JP2006127393A - Digital composite machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To safely and automatically upgrade the program of a digital composite machine without depending on the knowledge or know-how of a user or a service personnel. <P>SOLUTION: A file including the latest firmware version information is acquired for a server (1-1) existing on the Internet by an FTP by a digital composite machine (1-3), and version information for securing an operation by the firmware version information is acquired by the FTP, and the firmware data of the version are acquired by the FTP, and the firmware of the version is automatically updated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital multi-function peripheral that presupposes that a plurality of controllers exist within one digital multi-function peripheral, and that a plurality of programs exist within one controller device, and that the programs operate in cooperation.

  In a conventional digital multifunction peripheral that can be connected to a network, the firmware is upgraded by replacing the ROM and the HDD.

Alternatively, firmware has been upgraded by an artificial action via an external I / F (Centronics, serial, USB, network) (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 06-214910

  However, in such a conventional technique, it is necessary for the user himself / herself or a service person to intervene artificially that it is necessary to intentionally perform an act of upgrading the version.

  In addition, it is necessary for users or service personnel to be familiar with the consistency information that occurs between versions of system programs in which multiple programs in the system operate in cooperation with each other. When upgrading to a program, there was a problem that it might not work.

  There has been a problem that users and service personnel need to have necessary knowledge such as know-how regarding operations related to program version upgrades.

  In addition, there is a trouble that the service person has to go to the user for firmware version upgrade work.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above points, and is a digital multi-function peripheral that can automatically and safely upgrade a system program without depending on the knowledge and know-how of users and service personnel. The purpose is to provide.

  As a means for solving the problem, it is assumed that a digital multi-function peripheral is connected to a network that can be connected to the Internet.

  Means for obtaining an information file indicating a consistency relationship between firmware and versions using FTP with respect to a firmware server existing on the Internet registered in advance via a network; The problem is solved by having means for determining whether to upgrade the firmware program from the information.

  In more detail, the present invention can solve the above problems by the following configuration.

  (1) When starting a system, a system that is started by operating a plurality of programs has a Read Only Memory (hereinafter referred to as ROM) that stores a program for executing an initial operation after power-on. In a system having a volatile main memory (hereinafter referred to as memory) for operation, an external storage device such as a hard disk (hereinafter referred to as HDD) for storing a program that operates after system startup, and a network interface for network connection, Means for acquiring the ROM stored program version, means for acquiring the HDD stored program version, means for rewriting the program to the ROM, means for executing the FTP client, and a server on the Internet By acquiring the file by FTP, the means for acquiring the latest firmware version information, the means for acquiring the version information for guaranteeing the operation from the firmware version information by FTP, and the firmware data of the version A digital multi-function machine characterized by automatically acquiring the version of firmware and updating the version of the firmware.

  According to the present invention, when the firmware is updated, if the data of the FTP server is updated, the digital multifunction peripheral at the user's site performs the automatic version upgrade operation and guarantees the operation between the firmware. You can prevent problems caused by upgrading to a new version.

  Also, it is possible to save the trouble of having a service person go to the user as an upgrade work.

  Furthermore, it is possible to upgrade the version at a lower cost than when a service person goes to the user's site, and there is a merit for the user.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic system configuration according to the present invention.

  Reference numeral 1-1 denotes an FTP server having a firmware program operating on the digital multifunction peripheral managed by a digital multifunction peripheral vendor existing on the Internet and a version information file indicating an operation guarantee between the firmware. 1-2 is a firewall that connects the office where the digital multi-function peripheral is installed to the Internet. Reference numeral 1-3 denotes a digital multi-function peripheral that operates with a plurality of firmware configurations. 1-4 indicates a local area network (hereinafter referred to as a LAN) to which the devices 1-2 and 1-3 are connected.

  FIG. 2 is a system block diagram showing a basic configuration in the present system. Reference numeral 2-1 denotes a CPU, that is, a central processing unit, which controls the entire apparatus and performs arithmetic processing.

  Reference numeral 2-2 denotes a ROM, that is, a read-only memory, which is a storage area for a system startup program, a program for controlling the printer engine, character data, character code information, and the like. However, in order to realize the present embodiment, it is necessary to be a flash ROM that normally operates as a ROM but can be erased and written by a program.

  Reference numeral 2-3 denotes a RAM, that is, a random access memory, which is a data storage area with no usage restrictions, in which font data additionally registered by downloading is stored, and programs and data are loaded and executed for various processes.

  Reference numeral 2-4 denotes an external storage device such as a hard disk, which spools a print job received from the printing device, stores programs, print data, and the like, and is used as a work area.

  Reference numeral 2-5 denotes a display unit such as a liquid crystal, which is used to display the setting state of the printing apparatus, the current processing inside the printing apparatus, and the error state.

  An operation unit 2-6 is used for changing or resetting the setting of the printing apparatus.

  Reference numeral 2-7 denotes an engine interface, which is a port for exchanging commands for actually controlling the engine. The engine here refers to a scanner and a printer.

  Reference numeral 2-8 denotes a network interface, through which the device is connected to the network.

  Reference numeral 2-9 denotes an external interface, which is connected to a host computer via a parallel (or serial) interface.

  Reference numeral 2-10 denotes a system bus, which should serve as a data path between the above-described components. For example, a copy operation for reading image data from a scanner and outputting it from a printer is as follows.

  The program stored in the RAM 2-3 starts operating in response to an input from the operation unit 2-6. First, the scanner 2-11 is activated via the engine I / F 2-7, and the reading of the document starts. The read image data is temporarily stored in the RAM 2-3.

  Next, the printer is activated via the engine I / F 2-8, and the image data stored in the RAM 2-3 is output in synchronization with the printer. Although the case where the image is once stored in the RAM 2-3 and then output to the printer has been described here, the image is read into the RAM 2-3 and the printer 2-12 in synchronization with the image reading of the scanner 2-11. It is also conceivable to perform the output simultaneously.

  Further, during the operation, the display unit 2-5 displays information notifying the operator that processing is in progress and notifying the number of read originals. Furthermore, the stored image data can be transferred to another printer or copier via the network I / F, or the print data can be stored in the external storage device 2-4 as nonvolatile data.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the firmware download sequence performed at the time of initial assembly of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment.

  It is a flowchart explaining the mechanism which exchanges the version information etc. between the firmware which each has, and updates the version information between the firmware which each has.

  In the digital copying machine, there are roughly three controllers, a printer controller that controls the printer engine (2-12), a scanner controller that controls the scanner engine (2-11), and a main controller that controls the two controllers. Exists.

  Each controller typically has one or more firmware. For example, a main controller that performs high-functional processing includes two firmwares: firmware that stores a boot program necessary for loading a main program from an HDD or the like (hereinafter referred to as boot ROM) and the main program. There are printer controller firmware (hereinafter referred to as printer firmware) and scanner controller firmware (hereinafter referred to as scanner firmware).

  At the time of initial assembly of the digital copying machine, it is necessary to install a boot ROM that performs the initial operation of the main controller (S301). Only the first process cannot be downloaded. After the boot ROM is installed in S301, the power is turned on, and the boot ROM firmware program can access the HDD (2-4) and Lan I / F (2-8), and the network or external I Download the firmware of the main controller via / F (2-9). (S303). Thereafter, the firmware of the main controller is saved in the HDD (S304).

  Similarly, the printer firmware is downloaded via the Lan I / F (2-8) or the external I / F (2-9) (S305) and saved in the HDD (2-4) on the main controller (S306). ). Thereafter, the printer firmware is updated via the engine I / F (2-7) (S307).

  Similarly, the scanner firmware is downloaded via the Lan I / F (2-8) or the external I / F (2-9) (S308) and saved in the HDD (2-4) on the main controller (S309). ). Thereafter, the scanner firmware is updated via the engine I / F (2-7) (S310).

  When all the firmware has been updated, the information on the combination of the name and version of each firmware stored in the HDD (2-4) is saved as a file in the HDD (2-4) (S312).

  The version combination information includes version information for each firmware as shown in FIG. 4 and information describing version-dependent information between firmwares as shown in FIG.

  Details of the contents shown in FIG. 5 will be described here.

For example, for Bootrom,
Bootrom = {
“MainFirm”, 0x0010, 0x0115,
“PrinterFirm”, 0x0000, 0xffff,
“ScannerFirm”, 0x0001, 0x0150,
}
However, the currently active Boottro guarantees the operation between MainFirm versions 0x0010 to 0x115. Regarding PrinterFirm, operation between 0x0000 and 0xffff is guaranteed. In other words, it means that there is no version dependency between Bootrom and PrinterFirm. As for the version of ScannerFirm, this means that the operation between 0x0001 and 0x0150 is guaranteed.

  With this information, it is possible to obtain version information for operation guarantee between the operating Boottro and other firmware.

  This version information is stored as data in each firmware, and information is extracted from the data of each firmware in step S311 to create an information file.

  FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart for exchanging firmware version information between the digital multi-function peripheral 1-3 and the firmware FTP server 1-1.

  The IP address of the firmware FTP server is registered in advance in the digital multi-function peripheral 1-3, and a file can be acquired from the firmware FTP server by FTP with respect to the registered IP address.

  The digital multi-function peripheral 1-3 accesses the FTP server using an ID equal to the license number of the self-machine and a password (S601). The FTP server manages the registration ID and password so that only registered users can access. On the FTP server, there is a file storing the latest firmware version information, and the information is acquired by FTP (S602).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for comparing the latest firmware version information acquired in the flowchart of FIG. 6 with the firmware information of the own device 1-3 and acquiring necessary firmware data.

  The latest firmware version acquired in S602 is compared with the own device 1-3 firmware version information (S701). The comparison logic is that the firmware version acquired from the FTP server is newer than the firmware version of the own device 1-3. By updating the firmware, it is confirmed that it is within an operation-guaranteed version with other firmware (S702).

  The firmware data determined to be upgraded in the comparison in S701 is acquired from the FTP server 1-1 for the latest firmware data that needs to be upgraded (S703). When the digital multifunction peripheral 1-3 acquires the firmware, the firmware data stored in the internal HDD is updated by operations S302, S304, S306, and S309 (S704).

  Further, the firmware version information File shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is updated (S705). Thereafter, the firmware itself is updated (S706).

  When the firmware update is confirmed by the operation of S706, charging is performed on the FTP server side (S707).

Block diagram showing the configuration of the network system Block diagram showing basic configuration Flowchart 1 in one embodiment The figure which shows each version information of the firmware in the digital MFP The figure which shows the operation guarantee version information between the versions of the firmware in the digital MFP Flowchart 2 in the embodiment Flowchart 3 in the embodiment

Explanation of symbols

1-1 Firmware server (FTP server)
1-2 Firewall 1-3 Digital multi-function machine (own machine)
1-4 LAN (Local Area Network)
2-1 CPU
2-2 ROM
2-3 RAM
2-4 External storage device 2-5 Display unit 2-6 Operation unit 2-7 Engine interface 2-8 Network interface 2-9 External interface 2-10 System bus 2-11 Scanner 2-12 Printer

Claims (3)

  When a system is started, a system that is started by operating a plurality of programs has a Read Only Memory (hereinafter referred to as ROM) that stores a program for executing an initial operation after power-on, and the program is operated In a system having a volatile main memory (hereinafter referred to as a memory), an external storage device such as a hard disk (hereinafter referred to as an HDD) for storing a program that operates after system startup, and a network interface connected to the network. Means for acquiring the ROM stored program version, means for acquiring the HDD stored program version, means for rewriting the program to the ROM, means for executing the FTP client, and a server on the Internet By acquiring the file by FTP, the means for acquiring the latest firmware version information, the means for acquiring the version information for guaranteeing the operation from the firmware version information by FTP, and the firmware data of the version A digital multi-function machine characterized by automatically acquiring the version of firmware and updating the version of the firmware.   2. The digital multifunction peripheral according to claim 1, wherein the number of firmware versions upgraded for each user is counted and charged.   2. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, wherein the ROM is a flash ROM having a function that can be erased and written by a program in a normal operation.

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