Controlling image forming apparatus equipped with non-genuine toner cartridge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11543760-B2
Application number	US-202017413211-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 2, 2020
Priority date	Sep 20, 2019
Publication date	Jan 3, 2023
Grant date	Jan 3, 2023

Abstract

An example image forming apparatus may include a memory storing computer executable instructions and a processor. The processor may, by executing the computer executable instructions stored in the memory, determine whether a toner cartridge mounted in the image forming apparatus is genuine, and when it is determined that the toner cartridge is non-genuine, deactivate a user-defined application installed in the image forming apparatus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a memory storing computer executable instructions; and
a processor, by executing the computer executable instructions, to:
determine that a toner cartridge mounted in the image forming apparatus is non-genuine based on the image forming apparatus not being connected to an application management server for a predetermined period of time, and
based on determining that the toner cartridge is non-genuine, deactivate an application installed in the image forming apparatus.

2. The image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the application installed in the image forming apparatus comprises a user-defined application.

3. The image forming apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the user-defined application is received from the application management server.

4. The image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor, by further executing the computer executable instructions, is to, based on determining that the toner cartridge is non-genuine, deactivate license information of the application.

5. The image forming apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the processor, by further executing the computer executable instructions, is to deactivate an execution button of the application having the deactivated license information.

6. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a memory storing computer executable instructions;
a communication interface device; and
a processor, by executing the computer executable instructions, to:
determine whether a toner cartridge mounted in the image forming apparatus is genuine based on information of the toner cartridge mounted in the image forming apparatus,
based on determining that the toner cartridge is non-genuine, deactivate an application installed in the image forming apparatus, and
based on determining that the toner cartridge is non-genuine, receive deactivated license information of the application from an application management server through the communication interface device in response to transmission of information indicating that the toner cartridge is non-genuine to the application management server.

7. The image forming apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the processor, by further executing the computer executable instructions, is to:
based on determining that the toner cartridge is non-genuine, deactivate license information of the application.

8. The image forming apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the processor, by further executing the computer executable instructions, is to:
deactivate an execution button of the application having the deactivated license information.

9. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a communication interface device;
a memory storing computer executable instructions; and
a processor, by executing the computer executable instructions, to:
determine whether a toner cartridge mounted in the image forming apparatus is genuine,
when it is determined that the toner cartridge is non-genuine, transmit information indicating that the toner cartridge is non-genuine to an application management server through the communication interface device,
in response to the transmission, receive information comprising restrictions on an application installed in the image forming apparatus,
change configuration information stored in the image forming apparatus based on the received information comprising the restrictions,
restrict functions of the application according to the changed configuration information, and
execute the application.

10. The image forming apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the processor, by further executing the computer executable instructions, is to receive, through the communication interface device, in response to the transmission, license information comprising the restrictions or the configuration information comprising the restrictions on the application installed in the image forming apparatus.

11. An application management server comprising:
a communication interface device;
a memory storing computer executable instructions; and
a processor, by executing the computer executable instructions, to:
through the communication interface device, receive information indicating that a toner cartridge mounted in an image forming apparatus is non-genuine, and
with respect to the image forming apparatus in which the non-genuine toner cartridge is mounted, limit predetermined functions provided by the application management server.

12. The application management server of claim 11 , wherein the processor, by further executing the computer executable instructions, is to, based on history information of the image forming apparatus in which the non-genuine toner cartridge is mounted, limit the predetermined functions provided by the application management server.

13. An application management server comprising:
a communication interface device;
a memory storing computer executable instructions; and
a processor, by executing the computer executable instructions, to:
through the communication interface device, receive information indicating that a toner cartridge mounted in an image forming apparatus is non-genuine, and
disconnect the image forming apparatus in which the non-genuine toner cartridge is mounted from the application management server.

14. The application management server of claim 13 , wherein the processor, by further executing the computer executable instructions, is to, based on history information of the image forming apparatus in which the non-genuine toner cartridge is mounted, disconnect the image forming apparatus in which the non-genuine toner cartridge is mounted from the application management server.

15. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a communication interface device;
a user interface device;
a memory storing computer executable instructions; and
a processor, by executing the computer executable instructions, to:
determine whether a toner cartridge mounted in the image forming apparatus is genuine,
when it is determined that the toner cartridge is non-genuine, transmit information indicating that the toner cartridge is non-genuine to an application management server, through the communication interface device,
transmit information about the image forming apparatus in which the non-genuine toner cartridge is mounted to the application management server,
in response to the transmission of the information about the image forming apparatus, receive license information comprising restrictions on an application installed in the image forming apparatus from the application management server, and
when executing the application installed in the image forming apparatus, based on the received license information comprising the restrictions, provide a pop-up window prompting use of a genuine toner cartridge through the user interface device.

16. The image forming apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the pop-up window prompting the use of the genuine toner cartridge displays a web page for purchasing the genuine toner cartridge or an advertisement for the genuine toner cartridge.

17. The image forming apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the application installed in the image forming apparatus comprises a user-defined application.

18. The image forming apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the processor, by further executing the computer executable instructions, is to receive the user-defined application from the application management server.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co

Inventors

• Kim Junghun
• Kim Sangmi
• Son Minyoung
• Kook Jinkyu
• Kim Sejong
• Namgoong Min
• Lee Hyein
• Yoo Hyunwoo
• Hwang Byeongju

Classifications

• G03G15/0863 Primary

  provided with identifying means or means for storing process- or use parameters, e.g. an electronic memory · CPC title

• H04N1/00838 Primary

  Preventing unauthorised reproduction · CPC title

• H04N1/00915

  Assigning priority to, or interrupting, a particular operation · CPC title

• H04N1/2376

  Inhibiting or interrupting a particular operation or device (preventing unauthorised reproduction H04N1/00838) · CPC title

• H04N1/00938

  Software related arrangements, e.g. loading applications (program loading in general G06F9/445) · CPC title