Claims
- 1. A module installable in a printing apparatus, comprising:hardware related to printing; a memory permanently associated with the module; a wireless interface for operating the memory; and a hard wire interface associated with the memory, and wherein the memory is accessible through the hard wire interface.
- 2. A module installable in a printing apparatus, comprising:hardware related to printing; a memory permanently associated with the module; a wireless interface for operating the memory; and a hard wire interface, the wireless interface causing the memory to be made accessible in response to receiving a wireless signal of a predetermined type, and allowing data in the memory to be altered through the hard wire interface.
- 3. A method of operating a module usable within a printing apparatus, the module including hardware related to printing, a memory, and a wireless interface, comprising the steps of:disposing the module within a package, the module to be removed from the package when the module is used within a printing apparatus; emitting a wireless signal to the wireless interface when the module is disposed within the package; and the wireless interface operating the memory in response to receiving the wireless signal.
- 4. The method of claim 3, the operating step including unlocking data in the memory.
- 5. The method of claim 3, the operating step including causing data from the memory to be emitted by wireless means from the module.
- 6. The method of claim 3, the operating step including causing the memory to enter a write mode.
- 7. The method of claim 6, further including the step of permitting data to be written into the memory through wireless means.
- 8. The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of reading information on the package and emitting a signal related to the information to the module.
- 9. A method of operating a module usable within a printing apparatus, the module including hardware related to printing, a memory, and a wireless interface, comprising the steps of:emitting a wireless signal to the wireless interface; and the wireless interface operating the memory in response to receiving the wireless signal, the operating s step including making data in the memory accessible through a hard wire interface.
- 10. A method of operating a module usable within a printing apparatus, the module including hardware related to printing, a memory, and a wireless interface, comprising the steps of:emitting a wireless signal to the wireless interface; and the wireless interface operating the memory in response to receiving the wireless signal, thereby permitting data to be written into the memory through a hard wire interface.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
Cross reference is hereby made to “Infrared Communication Among Control Boards in a Printing Apparatus,” U.S. application Ser. No. 09/603,860, assigned to the assignee hereof and being filed simultaneously herewith.
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