Systems and methods for providing restricted web site access to users of certain brands of printing device replaceable components

• US 20030016382A1
• Filed: 07/20/2001
• Published: 01/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Schneider, Sandra L., Baumunk, Mary B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,099,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5075 Remote control machines, e.g. by a host

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing access to a restricted web site to users of certain brands of printing device replaceable components are described. When a replaceable component is installed into a printing device, the printing device determines whether the replaceable component is a particular brand of component. If it is a particular brand of component, the printing device provides access, either automatically or on command, to a web site that is restricted to users of components of the brand. The restricted web site offers incentives and information to such users that is not available to printing device users that use other brands of components in their printing devices.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting when a new replaceable component is installed into a printing device;

determining if the new replaceable component has a particular brand name; and

providing a link to a restricted web site that is restricted to users of products having the particular brand name if the new replaceable component is determined to have the particular brand name.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising providing a link to an unrestricted web site that is accessible to users of products having the particular brand name and users of products not having the particular name brand.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the determining if the new replaceable component has a particular brand name further comprises retrieving a brand identifier from component memory integrated with the new replaceable component.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the component memory further comprises radio frequency identification (RFID) memory.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the providing a link to a restricted web site further comprises providing a link to a restricted web site via a dedicated web browser that can only be used to access the restricted web site.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the printing device is a laser printer; and

the replaceable component is a laser printer toner cartridge.

7. A printing device, comprising:

a replaceable component;

means for identifying a brand name of the replaceable component;

a detector configured to detect when the replaceable component is initially installed;

a web browser configured to access a restricted web site that is restricted to users of replaceable components having a particular brand name; and

wherein the web browser is configured to access the restricted web site only if the brand name of the replaceable component is identified as being a replaceable component having the particular name brand.

8. The printing device as recited in claim 7, wherein the web browser is a dedicated web browser that can only access the restricted web site;

and further comprising a general web browser that is configured to provide access to one or more unrestricted web sites to users of products not having the particular brand name.

9. The printing device as recited in claim 7, wherein the means for identifying a name brand of a replaceable component further comprises an interrogator configured to read a brand identifier stored in component memory integrated with the replaceable component, the brand identifier uniquely identifying a brand name of the replaceable component.

10. The printing device as recited in claim 9, wherein:

the interrogator further comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogator; and

the component memory further comprises RFID memory.

11. The printing device as recited in claim 7, wherein the replaceable component further comprises a laser printer toner cartridge.

12. The printing device as recited in claim 7, wherein the replaceable component further comprises an ink jet printer ink cartridge.

14. The printing device replaceable component as recited in claim 13, wherein the brand identifier can be used to uniquely identify a brand name of the replaceable component.

15. The printing device replaceable component as recited in claim 13, wherein the restricted website is restricted to users of printing devices that have a particular brand name.

17. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 16, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed on a computer, perform the following additional step:

providing access to one or more unrestricted web sites, whether or not the component is the particular brand of component.

18. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 16, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed on a computer, perform the following additional step:

identifying a universal resource locator (URL) for the restricted web site.

19. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 16, wherein the component is a replaceable component.

20. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 16, wherein the one or more computer-readable media are contained in a printer.

13. A printing device replaceable component, comprising:

a housing;

a toner supply;

component memory that stores a brand identifier; and

wherein the brand identifier is verified by a printing device in which the replaceable component is installed before the printing device provides access to a restricted web site.

16. One or more computer-readable media containing computer-executable instructions that, when executed on a computer, perform the following steps:

identifying a brand of a component in a printing device;

providing access to a restricted web site of the brand of the component is a particular brand.