Patent ID: 7469107
Filing Date: 2008-12-23
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A method for providing a virtual replenishing of a supply item with an imaging substance, comprising the steps of: providing a first supply item containing an actual supply of said imaging substance, said actual supply including a licensed amount of said imaging substance and a surplus amount of said imaging substance; communicating to a database a first serial number associated with said first supply item; comparing said first serial number with a plurality of serial numbers stored in said database; receiving from said database one of a first data indicating non-correspondence between said first serial number with one of said plurality of serial numbers and a second data indicating correspondence between said first serial number with one of said plurality of serial numbers, wherein said second data includes a verification key; and comparing said verification key received from said database with a first key stored in a memory associated with said first supply item, wherein if said verification key received from said database corresponds to said first key stored in said memory associated with said first supply item, then performing the step of allocating at least a portion of said surplus amount of said imaging substance contained in said first supply item for use.