Patent ID: 8061594

Claim:
An apparatus for authorizing, recording or tracking usage comprising: a machine for automatically detecting parameters of usage of a service, resource or object; means for recording parameters of the detected usage on a first transportable device adapted to receive and hold usage data; means for limiting the duration, number of uses, or both on the first transportable device to a first period of time, wherein the first transportable device ceases to allow usage once a predetermined limit for the first period of time is exceeded; means for reactivating the first transportable device to extend the first period of time to a second period of time; means for limiting the duration, number of uses made on the first transportable device, or combination thereof to a second period of time; wherein reactivating the first transportable device to extend the first period of time to a second period of time permits continued usage until a predetermined limit for the second period of time is reached.