Crum chip mountable in comsumable unit, image forming apparatus for authentificating the crum chip, and method thereof

A custom replaceable unit monitor (CRUM) chip where a consumable unit of an image forming apparatus is to be mounted, the CRUM chip comprising:

• an interface configured to be connected to the image forming apparatus;
• a memory to store information on the consumable unit;
• a central processing unit (CPU) configured to perform a first authentication in association with a main controller mounted on the image forming apparatus through the interface;
• and
• an authentication ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) configured to perform a second authentication in order to perform the second authentication in association with an authentication controller comprising at least one ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) mounted on the image forming apparatus.

A custom replaceable unit monitor (CRUM) chip mountable on a consumable unit of an image forming apparatus, the CRUM chip comprising:

• an interface configured to be connected to the image forming apparatus;
• a memory where an operating system (O/S) of the CRUM chip is stored separately from a main body O/S of the image forming apparatus;
• a central processing unit (CPU) configured to be connected to the image forming apparatus through the interface, configured to use the O/S of the CRUM chip to perform a first authentication in association with a main controller mounted on the image forming apparatus through the interface, and configured to use the O/S of the CRUM chip to perform a second authentication in association with an authentication controller mounted on the image forming apparatus,
• wherein the main controller performs the first authentication according to a firmware stored in the image forming apparatus, and
• wherein the authentication controller uses at least one ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) configured to perform the second authentication in order to perform the second authentication.

A method for authenticating a consumable unit of an image forming apparatus, the method comprising:

• determining whether or not an event requiring an authentication of a consumable unit mounted on the image forming apparatus occurred;
• performing a first authentication of the consumable unit by executing computer readable instructions stored in the image forming apparatus by a main controller mounted on the image forming apparatus, when the event occurs;
• and
• performing a second authentication of the consumable unit separately from the main controller by an authentication controller comprising at least one ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

A method for authenticating a consumable unit of an image forming apparatus, the method comprising:

• determining whether or not an event requiring an authentication of a consumable unit mounted on the image forming apparatus occurred;
• performing a first authentication of the consumable unit by executing computer readable instructions stored in the image forming apparatus by a main controller mounted on the image forming apparatus, when the event occurs;
• and
• performing a second authentication of the consumable unit separately from the main controller by using an authentication controller, which is a processing element separate from the main controller.