Boot Validation in Imaging Devices

An imaging device including at least one central processing unit (CPU), comprising:

• a print engine;
• and
• a controller configured to operate said print engine and to control image forming operations, said controller comprising:
• a firmware storage device including firmware, said firmware including at least boot code;
• a secure non-volatile storage device storing a preprogrammed hash value corresponding to said boot code;
• and
• logic configured to hold at least said CPU in reset in response to a power on signal to prevent said CPU from executing said boot code upon powering on said imaging device, to retrieve said boot code, to compute a hash value of said boot code, to retrieve said preprogrammed hash value, to compare said computed hash value to said preprogrammed hash value, and to allow said imaging device to execute said boot code if said computed hash value matches said preprogrammed hash value.

A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a boot validation method in an image forming device including at least one central processing unit (CPU), the method comprising:

• holding at least said CPU in reset in response to a power on signal to prevent said CPU from executing at least boot code upon powering on said image forming device;
• retrieving said boot code from a firmware storage device;
• computing a hash value of said boot code;
• retrieving a preprogrammed hash value from a secure non-volatile device;
• comparing said computed hash value with said preprogrammed hash value;
• and
• allowing said image forming device to execute the boot code if said computed hash value matches said preprogrammed hash value.