Patent ID: 7399047

Claim:
A method of deterring theft of consumable items intended for installation in a utilizing device, each replaceable consumable item having an integral memory component, each memory component including non-volatile memory pre-programmed with a distinctive keycode substantially distinguishing each replaceable consumable item from other replaceable consumable items; each non-volatile memory further having a flag settable to designate theft deterrence; the method comprising: installing a consumable item into the utilizing device; determining if the flag of the installed consumable item is set to designate theft deterrence and, if it is determined that the flag is set to designate theft deterrence, then: reading the keycode from the installed consumable item; comparing the keycode from the installed consumable item to a list of accepted consumable items, and, if the keycode from the installed consumable item is not on the list, rejecting the installed consumable item; and determining if the flag of the installed consumable item is not set to designate theft deterrence and, if it is determined that the flag is not set to designate theft deterrence, then: copying the keycode from the installed consumable item to the list identifying accepted consumable items, and setting the flag to designate theft deterrence.