Patent ID: 8215548
Filing Date: 2012-07-10
Classification: G06Q,G07F

Abstract:
1. A printing system comprising: a plurality of multifunctional printing devices, said plurality of multifunctional printing devices being operatively associated with at least one controller and each one of said plurality of multifunctional printing devices having a preset amount of preloaded consumables at a time of initial use; and a software application for enabling at least one user to access said plurality of multifunctional printing devices, said software application being configured to receive information from a prepaid card, the information including a financial value relating to usage of some of the preset amount of preloaded consumables in said plurality of multifunctional printing devices, and the prepaid card being used (i) for activating said software application and (ii) for selectively authorizing access of the at least one user to the at least one controller of said plurality of multifunctional printing devices; wherein the financial value of the prepaid card is applied by the at least one user across said plurality of multifunctional printing devices in any desired uniform or non-uniform financial proportions in accordance with usage determinations of the at least one user; and wherein the at least one user is enabled, through use of the prepaid card, to pay for access to said plurality of multifunctional printing devices in time staggered installments without pre-established contractual obligations.