Pay for use and anti counterfeit system and method for ink cartridges and other consumables
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsMichael John Wilsher, Ian Burdon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods of a pay-for-use pricing plan for consumables associated with a machine. The systems and methods include a machine that can detect a use of a consumable by a consumer. The use can be an installation of the consumable in the machine or an actual use of the consumable in the machine. The machine can detect a charge associated with the use of the consumable. Further, the machine can prompt the consumer for a payment and receive the payment from the consumer. In embodiments, the consumer can have an updatable account associated with the consumable usage. The machine can send an indication of the payment or updated account information to a supplier of the consumable.
Claims30
A method of charging for a use of a consumable, the method comprising:
- providing a consumable to a consumer for use in a machine;
- receiving an indication of a use of the consumable in the machine by the consumer;
- and
- updating an account of the consumer to reflect a charge associated with the use of the consumable.
A method of charging for a use of a consumable, the method comprising:
- detecting a use of a consumable associated with a machine by a consumer;
- detecting a charge associated with the use of the consumable;
- and
- updating an account associated with the consumer to reflect the charge associated with the use of the consumable.
A system for charging for a use of a consumable, the system comprising:
- a memory configured to store account information associated with a consumer;
- and
- a processor coupled to the memory and configured to:
- detect a use of a consumable associated with a machine by a consumer;
- detect a charge associated with the use of the consumable;
- and
- update the account information associated with the consumer to reflect the charge associated with the use of the consumable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.