Networked Image Forming Firmware Integrity and Restoration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatus security measures are inadequate in detecting and preventing firmware manipulation after installation, particularly from external attacks.

Innovation Solution

An image forming apparatus with a non-volatile auxiliary storage device containing firmware and digital signatures, a manipulation detection device, a firmware restoration device, and a firmware provision device, which analyzes firmware integrity, deletes manipulated firmware, and requests compatible firmware from other connected apparatuses for installation, enhancing security through digital signatures and network connectivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If firmware manipulation detection is implemented using digital signatures and hash values, then firmware security is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefirmware securityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The image forming apparatus automatically detects firmware manipulation through digital signature verification, and autonomously restores the firmware by requesting and installing compatible firmware from other apparatuses in the network without requiring manual intervention or external server infrastructure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple image forming apparatuses serve dual functions: they perform their primary imaging functions while also acting as firmware backup sources for each other, eliminating the need for dedicated security servers or complex centralized management systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If automatic firmware restoration is implemented, then firmware security is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefirmware securityVSAvoidfirmware restoration time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Compatible firmware is pre-installed on multiple image forming apparatuses in the network before manipulation occurs, enabling immediate restoration without requiring firmware compilation, downloading, or compatibility verification during the restoration process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates and maintains copies of compatible firmware on multiple apparatuses, allowing rapid restoration by simply copying and installing the pre-prepared firmware image rather than regenerating or re-downloading it

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3992826B1Image-forming device, firmware alteration-preventing method, and computer-readable non-temporary storage medium which stores alteration-preventing program

Publication Date: 2025.01.01 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC

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AI summary

An image forming apparatus (100) connectable to a network includes a non-volatile auxiliary storage device (140) containing firmware that causes the image forming apparatus (100) to operate, a manipulation detection device (111) that decides whether the firmware stored in the auxiliary storage device (140) has been manipulated, using the digital signature, a firmware restoration device (112) that deletes the firmware decided to have been manipulated, and installs the firmware provided by another image forming apparatus (200), a firmware provision device (113), and a control device (110). The auxiliary storage device (140) contains firmware that realizes the manipulation detection device (111), the firmware restoration device (112), the firmware provision device (113), and the control device (110), in a boot block writing in which is restricted.