Consumable Cartridge Chip Interference for Secure Data Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing consumable chips in printing apparatuses are vulnerable to confidential data leakage as they passively receive data and cannot prevent competitors from obtaining sensitive information during communication.

Innovation Solution

The consumable chip is equipped with an interference module that actively interferes with data transmission, altering the data on the communication bus to prevent unauthorized access and detection of confidential information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the consumable chip passively receives confidential data from the printing apparatus, then the data transmission is simple and straightforward, but the confidential data can be easily obtained by third parties through monitoring communication waveforms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata securityVSAvoidcommunication mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The consumable chip applies preliminary anti-action by proactively generating interference signals during the downlink period to counteract the transmission of confidential data from the printing apparatus. The interference module detects when the printing apparatus transmits data and actively emits interference signals on the same communication bus, thereby preventing third parties from successfully capturing the confidential information before it can be transmitted.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Reliability

If the consumable chip actively interferes with data transmission to prevent data leakage, then data security is improved, but the communication between host and chip may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata securityVSAvoidcommunication integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The interference module dynamically adjusts its operation based on the communication phase. It remains inactive during the uplink period when the chip needs to receive instructions, and activates during the downlink period when the printing apparatus transmits data. This dynamic switching ensures that interference is applied only when needed for security, while maintaining normal communication functionality during other phases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The interference module employs feedback mechanisms to monitor the communication bus and detect when the printing apparatus is transmitting data. Based on this feedback, the module intelligently activates or deactivates the interference signal generation, ensuring that interference is applied only during downlink transmission periods when confidential data is being sent, thereby preserving communication integrity during uplink periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4349608B1Chip, consumable cartridge, and data transmission method
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 APEX MICROELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4349608B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4349608B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4349608B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a chip, a consumable cartridge, and a data transmission method. The chip is configured to communicate with a host and establish a communication connection with the host and receive first data transmitted from the host to the chip, where the chip interferes the first data during a downlink period of receiving the first data, such that second data received by the chip is different from the first data. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the chip is capable of interfering preset data transmitted by the host to the chip, which prevents a third party from obtaining confidential data transmitted by the host to the chip by a mean of detecting and collecting communication waveforms between the host and the chip.