The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 29, 2006
Filed:
Oct. 17, 2000
Allan Anthony Hren, Longmont, CO (US);
Allan Anthony Hren, Longmont, CO (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A unique printer pass code system and method provide the ability to remotely generate a unique pass code for printers operating under the system and method. A printer is configured to independently verify that a submitted pass code is the correct pass code for that printer. The pass code may be generated based upon a unique character string or other characteristic resident within the printer. The unique character string may comprise a serial number programmed into a printer controller during manufacturing of the printer. The unique character string is accessed and passed through a mathematical manipulation algorithm which transforms the character string into a pass code. The pass code may be a truncated result of the mathematical manipulations. One version of the algorithm may be remote to the printer for generating the pass code and a second version may be resident within the printer for validating submitted pass codes. In one application, customer service representatives receive the serial number from customers desiring to enable a dormant feature of the printer and enter the serial number into a computer program. The program mathematically manipulates and truncates the serial number and outputs the resultant pass code. The customer enters the pass code into the printer, which independently verifies the pass code and if the pass code is correct, enables the printer function.