Licensing method for use with an imaging device

• US 20040125397A1
• Filed: 12/30/2002
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Inventors: Zbrozek, John Dennis, Adkins, Christopher Alan, Strunk, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 7,589,850 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/84 output devices, e.g. displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

A licensing method includes the steps of establishing a licensing vendor; providing an imaging device that uses an imaging media in forming printed images on print media, the imaging media including an initial supply amount of an imaging substance; associating a usage license with at least one of the imaging device and the imaging media, the usage license defining a first usage threshold at which a consumer is prompted to acquire a new license; and providing a license monitoring mechanism communicatively coupled with the imaging device, the license monitoring mechanism performing the steps of tracking an amount of usage of the imaging media by the imaging device; determining whether the amount of usage of the imaging media by the imaging device has reached a usage threshold; and upon reaching the usage threshold, then prompting the consumer to acquire the new license from the licensing vendor.

Claims

1. A licensing method, comprising the steps of:

establishing a licensing vendor;

providing an imaging device that uses an imaging media in forming printed images on print media, said imaging media including an initial supply amount of an imaging substance;

associating a usage license with at least one of said imaging device and said imaging media, said usage license defining a first usage threshold at which a consumer is prompted to acquire a new license; and

providing a license monitoring mechanism communicatively coupled with said imaging device, said license monitoring mechanism performing the steps of;

tracking an amount of usage of said imaging media by said imaging device;

determining whether said amount of usage of said imaging media by said imaging device has reached said first usage threshold; and

upon reaching said first usage threshold, then prompting said consumer to acquire said new license from said licensing vendor.

2. The licensing method of claim 1, wherein said prompting step further comprising the step of determining whether said consumer wants to acquire said new license, and if said consumer wants to acquire said new license, then said license monitoring mechanism performing the step of establishing communications with said licensing vendor for acquiring said new license from said licensing vendor.

3. The licensing method of claim 1, wherein said usage license defines a licensed amount of said imaging substance that can be used during a term of said usage license, and wherein said initial supply amount is greater than said licensed amount of said imaging substance.

4. The licensing method of claim 3, wherein said initial supply amount is at least two times greater than said licensed amount.

5. The licensing method of claim 1, wherein said imaging substance is one of ink and toner.

6. The licensing method of claim 1, wherein said imaging media is at least one of an ink supply tank, an ink jet cartridge, a toner tank and an electrophotographic process (EP) cartridge, said imaging media having mounted thereto a memory for storing a first value representing said initial amount of said imaging substance and a second value representing said licensed amount of said imaging substance.

7. The licensing method of claim 6, wherein a third value representing said amount of usage is stored in said memory.

8. The licensing method of claim 6, wherein if said consumer wants to acquire said new license, then said license monitoring mechanism facilitating communications with said licensing vendor for acquiring said new license from said licensing vendor, said new license including a new licensed amount that is stored as said second value.

9. The licensing method of claim 1, wherein said tracking step tracks a consumption of said imaging substance.

10. The licensing method of claim 1, wherein said tracking step tracks at least one of a number of imaging dots formed on said print media;

a number of imaging dots formed on said print media as compensated for by at least one of temperature, humidity and time;

a percent of image coverage on printed sheets of said print media;

a number of printed sheets exceeding a predetermined coverage amount;

a number of sheets of said print media; and

, time.

11. The licensing method of claim 1, wherein said tracking step tracks a consumption of sheets of said print media.

12. The licensing method of claim 1, wherein said tracking step comprises the step of determining a usage amount of at least one of said imaging substance and said print media.

13. The licensing method of claim 12, wherein said imaging substance is one of ink and toner, and said print media is sheets of paper.

14. The licensing method of claim 1, wherein when said first usage threshold is reached, said imaging device informs said consumer that said license is close to expiring.

15. The licensing method of claim 14, wherein said consumer is informed by posting a visual warning.

16. The licensing method of claim 15, wherein said visual warning is a gradual reduction of a density of said printed image.

17. The licensing method of claim 15, wherein said visual warning is at least one of a text message and an illuminated indicator.

18. The licensing method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

defining a second usage threshold of said imaging media, said second usage threshold corresponding to said usage license being expired; and

when said second usage threshold is reached, said imaging device informs said consumer that said license has expired.

19. The licensing method of claim 18, wherein said consumer is informed by posting a visual warning.

20. The licensing method of claim 19, wherein said visual warning is a gradual reduction of a density of said printed image.

21. The licensing method of claim 19, wherein said visual warning is at least one of a text message and an illuminated indicator.

22. The licensing method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

defining a second usage threshold of said imaging media, said second usage threshold corresponding to said usage license being expired;

determining whether said second usage threshold has been reached; and

if said second usage threshold has been reached, then permitting use of said imaging device for a limited post-expiration amount.

23. The licensing method of claim 22, further comprising the step of determining whether said limited post-expiration amount has been reached, wherein if said limited post-expiration amount has been reached, then disallowing operation an imaging operation of said imaging device.

24. The licensing method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining that said usage license has expired;

placing said imaging device in a limited post-expiration use mode;

informing said consumer that said usage license has expired; and

again determining whether said consumer wants to acquire said new license.

25. The licensing method of claim 24, wherein a duration is associated with said limited post-expiration use, wherein when said duration is exceeded the method further comprising the step of disallowing operation of said imaging device.

26. The licensing method of claim 1, said license monitoring mechanism performing the step of facilitating communications with said licensing vendor for acquiring said new license from said licensing vendor.

27. The licensing method of claim 1, said license monitoring mechanism facilitating acquisition of said new license via an e-commerce transaction.

28. The licensing method of claim 27, wherein said facilitating acquisition comprises the steps of:

establishing Internet communications with said licensing vendor;

sending a request for licensing renewal that includes an identification of said imaging media; and

receiving new license information associated with said new license.

29. The licensing method of claim 1, wherein said usage license requires a combination of said imaging device with a particular one of said imaging media.

30. A licensing method, comprising the steps of:

acquiring an imaging device, said imaging device having a licensing monitoring mechanism and a usage license associated therewith;

tracking an amount of usage of said imaging device;

determining with said licensing monitoring mechanism whether a consumer wants to acquire a new license; and

if said consumer wants to acquire said new license, then said license monitoring mechanism facilitating acquisition of said new license from a licensing vendor.

31. The licensing method of claim 30, wherein said facilitating acquisition step comprises an on-line e-commerce transaction.

32. The licensing method of claim 30, further comprising the steps of determining with said licensing monitoring mechanism whether said usage license is close to expiring;

and informing said consumer that said usage license is close to expiring.

33. The licensing method of claim 32, wherein said step of informing comprises visually conveying a warning to said consumer by a gradual reduction of a density of printed images being produced by said imaging device.

34. The licensing method of claim 32, wherein said step of informing comprises visually conveying a warning to said consumer by at least one of a gradual reduction of a density of printed images being produced by said imaging device, a text message and an illuminated indicator.

35. The licensing method of claim 30, further comprising the step of determining whether said usage license has expired.

36. The licensing method of claim 35, wherein if it is determined that the usage license has expired, then said license monitoring mechanism informs said consumer that the license has expired.

37. The licensing method of claim 36, wherein said consumer is informed by at least one of a gradual reduction of a density of printed images being produced by said imaging device, a text message and an illuminated indicator.

38. The licensing method of claim 35, wherein if it is determined that the usage license has expired, then providing a period of limited post-expiration use during which imaging operations with said imaging device can continue.

39. The licensing method of claim 38, wherein during said period of said limited post-expiration use, said consumer is warned of the imminent ending of said imaging operations due to the license expiration.

40. The licensing method of claim 39, wherein during said limited post-expiration use said license monitoring mechanism facilitates acquisition of said new license.

41. The licensing method of claim 30, wherein said license monitoring mechanism facilitates acquisition of said new license via an e-commerce transaction.

42. The licensing method of claim 30, wherein said tracking step comprises tracking at least one of a number of imaging dots formed on a print media;

a number of imaging dots formed on said print media as compensated for by at least one of temperature, humidity and time;

a percent of image coverage on printed sheets of said print media;

a number of printed sheets exceeding a predetermined coverage amount;

a number of sheets of said print media; and

, time.

43. A licensing method, comprising the steps of:

acquiring an imaging media having a usage license associated therewith, said imaging media having an initial supply of an imaging substance and a memory storing an identification number for said imaging media, said usage license indicating a licensed amount of said imaging substance;

providing a license monitoring mechanism for accessing said memory of said imaging media and reading said identification number for said imaging media;

tracking an amount of usage of said imaging media, said amount of usage of said imaging media being related, at least in part, to at least one of an amount of consumption of said imaging substance and a rate of consumption of said imaging substance; and

said license monitoring mechanism determining whether said usage license has expired, said determination being based on a comparison of a first value representing said licensed amount of said imaging substance with a second value representing said amount of usage of said imaging media.

44. The licensing method of claim 43, further comprising the step of informing said consumer that said usage license has expired.

45. The licensing method of claim 44, wherein said step of informing comprises providing a visual warning to a consumer.

46. The licensing method of claim 45, wherein said visual warning is a gradual reduction of a density of printed images.

47. The licensing method of claim 45, wherein said visual warning is at least one of a gradual reduction of a density of printed images being produced by said imaging device, a text message and an illuminated indicator.

48. The licensing method of claim 43, wherein if it is determined that said usage license has expired, then providing a period of limited post-expiration use during which imaging operations using said imaging media can continue.

49. The licensing method of claim 48, wherein during said period of said limited post-expiration use, said consumer is warned of an imminent ending of said imaging operations due to the expiration of said usage license.

50. The licensing method of claim 49, wherein said consumer is warned by a gradual reduction of a density of images generated using said imaging media.

51. The licensing method of claim 50, wherein during said limited post-expiration use, said license monitoring mechanism facilitating acquisition of said new license.

52. The licensing method of claim 43, said license monitoring mechanism facilitating acquisition of a new license.

53. The licensing method of claim 52, wherein said facilitating acquisition of said new license is via an on-line e-commerce transaction.

54. The licensing method of claim 52, wherein said facilitating acquisition step comprises the steps of:

establishing Internet communications with a licensing vendor;

sending a request for licensing renewal that includes said identification number of said imaging media; and

receiving new license values associated with said new license.

55. The licensing method of claim 54, further comprising the step of storing said new license values in said memory.

56. An imaging device, comprising:

an electronics unit;

an imaging recording unit communicatively coupled to said electronics unit; and

an imaging media carrying a supply of imaging substance, said imaging media including a memory, said memory being communicatively coupled to said electronics unit, said memory including storage locations for storing an identification number of said imaging media, a first value representing a licensed amount of the imaging substance and a second value representing an amount of usage of imaging media;

said electronics unit including;

a communications interface for facilitating communications with an imaging device driver;

an embedded processor communicatively coupled to said communications interface;

an imaging recording unit interface communicatively coupled to each of said embedded processor, said image recording unit and said memory;

a counter communicatively coupled to each of said embedded processor and said imaging recording unit interface;

an encryption key storage module; and

an embedded license authentication system (ELAS) communicatively coupled to each of said communications interface, said counter, said imaging recording unit interface and said encryption key storage module, said ELAS being programmed for performing the steps of;

accessing said memory of said imaging media and reading said identification number for said imaging media, said first value and said second value;

tracking said amount of usage of said imaging media; and

determining whether said usage license has expired, said determination being based on a comparison of said first value representing said licensed amount of said imaging substance with said second value representing said amount of usage of imaging media.

57. The imaging device of claim 56, said ELAS being programmed to perform the further step of facilitating acquisition of a new license via an e-commerce transaction.

58. The imaging device of claim 57, wherein said facilitating acquisition comprises the steps of:

establishing Internet communications with a licensing vendor;

accessing an encryption key stored in said encryption key storage module;

generating a license renewal request including said identification number of said imaging media, and encrypting said license renewal request with said encryption key to form encrypted license renewal request information;

sending said encrypted license renewal request information to said licensing vendor;

receiving new license values associated with said new license.

59. The imaging device of claim 57, wherein said new license is received in an encrypted message, and said imaging device performing a power-on reset upon receiving any encrypted message.

60. The imaging device of claim 56, wherein said electronics unit is an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

61. A licensing method, comprising the steps of:

providing an imaging device having associated therewith a usage license for a set amount of usage, said imaging device having an embedded license authentication system (ELAS);

providing a host on which an imaging driver for said imaging device is installed;

said ELAS sending a message to said imaging driver that said usage license is expiring, and indicating to said imaging driver an amount of imaging substance remaining in said imaging media;

said ELAS initiating a limited post-expiration use provision permitting limited post expiration use of said imaging device;

said imaging driver generating a warning message that prompts a consumer to purchase a new license via an e-commerce website of a licensing vendor, said warning message being displayed at said host;

said ELAS forwarding a license renewal request secured by a secure encryption key to said e-commerce website of said licensing vendor;

said licensing vendor sending to said ELAS of said imaging device an encrypted reply message, said encrypted reply message including a new license; and

said ELAS decrypting said encrypted reply message, and enabling imaging operations performed by said imaging device and said imaging media for a duration of said new license.

62. The licensing method of claim 61, wherein during the limited post-expiration use of said imaging device, the consumer is continually warned of the imminent ending of imaging operations due to the license expiration.

63. The licensing method of claim 61, wherein said license renewal request includes an identification of at least one of said imaging device and said imaging media.

64. A licensing method, comprising the steps of:

providing an imaging device having an embedded license authentication system (ELAS);

providing an imaging media for use with said imaging device, said imaging media having a usage license associated therewith, said imaging media including a memory for storing information associated with said imaging media, said information including an imaging media type, an imaging substance fill level of said imaging media, and a usage amount of said imaging media, said usage amount being represented by a plurality of usage bits representing a corresponding plurality of usage levels, each bit representing a usage level of imaging substance from said imaging media;

said ELAS accessing said memory to read said information associated with imaging media;

said ELAS setting a license identification number (ID) corresponding to said usage license associated with said imaging media; and

said ELAS maintaining a count representing a usage of said imaging media,

when said count achieves a value corresponding to one of said plurality of usage levels for said imaging media, said ELAS setting an appropriate usage bit of said plurality of usage bits in said memory, and

when at least a portion of said plurality of usage bits are set, thereby indicating said usage license has expired, said ELAS going into a limited post-expiration use mode, wherein during said limited post-expiration use mode a gradual reduction of a density of printed images occurs.

65. The licensing method of claim 64, further comprising the step of facilitating a purchase of a new license via an e-commerce website of a licensing vendor.

66. The licensing method of claim 64, further comprising the step of performing a power-on reset of said imaging device upon receiving an encrypted message.

67. The licensing method of claim 66, wherein once a new license is purchased, said licensing vendor sending said new license in encrypted form, said ELAS decrypting said new license in encrypted form, said ELAS leaving said limited post-expiration use mode and returning to a normal imaging mode.

68. The licensing method of claim 67, wherein said ELAS sets a new license identification (ID) corresponding to said new license associated with said imaging media.

69. The licensing method of claim 68, wherein said new license ID is randomly generated.

70. The licensing method of claim 68, wherein if said imaging device does not recognize said new license ID as a valid number, then said imaging operations are halted.

71. The licensing method of claim 64, wherein said imaging device continues printing in said limited post-expiration use mode with a continued reduction in said image density so long as at least some of said imaging substance is present in said imaging media.

72. The licensing method of claim 64, wherein if said imaging device is an ink jet printer, said gradual reduction of said density of said printed images is effected by progressively reducing the number of ink jet nozzles of an imaging head that are available to eject ink.

73. The licensing method of claim 64, wherein if said imaging device is an electrophotographic printer said gradual reduction of a density of the printed images is effected by at least one of progressively reducing the power to an imaging head and progressively reducing a voltage applied to a photoconductive substrate.

74. A license authentication method for use with an imaging device, comprising the steps of:

determining an imaging media identification (ID) of an imaging media; and

determining whether a license has been issued corresponding to said imaging media ID of said imaging media.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein the step of determining whether said license has been issued corresponding to said imaging media ID of said imaging media is performed by an e-commerce vendor.

76. The method of claim 74, further comprising the step of sending said imaging media ID to an e-commerce vendor.

77. The method of claim 76, further comprising the step of performing said sending step if it is determined that said imaging media ID is new to said imaging device.

78. The method of claim 76, wherein the step of determining whether said license has been issued corresponding to said imaging media ID of said imaging media is performed by said e-commerce vendor.

79. The method of claim 74, wherein if said license has not been issued corresponding to said imaging media ID of said imaging media, the method further comprising the step of instructing a consumer to purchase a new license through a licensing vendor.

80. The method of claim 74, further comprising the step of determining whether said imaging media ID is new to said imaging device.

81. The method of claim 80, wherein if said imaging media ID is new to said imaging device, then informing a consumer to acquire a new license, said new license binding said imaging media ID with said imaging device.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein if said new license is to be acquired through e-commerce, then the method further comprising the step of sending said imaging media ID to an e-commerce licensing vendor.

83. A license authentication method, comprising the steps of:

determining that an imaging media has been installed in an imaging device;

reading imaging media usage data stored in an imaging media memory of said imaging media;

determining whether a first use of said imaging media has expired; and

determining whether an imaging media identification (ID) of said imaging media is new to said imaging device.

84. The method of claim 83, further comprising the step of recording said imaging media ID of said imaging media in an imaging device memory of said imaging device, said imaging media ID having been previously stored in said imaging media memory of said imaging media.

85. The method of claim 83, wherein if said imaging media ID is not new to said imaging device, the method further comprising the step of copying said imaging media usage data stored in said imaging media memory to an imaging device memory of said imaging device.

86. The method of claim 83, wherein if said first use has expired, then the method further comprising the step of acquiring a usage license for said imaging media.

87. The method of claim 83, wherein if said imaging media ID is not new to said imaging device, the method further comprising the step of formatting an allocated portion of an imaging device memory and copying said imaging media usage data stored in said imaging media memory to said allocated portion of said imaging device memory.

88. The method of claim 83, wherein when said first use has expired, the method further comprising the step of writing a first use expiration code to said imaging media memory.

89. The method of claim 88, wherein if said imaging media ID is new to said imaging device, the method further comprising the step of determining whether said imaging media is enabled.

90. The method of claim 89, wherein if said imaging media is disabled, the method further comprising the steps of informing a consumer that said imaging media is empty.

91. The method of claim 83, wherein if said first use of said imaging media has expired and said imaging media ID is not new to said imaging device, the method further comprising the step of determining whether a current usage license has expired.

92. The method of claim 91, wherein if said current usage license has expired, the method further comprising the step of determining whether said imaging media is disabled.

93. The method of claim 92, wherein if said imaging media is disabled, the method further comprising the step of informing a consumer that further imaging is disallowed.

94. The method of claim 92, wherein if said imaging media is not disabled, the method further comprising the step of sending said imaging media ID to an e-commerce vendor.

95. The method of claim 94, further comprising the step of said e-commerce vendor determining whether a license has been issued corresponding to said imaging media ID of said imaging media.

96. The method of claim 95, wherein if said license has not been issued corresponding to said imaging media ID of said imaging media, the method further comprising the step of instructing said consumer to purchase a new license through said e-commerce vendor.