Automatic electronic identification self-check

• US 20020188860A1
• Filed: 06/12/2001
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Sesek, Robert, Parry, Travis J.
• Application Number:
  US09/880,399
• Publication Number:
  US 20020188860A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/200
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0855 the concentration being measured by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0863 provided with identifying means or means for storing process- or use parameters, e.g. an electronic memory
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0865 Arrangements for supplying new developer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/82 Protecting input, output or interconnection devices

Abstract

This invention relates to automatically checking labels for consumables, such as marking agent cartridges. Such structures of this type, generally, allow a customer to determine if the installed marking agent cartridge is a counterfeit cartridge by automatically verifying the authenticity of the cartridge against the producer'"'"'s/supplier'"'"'s database. The marking agent could be, but is not limited to, toner, ink or the like.

Claims

1. A method for self-authenticating a marking agent cartridge, wherein said method is comprised of the steps of:

installing an identification means on a marking agent cartridge;

installing said cartridge in a printer;

automatically reading said identification means on said cartridge by said printer;

determining if said cartridge is a counterfeit; and

accepting/rejecting said cartridge.

2. The method, as in claim 1, wherein said marking agent is further comprised of:

toner.

3. The method, as in claim 1, wherein said marking agent is further comprised of:

ink.

4. The method, as in claim 1, wherein said identification means is further comprised of:

a bar code.

5. The method, as in claim 1, wherein said identification means is further comprised of:

a label.

6. The method, as in claim 1, wherein said step of installing an identification means on said marking agent is further comprised of the steps of:

forwarding first information regarding said identification means to a database; and

compiling said first information in said database.

7. The method, as in claim 6, wherein said determining step is further comprised of the steps of:

automatically reading said identification means on said cartridge by said printer in order to obtain second information regarding said identification means; and

comparing said first information of said identification means with said second information of said identification means.

8. The method, as in claim 7, wherein said accepting/rejecting step is further comprised of the steps of:

accepting said marking agent cartridge as being genuine if said first information of said identification means substantially matches said second information of said identification means; and

rejecting said marking agent cartridge as being counterfeit if said first information of said identification means does not substantially match said second information of said identification means.

9. The method, as in claim 1, wherein said method is further comprised of the step of:

notifying a producer/supplier of said marking agent cartridge if said marking agent cartridge is rejected as being counterfeit.

10. A method for self-authenticating a marking agent cartridge, wherein said method is comprised of the steps of:

installing an identification means on a marking agent cartridge;

installing said cartridge in a printing device;

automatically reading said identification means on said cartridge by said printing device;

determining if said cartridge is a counterfeit; and

accepting/rejecting said cartridge.

11. The method, as in claim 10, wherein said marking agent is further comprised of:

toner.

12. The method, as in claim 10, wherein said marking agent is further comprised of:

ink.

13. The method, as in claim 10, wherein said identification means is further comprised of:

a bar code.

14. The method, as in claim 10, wherein said identification means is further comprised of:

a label.

15. The method, as in claim 10, wherein said step of installing an identification means on said marking agent is further comprised of the steps of:

forwarding first information regarding said identification means to a database; and

compiling said first information in said database.

16. The method, as in claim 15, wherein said determining step is further comprised of the steps of:

automatically reading said identification means on said cartridge by said printing device in order to obtain second information regarding said identification means; and

comparing said first information of said identification means with said second information of said identification means.

17. The method, as in claim 16, wherein said accepting/rejecting step is further comprised of the steps of:

accepting said marking agent cartridge as being genuine if said first information of said identification means substantially matches said second information of said identification means; and

rejecting said marking agent cartridge as being counterfeit if said first information of said identification means does not substantially match said second information of said identification means.

18. The method, as in claim 10, wherein said method is further comprised of the step of:

notifying a producer/supplier of said marking agent cartridge if said marking agent cartridge is rejected as being counterfeit.