Method of licensing functionality after initial transaction

Abstract

Methods for licensing functionality after an initial transaction are provided. One such method is directed to licensing after an initial transaction of a customer obtaining a supply item including the step of prompting the customer to acquire a usage license for the supply item.

1 . A method for licensing a customer after an initial transaction of said customer purchasing a current supply item in a multi-pack plurality of supply items for use in an imaging apparatus, comprising:
 prompting said customer to acquire on a computing device a usage license for said current supply item, said current supply item containing an ink or toner imaging substance to form a visible image on a print media in said imaging apparatus; and   prompting said customer to obtain a second usage license for a second supply item of said purchased multi-pack plurality of supply items, said second supply item containing further ink or toner imaging substance.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said prompting said customer to acquire said usage license occurs when said current supply item is installed in said imaging apparatus. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further including prompting said customer to install said second supply item. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said prompting said customer to obtain said second usage license occurs when said second supply item is installed. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said second supply item is installed in said imaging apparatus concurrently with said current supply item. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said second supply item is installed in a second imaging apparatus different from said imaging apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . A method for licensing a customer after an initial transaction of said customer purchasing a current supply item in a multi-pack plurality of supply items for use in an imaging apparatus, comprising:
 prompting said customer to acquire on a computing device a usage license for said current supply item, said current supply item containing an ink or toner imaging substance to form a visible image on a print media in said imaging apparatus and said usage license of said current supply item corresponding to an amount of ink or toner imaging substance that is substantially less than an entirety of said ink or toner imaging substance in said current supply item;   determining whether said amount of ink or toner imaging substance of the usage license is near empty;   if said amount of ink or toner imaging substance of the usage license is near empty, notifying said customer to obtain another usage license for an additional amount of ink or toner imaging substance in said current supply item; and   prompting said customer to obtain a second usage license for a second supply item of said purchased multi-pack plurality of supply items   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further including prompting said customer to install said second supply item, said second usage license corresponding to a second amount of ink or toner imaging substance that is substantially less than an entirety of ink or toner imaging substance in said second supply item. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further including determining whether said second amount of ink or toner imaging substance of the second usage license is near empty; 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , if said second amount of ink or toner imaging substance of the second usage license is near empty, notifying said customer to obtain still another usage license for a second additional amount of ink or toner imaging substance in said second supply item. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , prompting said customer to obtain a third usage license for a third supply item of said purchased multi-pack plurality of supply items 
     
     
         12 . A method for licensing a customer after an initial transaction of said customer purchasing a current supply item in a multi-pack plurality of supply items for use in an imaging apparatus, comprising:
 prompting said customer to acquire on a computing device a usage license for said current supply item, said current supply item containing an ink or toner imaging substance to form a visible image on a print media in said imaging apparatus and said usage license of said current supply item corresponding to a substantial entirety of said ink or toner imaging substance;   determining whether said ink or toner imaging substance of the current supply item is near empty; and   prompting said customer to obtain a second usage license for a second supply item of said purchased multi-pack plurality of supply items.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further including prompting said customer to install said second supply item into said imaging apparatus.