Abstract: A method of operating a controller device of an electronic cutting machine. The method includes writing a controller device identifier to memory of the cartridge, writing a cartridge identifier to memory of the controller device, and permitting communication between the controller device and the cartridge.

Abstract: A method of using a controller device for an electronic cutting machine. The method includes associating at least one of cutting operations and printing operations with glyphs, retrieving the glyphs from at least one of memory of a cartridge in communication with the controller device and memory of the controller device, arranging the glyphs in a screen overlay, and rendering the screen overlay on a screen of the controller device.

Abstract: A method of operating a controller device of an electronic cutting machine. The method includes writing a controller device identifier to memory of the cartridge, writing a cartridge identifier to memory of the controller device, and permitting communication between the controller device and the cartridge.

Abstract: A method of validating a cartridge for use with a controller device. The method includes reading a cartridge identifier from at least one of memory of the cartridge and memory of the controller device, obtaining known content associated with the cartridge based on the cartridge identifier, reading actual content from memory of the cartridge, comparing the known content with the actual content, and permitting communication between the controller device and the cartridge when the known content matches the actual content.

Abstract: A system for controlling an electronic cutting machine. The system comprises a cartridge having an interfacing connector and memory and a controller device. The controller device comprises a cartridge connector for establishing an electrical connection with the interfacing connector, memory, and a processor executing a controller application. The controller application writes a controller device identifier to the memory of the connected cartridge, writes a cartridge identifier to the memory of the controller device, and permits usage on the controller device of content associated with the cartridge.

Abstract: A reconfigurable communication interface system is provided comprising a reconfigurable communication interface device and a communication adapter cable. The reconfigurable communication interface device contains means to identify a valid communication adapter cable. After an attached communication adapter cable is recognized as valid, operational values are downloaded from outside the communication interface device and the communication interface device software is reconfigured. Operational values may be loaded from the communication adapter cable or from the host computer. Adapter cables for a wide variety of applications such as various telephone networks, various cellular telephones, Ethernet networks, PBX type networks, ISDN type networks, optical networks, or other LAN and WAN type networks are provided.