Patent Publication Number: US-7221878-B2

Title: Allowing image formation using consumable item where code of consumable item is identical to code of image-formation device

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   Nearly all printing devices, such as inkjet and laser printers, employ consumable items in printing images on media. For instance, inkjet printers typically use inkjet cartridges, whereas laser printers typically use toner cartridges. These consumable items can be expensive. Many times, an organization, such as a person&#39;s place of work, a library, or another organization, uses the same types of printing devices that are found in people&#39;s homes. As a result, the consumable items employed in these printing devices can be an attractive target for theft. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The drawings referenced herein form a part of the specification. Features shown in the drawing are meant as illustrative of only some embodiments of the invention, and not of all embodiments of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of a representative image-formation device in which image-formation device consumable items are insertable so that the device is able to form images on media, in conjunction with which embodiments of the invention may be practiced. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram of an image-formation device having a code programmed into a memory thereof and an image-formation device consumable item also having a code programmed into a memory thereof, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a method to determine whether to allow an image-formation device consumable item to be used in an image-formation device to form images on media, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a rudimentary block diagram of a particular implementation of an image-formation device, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a rudimentary block diagram of a particular implementation of an image-formation device consumable item, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
   In the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part thereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilized, and logical, mechanical, electrical, electro-optical, software/firmware and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
     FIG. 1  shows a representative image-formation device  100 , in conjunction with which embodiments of the invention may be practiced. The image-formation device  100  is particularly an inkjet-printing device, such as an inkjet printer. Other types of image-formation devices in conjunction with which embodiments of the invention may be practiced include laser-printing devices, such as laser printers, as well as other types of image-formation devices. 
   Image-formation device consumable items  112 A and  112 B, collectively referred to as the consumable items  112 , are insertable into the image-formation device  100  so that the device  100  is able to form images on media, such as paper. The consumable items  112  are particularly inkjet cartridges containing supplies of ink and optionally inkjet printheads. Without the consumable items  112 , the image-formation device  100  is unable to form images on media. The items  112  are consumable items in that the process of forming images on media depletes, or consumes, the items  112 , such that at some point new items  112  have to be inserted into the image-formation device  100  so that image formation can continue on media. 
   Other types of image-formation device consumable items are also amenable to implementation in conjunction with embodiments of the invention. Such other types of consumable items include ink, colorant, pigment, and toner. Furthermore, other types of consumable item include fusers or fuser assemblies, for use with laser-printing devices, as well as printheads, for use with inkjet-printing devices. As can be appreciated by those of ordinary skill within the art, embodiments of the invention are not limited to a particular type of image-formation device, nor to a particular type of image-formation device consumable item. 
     FIG. 2  shows a system  200 , according to an embodiment of the invention. The system  200  includes an image-formation device  202 , and an image-formation device consumable item  204  that is insertable into the device  202 , as indicated by the arrow  214 . The image-formation device  202  includes a memory  206  having a code  208  programmed therein. The memory  206  is a non-volatile memory, and may in one embodiment be a semiconductor memory, such as flash memory. 
   The consumable item  204  also includes a memory  210  having a code  212  programmed therein. The memory  210  is a non-volatile memory, and may in one embodiment be a semiconductor memory, such as flash memory. The code  212  is programmed into the memory  210  before the consumable item  204  is inserted into the image-formation device  202 . That is, the code  212  is programmed into the memory  210  of the consumable item  204  outside of the image-formation device  202 . 
   When the consumable item  204  is inserted into the image-formation device  202 , as indicated by the arrow  214 , the image-formation device  202  detects whether the memory  210  of the consumable item  204  has a code  212  programmed therein. If the device  202  detects the code  212  programmed in the memory  210 , then the device  202  reads the code  212  from the memory  210  of the item  204 . The device  202  compares the code  212  to the code  208  programmed in its own memory  206 . If the code  212  is identical to the code  208 , then the image-formation device  202  utilizes the consumable item  204  to form images on media. 
   However, if the code  212  is not identical to the code  208 , then the image-formation device  202  does not utilize the consumable item  204  to form images on media. Such code matching provides theft deterrence. For example, a user who knows that the consumable item  204  has the code  212  programmed into the memory  210  thereof, such that the consumable item  204  can only be used within image-formation devices, like the device  202 , that have the identical code programmed into memories therein, is less likely to steal the consumable item  204 . This is because the consumable item  204  is essentially useless to the prospective thief, because the consumable item  204  is coded to be operable in image-formation devices that are programmed with the same code. 
   In one embodiment, if the consumable item  204  does not have a code programmed into the memory  210  thereof, but the image-formation device  202  does have a code  208  programmed into the memory  206  thereof, the image-formation device  202  will still use the consumable item  204  to form images on media. In another embodiment, if the image-formation device  202  does not have a code programmed into the memory  206  thereof, but the consumable item  204  does have a code  212  programmed into the memory  210  thereof, the image-formation device  202  will not use the consumable item  204  to form images on media. In a third embodiment, if both the image-formation device  202  and the consumable item  204  do not have codes programmed into their memories  206  and  210 , respectively, the image-formation device  202  will still use the consumable item  204  to form images on media. 
   The code  212  and the code  208 , where identical, may be associated with a particular party, such as a particular organization, like a given company or corporation. All of the consumable items purchased by the party may be pre-programmed with the party&#39;s code at the time of purchase or at the time of manufacture, by the distributor, merchant, vendor, or manufacturer of the consumable items. Alternatively, the consumable items may be programmable by the party itself, using a specialized or general-purpose programming device for this purpose. Likewise, all of the image-formation devices purchased, leased, or otherwise used by the party may be pre-programmed with the party&#39;s code, or may be programmable by the party itself. The codes  208  and  212  are thus capable of being non-unique, in that other image-formation devices, besides the image-formation device  202 , may have the same code  208 , and other consumable items, besides the consumable item  204 , may have the same code  212 . 
   The memory  206 , and/or the memory  210 , may be reprogrammable or non-reprogrammable. Therefore, in one embodiment, once either the memory  206  or the memory  210  has been programmed with a given code, the code cannot be erased from the memory and the memory cannot be reprogrammed with a new code. In another embodiment, however, once the memory  206  or the memory  210  has been programmed with a given code, the code may be erasable from the memory or the memory may be reprogrammed with a new code. A password or other authentication approach may be employed to ensure that only authorized users are able to erase codes from memory or reprogram new codes into memory. 
   The programming of the code  212  into the memory  210  of the consumable item  204  before the item  204  is inserted into the image-formation device  202 , and outside of the image-formation device  202 , is advantageous. Typically within an organization, spare consumable items will be placed in a convenient location near the image-formation device in which they are to be used, so that when the consumable item already in the device is depleted, any person of the organization may switch a new consumable item for the depleted consumable item. Theft is more likely to occur of the spare consumable items that have not yet been used, rather than of the consumable item already in the image-formation device. Therefore, having a code programmed into the memories of the consumable items before they are inserted into the image-formation device ensures that they are less likely to be targets of theft. If a code is programmed into the memory of the consumable item only once the item has been inserted into an image-formation device, then the item is still likely to be a target of theft before it has been inserted into the device, especially where the item is placed in a convenient location near the device, as is common. 
     FIG. 3  shows a method  300 , according to an embodiment of the invention. At least some parts of the method  300  may be implemented as one or more computer program parts of a computer program stored on a computer-readable medium. The computer program parts may be software objects, subroutines, routines, computer program sections, and the like. The computer-readable medium may be a volatile or a non-volatile medium. The computer-readable medium may further be a semiconductor medium, a magnetic medium, and/or an optical medium, among other types of computer-readable media. 
   A code is optionally programmed into the memory of an image-formation device consumable item ( 302 ). The programming of the code into the memory of the consumable item is performed before the item is inserted into an image-formation device. Furthermore, the programming of the code into the memory of the consumable item is performed outside of the image-formation device. A code is also optionally programmed into the memory of the image-formation device ( 304 ). The programming of a code into the image-formation device may be performed before or after a code is programmed into the consumable item. The programming of the codes into the image-formation device and the consumable item may be performed by a user of a particular party with which the codes are associated, or by a merchant of the device and the item upon purchase of the device and the item by the user of the particular party. 
   The consumable item is then inserted into the image-formation device ( 306 ). If a code is detected as having been programmed in the memory of the consumable item ( 308 ), then the method  300  determines whether the code of the consumable item is identical to the code, if any, of the image-formation device ( 310 ). If so, then the consumable item is allowed to be used by the image-formation device to form images on media ( 312 ). Furthermore, if there is no code detected in the memory of the consumable item ( 308 ), then the consumable item is also allowed to be used by the device to form images on media ( 312 ). However, if the code of the consumable item differs from that of the image-formation device ( 310 ), then the consumable item is prevented from being used by the image-formation device to form images on media ( 314 ). 
     FIG. 4  shows a rudimentary block diagram of one implementation of the image-formation device  202 , according to an embodiment of the invention. The image-formation device  202  is depicted as including the memory  206 , an image-formation mechanism  402 , a detection mechanism  404 , and a security mechanism  406 . As can be appreciated by those of ordinary skill within the art, the image-formation device  202  may have other components, in addition to and/or in lieu of those depicted in  FIG. 4 . 
   The memory  206  is capable of storing a code, as has been described. The image-formation mechanism  402  includes those components of the image-formation device  202  to form images on media, apart from consumable items. For instance, the mechanism  402  may be or include a laser-printing mechanism where the device  202  is a laser-printing device, or an inkjet-printing mechanism where the device  202  is an inkjet-printing device. The image-formation mechanism  402  uses an image-formation device consumable item inserted into the image-formation device  202  to form images on media. 
   The detection mechanism  404  detects whether an image-formation device consumable item inserted into the image-formation device  202  has a code programmed in a memory thereof. The detection mechanism  404  may in one embodiment be a wireless radio frequency receiver to detect wireless signals broadcast by the consumable item and representative of the code programmed in the memory of the item. The detection mechanism  404  may in another embodiment be a communication bus to interface with a corresponding communication bus of the consumable item to receive the code programmed in the memory of the item. The detection mechanism  404  may further may be another type of detection mechanism. 
   The security mechanism  406  is to allow the image-formation mechanism  402  to form images on media using the consumable item inserted into the image-formation device  202  where the code programmed into the memory  206  of the device  202  is identical to the code programmed into the memory of the consumable item. The security mechanism  406  is further to allow the image-formation mechanism  402  to form images on media using the consumable item where the consumable item has been detected as not having a code programmed in its memory. Furthermore, the security mechanism  406  is to disallow the image-formation mechanism  402  from using the consumable item to form images on media where the code of the image-formation device  202  is different than the code of the consumable item. The security mechanism  406  may be implemented in software, hardware, or a combination of hardware and software. 
     FIG. 5  shows a rudimentary block diagram of one implementation of the image-formation device consumable item  204 , according to an embodiment of the invention. The image-formation device consumable item  204  is depicted as including the memory  210 , one or more consumables  502 , and a communication mechanism  504 . As can be appreciated by those of ordinary skill within the art, the consumable item  204  may have other components, in addition to and/or in lieu of those depicted in  FIG. 5 . 
   The memory  210  is capable of storing a code, as has been described. The consumables  502  include consumables needed and used by an image-formation device to form images on media. The communication mechanism  504  communicates the code programmed in the memory  210  to an image-formation device into which the consumable item  204  has been inserted. The mechanism  504  may be an active communication mechanism, such as a wireless transmitter to broadcast wireless signals representative of the code. The mechanism  504  may further be a passive communication mechanism, such as a communications bus that allows a corresponding communications bus of the image-formation device to read the code from the memory  210 . 
   It is noted that, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and equivalents thereof.