Method for printing on an imaging device

An imaging device comprising a print engine and a controller, wherein the controller is to:

• receive a print data file associated with a print ready file from a print client, the print data file including a timestamp, a serial number, and a page count;
• obtain a timestamp of a last job printed on the imaging device;
• determine whether the obtained timestamp exceeds the timestamp included in the print data file;
• determine that the timestamp included in the print data file is not authentic if the obtained timestamp is determined to exceed the included timestamp;
• determine whether the serial number included in the print data file is authentic based upon a comparison of the included serial number with a serial number of the imaging device;
• determine whether the page count included in the print data file is authentic based upon a comparison of the included page count with a page count of the print ready file;
• and
• activate the print engine to image the print ready file only in response to a determination that each of the timestamp, the serial number, and the page count is authentic.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer executable instructions that when executed implement a method for printing a print ready file transmitted by a print client to an imaging device, the computer executable instructions including code to:

• receive, from the print client, a print data file that includes information pertaining to the print ready file and information pertaining to the imaging device, wherein the information pertaining to the imaging device includes a timestamp;
• obtain a timestamp of a last job printed on the imaging device;
• determine whether the obtained timestamp exceeds the timestamp included in the print data file;
• authenticate the print data file, wherein the print data file is authenticated by determining that the print data file is not authentic if the obtained timestamp is determined to exceed the timestamp included in the print data file;
• enabling the print ready file to be printed if the print data file is authentic and invalidating the print ready file if the print data file is not authentic.