KR20050117796A - Prevention apparatus and method for use rebirth toner using wireless communication and security algorithm - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for preventing the use of recycled toner using wireless communication and an encryption algorithm. When power is supplied, the office equipment apparatus unit requests an ID using wireless communication from the office equipment apparatus unit to the toner cartridge apparatus unit, and receives the ID in response. In the first authentication step of checking whether the genuine toner cartridge, and if the authenticity in the first authentication step, the office device device unit generates random data and transmits the random data to the toner cartridge device unit, and the random data After encrypting and storing, a second authentication step of receiving the encrypted data encrypted with the random data from the toner cartridge device unit to compare the stored encrypted data with the same if the authentication is genuine, and authenticating in the second authentication step The amount of print or copy remaining in the toner cartridge unit It is configured to include a remaining amount detection step for notifying the user if it is less than or equal to the reference, and permitting the use if it is higher than the standard. By such a configuration, the present invention has an effect of preventing the use of the regenerated toner by checking the genuineness of the toner cartridge by using an encryption algorithm that cannot be easily read from outside of the genuine product of the toner cartridge device unit.

Description

Preventive apparatus and method for use rebirth toner using wireless communication and security algorithm

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for preventing the use of recycled toner using wireless communication and an encryption algorithm, and more particularly, to determine whether or not a recycled toner is normal by determining whether an ID of the toner device and encrypted data are normal through wireless communication between the main device and the toner device. The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for preventing the use of recycled toner using wireless communication and an encryption algorithm to prevent use thereof.

Typically, manufacturers of office equipment such as laser printers or copiers provide suitable toner cartridges for such office equipment.

However, some users do not use genuine toner cartridges, but recycled toner cartridges of manufacturers.

The use of such a regenerative toner cartridge can reduce costs from a user's point of view, but there are problems such as a decrease in profits and a leak of technology from a manufacturer's point of view.

However, the conventional apparatus and method for preventing the use of recycled toner are easily interpreted by those who specialize in recycling of the toner cartridge and are not effective.

The regenerated toner preventing device of the conventional office equipment as described above is described in Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2004-0006406, and the configuration and the problem of the regenerated toner preventing device of the conventional office equipment will be described.

1 is a block diagram of a regenerated toner prevention system of a conventionally disclosed office equipment.

As referred to herein, the RF label 20 attached to the toner cartridge is activated by the induced power by the antenna 31 of the authentication module 30 and is configured to exchange information with the authentication module 30 side in a non-contact manner. In addition, the authentication confirmation information and the various toner cartridge-related information by the authentication module 30 is configured to be provided to the control module 41 of the printer (or copier).

The RF label 20 is composed of an antenna 21 and an IC chip 22. The antenna 21 receives power from the outside to activate the IC chip and also functions as an antenna for exchanging information with the outside. The IC chip 22 performs data storage and RF demodulation of the digital signal.

In addition, the control module 41 exports the toner usage information according to the printing or copying operation to the authentication module 30, and this information is authenticated to the IC chip 22 of the RF label 20 as the total toner usage information in the toner cartridge. To be written by the module.

2 is a block diagram of an authentication module of a conventional system, wherein the authentication module 30 is a processor 32 for performing authentication and controlling input / output of various data, and an RF block 33 for demodulating and demodulating digital signals and radio signals. And an interface for communication between the decoder 34 for decrypting the encrypted kit value and the memory 35 containing cartridge information for usability and activation of the toner cartridge, and the control module of the printer or copier. ). The RF block 33 is configured to be connected to the antenna 31 and the interface 36 to the control module 41 of the printer or copier.

The operation of the conventional configuration configured as described above will be described.

First, when the toner cartridge 10 to which the RF label 20 is attached is docked to the printer or copier 40, the antenna of the authentication module 30 installed inside the printer or copier so as to face the RF label 20 in close proximity ( 31) the IC chip of the RF label is activated.

When the IC chip 22 of the RF label 20 is activated, the IC chip 22 RF modulates the encrypted kit value contained in the encryption key information area 22-1 of its memory to perform the RF label 20 operation. The antenna 21 is emitted to the outside, the RF modulated cipher kit value is received by the antenna 31 of the authentication module 30 in close proximity and demodulated by the RF block 33 and then the authentication module 30. Is passed to the processor 32 within.

When the encryption kit value is input from the RF label, the processor 32 decodes the decoder 30 and compares the decoding value with data of the memory 35 to determine whether the current toner cartridge is genuine.

At this time, if the toner cartridge is a non-genuine product, the non-genuine authentication signal is not sent to the control module 41 of the printer or the copier 40, so when the non-genuine product is mounted in the printer or the copier, the printing or copying operation will not be performed. .

On the other hand, if it is confirmed that the authenticity by decrypting the encryption kit value of the RF label of the toner cartridge 10 mounted in the printer or copier, the processor 32 of the authentication module 30 is a cartridge of the memory in the IC chip 22 of the RF label. By reading the cartridge model specific information, the manufacturing date information, and the like contained in the basic information area 22-2, it is determined through the memory 35 query whether the cartridge is acceptable in the current printer or copier.

If it is determined that matching is made between the device information and the toner cartridge model information, it is determined whether or not the current cartridge is registered for disposal by querying the toner cartridge waste information area of the IC chip 22.

Disposal information of the cartridge consists of registering the unusable information on the IC chip of the RF label attached to the cartridge in the authentication module (30).

If the toner cartridge is a non-genuine product or a suitable model for the printer or copier, or the waste information is already registered during the above process, it corresponds to an unusable condition. Therefore, the control module 41 of the printer or copier uses an authentication module. Since no authentication signal is provided from 30, normal operation is not performed.

Through the above process, if it is determined that the toner cartridge docked in the printer or copier is genuine, the processor of the authentication module 30 stores the toner usage information area 22-3 stored in the memory of the IC chip 22 of the RF label. Reads the data and transmits it to the control module 41 through the interface 36 along with the authentication confirmation information.

Accordingly, the printer or copier 40 may perform a normal printing operation or a copying operation. When a series of printing or copying is completed, the toner amount information consumed at that time is again returned from the control module 41 to the authentication module 30. This information is modulated in the RF block 33 and transmitted to the RF label 20 through the antenna 31, which is updated and stored in the toner usage information area 22-3 of the IC chip as total toner usage information.

 However, the prior art as described above detects the ID stored in the memory of the IC chip 22 of the toner cartridge and determines whether the ID is genuine or remanufactured by covering only the normal ID so that the reproduced product is easily recognized by the hacking of the ID. I can convert it.

As described above, the prior art has a problem in that the ID and the number of prints or copies can be easily detected, and information stored in the memory can be converted and reproduced, thereby preventing the use of the regenerated toner cartridge.

In view of the above problems, the present invention performs activation through a process of detecting an ID of a toner cartridge in a control apparatus of an office equipment and checking whether the toner cartridge also has an encryption algorithm by using an arbitrary encryption algorithm. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for preventing the use of recycled toner using wireless communication and encryption algorithms, which can prevent the use of recycled toner cartridges.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for preventing the use of recycled toner using a wireless communication and an encryption algorithm that can be provided at a low cost while providing a more complicated authentication process.

The present invention for achieving the above object is to provide a power supply to the toner cartridge device unit to request an ID using wireless communication to the toner cartridge device unit, by checking the ID received in response to the genuine toner cartridge is made of In the first authentication step and when authenticating in the first authentication step, the office device device unit generates random data and transmits the random data to the toner cartridge device unit, encrypts and stores the random data, and then stores the random data. A second authentication step of receiving the encrypted data encrypted with the random data from the second unit and comparing the stored encrypted data with a second authentication step and authenticating the product with a genuine product in the second authentication step. Detects possible residuals and notifies the user if it is below the standard. As it composed of the remaining amount detection step of allowing use has its features.

An embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is an exemplary configuration diagram of an apparatus for preventing the use of a recycled toner using wireless communication and an encryption algorithm according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, when the power is supplied, the ID of the toner cartridge is detected and random data is generated. An office device device unit 100 for transmitting the data by an RF communication method, encrypting the data through an encryption algorithm, and comparing the returned signal of the randomly generated data with the encrypted data to perform genuine activation, and the office device device unit An ID is sent according to the ID request of the apparatus 100, and the cartridge apparatus 200 receives the data randomly generated by the office apparatus apparatus 100 and returns the result of encryption through an encryption algorithm.

The office device apparatus 100 outputs the power supply unit 110 and the ID check signal, encrypts and transmits randomly generated data each time power is applied, and compares the returned signal with the generated data. Microcontrol unit 120 to perform the activation, the modulator 130 for modulating the output signal of the micro control unit 120, the output of the modulator 130 and the power supply unit 110 RF power amplifier 140 for receiving and amplifying power, and outputs the output power of the RF power amplifier 140 and the output signal of the modulator 130 and the cartridge unit 200 A main loop antenna 150 for receiving an output signal of the detector, a detection and amplifying unit 160 for detecting and amplifying a signal of the cartridge device unit 200 received through the main loop antenna 150, and the detection and Demodulate the output of the amplifier 160 to a digital signal W is composed of the demodulator 170 to output to the micro-control unit (120).

The micro control unit 120 includes a control unit 121 for performing control according to a program, a random data generation unit 123 for generating random data of a predetermined bit under the control of the control unit 121, and the random data. An encryption algorithm storage unit 124 for encrypting the data generated by the generation unit 123 through an encryption algorithm, software required for operation, and a memory 122 storing data encrypted in the encryption algorithm storage unit 124. It is composed.

The cartridge device unit 200 receives the power from the main loop antenna 150 of the office device device unit 100 and receives or transmits the auxiliary loop antenna 210 and the auxiliary loop antenna 210. A detection and rectifying unit 220 for supplying power supplied through each unit to detect and rectify the received signal, a demodulator 230 for demodulating the detected and rectified signal into a digital signal, and the demodulated data. By sending an ID or encrypting the data randomly generated by the office device apparatus 100 and returning the result of the micro-control unit 240 and the output data of the micro-control unit 240 is modulated into an analog signal The modulator 250 transmits the auxiliary loop antenna 210.

The micro control unit 240 includes a memory 242 for storing IDs and counts, an encryption algorithm storage unit 243 for storing an encryption algorithm for encrypting the received data, and a control unit 241 for controlling each unit. It is composed.

Hereinafter, an operation process of the present invention configured as described above will be described in more detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4.

First, after the toner cartridge is inserted into the office equipment as in step S401 or the toner cartridge is inserted, the user turns on the office equipment.

When power is supplied to the office equipment as described above, the office equipment performs initialization and preheating operations.

At this time, as in step S402, the control unit 121 of the micro control unit 120 of the office device device unit 100 outputs data requesting confirmation of the ID to the toner cartridge device unit 200.

The data is modulated into an analog signal through the modulator 130, which is amplified by the RF power amplifier 140 together with the power and transmitted through the main loop antenna 150.

In operation S403, the auxiliary loop antenna 210 of the toner cartridge device 200 receives the power transmitted from the main loop antenna 150 and the ID request data.

The received power and ID request data are detected and rectified through the detection and rectification unit 220, and the power is supplied to each part of the toner cartridge device unit 200.

The ID request data selected through the detection and rectification is converted into a digital signal through the demodulator 230, which is applied to the control unit 241 of the micro control unit 240.

The controller 241 accesses and outputs the ID stored in the memory 242.

The output ID is modulated into an analog signal through the modulator 250 and transmitted through the auxiliary loop antenna 210.

Then, the ID output through the auxiliary loop antenna 210 is received through the main loop antenna 150 as in step S404, which is detected and amplified by the 160 and the demodulator 170 Transmitted to the control unit 120.

At this time, the control unit 121 of the micro control unit 120 checks whether the received ID is the genuine ID in step S405.

If it is determined that the ID is not a genuine ID, step S417 of controlling the office device to an inoperable state is performed.

If it is determined that the ID is a genuine ID, the controller 121 controls the random data generator 123 to generate random data having a predetermined number of bits in step S406.

The bits at this time determine the degree of encryption, and the higher the number of bits, the deeper the degree of encryption.

The random data generation unit 123 generates data randomly without a specific rule every time data is generated and transmits the data to the toner cartridge device unit 200.

Next, as in step S407, the controller 121 encrypts the randomly generated data through an encryption algorithm stored in the encryption algorithm storage unit 124.

The encryption process is a process of converting the randomly generated data according to a specific rule.

The encryption process cannot be easily obtained, such as detection of an ID stored in a memory. Accordingly, when reproducing a toner cartridge, the ID can be detected, but the encryption algorithm cannot be interpreted.

Next, in step S408, the toner cartridge device unit 200 encrypts the received random data using an encryption algorithm stored in an encryption algorithm storage unit 243.

The encryption algorithm should be the same as the encryption algorithm of the office device apparatus 100.

In operation S409, the encrypted data is transmitted to the office device device 100.

The transmission process at this time is the same as the transmission process of ID.

In operation S410, the controller 121 compares the received encrypted data with the encrypted data stored in the memory 122.

Next, in step S411, if the stored encrypted data and the received encrypted data in step S410 are the same through CRC check, if it is not the same, it is determined that the toner cartridge is not genuine and the office equipment of step S416 is used. Control to the disabled state.

If the random data and the received decoded data are the same as the determination result at step S411, the toner cartridge is determined to be genuine in the step S412, and the state is usable.

Next, in step S413, the micro control unit 120 of the office device device unit 100 requests the number of copies or prints currently counted from the micro control unit 240 of the toner cartridge device unit 200. The control unit 241 of the micro control unit 240 transmits the count number stored in the memory 242.

Assume that the count number is down counted on a specific number of prints or copies.

Next, in step S414, the control unit 121 of the office device apparatus unit 100 compares the count number with the stored minimum reference count number.

Then, in step S415, if the count number received as a result of the comparison is smaller than the stored minimum reference count number, it is determined that it is not available and the step S416 is performed.

The present invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and has ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from the concept of the present invention. Various changes and modifications are possible by the user.

As described above, the present invention has an effect of preventing the use of the regenerated toner by checking the genuineness of the toner cartridge by using an encryption algorithm that cannot be easily read from the outside other than the ID of the toner cartridge device unit.

In addition, the present invention has the effect of reducing the manufacturing cost by using a simple device configuration and wireless communication method, and can prevent the wear or other damage of the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a regenerated toner prevention system of a conventional office equipment.

Figure 2 is a block diagram for the authentication module of Figure 2 conventional system.

3 is a block diagram of an apparatus for preventing the use of recycled toner using wireless communication and an encryption algorithm according to the present invention.

4 is a flow chart of a method for preventing the use of recycled toner using a wireless communication and encryption algorithm according to the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

100: office equipment unit 110: power supply unit

120, 240: micro control unit 121: control unit

122: memory 123: random data generation unit

124: encryption algorithm storage unit 130, 250: modulator

140: RF power amplification unit 150: antenna

160: detection and amplification unit 170, 230: demodulation unit

200: toner cartridge unit 210: auxiliary loop athena

220: detector and rectifier 241: controller

242: memory 243: encryption algorithm storage unit

Claims (6)

As the power is supplied, it outputs ID check signal, transmits randomly generated data, encrypts and stores the random data, compares the encrypted data, which is the return signal of the random data, and the stored encrypted data. An office equipment micro control unit for performing authentication, an RF power amplifier for receiving and amplifying the modulated output signal and power, and outputting the output power of the RF power amplifier and the output signal of the modulator wirelessly; A main loop antenna capable of receiving a signal, a detector and amplifier for detecting and amplifying a signal received through the main loop antenna, and outputting the output of the detector and amplifier to a digital signal and outputting the demodulated signal to the micro control unit An office device apparatus having a demodulator; A secondary loop antenna for receiving or transmitting data from the main loop antenna of the office equipment unit and a power supply through the secondary loop antenna to each part, and a detection and rectifying unit for detecting and rectifying the received signal And a demodulator for demodulating the detected and rectified signals into a digital signal, a toner cartridge micro control unit for transmitting an ID according to the demodulated data, or for encrypting the received random data and transmitting the result; And a toner cartridge device unit comprising a modulator for modulating the output data of the control unit into an analog signal and transmitting the modulated data to the auxiliary loop antenna. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the office equipment micro control unit performs control according to a program, and compares the encryption result of the random data to perform activation, and generates random data of a predetermined bit under control of the controller. A random data generation unit, an encryption algorithm storage unit for encrypting the data generated by the random data generation unit through an encryption algorithm, a software for operation and a memory for storing the encryption data generated in the encryption algorithm storage unit Apparatus for preventing the use of recycled toner using wireless communication and encryption algorithm, characterized in that. 2. The toner cartridge micro control unit according to claim 1, wherein the toner cartridge micro control unit comprises a memory for storing ID and count number, an encryption algorithm storage unit for storing an encryption algorithm for encrypting the received random data, and a control unit for controlling each unit. Apparatus for preventing the use of recycled toner using wireless communication and encryption algorithms. A first authentication step of requesting an ID from the office equipment apparatus unit to the toner cartridge apparatus unit through wireless communication when power is supplied, and confirming whether the ID is a genuine toner cartridge by checking the received ID in response to the ID; In the first authentication step, the office device device unit generates random data and transmits the random data to the toner cartridge device unit, encrypts and stores the random data, and then stores the random data in the toner cartridge device unit. A second authentication step of receiving the encrypted encrypted data and comparing the stored encrypted data with the stored encrypted data to authenticate the genuine product; When the product is authenticated in the second authentication step, the toner cartridge device unit detects the remaining amount that can be printed or copied, and recognizes this to the user if the reference value is lower than the standard, and detects the remaining amount to allow the use if the reference value is higher than the standard. A method of preventing the use of recycled toner using wireless communication and an encryption algorithm. The method of claim 4, wherein in the second authentication step, when the product is authenticated in the first authentication step, random data generation and encryption data storage for generating, encrypting, and storing random data limited to a predetermined number of bits in the office device apparatus unit. Steps, A transmission step of transmitting the generated random data to the toner cartridge device through wireless communication; A toner cartridge encryption step of encrypting the random data received by the toner cartridge device unit through the encryption algorithm; An encrypted data return step of transmitting the encrypted data to the office device apparatus; A method for preventing the use of recycled toner using wireless communication and an encryption algorithm, characterized in that a genuine authentication step of comparing the encrypted data received from the office device device unit with the stored encrypted data and authenticating the same as a genuine product. The useless operation step of claim 4, wherein when it is determined that the cartridge is not a genuine toner cartridge in the first authentication step or the second authentication step or the remaining amount is low in comparison with the reference in the remaining amount detection step, an unusable operation step of disabling the office equipment is performed. Method for preventing the use of recycled toner using wireless communication and encryption algorithm, characterized in that further included.