Marvell’s PA800 chip utilises anti-counterfeiting technology to “solve the challenges of robust system consumables security”.
The company revealed the new chip at the Mobile World Congress 2013, in Barcelona, Spain, noting that the chip will offer “secure authentication and management tools for mass-market consumables and peripherals”, and will feature Cryptography Research’s Consumable CryptoFirewall technology, which allows “secure authentication” and “secure usage tracking for consumable items”.
Marvell added that many products now “rely on advanced security” but need “system users to [be able to] securely replace components, accessories or consumable items”, and notes that the “low-cost, low-pin count” PA800 offers this “with the assurance of authenticity”. It also stated that the chip utilises a “unique multi-stage provisioning solution”, and that it will be available to OEMs of all kinds “directly and from a secure programming service and distribution channel”.
Whilst offering the chip for many other technologies, Marvell notes that “the PA800 can be installed or manufactured into the ink/toner cartridges”, with a “VCF security core on the printer” securely confirming the cartridge’s “authenticity, manufacturing parameters, fill level and other lifecycle/status data”, and can be “quickly deployed into future or existing systems”. Samples of the chip will be available from July 2013.
Greg Allen, Vice President of the company’s Printer Business Unit, added: “Marvell’s PA800 with CryptoFirewall enables customers to authenticate and track usage for consumable parts or accessories with ease and confidence. Now manufacturers building systems have a cost-effective and secure method to protect the integrity of their systems.”