JP2003333261A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To generate none of problems such as inferior usability due to different versions of equipment such as copying machines connected to a network by efficiently and securely revising softwares of the equipment. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming device which obtains a function restricting means of restricting its own function via a communication medium or storage medium and updates an old function by the means has a means of deciding whether current functions of other devices should be updated by the obtained function restricting means when another image forming apparatus having its functions restricted by the same function restricting means is connected via a communication network whose range is prescribed, a means of commanding functions of the other apparatuses to be updated in response to a decision on updating, and a means of commanding the update of the function and transmitting the function restricting means to the other apparatus. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that functions as a network printer and can simplify software update management and man-hours.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, for devices such as copiers and printers that have become widely used as network printers, a management service company uses the Internet or an intranet (LAN) to manage user devices and In some cases, the software is updated when various functions are provided by preparing the program data in the management center server and downloading the program data by accessing the device. That is, for a user whose LAN is connected to the Internet, each device accesses the center server on the management service company side through an external line, and for a user whose LAN is closed, the service person is connected to the network device management server of the LAN. The program data is installed, and each device is accessed to update it.

Because of such a form, it is necessary to download software updates from the management server as needed. Even so, if each device is used independently, there is no particular inconvenience, but in an environment where there are multiple devices connected to a network such as a LAN, it is best to update all of the individual devices one by one. It is sometimes troublesome, and the version may vary depending on the device and the function may be different.

In many cases, devices of the same series (manufacturer, specifications, etc.) are connected on the premise of a cooperative operation such as network tandem operation. In this case, a similar program is used, so that a plurality of devices individually download. To do is inefficient.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and efficiently and reliably updates software in a plurality of copying machines connected to a network. The purpose is to prevent problems such as inconvenience due to inconsistent versions of devices.

[0006]

The above objects of the present invention are as follows: 1) An image in which a function regulating means for regulating its own function is obtained through a communication medium or a storage medium and the old function can be updated by the means. When the image forming apparatus is connected to another image forming apparatus, the function of which is restricted by the function restricting means of the same type as the function restricting means, is connected via the communication network, the current function of the other apparatus is displayed. The obtained function control means determines whether the function should be updated, a means for issuing a function update command to the other device when it is determined that the function should be updated, and a function control means acquired together with the function update command. Image forming apparatus having a means for transmitting to another apparatus, 2) all the other image forming apparatuses connected via the network are further updated than the function by the function regulating means obtained by themselves. It has a means for judging whether or not it has a function, and if there is another device having a further updated function, it has a means for updating its own function by means of a function restriction means held by the other device 1).
3) The image forming apparatus of 1) or 2), which has a means for re-obtaining the function regulating means when the function update fails. 4) The same functional regulation that the network is connected to. The image forming apparatus of 1) to 3), which is configured so that, among a plurality of image forming apparatuses whose functions are regulated by the means, one designated apparatus acquires a new function regulating means at a designated timing. ) The network is configured so that the function is updated only by a designated apparatus among a plurality of image forming apparatuses whose functions are regulated by the same function regulation means connected thereto 1) to 4). Image forming apparatus of 6) The network has means for visualizing and displaying network members, and selects a network member to be processed on the display screen of the display means and gives an instruction for processing. The image forming apparatus 1) to 5) configured as described above, 7) the image forming apparatus of 6) in which the instructed process is the acquisition of the function restricting means and the update of the function, 8) the connection via the network. This is achieved by the image forming apparatuses 1) to 7) in which the image forming apparatuses whose functions are regulated by the same function regulating unit can perform cooperative operation.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a network device according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention. A plurality of personal computers (PC) 101, 102, ... Through a predetermined communication medium (LAN) 100. Under the control of the network operation system, it is communicably connected including other peripheral devices. Each of these PCs creates a data file and a LAN for the created data file.
Send to 100, receive file from LAN 100,
It is a general PC that can display and process those files. Here, the server 103 functions as a management server of the LAN 100. And it is possible to operate in cooperation with each other (for example, the operation of transmitting the image data read in one side to the other side and outputting the image in both sides to shorten the output time of a plurality of copies, which is also called a tandem operation), and with the same software. Digital copiers 104, 1 whose functions are restricted
05 and 106 are connected to the LAN 100 and function as printers and scanners of the entire network. Normal LA
In N, network software such as Novell and UNIX (R) is used in order to efficiently perform communication between these network members. Reference numeral 107 is a scanner.

In FIG. 1, the LAN 100 is a server 1.
It is possible to update the software by connecting to the Internet ITN via 03 and accessing the center server 200 on the management service company side through an individual device through an external line.

According to the present invention, for example, when the copying machine 104 accesses the center server 200 and downloads a new program, the version of the program that regulates the functions of the copying machines 105 and 106 is polled, and those versions are polled. When it is determined that the program is older than the program obtained by itself, the program is transmitted to the copying machines 105 and 106 together with an instruction to update the function with the obtained program.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the operation of the copying machine 104 in this case. The copying machine 104, which has downloaded the program (step S1), polls the copying machines 105 and 106 for the program version that regulates the existing function via the LAN 100 (step S2),
It is judged whether or not the program obtained by itself is the latest (step S3).

If the acquired program is the latest (YES), a program update instruction is issued to the copying machines 105 and 106, and the acquired program is transmitted via the LAN 100 (step S4). When a reply of update completion is received from the copying machines 105 and 106 (YES in step S5).
S) Then, the fact that the program update of all the copying machines on the LAN 100 is completed is transmitted to the center server 200 via the Internet (step S6), and the process is completed. Incidentally, in the case where the program is updated by the service person installed in the server 103, it is possible to display the completion of the program update on the operation display unit of the copying machine.

As a result of polling, the copying machine 105 or 1
If the 06 program is the latest version (NO in step S3), the copying machine 104 receives the latest program, rewrites its own program to the latest version (step S7), and ends the process.

FIG. 3 shows an operation flow of the copying machine 105 (106) which has received a program update instruction from the copying machine 104.

Upon receiving the update instruction from the copy machine 104, the copy machine 105 first checks the history of the update according to the instruction from the copy machine 104. After writing the contents of the instructing device (specifically, the IP address or the like), the contents of the update instruction, the program version, and the like to the nonvolatile memory such as NVRAM in which the programs and the like are written (step S10), from the copying machine 104 It rewrites its own program with the transferred program data and restarts (step S11). At the time of restart, the contents of the update instruction are read from the non-volatile memory and it is confirmed whether the update has been performed normally (step S12), the update completion is transmitted to the copying machine 104, and the updated program version is re-executed by the copying machine 104. After confirmation (step S13), the program version stored in the non-volatile memory is updated to the existing program version (step S14), and the process ends.

In order to make the function of the image forming apparatus updatable, a control program (also referred to as software here or a built-in program) is a rewritable medium such as a hard disk (HDD) or a flash memory. It is stored in. Then, in order to manage the version of the program, the version number, which is usually an identification mark as attached data of the program data, is used. , Creation date,
Since the code name is added, the latest version can be specified by referring to it.

The above is the case where the copying machine 104 downloads the program.
If the latest version is detected by polling the other copiers 105 and 106 on 00 for the program version, the latest version is received from the other copiers without accessing the center server 200. The program may be updated.

Further, while updating the program, a failure such as a power failure may occur for some reason. To ensure that, the program itself
It is preferable that the program for controlling the functions of the image forming apparatus and the update program have independent data structures so that the same program as itself can be obtained again. In the update program, 1) the function restricting program is stored in the HDD of the image forming apparatus before rewriting, and 2) the function restricting program is rewritable storage area and non-rewritable storage area. Is stored in both
In the normal operation, it is updated using the former area, but if it is damaged, it is read from the latter area and used.
It is preferable to incorporate a backup function such as.

Further, for example, a copying machine 104 on the LAN 100
Is configured to control the download date and time of the program, and the center server 200 is automatically accessed at regular or specified timing at the time of the previous download to perform a series of program update operations. May be performed. Further, the user may be allowed to input the update schedule from the operation display unit of the copying machine.

As a means for authenticating whether the management service company is an image forming apparatus to be managed, execution provided by an authentication medium such as a user name and password or an IC card loaded in the image forming apparatus by the management service company. A permit or the like is transmitted when accessing the center server 200, and it is possible to download only the designated image forming apparatus.

If it is not always necessary to rewrite all the built-in programs on the LAN, the configuration may be such that the update is selectively executed. Specifically, each network member exchanges data such as the functions held by each other and the status of data exchange, and holds the configuration of the devices of the entire network as information. After that, the device map is visualized to configure the device map, and the device map is configured to be operable on the screen, and the device is selected and the process is designated.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, copying machines 104, 105 and 106 are provided on a display 101a of a PC 101.
And a window 101b for displaying processing contents are displayed, and the pointer 10 is displayed by using the mouse.
By dragging the process selected by 1c to the icon of a specific copying machine, it is possible to specify the copying machine whose program is to be updated.

Further, this display screen is printed out by the copying machine 104, and the marking on the display screen is read by the scanner 107, the scanner 107 analyzes the image, and the server 103 or the designated copying machine via the LAN 100. Alternatively, the processing execution command may be transmitted to the.

The server 103 generally manages the operating status of the network members and the programs held therein. For example, when the copying machine 104 downloads the programs and completes a series of operations, the server 103 manages the status of the network members ( If the user information) is provided to the copying machine 104 with a data structure as shown in FIG. 5, for example, the work efficiency can be improved.

[0025]

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the software of the plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to the network is updated by the program downloaded by the image forming apparatus itself, so that the image forming is efficient and reliable. It is possible to solve problems such as poor usability of the network due to inconsistent device versions.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a network device according to an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image forming apparatus that has downloaded a new program.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the image forming apparatus that has received a program update instruction.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which a network member and a process are visualized and displayed on a screen.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of user information provided by a server.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 LAN 101, 102 PC 103 server 104, 105, 106 Digital copier 107 Scanner 200 center server

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus capable of obtaining a function regulating means for regulating its own function via a communication medium or a storage medium, and updating the old function by the means, the function being provided via a communication network. When another image forming apparatus whose function is restricted by the function restricting means of the same type as the restricting means is connected, it is judged whether the current function held by the other apparatus is updated by the acquired function restricting means. Means, means for issuing an instruction to update the function to the other device when it is determined to be updated, and means for transmitting the function restriction means obtained together with the instruction to update the function to the other device Image forming apparatus. 2. A means for judging whether or not all of the other image forming apparatuses connected through the network have a function which is further updated than the function by the function restricting means obtained by itself. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for updating its own function by means of a function restricting means possessed by the other device when there is another device possessing the updated function. . 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for re-obtaining the function regulating means when the function update fails. 4. The network obtains a new function regulating means at a designated timing of a designated one of a plurality of image forming apparatuses whose functions are regulated by the same function regulating means connected to the network. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to: 5. The network is configured such that the function is updated only by a designated apparatus among a plurality of image forming apparatuses whose functions are regulated by the same function regulating unit connected thereto. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: 6. The network has means for visualizing and displaying network members, and is configured to be able to select a network member to be processed and to give an instruction for processing on a display screen of the display means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the instructed processing is acquisition of a function regulating unit and updating of the function. 8. The image forming apparatus, the function of which is restricted by the same function restriction unit connected via the network, can perform a cooperative operation. The image forming apparatus according to item 1.