Patent ID: 7901027

Claim:
A decision method performed by a processor to check if a component mounted in an image forming apparatus can be used in the image forming apparatus, the method comprising the steps of: recognizing first and second information provided to the component, the first information being identification information of the component, the second information being identification information of at least one image forming apparatus that can use the component and being provided to the component before the component is mounted on the image forming apparatus; comparing the first and second information with third and fourth information stored in the image forming apparatus, the third information being identification information of the image forming apparatus, the fourth information being identification information of at least one component that can be used in the image forming apparatus; deciding that, when the fourth information includes the first information or when the second information includes the third information, the component mounted on the image forming apparatus can be used; and deciding that, when the fourth information does not include the first information and the second information does not include the third information, the component mounted on the image forming apparatus cannot be used.