E-commerce consumables

Abstract

A consumable article includes a consumable item and a memory device. The memory device is organized to represent currency. Use of the consumable item causes the memory device to be reorganized. The consumable article is used in an apparatus that has a control circuit that can update the memory device to modify the amount of currency when the apparatus consumes the consumable item. The apparatus optionally includes a network interface coupled to the control circuit that interfaces to a clearinghouse for reconciling the amount of currency and use of the consumable item.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A consumable article, comprising: 
 a consumable item; and    a memory device organized such that the use of the consumable item causes the memory device to be reorganized wherein the organization of the memory device represents currency.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 the consumable item of  claim 1  further comprising a control circuit capable of updating the memory device of the consumable item;    wherein when the apparatus consumes the consumable item, the control circuit updates    the memory device wherein the representation of currency is modified.    
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the apparatus is a printing device.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the apparatus is a plotting device.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the apparatus is a computer.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the apparatus is an MP3 player.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising: 
 a network interface for interfacing to a clearinghouse, the network interface coupled to said control circuit.  
 
     
     
         8 . The consumable article of  claim 1  wherein the consumable article is a media creation cartridge.  
     
     
         9 . The consumable article of  claim 8  wherein the media creation cartridge is an ink-jet printer cartridge.  
     
     
         10 . The consumable article of  claim 8  wherein the media creation cartridge is a laser-jet toner cartridge.  
     
     
         11 . The consumable article of  claim 8  wherein the media creation cartridge is a plotter pen cartridge.  
     
     
         12 . The consumable article of  claim 1  wherein the media creation cartridge is an energy delivery vehicle.  
     
     
         13 . The consumable article of  claim 12  wherein the energy delivery vehicle is a battery.  
     
     
         14 . The consumable article of  claim 12  wherein the energy delivery vehicle is a fuel source.  
     
     
         15 . A method for exchanging payments, comprising the steps of: 
 representing an amount of a consumable item as currency;    expending a portion of the currency; and    preventing the use of a portion of the consumable item in proportion to the amount of expended portion of currency.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the steps of: 
 contacting a clearing house to make a payment representing the expended portion of currency; and    after payment, allowing the use of the portion of the consumable item.    
     
     
         17 . A method of exchanging payments, comprising the steps of: 
 storing an amount of electronic currency in a memory device in a consumable item;    expending a portion of the consumable item wherein the use of the consumable item incurs a debit charge; and    reducing the amount of electronic currency in the memory device of the consumable item.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of: 
 before allowing the step of expending a portion of the consumable item, verifying that the amount of debit charge is not greater than the amount of electronic currency in the memory device.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of: 
 if the amount of debit charge is verified as greater than the amount of electronic currency in the memory device, preventing the expending of a portion of the consumable item.    
     
     
         20 . A method of exchanging payments, comprising the steps of: 
 purchasing a consumable item;    creating a digital cash account for the consumable item;    expending a portion of the consumable item wherein the use of the consumable item incurs a debit charge;    reducing the amount of the digital cash account by the amount of the debit charge incurred.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the steps of: 
 acquiring royalty based content that indicates an owner of the content and the amount of debit charge for using the content;    updating a digital cash account for the owner of the content by the amount reduced from the digital cash account for the consumable item.    
     
     
         22 . An apparatus including a consumable item using the method of  claim 15  to exchange payments.  
     
     
         23 . An apparatus including a consumable item using the method of  claim 17  to exchange payments.  
     
     
         24 . An apparatus including a consumable item using the method of  claim 20  to exchange payments.