Ink cartridge management system, printer, and ink cartridge

摘要

An ink cartridge (190) placed in an ink jet printer (500) stores cartridge management data containing "ink capacity", "ink total consumption amount", and "cartridge identification information". A host (100) stores host management data containing "ink total consumption amount" and "cartridge identification information for each cartridge. The host collates the cartridge management data read by the printer (500) with the host management data stored in the host (100) and determines the precise "ink total-consumption amount." After print processing terminates, the printer calculates the amount of ink consumed in the print (ink consumption amount) and the host updates the "ink total consumption amount" based on the calculated ink consumption amount. The printer updates the "ink total consumption amount" recorded in the cartridge management data to the "ink total consumption amount" updated by the host.