JP2005297223A - Recorder, ink cartridge, recording system, controlling method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that it is easy even for an ink cartridge for which warranty is not to be applied to pretend to be an ink cartridge for which warranty is applied, by altering information stored in the ink cartridge. <P>SOLUTION: A recorder is equipped with a reading part for reading cartridge information recorded in a recording part of the ink cartridge, a decoding part for decoding the cartridge information read by the reading part to decoded information by a public key, a hysteresis storage part for storing the decoded information decoded by the decoding part correspondingly to a hysteresis wherein the ink cartridge is set, an original information storage part for storing original information to be obtained by decoding by the decoding part in the case where the cartridge information formed by coding the original information by a secret key constituting a pair with the public key is recorded in the recording part of the ink cartridge, and an information coincidence determination part for determining whether or not the decoded information decoded by the decoding part coincides with the original information stored in the original information storage part, and outputting the fact when the information do not coincide with each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus, an ink cartridge, a recording system, a control method, and a program. In particular, the present invention relates to a recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink from an ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is mounted, an ink cartridge used in the recording apparatus, a recording system, a control method, and a program.

Conventionally, a service has been known in which a user who purchases a recording device registers the purchase date of the recording device to a server managed by the manufacturer or dealer of the recording device, thereby managing the warranty period of the purchased recording device. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). In providing such a service, there is a service form in which a warranty is applied to the repair of the recording apparatus when a malfunction occurs despite the fact that an ink cartridge whose quality has been guaranteed by the manufacturer has been used correctly. . In this service mode, it is preferable that it is possible to determine whether or not an ink cartridge to which a warranty is applied has been used in the recording apparatus to be repaired. As an example, the manufacturer's name, etc. is stored inside the ink cartridge, and the information is acquired by the recording device and recorded inside, thereby confirming that the ink cartridge to which the warranty should be applied has been used. To do.
JP 2003-242275 A

  However, in the above-described form, the information stored in the ink cartridge is falsified so that even if the ink cartridge should not be guaranteed, it is as if the ink cartridge should be guaranteed. It is easy to impersonate.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, in the first embodiment of the present invention, a recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink from an ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is mounted, and the ink cartridge is mounted In addition, a reading unit that reads cartridge information recorded in the recording unit of the ink cartridge, a decryption unit that decrypts the cartridge information read by the reading unit into decryption information using a public key, and a decryption that is decrypted by the decryption unit A history storage unit that stores information in association with the history of ink cartridge installation. Thereby, it can be read and confirmed later whether or not the ink cartridge mounted on the recording apparatus is supplied from a specific supplier.

  The above recording apparatus is configured to obtain original information to be obtained by decryption by a decryption unit when cartridge information obtained by encrypting original information with a secret key paired with a public key is recorded in a recording unit of an ink cartridge. It is determined whether or not the decoded information decoded by the decoding unit and the original information storage unit that stores the original information stored in the original information storage unit. An information matching determination unit may be further provided. This makes it possible to determine whether or not an ink cartridge that is supposed to be used in the recording apparatus is mounted.

  The original information storage unit may store the type of ink cartridge as the original information. Thereby, it is possible to confirm later whether or not the ink that is supposed to be used in the recording apparatus has been used.

  Also, the expiration date is set for the public key and the private key that is paired with the public key, and the decryption unit may acquire a new public key from the outside when the expiration date of the public key has passed. Thereby, spoofing of a supplier can be prevented.

  The recording apparatus further includes an effective public key storage unit that stores a public key that is included in an expiration date for which use of the ink cartridge is permitted, among the public keys acquired by the decryption unit from the outside, The information coincidence determination unit outputs that the expiration date of the ink cartridge has passed when there is no match between the original information and the decryption information decrypted with the public key stored in the valid public key storage unit. May be. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent an ink cartridge that may have deteriorated after the expiration date from being used in the recording apparatus.

  The recording device includes a use prohibition unit that prohibits use of the ink cartridge when there is no decryption information that matches the original information among the decryption information decrypted by the public key stored in the valid public key storage unit. Further, it may be provided. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent the use of the ink cartridge in which the expiration date has passed and the ink may be deteriorated in the recording apparatus.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink from an ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is installed, and when the ink cartridge is installed, the recording unit of the ink cartridge The original information is encrypted by the reading unit that reads the recorded cartridge information, the decryption unit that decrypts the cartridge information read by the reading unit into the decryption information with the public key, and the private key that is paired with the public key When the cartridge information is recorded in the recording unit of the ink cartridge, the original information storage unit that stores the original information to be obtained by decoding by the decoding unit, and the decoding information decoded by the decoding unit An information match determination unit that determines whether or not the original information stored in the information storage unit matches, and outputs information to the effect if it does not match, is disclosed The expiration date is set for the private key paired with the public key, and the decryption unit obtains a new public key from the outside when the expiration date of the public key has passed, and the decryption unit obtains the public key from the outside. And a valid public key storage unit for storing a public key whose public key is included in the expiration date when the use of the ink cartridge is permitted, and the information match determination unit decrypts with the public key within the expiration date If the converted decryption information does not match the original information, it may be output that the expiration date of the ink cartridge has passed. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent an ink cartridge that may have deteriorated after the expiration date from being used in the recording apparatus.

  In the third embodiment of the present invention, a writing device that writes cartridge information to a recording unit of an ink cartridge, a recording device that records by discharging ink from the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is mounted, and a recording device And a server that communicates with the writing device, wherein the server generates a secret key with an expiration date set and a public key with an expiration date set as a pair with the secret key The secret key is distributed to the writing device and the public key is distributed to the recording device. The writing device acquires the secret key within the expiration date from the server, and the secret key that has passed the expiration date is secreted within the expiration date. The original information is encrypted with the secret key acquisition unit updated to the key and the secret key within the expiration date acquired by the secret key acquisition unit, and the encrypted original information is used as the cartridge information in the ink cart. And an encryption writing unit for writing to the recording unit of the wedge, and the recording device reads a cartridge information recorded in the recording unit of the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is mounted, and a public key. A valid public key storage unit for storing a public key included in the expiration date for which the use of the ink cartridge is permitted, a public key obtained from the server and transferred to the valid public key storage unit, and a reading unit A decryption unit that decrypts the read cartridge information into decryption information using the public key stored in the effective public key storage unit, and the cartridge information obtained by encrypting the original information using a secret key that is paired with the public key is stored in the ink cartridge. When recorded in the recording unit, an original information storage unit for storing original information to be obtained by decoding by the decoding unit, and decoding information decoded by the decoding unit , It is determined whether to match the original information stored in the original information storage unit, and an information match determination unit that outputs a result indicating that the expiration date of the ink cartridge is only if they do not match. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent an ink cartridge that may have deteriorated after the expiration date from being used in the recording apparatus.

  In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, a writing device that writes cartridge information to a recording unit of an ink cartridge, a recording device that records by discharging ink from the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is mounted, a recording device, and A recording system comprising a server that communicates with a writing device, wherein the server generates a secret key with an expiration date set and a public key with an expiration date set as a pair with the secret key, The secret key is distributed to the writing device and the public key is distributed to the recording device. The writing device obtains the secret key within the expiration date from the server, and the secret key within the expiration date is acquired. The original information is encrypted with the secret key acquisition unit to be updated and the secret key within the expiration date acquired by the secret key acquisition unit, and the encrypted original information is used as cartridge information as an ink cartridge. And an encryption writing unit that writes to the recording unit of the printer, and the recording device includes a reading unit that reads cartridge information recorded in the recording unit of the ink cartridge and a public key when the ink cartridge is mounted. Among them, an effective public key storage unit that stores a public key included in an expiration date when the use period of the ink cartridge is permitted, and a public key is acquired from the server and transferred to the effective public key storage unit, There is a decryption unit that decrypts the cartridge information read by the reading unit into decryption information with the public key stored in the effective public key storage unit, and cartridge information in which the original information is encrypted with the private key that is paired with the public key. When recorded in the recording unit of the ink cartridge, the original information storage unit for storing the original information to be obtained by decoding by the decoding unit, and the decoding by the decoding unit Ink cartridge decryption information and a history storage unit that stores in association with the history attached. As a result, the information recorded in the recording unit of the ink cartridge attached to the recording apparatus can be read and confirmed later. Then, it can be determined whether or not an ink cartridge that is supposed to be used in the recording apparatus is mounted. Furthermore, it can be confirmed later whether an ink cartridge that may have deteriorated after the expiration date has been used in the recording apparatus.

  In a fifth aspect of the present invention, the ink cartridge includes a recording unit in which information encrypted with a secret key is recorded. Accordingly, it is possible to determine whether or not an ink cartridge that is supposed to be used in the recording apparatus is mounted by decrypting the information on the ink cartridge with the public key on the recording apparatus side.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method for controlling a recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink from an ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is attached, and the ink cartridge is attached to the recording apparatus. In addition, the information recorded in the recording unit of the ink cartridge is read, the read information is decrypted with the public key, and the decrypted information is stored in the history storage unit in association with the history of mounting the ink cartridge. Thereby, the effect similar to the 1st form can be acquired.

In a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method for controlling a recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink from an ink cartridge by mounting the ink cartridge,
When an ink cartridge is installed, the cartridge information recorded in the recording section of the ink cartridge is read, and when the expiration date set for the public key and the private key paired with the public key has passed, a new disclosure The cartridge obtained by acquiring the key from the outside, storing the public key included in the expiration date when the expiration date of the public key is permitted to use the ink cartridge among the public keys acquired from the outside, and reading the cartridge When the cartridge information in which the information is decrypted with the public key stored in the valid public key storage unit and the original information is encrypted with the private key paired with the public key is recorded in the recording unit of the ink cartridge Whether the original information to be obtained by decoding is stored in the original information storage unit, and whether the decoded decoding information matches the original information stored in the original information storage unit. To determine, if it does not match, the output to the effect that the expiration date of the ink cartridge has passed. Thereby, the same effect as the third embodiment can be obtained.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program for controlling a recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink from an ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is installed, and the ink cartridge is installed in the computer. In this case, the ink cartridge reads the information recorded in the recording unit of the ink cartridge, the decryption function that decrypts the information read by the read function with the public key, and the information that is decrypted by the decryption function. A history storage function for storing the history in association with the attached history is realized. Thereby, the effect similar to the 1st form can be acquired.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program for controlling a recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink from an ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is mounted, and the ink cartridge is mounted on the computer. If the expiration date set for the cartridge key recorded in the recording unit of the ink cartridge, the public key and the private key that is paired with the public key has passed, a new public key is acquired from the outside Of the public key acquired from the outside, the procedure of storing the public key included in the valid public key storage unit for the public key whose expiration date is permitted to use the ink cartridge, and valid the read cartridge information The procedure for decrypting into decryption information with the public key stored in the public key storage unit, the original information with the private key paired with the public key Is stored in the recording unit of the ink cartridge, the procedure for storing the original information to be obtained by decryption in the original information storage unit, and the decrypted decryption information Then, it is determined whether or not the original information stored in the original information storage unit matches, and if it does not match, a procedure for outputting that the expiration date of the ink cartridge has passed is executed. Thereby, the same effect as the third embodiment can be obtained.

  The above summary of the invention does not enumerate all the necessary features of the present invention, and sub-combinations of these feature groups can also be the invention.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention. However, the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the scope of claims, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are included. It is not necessarily essential for the solution of the invention.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a recording system 400 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The recording system 400 includes a recording device 100, an ink cartridge 200, a writing device 120, and a server 300. The recording device 100 and the writing device 120 are connected to the server 300 via the network 110. The server 300 is managed by a supplier who manufactures and sells the recording apparatus 100, for example. On the other hand, the writing device 120 is managed by a supplier who manufactures and sells the ink cartridge 200, for example.

  The ink cartridge 200 stores ink therein, and the recording apparatus 100 includes a carriage 10 on which the ink cartridge 200 is mounted and a recording head 12 disposed below the carriage 10. When the ink cartridge 200 is attached to the recording apparatus 100, the ink in the ink cartridge 200 is supplied to the recording head 12, and the recording head 12 discharges the ink and records on the recording material 14. In this case, the electronic control unit 102 included in the recording apparatus 100 controls the ejection of ink from the recording head 12 and the conveyance of the recording material 14.

  Here, conventionally, when a failure occurs in the recording apparatus 100, repair within the warranty period is performed with the warranty applied. Further, there is a service form in which a warranty is applied to repair the recording apparatus 100 when a malfunction occurs despite the fact that the ink cartridge 200 whose quality has been guaranteed by the manufacturer has been used correctly. In this service form, it is preferable that it is possible to determine whether or not the ink cartridge 200 to which the warranty is applied has been used in the recording apparatus 100 to be repaired. As an example, the supplier name is stored in the ink cartridge 200, and the information is acquired and recorded by the recording apparatus 100, thereby confirming that the ink cartridge 200 to which the guarantee is applied has been used.

  In this case, the IC chip 210 is attached to the outside of the ink containing portion of the ink cartridge 200 in the supplier's manufacturing factory. The writing device 120 is provided in a manufacturing factory, and writes cartridge information such as a supplier name and ink type of the ink cartridge 200 to an IC chip 210 having a non-volatile memory.

  When the ink cartridge 200 having the IC chip 210 is mounted on the carriage 10, the electrical contact portion 16 exposed at the position where the IC chip 210 faces in the carriage 10 contacts the IC chip 210, and the recording apparatus 100 and the ink The cartridge 200 is electrically connected. As a result, the recording apparatus 100 reads the cartridge information.

  However, in the above-described form, for example, by falsifying the cartridge information in the ink cartridge 200, an ink cartridge that should not be covered by a guarantee is made as if it were an ink cartridge that should be covered by a warranty. There is a problem of allowing this.

  Therefore, in the recording system 400 according to the present invention, the cartridge information encrypted using the secret key distributed from the server 300 is stored in the ink cartridge 200, while the recording apparatus 100 is disclosed as a pair with the secret key. Using the key, the cartridge information of the mounted ink cartridge 200 is decrypted.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of the functional configuration of the electronic control unit 102 included in the recording apparatus 100 and the recording unit 212 included in the IC chip 210 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The writing device 120 (see FIG. 1) receives the secret key from the server 300. The writing device 120 encrypts the original information to be stored in the ink cartridge 200 by applying the secret key received from the server 300 and records it as cartridge information in the recording unit 212 of the IC chip 210. In this example, the writing device 120 records the type of ink stored in the ink cartridge 200 in the recording unit 212 as original information. In another example, the writing device 120 uses, for example, the manufacturing number of the IC chip 210 and the supplier name of the recording device 100 or the ink cartridge 200 as original information, and cartridge information obtained by encrypting these information using a secret key. It may be generated and recorded in the recording unit 212.

  The electronic control unit 102 includes a reading unit 20, a decoding unit 30, a history storage unit 40, an original information storage unit 50, and an information match determination unit 60. When the recording apparatus 100 and the ink cartridge 200 are electrically connected, the recording unit 212 of the IC chip 210 and the reading unit 20 of the electronic control unit 102 are electrically connected.

  When the ink cartridge 200 is mounted, the reading unit 20 reads cartridge information recorded in the recording unit 212 of the ink cartridge 200 and outputs the read cartridge information to the decoding unit 30.

  The decryption unit 30 receives the public key from the server 300 and stores it inside. Further, the decryption unit 30 applies the public key stored in the cartridge information received from the reading unit 20 to decrypt the decrypted information. Furthermore, the decryption unit 30 outputs the decrypted decryption information to the history storage unit 40 and the information match determination unit 60. When the recording apparatus 100 is connected to the network 110, the decryption unit 30 requests the public key from the server 300 via the network 110 and receives the public key.

  The history storage unit 40 stores the decoding information received from the decoding unit 30 in association with the history of mounting the ink cartridge 200. The history storage unit 40 of this example stores a number indicating the order in which the ink cartridges 200 are installed in the recording apparatus 100 as a history.

  The original information storage unit 50 stores the original information to be obtained by decoding by the decoding unit 30 prior to use of the recording apparatus 100. The original information storage unit 50 of this example stores the ink type of the ink cartridge 200 to be mounted on the recording apparatus 100 as original information. The original information storage unit 50 stores original information at the time of shipment from a factory, for example. In another example, the original information storage unit 50 may store a manufacturing number of the IC chip 210 and a supplier name of the recording device 100 or the ink cartridge 200 as original information.

  When the decryption information is received from the decryption unit 30, the information match determination unit 60 reads the original information stored in the original information storage unit 50, and determines whether or not the decryption information matches the read original information. If the decoded information does not match any original information stored in the information match determination unit 60, the information match determination unit 60 outputs a message to that effect to the user. In this case, the information coincidence determination unit 60 may display that it does not coincide with the display unit of the recording apparatus 100 or may display it on the display unit of the PC. Further, the information coincidence determination unit 60 may output the fact to the user by recording the fact that it does not coincide with the recording material 14.

  As a result, the information recorded in the recording unit 212 of the ink cartridge 200 attached to the recording apparatus 100 can be read and confirmed later. Then, it can be determined whether or not the ink cartridge 200 that is supposed to be used in the recording apparatus 100 is mounted. Further, when an ink cartridge 200 that is supposed to be used in the recording apparatus 100 is mounted, the fact is output, so that the user can recognize that fact.

  The recording medium 70 stores a program that causes the electronic control unit 102 of the recording apparatus 100 to function as the reading unit 20, the decoding unit 30, and the history storage unit 40. The electronic control unit 102 of the recording apparatus 100 reads these programs from the recording medium 70 and executes them. Further, the electronic control unit 102 of the recording apparatus 100 may acquire these programs via a communication line. The recording medium 70 may be, for example, an optical recording medium such as a DVD or PD, a magneto-optical recording medium such as an MD, a tape medium, a magnetic recording medium, or a semiconductor recording device.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of data stored in the history storage unit 40. The history storage unit 40 stores the decryption information decrypted by the decryption unit 30 in association with a number indicating the order in which the ink cartridges 200 are installed. In the present embodiment, when the cartridge information recorded in the recording unit 212 of the ink cartridge 200 is information encrypted using a public key and a private key paired with the public key stored in the decryption unit 30, the decryption unit 30. Deciphers cartridge information into so-called plaintext information whose meaning can be deciphered by a person. 3 is a character string “Pigment A” indicating the type of the ink cartridge 200. However, if the cartridge information is not encrypted with the private key paired with the public key, the decryption unit 30 converts the cartridge information into information that cannot be deciphered by a person. The case where the cartridge information is not encrypted with the private key paired with the public key is, for example, when the cartridge information is plain text, or is encrypted with a private key other than the private key paired with the public key Or, no information is recorded in the cartridge information. An example of information whose meaning cannot be deciphered by a person in FIG. 3 is a character string “* 0 ?!”. By referring to the decoding information stored in the history storage unit 40 together with the history of the ink cartridge 200, it is possible to determine whether or not the ink cartridge 200 that is supposed to be used in the recording apparatus 100 is mounted. it can.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation in the recording apparatus 100 of the present invention. When the ink cartridge 200 is attached to the recording apparatus 100, the reading unit 20 of the recording apparatus 100 and the recording unit 212 of the ink cartridge 200 are electrically connected. In this state, the reading unit 20 reads the cartridge information recorded in the recording unit 212 of the ink cartridge 200 (S100), and outputs the read cartridge information to the decoding unit 30. The decryption unit 30 stores the public key distributed from the server 300 in advance, and decrypts the cartridge information received from the reading unit 20 into decryption information with this public key (S102). The decryption unit 30 stores the decrypted decryption information in the history storage unit 40 in association with the history of mounting the ink cartridge 200 (S104) and outputs the information to the information match determination unit 60.

  Further, as described above, the original information storage unit 50 stores in advance the original information to be obtained by being decoded by the decoding unit 30. The original information storage unit 50 of this example stores the ink type of the ink cartridge 200 to be mounted on the recording apparatus 100 as original information. When the information match determination unit 60 receives the decoding information from the decoding unit 30, the information matching determination unit 60 reads the original information stored in the original information storage unit 50 and compares the decoded information with the original information (S106). Here, when a plurality of pieces of original information are stored in the original information storage unit 50, the decoded information is compared with each of the plurality of pieces of original information. As a result, when the decryption information does not match any original information (S106: NO), the information match determination unit 60 outputs that fact (S108). For example, the information match determination unit 60 displays “not match” on the display unit of the recording apparatus 100. When the decrypted information matches any of the original information read from the original information storage unit 50 (S106: YES), this flowchart ends. In step S106, when the decoded information matches any of the original information read by the original information storage unit 50, the information match determination unit 60 may display the original information that matches the display unit of the recording apparatus 100, for example. . As a result, the user can confirm that the ink cartridge 200 storing the correct ink type is installed.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the functional configuration of another electronic control unit 104 included in the recording apparatus 100 in FIG. FIG. 6 shows an example of the functional configuration of the writing device 120 included in the recording system 400 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

  If ink whose expiration date has expired is used in the recording apparatus 100, a problem may occur in the recording apparatus 100 due to, for example, deterioration of the ink. Therefore, the recording system 400 according to the present embodiment aims to prevent the use of ink whose expiration date has expired in the recording apparatus 100 by providing expiration dates for the public key and the secret key. 2 has the same or similar function as the configuration in FIG. 2, the description is omitted except for the points described below.

  The server 300 according to the present embodiment generates a secret key that has an expiration date and a public key that is paired with the secret key and has the same expiration date, distributes the secret key to the writing device 120, and releases the secret key. The key is distributed to the recording apparatus 100. Although the details will be described later, the expiration date of the private key and the expiration date of the public key do not have to match. The server 300 in this example generates a secret key and a public key that are paired with each other at regular intervals, distributes the generated secret key to the writing device 120, and distributes the generated public key to the recording device 100.

  The writing device 120 illustrated in FIG. 6 includes a secret key acquisition unit 122 and an encryption writing unit 124. The secret key acquisition unit 122 acquires a secret key with an expiration date set from the server and stores it inside. When the expiration date of the stored secret key has passed, the secret key acquisition unit 122 acquires a new secret key within the expiration date from the server 300, and uses the secret key that has passed the expiration date as the new public key. Update to Thereby, the secret key acquisition unit 122 stores one secret key within the expiration date. Here, the user of the writing device 120 inputs, for example, original information indicating the ink type to the encryption writing unit 124. The encryption writing unit 124 reads the secret key from the secret key storage unit 122 and encrypts the original information using the read secret key. Then, the encryption writing unit 124 writes the encrypted original information as cartridge information in the recording unit 212 of the ink cartridge 200.

  The electronic control unit 104 shown in FIG. 5 includes an information matching determination unit 60, an effective public key storage unit 80, and a use prohibition unit in addition to the configuration of the electronic control unit 102 described with reference to FIGS. 90.

  The decryption unit 30 receives the public key from the server 300 and stores the received public key in the effective public key storage unit 80. When the expiration date of the public key has passed, the decryption unit 30 acquires a new public key within the expiration date from the server 300. The server 300 periodically distributes the public key to the recording device 100, and when the recording device 100 receives the public key, the decryption unit 30 acquires a new public key.

  Here, in the ink cartridge 200 of the present embodiment, an expiration date for which use is permitted is determined by an ink manufacturer or the like based on a period of time during which the ink of the ink cartridge 200 deteriorates. In this embodiment, in order to determine the ink cartridge 200 whose cartridge information is written by the writing device 120 is within the expiration date, the relationship between the expiration date of the ink cartridge 200 and the secret key and public key is as follows. Set to. As described above, the secret key acquisition unit 122 of the writing device 120 stores one secret key within the expiration date, and the secret key whose usage period has passed is not used. Therefore, the writing device 120 encrypts the original information into the cartridge information and writes it in the ink cartridge 200 with the secret key within the expiration date when writing the original information in the ink cartridge 200. On the other hand, the valid public key storage unit 80 of the recording apparatus 100 stores the public key for the secret key used for encrypting the cartridge information by the writing device 120 within the expiration date of the ink cartridge 200. For example, the valid public key storage unit 80 stores a certain public key for a period equal to the expiration date of the ink cartridge 200. In this case, the valid public key storage unit 80 stores a public key in which the expiration date of the public key is included in the expiration date of the ink cartridge 200 among the public keys received from the server 300. Note that the expiration date of the ink cartridge may be determined as a date when the quality of the ink stored in the ink cartridge 200 is guaranteed.

  The decryption unit 30 reads the public key stored in the valid public key storage unit 80, and decrypts the cartridge information received by the reading unit 20 into decryption information by applying the read public key. When a plurality of public keys are stored in the valid public key storage unit 80, the decryption unit 30 sequentially decrypts the cartridge information read by the reading unit 20 using each public key. The decryption unit 30 stores the obtained decryption information in the history storage unit 40 in association with the history of the ink cartridge 200 and the history of the public key used for decryption.

The information match determination unit 60 reads the decryption information stored in the history storage unit 40 and the original information stored in the original information storage unit 50. In this case, the information coincidence determination unit 60 reads the decoding information of the newly installed ink cartridge 200 from the history storage unit 40. Then, when there is no decryption information read from the history storage unit 40 that matches the original information, the information match determination unit 60 outputs this fact to the use prohibition unit 90. The use prohibition unit 90 outputs a signal to the recording head 12 of the recording apparatus 100 when the decoded information stored in the information matching determination unit 60 does not match the original information, and uses the ink cartridge 200. Prohibits ink ejection.
In this case, the information match determination unit 60 outputs to the user that the expiration date of the ink cartridge has passed. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably prevent the ink cartridge that may have deteriorated after the expiration date from being used in the recording apparatus.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of data stored in the valid public key storage unit 80. The valid public key storage unit 80 stores a public key in which the expiration date of the public key is included in the expiration date of the ink cartridge 200 among the public keys received from the server 300. In the example shown in FIG. 7, when the validity period of the ink cartridge 200 is 4 years and the expiration date of the private key used as the public key pair is 1 year, the valid public key storage unit 80 stores each public key. Store for 4 years. The effective public key storage unit 80 shown in FIG. 7 manages the period for storing the public key by predetermining the number of public keys to be stored. For example, when a new public key is received from the server 300, the valid public key storage unit 80 keeps the number of public keys to be stored constant by discarding the oldest public key. For example, when the public key E is newly distributed in a state in which four public keys 1 to 4 are stored in order from the newest as shown in FIG. E is acquired and stored as public key 1, and D is decremented one by one from other public keys B to public keys 2 to 4, and public key A is discarded.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of data stored in the history storage unit 40 in the present embodiment. When the ink cartridge 200 is mounted, the history storage unit 40 stores the decryption information received from the decryption unit 30 in association with the history of the ink cartridge 200 and the history of the public key used for decryption. In this case, the decryption unit 30 reads out the public keys from the public keys stored in the valid public key storage unit 80 in the order in which they are newly stored, and acts on the cartridge information acquired from the reading unit 20 to thereby decrypt the decryption information. To get. Then, the decryption unit 30 stores the acquired decryption information in the history storage unit 40.

  As described above, when the cartridge information is decrypted as the predetermined decryption information with the public key stored in the valid public key storage unit 80, the ink cartridge 200 including the cartridge information is an ink cartridge within the expiration date. It can be judged that there is. If the predetermined decryption information cannot be obtained even if decryption is performed using any public key, the ink cartridge 200 including the cartridge information is a cartridge whose expiration date has passed or is mounted. It can be determined that the cartridge is not supposed to be used. Further, since the history storage unit 40 stores the decryption information in association with the history of the public key in the example shown in FIG. 8, it confirms later when the ink cartridge 200 is mounted within the expiration date. be able to.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the recording apparatus 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention. When the ink cartridge 200 is attached to the recording apparatus 100, the reading unit 20 reads the cartridge information recorded in the recording unit 212 of the ink cartridge 200 (S200) and outputs the read cartridge information to the decoding unit 30.

  Then, the decryption unit 30 reads out the public keys in the newly stored order from the public keys stored in the valid public key storage unit 80, and causes the read public keys to act on the acquired cartridge information. Is decoded into decoding information (S202). The decryption unit 30 acquires a public key that is periodically distributed from the server 300 connected to the recording apparatus 100, and the valid public key storage unit 80 includes the public key of the public keys acquired by the decryption unit 30. A public key whose expiration date is included in the expiration date of the ink cartridge 200 is stored. Then, the decoding unit 30 stores the decoding information in the history storage unit 40 in association with the history of mounting the ink cartridge 200 (S204). Note that the decryption unit 30 in this example stores decryption information in association with the history of the public key used for decryption.

  Here, when the cartridge information is not decrypted with all the public keys (S206: NO), the decryption unit 30 executes the operations from step 202 to step 204 described above. When the decryption is completed with all the public keys stored in the effective public key storage unit 80 (S206: YES), the information match determination unit 60 stores the decryption stored in association with the history of the mounted ink cartridge 200. The information and the original information stored in the original information storage unit 50 are read out. Then, when there is information that matches the original information among the decryption information read from the history storage unit 40 (S208: YES), this flowchart ends.

  If there is no read information that matches the original information (S208: NO), the information match determination unit 60 outputs to the user that the expiration date of the ink cartridge has passed (S210). In this case, the information match determination unit 60 outputs to the use prohibition unit 90 that no decryption information read from the history storage unit 40 matches the original information. The use prohibition unit 90 prohibits the use of the ink cartridge 200 by outputting a signal to the recording head 12 of the recording apparatus 100 and stopping the ejection of ink using the ink cartridge 200 (S212). Accordingly, it is possible to reliably prevent the ink cartridge that may have deteriorated after the expiration date from being used in the recording apparatus.

  The history storage unit 40 in this example stores all the decryption information decrypted with each public key stored in the valid public key storage unit 80, but the storage method of the decryption information is not limited to this. In another example, when it is determined in step S208 that the decryption information matches the original information, the information match determination unit 60 refers to the history storage unit 40 and matches the original information stored in the history storage unit 40. You may delete the decryption information that you did not do. Thereby, the recording area used for the history storage unit 40 can be reduced.

  Further, in the operations from step S202 to step S208 shown in FIG. 9, the decryption unit 30 decrypts the cartridge information acquired from the reading unit 20 using all the public keys stored in the valid public key storage unit 80. However, the decoding method is not limited to this. In another example, the decryption unit 30 may stop the operation of reading the public key from the valid public key storage unit 80 when the original information and the decryption information match. For example, the decryption unit 30 reads out the public keys from the effective public key storage unit 80 in the newly stored order, decrypts the cartridge information, and passes the obtained decryption information to the information match determination unit 60. For the decoded information, the information match determination unit 60 determines whether or not it matches the original information stored in the original information storage unit 50. If the two match, the information match determination unit 60 stores only the matched decryption information in the history storage unit 40, and the decryption unit 30 does not perform any further operation of reading the public key from the valid public key storage unit 80, Proceed to step S210. Thereby, it is possible to quickly process whether or not the original information and the decryption information match.

  As described above, according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the information recorded in the recording unit 212 of the ink cartridge 200 attached to the recording apparatus 100 can be read and confirmed later. Further, according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, it can be determined whether or not the ink cartridge 200 that is supposed to be used in the recording apparatus 100 having the electronic control unit 104 is installed. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the ink cartridge 200 that may have deteriorated after the expiration date from being used in the recording apparatus 100.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment. It is apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

1 shows an exemplary configuration of a recording system 400 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 shows an exemplary functional configuration of an electronic control unit 102 included in a recording apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention and a recording unit 212 included in an IC chip 210. An example of data stored in the history storage unit 40 is shown. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation in the recording apparatus 100 of the present invention. An example of a functional configuration of another electronic control unit 104 included in the recording apparatus 100 in FIG. 1 is shown. 4 shows an example of a functional configuration of a writing device 120 included in a recording system 400 according to another embodiment of the present invention. An example of data stored in the valid public key storage unit 80 is shown. An example of data stored in the history storage unit 40 in the present embodiment is shown. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of a recording apparatus 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Carriage, 12 Recording head, 14 Recording object, 16 Contact part, 20 Reading part, 30 Decoding part, 40 History storage part, 50 Original information storage part, 60 Information matching judgment part, 70 Recording medium, 80 Effective public key storage 90, use prohibition unit, 100 recording device, 102, 104 electronic control unit, 110 network, 120 writing device, 122 secret key acquisition unit, 124 encryption writing unit, 124 secret key acquisition unit, 200 ink cartridge, 210 IC chip, 212 recording unit, 300 server, 400 recording system

Claims (14)

A recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink from the ink cartridge by mounting the ink cartridge,
A reading unit that reads cartridge information recorded in a recording unit of the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is mounted;
A decryption unit for decrypting the cartridge information read by the reading unit into decryption information with a public key;
And a history storage unit that stores the decoding information decoded by the decoding unit in association with a history of mounting the ink cartridge. When the cartridge information obtained by encrypting the original information with the secret key that is paired with the public key is recorded in the recording unit of the ink cartridge, the original information to be obtained by being decrypted by the decrypting unit is obtained. An original information storage section to store;
An information matching determination unit that determines whether or not the decoded information decoded by the decoding unit matches the original information stored in the original information storage unit, and outputs a message to that effect if not The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the original information storage unit stores a type of the ink cartridge as the original information. An expiration date is set for the public key and the private key that is paired with the public key,
The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the decryption unit obtains a new public key from the outside when an expiration date of the public key has passed. An effective public key storage unit that stores the public key that is included in the expiration date for which the use of the ink cartridge is permitted among the public keys acquired from the outside by the decryption unit;
The information coincidence determination unit determines the expiration date of the ink cartridge when the decryption information decrypted by the public key stored in the valid public key storage unit does not match the original information. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, which outputs that it has passed.   A use prohibiting unit that prohibits use of the ink cartridge when there is no decryption information that matches the original information among the decryption information decrypted with the public key stored in the valid public key storage unit. The recording apparatus according to claim 5. A recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink from the ink cartridge by mounting the ink cartridge,
A reading unit that reads cartridge information recorded in a recording unit of the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is mounted;
A decryption unit for decrypting the cartridge information read by the reading unit into decryption information with a public key;
When the cartridge information obtained by encrypting the original information with the secret key that is paired with the public key is recorded in the recording unit of the ink cartridge, the original information to be obtained by being decrypted by the decrypting unit is obtained. An original information storage section to store;
An information matching determination unit that determines whether or not the decoded information decoded by the decoding unit matches the original information stored in the original information storage unit, and outputs a message to that effect if not With
An expiration date is set for the public key and the private key that is paired with the public key,
When the expiration date of the public key has passed, the decryption unit obtains a new public key from the outside,
An effective public key storage unit that stores the public key that is included in the expiration date for which the use of the ink cartridge is permitted among the public keys acquired from the outside by the decryption unit;
The information coincidence determination unit outputs that the expiration date of the ink cartridge has passed when the decryption information decrypted by the public key within the expiration date does not match the original information. . A writing device for writing cartridge information to a recording unit of the ink cartridge;
A recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink from the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is mounted;
A recording system comprising a server that communicates with the recording device and the writing device,
The server generates a secret key with an expiration date set and a public key with an expiration date set as a pair with the secret key, distributes the secret key to the writing device, and the public key To the recording device,
The writing device includes:
A secret key acquisition unit that acquires the secret key within the expiration date from the server and updates the secret key that has passed the expiration date to the secret key within the expiration date;
Encrypted writing in which original information is encrypted with the secret key within the expiration date acquired by the secret key acquisition unit, and the encrypted original information is written to the recording unit of the ink cartridge as the cartridge information And
The recording device comprises:
A reading unit that reads the cartridge information recorded in the recording unit of the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is mounted;
An effective public key storage unit that stores the public key whose expiration date for the public key is included in an expiration date for which use of the ink cartridge is permitted;
The public key is acquired from the server and transferred to the valid public key storage unit, and the cartridge information read by the reading unit is decrypted into decryption information with the public key stored in the valid public key storage unit. A decoding unit
When the cartridge information obtained by encrypting the original information with the secret key that is paired with the public key is recorded in the recording unit of the ink cartridge, the decryption unit should obtain the decrypted information. An original information storage unit for storing original information;
It is determined whether or not the decrypted information decoded by the decrypting unit matches the original information stored in the original information storing unit, and if it does not match, the expiration date of the ink cartridge has passed. A recording system having an information match determination unit for outputting a message. A writing device for writing cartridge information to a recording unit of the ink cartridge;
A recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink from the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is mounted;
A recording system comprising a server that communicates with the recording device and the writing device,
The server generates a secret key with an expiration date set and a public key with an expiration date set as a pair with the secret key, distributes the secret key to the writing device and the public key To the recording device,
The writing device includes:
A secret key acquisition unit that acquires the secret key within the expiration date from the server and updates the secret key that has passed the expiration date to the secret key within the expiration date;
Encrypted writing in which original information is encrypted with the secret key within the expiration date acquired by the secret key acquisition unit, and the encrypted original information is written to the recording unit of the ink cartridge as the cartridge information And
The recording device comprises:
A reading unit that reads the cartridge information recorded in the recording unit of the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is mounted;
An effective public key storage unit that stores the public key whose expiration date for the public key is included in an expiration date for which use of the ink cartridge is permitted;
The public key is acquired from the server and transferred to the valid public key storage unit, and the cartridge information read by the reading unit is decrypted into decryption information with the public key stored in the valid public key storage unit. A decoding unit
When the cartridge information obtained by encrypting the original information with the secret key that is paired with the public key is recorded in the recording unit of the ink cartridge, the decryption unit should obtain the decrypted information. An original information storage unit for storing original information;
And a history storage unit that stores the decoding information decoded by the decoding unit in association with a history of mounting the ink cartridge. An ink cartridge,
An ink cartridge comprising a recording unit on which information encrypted by a secret key is recorded. A control method for controlling a recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging ink from the ink cartridge by mounting the ink cartridge,
When the ink cartridge is attached to the recording apparatus, the information recorded in the recording unit of the ink cartridge is read,
Decrypt the read information with the public key,
A control method of storing the decrypted information in a history storage unit in association with a history of mounting the ink cartridge. A control method for controlling a recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging ink from the ink cartridge by mounting the ink cartridge,
When the ink cartridge is mounted, the cartridge information recorded in the recording unit of the ink cartridge is read,
When the expiration date set for the public key and the private key paired with the public key has passed, a new public key is acquired from the outside,
Among the public keys acquired from the outside, the public key whose expiration date is included in the expiration date when the use of the ink cartridge is permitted is stored in the effective public key storage unit,
The read cartridge information is decrypted into decryption information with the public key stored in the effective public key storage unit,
When the cartridge information obtained by encrypting the original information with the secret key paired with the public key is recorded in the recording unit of the ink cartridge, the original information to be obtained by decryption is stored in the original information. Store in the department,
It is determined whether the decrypted decryption information matches the original information stored in the original information storage unit, and if not, outputs that the expiration date of the ink cartridge has passed. Control method to do. A computer program for controlling a recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink from the ink cartridge by mounting the ink cartridge, the computer comprising:
A reading function for reading information recorded in a recording unit of the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is mounted;
A decryption function for decrypting the information read by the read function with a public key; and
A program for realizing a history storage function for storing the information decrypted by the decryption function in association with a history of mounting the ink cartridge. A computer program for controlling a recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink from the ink cartridge by mounting the ink cartridge, the computer comprising:
A procedure for reading cartridge information recorded in a recording section of the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is mounted;
A procedure for acquiring a new public key from the outside when the expiration date set for the public key and the private key paired with the public key has passed,
A step of storing, in an effective public key storage unit, the public key that is included in an expiration date for which use of the ink cartridge is permitted among the public keys acquired from the outside;
A procedure for decrypting the read cartridge information into decryption information with the public key stored in the valid public key storage unit;
When the cartridge information obtained by encrypting the original information with the secret key paired with the public key is recorded in the recording unit of the ink cartridge, the original information to be obtained by decryption is stored in the original information. Procedures to store in the department, and
It is determined whether the decrypted decryption information matches the original information stored in the original information storage unit, and if not, outputs that the expiration date of the ink cartridge has passed. A program that causes a procedure to be executed.

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