PRINTER

• US 20140160519A1
• Filed: 07/29/2011
• Published: 06/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Jeran, Paul L., Shaw, Mark Q., Fitzgerald, Sean D., Yerenson, Robin P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,348,544 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.14
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1203 Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1219 with regard to consumables, e.g. ink, toner, paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1235 caused by end of consumables, e.g. paper, ink, toner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1239 Restricting the usage of resources, e.g. usage or user levels, credit limit, consumables, special fonts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1279 Controller construction, e.g. aspects of the interface hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

In one example a media authorization code may be authenticated in a printer to authorize the colorant supply to print when a counter does not exceed a predetermined amount of authorized media units.

Claims

1. Printer, comprising

a memory,

a colorant supply, arranged to transfer colorant to media, and printer circuitry, configured to

authenticate an entered media authorization code,

upon authentication, instruct a counter to count printed media units, and

authorize the colorant supply to print as long as the counter does not exceed a predetermined amount of authorized media units.

2. Printer according to claim 1, comprising a lifetime colorant supply, wherein

the colorant supply is integrated with the printer so as to be non-exchangeable and non-refillable from an end user perspective, and

the printer is arranged to be reused.

3. Printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer circuitry comprises a second authentication circuit configured to verify if the printer and colorant supply correspond, and the printer circuitry is configured to inhibit printing if the printer and the installed colorant supply do not correspond.

4. Printer according to claim 1, the printer circuitry comprising

a controller configured to instruct the colorant supply to transfer the colorant according to processed digital images,

a formatter configured to process digital images and instruct the controller,

a third authentication circuit configured to verify if the formatter and printer correspond, and

a fourth authentication circuit configured to verify if the controller and printer correspond.

5. Printer according to claim 1, comprising

a memory module reader configured to verify the media authorization code from a corresponding secured memory module storing the media authorization code, and

a first authentication circuit configured to authenticate the media authorization code.

6. Print system, comprising a printer according to claim 1, comprising a memory module connectable to the printer, the memory module storing

the media authorization code in a digitally secured manner, and

a counter indicating an amount of authorized media units.

7. Print system, comprising a printer according to claim 1, comprising a memory module connectable to the printer, the memory storing

the media authorization code in a digitally secured manner, and

a human readable code for facilitating verification of the media authorization code.

8. Print system, comprising

a printer according to claim 1, and

an authentication server, storing at least a printer ID, configured to

receive a media authorization code request, and

forward a media authorization code corresponding to the respective ID to the printer corresponding to the respective ID.

9. Method of facilitating printing, comprising

providing a printer having a colorant supply with sufficient colorant to print, wherein the printer is locked for printing from an end user perspective,

registering an ID pertaining to the printer,

obtaining from a third party a media authorization code corresponding to the printer and to a predetermined amount of media units,

entering the media authorization code into the printer,

the printer authenticating the media authorization code, and

configure the printer to authorize the predetermined amount of media units for printing.

10. Method of facilitating printing according to claim 9, comprising

receiving a request to authorize more media units for printing, the request including the ID and a further predetermined amount of media units,

verifying the ID pertaining to the requested party, and

facilitating the media authorization code corresponding to the further predetermined amount of media units.

11. Print method, comprising,

requesting a authorization of a predetermined amount of media units for printing,

communicating a media authorization code and the predetermined amount of media units to a printer,

the printer authenticating the media authorization code,

printing,

counting the printed media units, and

inhibiting further printing when the counting exceeds the predetermined amount of media units.

12. Print method according to claim 11, comprising

providing a microcontroller storing the media authorization code and the predetermined amount of media units,

communicating the media authorization code and predetermined amount of media units by connecting the microcontroller to the printer,

authenticating the media authorization code, and

authorizing the predetermined authorized amount of media units from the microcontroller.

13. Print method according to claim 11, wherein the printer is arranged to have a lifetime imaging supply, comprising, within the printer,

authenticating the media authorization code, and at least one of

authenticating a formatter,

authenticating a controller, and

authenticating the colorant supply.

14. Print method according to claim 11, comprising, when at least one colorant of the colorant supply is substantially exhausted or almost exhausted,

sending the printer to a predetermined location,

unlocking the colorant supply at the predetermined location,

providing the printer with a filled colorant supply,

resetting the printer circuitry, and

registering IDs of the printer and/or the filled colorant supply, and

recirculating the printer for usage.

15. Print method according to claim 11, comprising

verifying a remaining colorant level,

assign an amount of remaining authorized media units to another printer if it is estimated that the amount of remaining authorized media units cannot be printed with the remaining colorant level.