Patent ID: 7630941

Claim:
A method for performing a commercial transaction using a data processing system, the method comprising: reading a first time cell provided in or on an article of manufacture by an electronic apparatus; reading a second time cell provided in or on the article of manufacture by the electronic apparatus, wherein each of the first time cell and the second time cell is an electrical device having an insulating medium and an electrostatic charge storage element that is programmed by giving the electrostatic charge storage element a desired electrical potential, and wherein the electronic device discharges electrostatic charge from the electrostatic charge storage element through the insulating medium at a determined rate of discharge; and in response to a determination of a state of the first time cell and the second time cell by the electronic apparatus, denying or enabling, by the data processing system, use of the article of manufacture in a commercial transaction based on the determined state of the first time cell and the second time cell, wherein the first time cell and the second time cell have different associated expiration periods by one of charging the electrostatic charge storage elements of the first time cell and second time cell with different electrical potentials, or different rates of discharge of the first time cell and second time cell.