Patent ID: 8089652

Claim:
An imaging device, comprising: an electronics unit; an imaging recording unit communicatively coupled to said electronics unit; and an imaging media carrying a supply of imaging substance, said imaging media including a memory, said memory being communicatively coupled to said electronics unit, said memory including storage locations for storing an identification number of said imaging media, a first value representing a licensed amount of the imaging substance and a second value representing an amount of usage of imaging media; said electronics unit including: a communications interface for facilitating communications with an imaging device driver; a controller communicatively coupled to said communications interface; an imaging recording unit interface communicatively coupled to each of said controller, said imaging recording unit and said memory; a counter communicatively coupled to each of said controller and said imaging recording unit interface; an encryption key storage module; and an embedded license authentication system communicatively coupled to each of said communications interface, said counter, said imaging recording unit interface and said encryption key storage module, said embedded license authentication system being programmed for performing the steps of: accessing said memory of said imaging media and reading said identification number for said imaging media, said first value and said second value; tracking said amount of usage of said imaging media; and determining whether a usage license has expired, said determining being based on a comparison of said first value representing said licensed amount of said imaging substance with said second value representing said amount of usage of said imaging media.