IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND ENCRYPTION PROCESS CONTROL METHOD
First Claim
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a first encryption processor mounted as hardware to perform a data encrypting process;
a second encryption processor mounted as software to perform a data encrypting process;
a process controller determining which of the first encryption processor and the second encryption processor should be used to perform an encryption process on the basis of information on an operation status of the image forming apparatus; and
a power supply restrictor stopping a supply of power to the first encryption processor when the process controller determines that the second encryption processor is used to perform the encryption process.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An encryption process control technique is provided which can reduce the power consumption in an image forming apparatus including an exclusive circuit for an encryption process. The image forming apparatus includes: a first encryption processor mounted as hardware to perform a data encrypting process; a second encryption processor mounted as software to perform a data encrypting process; a process controller determining which of the first encryption processor and the second encryption processor should be used to perform a data encryption process; and a power supply restrictor stopping or decreasing a supply of power to the first encryption processor when the process controller determines that the second encryption processor is used to perform the encryption process.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
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a first encryption processor mounted as hardware to perform a data encrypting process; a second encryption processor mounted as software to perform a data encrypting process; a process controller determining which of the first encryption processor and the second encryption processor should be used to perform an encryption process on the basis of information on an operation status of the image forming apparatus; and a power supply restrictor stopping a supply of power to the first encryption processor when the process controller determines that the second encryption processor is used to perform the encryption process. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An encryption process control method comprising:
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determining which of an encryption process based on a first encryption function of an image forming apparatus mounted as hardware on the image forming apparatus and an encryption process based on a second encryption function of the image forming apparatus mounted as software on the image forming apparatus should be used to encrypt data on the basis of information on an operation status of the image forming apparatus performing an encryption process; and stopping a supply of power to the hardware corresponding to the first encryption function when it is determined that the encryption process based on the second encryption function is used to encrypt data. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An image forming apparatus comprising:
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a first encryption processor mounted as hardware to perform a data encrypting process; a second encryption processor mounted as software to perform a data encrypting process; a process controller determining which of the first encryption processor and the second encryption processor should be used to perform a data encryption process on the basis of information on an operation status of the image forming apparatus; and a power supply restrictor decreasing a supply of power to the first encryption processor when the process controller determines that the second encryption processor is used to perform the encryption process. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification