Multi-Personality Logic Circuitry for Print Component Authentication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication protocols between print apparatus and replaceable components lack robust authentication and consumable level management, leading to potential unauthorized usage and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a logic circuitry package with multiple personalities, each having a unique ID and cryptographic key, to authenticate and manage consumable levels, ensuring compatibility and authorized access while maintaining resource constraints.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple personalities with unique cryptographic keys are implemented in the logic circuitry package, then security and authentication capability are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication capabilityVSAvoidlogic circuitry structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The logic circuitry package is segmented into multiple distinct personalities, each with its own unique ID and cryptographic key. This segmentation allows the system to handle different authentication scenarios and components independently, improving security without requiring a complete redesign of the entire authentication system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The logic circuitry package is designed with multi-functionality by incorporating multiple personalities that can serve different authentication purposes. Each personality can be activated based on the specific component or operation being authenticated, making the system universally applicable to various security requirements while maintaining a unified hardware structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If cryptographic authentication is implemented for each replaceable component, then unauthorized usage is prevented, but processing time and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthorization securityVSAvoidauthentication processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Cryptographic keys and authentication credentials are pre-configured in each personality of the logic circuitry package during manufacturing. This preliminary action ensures that when a replaceable component is installed, authentication can proceed immediately using pre-computed keys, minimizing processing time during actual operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The authentication system uses cryptographic copies (digital signatures and hashed credentials) of component identities rather than requiring physical verification or complex multi-factor authentication. These cryptographic copies enable fast verification of component authenticity without time-consuming manual processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Measurement precision

If consumable level tracking is maintained across personality switches, then resource management accuracy is improved, but data management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconsumable level tracking accuracyVSAvoiddata management structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The data management structure is designed with universality to handle consumable level information across all personalities. A single shared data structure or registry maintains consumable levels that any personality can access and update, eliminating the need for separate tracking systems for each personality and reducing overall data management complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4350545B1Logic circuitry packages for replaceable print apparatus components
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP
  • EP4350545B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4350545B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~5
  • EP4350545B1 patent drawingFigure 6A~6C

AI summary

A logic circuitry package for a replaceable print apparatus component includes a logic circuit and an interface to communicate with a print apparatus logic circuit. The logic circuit is configured to include a plurality of personalities, each personality of the plurality of personalities including an ID and a cryptographic key. The logic circuit is further configured to start a cryptographic session with the print apparatus logic circuit using a selected personality of the plurality of personalities, and transmit a consumable level value to the print apparatus logic circuit in response to a request from the print apparatus logic circuit independent of which personality of the plurality of personalities is the selected personality.