Document Handler System and Method With Timed Operation
AssigneeJCM American Corporation
InventorsMark Henderson, Bryan Allen Wilcutt, Mark Adams, David Christopher Kubajak, Steven Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A document handler system and method includes timed operation functionality in which the manufacturer of the document handler may input coded information in the document handler to establish a timed operation of the document handler which may be contingent on continued payments for use of the document handler. Alternatively, or in addition, the timed operation may be used to establish an appropriate warranty period during which the manufacturer is obligated to provide repairs, modification and/or support for the document handler.
Claims20
A system for activating a document handler comprising:
- a ticket for providing the activation code;
- a document handler comprising:
- an input for receiving the ticket;
- a validator for reading the activation code from the ticket upon the ticket being received at the input, and transmitting an electronic signal with the activation code;
- a controller for receiving the electronic signal with the activation code from the validator and for controlling operation of the document handler;
- a clock in electronic communication with the controller for tracking a time period;
- and
- a memory in electronic communication with the controller for storing a set of unique time codes;
- and
- wherein upon a ticket being inserted into the input, the controller activates the document handler for operation for a predefined time period tracked by the clock upon:
- (a) the activation code matching one of the unique time codes in the memory;
- (b) the activation code including a specified time period within the code;
- or (c) a separate time value being detected on or corresponding to the ticket.
A method for activating a document handler comprising:
- receiving a ticket at an input to the document handler;
- reading the activation code from the ticket at a validator in the document handler upon the ticket being received at the input;
- transmitting an electronic signal from the validator with the activation code;
- receiving the activation code at a controller from the validator;
- determining a time period for operation of the document handler based on one of the group comprising:
- (a) a match of the activation code to a unique time code in a set of time codes accessed by the controller from a memory associated with the document handler;
- (b) a value provided in the activation code;
- or (c) a value provided separately on the ticket;
- activating the document handler for operation for a predefined period of time corresponding to the activation code in the event that the activation code matches one of the unique time codes;
- and
- initiating a countdown representing the predefined time period in a clock to track the predefined time period for activation of the document handler.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.