming device. The memory is coupled with the processing circuitry and is operative to store a data file containing the user information, the output job information, and the usage information. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A method of gathering and transmitting information is provided. The method is performed in a client/server computer network including a user computer having a CPU and a storage device, which are adapted to implement a first client program capable of gathering usage information from the user's CPU and storage device and a second client program providing connectivity with the network. The network further includes a principal server site having a server program capable of writing transmittable files to the user computer. At least one third-party server site is included, and is capable of uploading transmittable files from the user computer. In the first step, the server program writes at least one transmittable file to the user computer. Next, the first client program gathers usage information from the user computer, and then writes the usage information to the at least one transmittable file.

Abstract: The invention accurately meters usage of an electrophotographic printer/copier (EPC) by counting the number of pages that are ejected to an output bin of the EPC and incrementing a user charge value accordingly. Further, the invention determines a toner parameter value that is related to an amount of toner used on each page and bases the user charge value, at least in part, on such toner parameter value. The toner parameter value is preferably determined by counting a number of pixels that are imaged on a page. The invention further utilizes a non-volatile memory to maintain copies of usage total values, while concurrently storing such usage total values on a disk memory. If an attempt is made to substitute a different disk memory in the EPC, usage parameter values are updated thereon through use of values stored in the nonvolatile memory.