Method and apparatus for storing and verifying serial numbers using smart labels in an image production device

An image production device, comprising:

• a memory that stores serial number information, the serial number information identifying at least one of the image production device and any components of the image production device;
• a smart label detection device that receives a signal to query a smart label for serial number information, queries the smart label for serial number information, and receives the serial number information from the smart label, and
• a smart label management unit that stores the serial number information in a memory, wherein the smart label is a label located at one of on the image production device and inside of the image production device that communicates with the image production device, and the image production device's Media Access Control (MAC) address is stored in the smart label's memory,
• wherein the smart label detection device receives a signal to query the smart label for the image production device's MAC address, queries the smart label for the image production device's MAC address, and receives the image production device's MAC address from the smart label, the smart label management unit storing the image production device's MAC address in the image production device's memory.

A method for verifying serial numbers using a smart label in an image production device, comprising:

• receiving a signal to query a smart label for serial number information, the serial number information identifying at least one of the image production device and any components of the image production device, and the smart label being a label located at one of on the image production device and inside of the image production device that communicates with the image production device;
• querying the smart label for serial number information;
• receiving the serial number information from the smart label;
• determining if the serial number matches a serial number stored in the image production device, wherein if it is determined that the serial number matches the stored serial number performing requested image production device operations, otherwise sending an error signal, wherein the image production device's Media Access Control (MAC) address is stored in the smart label's memory, the method further comprising:
• receiving a signal to query a smart label for the image production device's MAC address;
• querying the smart label for the image production device's MAC address;
• receiving the image production device's MAC address from the smart label;
• determining if the image production device's MAC address matches the image production device's MAC address stored in the image production device, wherein if it is determined that the image production device's MAC address matches the stored the image production device's MAC address performing requested image production device operations, otherwise sending an error signal.

An image production device, comprising:

• a memory that stores serial number information, the serial number information identifying at least one of the image production device and any components of the image production device;
• a smart label detection device that receives a signal to query a smart label for serial number information, queries the smart label for serial number information, and receives the serial number information from the smart label, wherein the smart label is a label located at one of on the image production device and inside of the image production device that communicates with the image production device;
• and
• a smart label management unit that determines if the serial number matches a serial number stored in the memory, wherein if the smart label management unit determines that the serial number matches the stored serial number, the image production device performs requested operations, otherwise the smart label management unit sends an error signal, wherein the image production device's Media Access Control (MAC) address is stored in the smart label's memory, the smart label detection device receives a signal to query a smart label for the image production device's MAC address, queries the smart label for the image production device's MAC address, receives the image production device's MAC address from the smart label, the smart label management unit determines if the image production device's MAC address matches the image production device's MAC address stored in the image production device, wherein if the smart label management unit determines that the image production device's MAC address matches the stored the image production device's MAC address, the image production device performs requested operations, otherwise the smart label management unit sends an error signal.