# US 2014/0192377 A1 · Method for providing printing services and printing control method for controlling a key to acquire additional authorized pages as needed

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- Number: US 2014/0192377 A1
- Document ID: US20140192377A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/735,048
- Filed: 2013-01-07
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-07
- Assignees: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: EDWARD JOHN VAN LIEW; JOSEPH ALAN WOLFMAN; RAY LLOYD PICKUP; ERNEST DALE JENKINS; JOHN ANTHONY UNDERWOOD
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140192377A1

## CPC

- G06K 15/4095: {Secure printing (computer driven secure printing G06F3/1238)}
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS

## Abstract

A vendor provides, and an operator obtains a method dedicated printer bundle. The printer bundle includes a printer having a key interface, an ink supply, and a key for association with the printer through the key interface. The key is provided with key data pertaining to an authorized page count. The printer operator is allowed to acquire additional authorized pages as needed. When the printer ink supply becomes depleted, the printer operator is provided with additional ink at no or insignificant cost.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of providing printing services, comprising:
initializing a printer having a key interface and an ink supply;
obtaining a key for association with the printer through the key interface;
loading the key with key data pertaining to an authorized page count;
controlling the key to acquire additional authorized pages as needed;
providing the printer with additional ink when the printer ink supply is depleted; and
informing a printer operator that the additional ink is provided at no or insignificant cost.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
controlling the printer to print pages up to the authorized page count without requiring the operator to acquire additional authorized pages.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
prohibiting the printer from printing unless authorized by the key data.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
providing the printer as a docking station;
providing a dockable host system with printer control software including the key data.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the key comprises obtaining a physical key.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising:
linking the physical key with the printer by a wired connection.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising:
linking the physical key with the printer by wireless connection.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the key comprises obtaining a virtual memory key.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
obtaining the key data during an e-commerce transaction.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method claim 1, further comprising:
preventing the ink supply from being removed from the printer unless the authorized print count is greater than zero.

### Claim 11

A printing control method, comprising:
obtaining a key for association with a printer having a key interface;
loading the key with data pertaining to an authorized page count;
controlling the key to acquire additional authorized pages as needed;
linking the key with the printer through the key interface;
controlling the printer to print a number of pages less than the authorized page count.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The printing method of claim 11, wherein obtaining a key for association with a printer comprises an operator purchasing a printer with dedicated key.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The printing method of claim 11, further comprising:
preventing a ink supply of the printer from being removed from the printer unless the authorized print count is greater than zero.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The printing method of claim 11, further comprising:
providing the printer with additional ink when an ink supply of the printer is depleted;
informing a printer operator that the additional ink is provided at no or insignificant cost.