A toner cartridge having a microcontroller configured to store data
necessary to create a message authentication code required by the
printer. The microcontroller contains data values capable of generating
acceptable MACs for a plurality of printers used in a plurality of
geographic regions. The microcontroller recognizes a variety of unique
parameters displayed by the printer's processor to identify the
geographic region of the printer being used. Once the printer and
geographic region are identified, the microcontroller loads the data
values associated with the printer and generates an acceptable MAC to
enable printer operation.