Method of licensing functionality after initial transaction

1. A method for licensing functionality after an initial transaction, comprising the steps of:

determining whether an initial licensed amount of an imaging substance in a supply item has been depleted, said supply item being subject to a usage license;

informing a customer of said depletion of said imaging substance in said supply item;

querying whether said customer would like to renew said supply item;

displaying a list of possible supply item renewal options that are available to said customer, wherein said possible supply item renewal options comprise at least one of a self-renewal of said supply item, a renewal of said supply item by a manufacturer of said supply item, and a third party remanufacturer renewal of said supply item; and

if said customer chooses to renew said supply item, the method further comprising the steps of,

said customer purchasing a new license to renew said supply item; and

said customer receiving a new digital signature for said supply item.

2. A method for licensing functionality after an initial transaction, comprising:

determining whether an initial licensed amount of an imaging substance in a supply item has been depleted, said supply item being subject to a usage license;

informing a customer of said depletion of said imaging substance in said supply item;

querying whether said customer would like to renew said supply item; and

if said customer chooses to renew said supply item, the method further comprising,

said customer purchasing a new license to renew said supply item; and

said customer receiving a new digital signature for said supply item,

wherein said customer chooses to renew said supply item via a third party remanufacturer, and

wherein said third party remanufacturer becomes authorized by said manufacturer to renew said supply item by the steps of:

negotiating with said manufacturer to provide licensed renewals of a predetermined number X of supply items; and

receiving from said manufacturer permission to generate X number of digital signatures that are available for use with said number X of supply items.

3. A method of performing an e-commerce transaction through a communications link between an e-commerce server and a customer, comprising:

initiating communications between said customer and said e-commerce server regarding a renewal of a supply item;

said customer supplying to said e-commerce server predetermined information necessary to generate a digital signature for said supply item;

said customer submitting a license fee to acquire a license to complete said renewal of said supply item; and

said e-commerce server supplying said digital signature for said supply item,

wherein said predetermined information includes an identification number assigned to said supply item prior to an initial use of said supply item, and

wherein said predetermined information further includes at least one of a type of printhead for said supply item, a model number of said supply item, a lot number of said supply item, and an identification number of an imaging apparatus using said supply item.

4. A method for licensing after an initial transaction of a customer obtaining a current supply item, said method comprising the step of prompting said customer to acquire a usage license for said current supply item, wherein said step of prompting comprises the steps of:

establishing a communications link between an e-commerce server and said customer;

initiating communications between said customer and said e-commerce server;

said customer supplying to said e-commerce server predetermined information necessary to generate a digital signature for said current supply item;

said customer submitting a license fee to acquire said usage license for said current supply item; and

said e-commerce server supplying said digital signature for said current supply item.

5. A method for licensing after an initial transaction of a customer obtaining a current supply item, said method comprising the steps of:

prompting said customer to acquire a usage license for said current supply item;

said customer obtaining said usage license for said current supply item;

determining whether a licensed imaging substance in said current supply item has been depleted;

wherein if said current supply item is depleted, then performing the further steps of:

prompting said customer to install another supply item; and

prompting said customer to acquire an additional license for said another supply item.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said determining step is based on at least one of counting a number of imaging pixels generated, counting a number of pages printed, or determining a time of usage.

7. A method for licensing extra functionality after an initial transaction, comprising:

a customer purchasing a multi-pack of supply items and a license to use a first supply item of said supply items of said multi-pack;

determining whether an imaging substance in said first supply item has been depleted;

wherein if said first supply item is depleted, then performing the further steps of:

prompting said customer to install a second supply item from said multi-pack; and

prompting said customer to acquire a new license for said second supply item,

wherein said determining step is based on at least one of counting a number of imaging pixels generated, counting a number of pages printed, or determining a time of usage.

8. A method for licensing extra functionality after an initial transaction, comprising the steps of:

providing an e-commerce server for communicating with a customer;

monitoring usage of a first supply item;

determining whether said first supply item is near empty;

causing a message to be displayed that informs said customer that said first supply item is near empty, and providing information to said customer on how to contact a manufacturer to receive said new supply item;

notifying said manufacturer that said first supply item is near empty by initiating a communication with said e-commerce server; and

said manufacturer responding to said notifying by sending a new supply item to said customer.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said contact is made via said e-commerce server.

10. A method for licensing extra functionality after an initial transaction, comprising the steps of:

providing a device with a predetermined range “A” to “N” of imaging features, wherein “A” represents minimum available features for said device and “N” represents maximum available features for said device;

providing to a customer an available feature list for selection of desired features for said device;

said customer making said selection of said desired features for said device and communicating said selection to a manufacturer of said device; and

said manufacturer enabling said desired features selected for said device.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said customer communicates said selection to an e-commerce server operated by said manufacturer.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said e-commerce server responds to said selection with a digital signature that is associated with an identification number for said device, said digital signature including a code needed to enable said desired features for use.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein said imaging features include at least one of scan resolution, document scaling, image filtering, stand-alone copying, stand-alone faxing, and data compression support.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein said available feature list is provided to said customer for selection of said desired features via an e-commerce transaction.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein said available feature list includes an electronic checklist of individual features.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein said available feature list includes a grouping of features which work well together, and which may be selected as a group.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein certain imaging features are promoted as a group.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein certain imaging features are promoted by offering said certain imaging features at one of free or at a reduced fee for a trial period.

19. The method of claim 10 , wherein said customer makes said selection via a web browser operating on a host.

20. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of determining whether said customer desires to change said selection.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein if said customer desires to change said selection, then repeating said step of providing to said customer said available feature list for selection of desired features for said device.

22. The method of claim 10 , wherein said device is an imaging apparatus.

23. The method of claim 10 , wherein said device is a supply item.

24. A method for licensing extra functionality after an initial transaction, comprising:

providing a device with a predetermined range “A” to “N” of imaging features, wherein “A” represents minimum available features for said device and “N” represents maximum available features for said device;

providing to a customer an available feature list for selection of desired features for said device;

said customer making said selection of said desired features for said device and communicating said selection to a manufacturer of said device; and

said manufacturer enabling said desired features selected for said device,

wherein said imaging features include at least one of a variety of ranges of imaging qualities and resolutions, imaging speeds, paper handling modes, print modes, networking options, job finishing options, auto media sensing, auto printhead alignment, and photo card reader availability.