Patent ID: 7257335

Claim:
A printing system comprising: a first printing device operable with an associated first consumable device holding a first marking material for depositing the first marking material onto an associated substrate, the first consumable device storing first identification data in a first memory and the first printing device being adapted to read the first identification data, compare the first identification data with a first predetermined set of identification data in a first storage, and prevent said depositing of said first marking material onto the associated substrate when the first identification data does not match said first predetermined set of identification data; a second printing device operable with an associated second consumable device holding a second marking material for depositing the second marking material onto an associated substrate, the second consumable device storing second identification data in a second memory and the second printing device being adapted to read the second identification data, compare the second identification data with a second predetermined set of identification data in a second storage, and prevent said depositing of said second marking material onto the associated substrate when the second identification data does not match said second predetermined set of identification data; and, a third consumable device holding a third marking material for depositing the third marking material onto an associated substrate, the third consumable device storing third identification data in a third memory, the third identification data being compatible with at least one of said first predetermined set of identification data and at least one of said second predetermined set of identification data, whereby the third consumable device is operable with both said first printing device and said second printing device.