Method of licensing functionality after initial transaction

• US 7,689,513 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2006
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Inventors: Strunk, Timothy Lowell, Wilson, Michael Shayne, Craig, Timothy P., Cunnagin, Stephen Kelly, Adkins, Christopher Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca; Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US11/561,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20070094148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 705/59
• US Class Current: 705/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

Methods for licensing functionality after an initial transaction are provided. One such method is directed to licensing after an initial transaction of a customer obtaining a supply item including the step of prompting the customer to acquire a usage license for the supply item.

Claims

1. A method for licensing functionality after an initial transaction, comprising:

determining whether an initial licensed amount of an imaging substance in a supply item has been depleted by a computer executable process stored on a computer readable medium, wherein said act of determining requires receiving data from a memory associated with said supply item, said supply item being subject to a usage license;

informing a customer of said depletion of said imaging substance in said supply item;

providing a list of possible supply item renewal options that are available to said customer, wherein said possible supply item renewal options comprise at least one of a self-renewal of said supply item, a renewal of said supply item by a manufacturer of said supply item, and a third party remanufacturer renewal of said supply item; and

if said customer chooses to renew said supply item, the method further comprising;

receiving from said customer a license fee for a new license to renew said supply item; and

transmitting to said customer a new digital signature for said supply item.

2. A method for licensing functionality after an initial transaction, comprising:

informing a customer of depletion of an initial licensed amount of an imaging substance in a supply item by a computer executable process stored on a computer readable medium;

querying whether said customer would like to renew said supply item; and

if said customer chooses to renew said supply item, the method further comprising;

receiving from said customer a license fee for a new license to renew said supply item; and

transmitting to said customer a new digital signature for said supply item,

wherein said customer chooses to renew said supply item via a third party remanufacturer, and

wherein said third party remanufacturer was granted permission to generate X number of digital signatures that are available for use with a same number X of supply items.

3. A method of performing an e-commerce transaction through a communications link between an c-commerce server and a customer, comprising:

said e-commerce server receiving communications from said customer regarding a renewal of a supply item by a computer executable process stored on a computer readable medium;

said e-commerce server receiving from said customer predetermined information necessary to generate a digital signature for said supply item;

receiving from said customer a license fee to acquire a license to complete said renewal of said supply item; and

said e-commerce server supplying said digital signature for said supply item, wherein said predetermined information includes an identification number assigned to said supply item prior to an initial use of said supply item, and

wherein said predetermined information further includes at least one of a type of printhead for said supply item, a model number of said supply item, a lot number of said supply item, and an identification number of an imaging apparatus using said supply item.

4. A method for licensing after an initial transaction of a customer obtaining a current supply item, wherein said customer is prompted to acquire a usage license for said current supply item, comprising:

informing a customer of depletion of an initial licensed amount of an imaging substance in a supply item by a computer executable process stored on a computer readable medium;

receiving from said customer via an e-commerce server predetermined information necessary to generate a digital signature for said current supply item;

receiving from said customer a license fee to acquire said usage license for said current supply item; and

supplying said digital signature for said current supply item.

5. A method for licensing after an initial transaction of a customer obtaining a current supply item, said method comprising:

prompting said customer to acquire a usage license for said current supply item by a computer executable process stored on a computer readable medium;

providing said customer with said usage license for said current supply item;

determining whether a licensed imaging substance in said current supply item has been depleted, wherein said act of determining requires receiving data from a memory associated with said current supply item; and

wherein if said current supply item is depleted, then;

prompting said customer to install another supply item; and

prompting said customer to acquire an additional license for said another supply item.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said act of determining comprises at least one of counting a number of imaging pixels generated, counting a number of pages printed, or determining a time of usage.

7. A method for licensing extra functionality after an initial transaction wherein a customer has purchased a multi-pack of supply items and a license to use a first supply item of said supply items of said multi-pack, comprising:

determining whether an imaging substance in said first supply has been depleted by a computer executable process stored on a computer readable medium, wherein said act of determining comprises receiving data from a memory associated with said current supply item; and

wherein if said first supply item is depleted, then;

prompting said customer to install a second supply item from said multi-pack;

prompting said customer to acquire a new license for said second supply item; and

receiving from said customer a license fee for said new license,

wherein said act of determining comprises at least one of counting a number of imaging pixels generated, counting a number of pages printed, or determining a time of usage.

8. A method for licensing extra functionality after an initial transaction, comprising:

determining whether a first supply item is near empty by a computer executable process stored on a computer readable medium, wherein said act of determining requires receiving data from a memory associated with said current supply item

causing a message to be displayed that informs a customer that said first supply item is near empty, and providing information to said customer on how to receive a new supply item;

receiving notification that a first supply item is near empty; and

responding to said notification by sending a new supply item to said customer.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said notification is received via said e-commerce server.

10. A method for licensing extra functionality after an initial transaction, comprising:

receiving from a customer a selection of a feature from an available feature list for a device; and

enabling said feature selected for said device, wherein said feature includes at least one of a scan resolution, document scaling, image filtering, stand-alone copying, stand-alone faxing, and data compression support,

wherein said selection is received by an e-commerce server operated by a manufacturer of said device,

wherein said e-commerce server responds to said selection with a digital signature that is associated with an identification number for said device, said digital signature including a code needed to enable said desired features for use.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said available feature list is provided to said customer for selection of said feature via an e-commerce transaction.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said available feature list includes an electronic checklist of individual features.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said available feature list includes a grouping of features which work well together, and which may be selected as a group.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein certain features are promoted as a group.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein certain features are promoted by offering said certain features at one of free or at a reduced fee for a trial period.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein said customer makes said selection via a web browser operating on a host.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining whether said customer desires to change said selection.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein if said customer desires to change said selection, then providing to said customer said available feature list for selection of a feature for said device.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein said device is an imaging apparatus.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein said device is a supply item.