SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTIVELY CONTROLLING THE USE OF FUNCTIONALITY IN ONE OR MORE MULTIFUNCTION DEVICES AND SUBSIDIZING THEIR USE THROUGH ADVERTISEMENTS
First Claim
1. A system for selectively controlling use of functionality in one or more multifunction devices, the system comprising:
- a communications interface in operative communication with at least one of a printer and a display apparatus, and adapted to electronically communicate data therewith, wherein the data includes a data structure configured to present an advertisement, wherein the data is at least one of print data and image data; and
said communications interface being operatively associated with an advertisement-credit component, said advertisement credit component being adapted to generate a credit value corresponding to the advertisement, said advertisement credit component authorizing use of a predetermined amount of a function with the credit value corresponding to the advertisement.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and related method for selectively controlling use of functionality in one or more multifunction devices includes a communications interface in operative communication with a printer and/or a display apparatus. The communications interfaces electronically communicates data with the printer and/or the display apparatus. The data includes a data structure configured to present an advertisement. The data may be print data or image data. The communications interface is operatively associated with an advertisement-credit component which can generate a credit value corresponding to the advertisement. The advertisement-credit component can subsidize multi-function device costs based upon a presented advertisement, e.g., the cost of printing, scanning, faxing, and related consumables including inks, toners and/or papers. The advertisement credit component authorizes use of a predetermined amount of a function with the credit value that corresponds to the advertisement.
131 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A system for selectively controlling use of functionality in one or more multifunction devices, the system comprising:
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a communications interface in operative communication with at least one of a printer and a display apparatus, and adapted to electronically communicate data therewith, wherein the data includes a data structure configured to present an advertisement, wherein the data is at least one of print data and image data; and said communications interface being operatively associated with an advertisement-credit component, said advertisement credit component being adapted to generate a credit value corresponding to the advertisement, said advertisement credit component authorizing use of a predetermined amount of a function with the credit value corresponding to the advertisement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for selectively controlling use of functionality in one or more multifunction devices, the method comprising:
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(i) communicating data to at least one of a printer and a display apparatus, wherein the data includes a data structure configured to present an advertisement; (ii) presenting the advertisement; (iii) generating a credit value corresponding to the presented advertisement; and (iv) authorizing use of a predetermined amount of a function with the credit value. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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Specification