Patent ID: 8794855

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a sheet feeder attaching unit; a communication unit; a storage unit that stores information relating to sheet feeders configured to be attached to the sheet feeder attaching unit; and a processor configured to implement: a connection determining unit, wherein when the image forming apparatus is powered on, the connection determining unit causes the communication unit to make a connection confirmation request through the sheet feeder attaching unit, the connection determining unit determines a connection state between a processor of a sheet feeder and the processor of the image forming apparatus, based on whether a response signal to the connection confirmation request is received from the processor of the sheet feeder, and when receiving no response signal, the connection determining unit determines that connection is not established between the sheet feeder and the sheet feeder attaching unit, when receiving the response signal, the connection determining unit determines that connection is established between the sheet feeder and the sheet feeder attaching unit, and the connection determining unit stores a result of the determination in the storage unit; a compatibility determining unit, wherein when the connection determining unit determines that the connection is established, the compatibility determining unit determines whether the connected sheet feeder is compatible with the image forming apparatus based on program version information of the sheet feeder, and when determining that the connected sheet feeder connected to the sheet feeder attaching unit is not compatible with the image forming apparatus, the compatibility determining unit stores information indicating incompatibility in the storage unit; and a connection controller, wherein when the storage unit stores the information indicating incompatibility between the connected sheet feeder and the image forming apparatus, the connection controller forcibly controls the connection state between the connected sheet feeder and the image forming apparatus to be disconnected.