JP2013109571A - Information processor, control method thereof and control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable job processing to be prioritized when software such as firmware is upgraded.SOLUTION: A controller 400 downloads software used in a printer unit 119 from an external device 500 and stores the software in built-in memory. If a job-processing request is received while the software is downloaded from the controller to the printer unit, the controller suspends the download and transmits a job corresponding to the job-processing request to the printer unit. When the printer unit finishes execution of the job, the controller resumes the download of the software.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus having a function of automatically updating software such as firmware recorded in a memory, a control method thereof, and a control program.

  In general, an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral, which is one of information processing apparatuses, has a function of upgrading (updating) software such as firmware recorded in a memory.

  In an image forming apparatus, when one software part related to an image processing job is updated, it is determined whether or not a software part to be updated is included in an image processing job waiting to be executed ( Patent Document 1).

  Here, if the software part to be updated is not included, the version is upgraded. On the other hand, even if the software part to be updated is included, if it can be replaced with a software part provided in another image forming apparatus on the network, the software part for executing the image processing job is rebuilt and upgraded. . If there is no alternative image processing apparatus, version upgrade is temporarily suspended.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus, when downloading new firmware from an external host device, the firmware is temporarily stored in a RAM area, and then the firmware is written in the PROM area (see Patent Document 1).

  Here, the firmware is stored in the RAM area and then reset, and then the firmware stored in the RAM area is written into the PROM area to start the operation of the firmware. Further, in Patent Document 2, a job being executed and waiting for execution is detected, and if there is a job being executed or waiting for execution, firmware upgrade is suspended.

JP 2007-108957 A JP 2001-273143 A

  By the way, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, there is a job waiting to be executed, and if the software part cannot be replaced by a software part provided in another image forming apparatus, version upgrade is suspended. Further, in Patent Document 2, if there is a job being executed or waiting to be executed, version upgrade is suspended. However, in both Patent Documents 1 and 2, if a new job is input to the image forming apparatus during software upgrade, the job will be awaited until the upgrade is completed even if there is no job waiting to be executed. .

  That is, even if there is no job waiting for execution, the user waits for job execution if the version is being upgraded. If the version is being upgraded, job processing will be waited until the upgrade is completed.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus, a control method thereof, and a control program capable of giving priority to job processing when software upgrade is performed.

  In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of processing units and main control means for controlling the plurality of processing units, and the plurality of processing units are arranged in response to a job processing request. An information processing apparatus that selectively uses and executes a job, wherein the main control unit downloads software used in any of the plurality of processing units from an external device and records the software in a first memory Means, an internal download means for downloading the software recorded in the first memory to a specific processing unit in which the software is used, and a job processing request to the specific processing unit during execution of the download by the internal downloading means. If there is, the download by the internal download means is interrupted, and the job related to the job processing request is And job transmission means for sending to a particular processor, the execution of the job by the particular processing unit is completed, and having a download resuming means for resuming the download by the internal download unit.

  The control method according to the present invention includes a plurality of processing units and main control means for controlling the plurality of processing units, and executes a job by selectively using the plurality of processing units in response to a job processing request. An information processing apparatus control method, wherein the main control unit downloads software used in any of the plurality of processing units from an external apparatus and records the software in a first memory; and An internal download step of downloading the software recorded in the memory to a specific processing unit in which the software is used, and the internal download step when there is a job processing request to the specific processing unit during the download execution by the internal download step The download according to the job processing is interrupted, and the job related to the job processing request is A job transmission step of sending to the processing unit of, when execution of the job by the particular processing unit is completed, characterized by performing the download resumption step resuming the download by the inner downloads step.

  A control program according to the present invention is a control program used in an information processing apparatus that has a plurality of processing units and executes jobs by selectively using the plurality of processing units in response to a job processing request. An external download step of downloading software used in any of the plurality of processing units from an external device and recording it in a first memory to a computer provided in the processing device, and the software recorded in the first memory An internal download step for downloading to a specific processing unit in which software is used, and if there is a job processing request for the specific processing unit during download execution by the internal download step, the download by the internal download step is interrupted, and the job The job related to the processing request is A job transmission step of sending the management unit, when the execution of the job by the particular processing unit is completed, characterized in that to execute a download resumption step resuming the download by the inner downloads step.

  According to the present invention, since the download operation is interrupted when a job requiring processing by the software is requested when the software is upgraded, the job processing is performed. There is no waiting.

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an example of an image forming apparatus which is one of information processing apparatuses according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a control unit provided in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram for explaining internal download to a printer unit 119 by the controller shown in FIG. 2. It is a flowchart for demonstrating in detail the internal download shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the memory map in the non-volatile memory shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, an example of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, an image forming apparatus that is one of information processing apparatuses will be described as an example.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an example of an image forming apparatus which is one of information processing apparatuses according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 300 includes a document feeder 117, an image reader 118, and a printer unit 119. The image reader 118 and the printer unit 119 are at least one of processing units that perform job processing.

  A document or a bundle of documents is set on the document feeding device 117, and the document feeding device 117 sequentially places the set documents one by one from the first page through a curved path (not shown). Send to Then, the document is conveyed on the platen glass from the left to the right in the figure, and is discharged to the discharge tray 117a.

  The image reader 118 has a reader scanner unit (not shown). The reader scanner unit is located at a predetermined position (reading position) under the platen glass, and the document is read when the document passes over the reader scanner unit from left to right in the drawing.

  When the original passes, the reader scanner unit irradiates the original with light from the lamp, and the reflected light from the original is guided to an image sensor (not shown) via a mirror (not shown). The image formed on the image sensor is converted into an electrical signal (analog signal).

  Note that after the original is conveyed onto the platen glass by the original feeding device 117, the original is stopped on the platen glass, and the reader scanner unit is moved from the left to the right in the drawing to read the original. .

  The output from the image sensor is converted into a digital signal (image data) by an A / D converter (not shown), and then subjected to predetermined image processing by a control unit (not shown in FIG. 1).

  The printer unit 119 includes image forming units 119Y, 119M, 119C, and 119K for each color (yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K)). The image forming units 119Y, 119M, 119C, and 119K include photosensitive drums 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K, exposure control units 103Y, 103M, 103C, and 103K, and developing units 102Y, 102M, 102C, and 102K, respectively. Is provided. Toners are supplied from the toner tanks 101Y, 101M, 101C, and 101K to the developing units 102Y, 102M, 102C, and 102K, respectively.

  Since the image forming processes in the image forming units 119Y, 119M, 119C, and 119K are the same, the image forming unit 119Y will be described here. Image data (Y image data in this case) after being subjected to predetermined image processing is given to the exposure control unit 103Y.

  The surface of the photosensitive drum 10Y is uniformly charged by a charger, and the exposure control unit 10Y scans the photosensitive drum 10Y with a laser beam modulated by image data. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the photosensitive drum 10Y. The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 10Y is developed by the developing device 102Y, and a Y toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 10Y.

  Similarly, an M toner image, a C toner image, and a K toner image are formed on the photosensitive drums 10M, 10C, and 10K, respectively.

  Below the image forming units 119Y to 119K, an intermediate transfer belt 104, which is an intermediate transfer member, is arranged, and this intermediate transfer belt 104 is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by the solid line arrow in the figure. Primary transfer rollers 105Y, 105M, 105C, and 105K are arranged to face the photosensitive drums 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K, respectively, with the intermediate transfer belt 104 interposed therebetween. The Y toner image on the photosensitive drum 10Y is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 104 by the primary transfer roller 105Y. Subsequently, the M toner image, the C toner image, and the K toner image are sequentially transferred from the photosensitive drums 10M, 10C, and 10K to the intermediate transfer belt 104 by the primary transfer rollers 105M, 105C, and 105K. A toner image is formed.

  The printer unit 119 includes paper cassettes 109 and 110, and paper is selectively supplied from these paper cassettes 109 and 110 to 119a. The sheet is fed through the transport path 119a and temporarily stops at the registration roller 112. Then, in synchronization with the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 104, the sheet is sent to the secondary transfer portion by the registration roller 112.

  A secondary transfer roller 106 is provided in the secondary transfer unit, and the color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 104 is transferred onto the sheet by the secondary transfer roller 106. Thereafter, the sheet is sent to the fixing device 107, and the color toner image on the sheet is heat-fixed.

  After the heat fixing process, the paper is once guided to the double-sided conveyance path 122 by the flapper 121. At this time, after the trailing edge of the paper passes through the flapper 121, the paper is switched back and the paper is guided to the discharge roller 123 by the flapper 121. Thus, the sheet is discharged from the image forming apparatus 300 with the surface onto which the toner image is transferred facing down (face down). Note that the illustrated image forming apparatus 300 includes a manual paper feed unit 111, and the user may feed paper from the manual paper feed unit 111.

  When performing duplex printing, the flapper 121 guides the sheet to the duplex conveyance path 122. Thereafter, the paper is sent to the conveyance path 122 a by the flapper 121 a and reaches the registration roller 112. Then, the color toner image is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 104 to the back surface of the sheet, thermally fixed, and then discharged by the discharge roller 123.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a control unit provided in the image forming apparatus 300 illustrated in FIG.

  The control unit of the image forming apparatus 300 includes a controller 400. The controller 400 controls the entire image forming apparatus 300, that is, the controller 400 controls the image reader 118 and the printer unit 119 shown in FIG. An operation unit 206 is connected to the controller 400. The operation unit 206 is used when a user inputs various commands to the controller 400, and the controller 400 displays various information such as the status (status) of the image forming apparatus 300 on a display unit provided in the operation unit 206. To do.

  Although not shown, the controller 400 includes a CPU, a memory, an HDD, a communication unit, and the like. In the controller 400, a program is stored in the HDD and the memory, and the CPU controls the image forming apparatus 300 according to the program.

  The printer unit 119 is controlled by a device controller (DCON) 203 under the control of the controller 400. The DCON 203 includes a CPU 201, and the printer unit 119 is controlled by the CPU 201. A non-volatile memory (Memory) 202 is connected to the CPU 201, and the memory 202 stores a firmware area 202-1 for storing firmware as control software to be executed by the CPU 201, and the CPU 201 controls the printer unit 119. And a work area (work area) 202-2 used when performing the above.

  Further, a latch area 202-3 is defined in the memory 202, and characteristics of the printer unit 119 and various information generated during operation of the printer unit 119 are stored as printer data in the latch area. .

  In response to the operation of the operation unit 206, the controller 400 transmits image data obtained as a result of reading by the image reader 118 to the DCON 203, for example. The CPU 201 executes printing by controlling each element of the printer unit 119 in accordance with the firmware stored in the Firmware 202-1 as described in FIG.

  As described above, the controller 400 has a communication unit, and the controller 400 is connected to the host device 500 by the communication unit. Here, the host device 500 is, for example, a server device on a network. The host device 500 is not limited to a server device, and may be a USB memory brought by a service person, for example.

  The controller 400 downloads firmware for operating the image forming apparatus 300 from the host apparatus 500, and executes internal download for sending the firmware to the corresponding component.

  Here, a case where the controller 400 downloads firmware for controlling the printer unit 119 from the external apparatus 500 and internally downloads the firmware to the printer unit 119 will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram for explaining internal download to the printer unit 119 by the controller 500 shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 3, the controller 400 inquires of the host device 500 whether there is a firmware update (version upgrade) at a predetermined timing (S301). In response to the update inquiry, the host device 500 notifies the controller 400 that there is an update (presence notification) when the firmware is updated (S302).

  Upon receiving the presence notification, the controller 400 requests a firmware corresponding to the presence notification (S303). In response to this request, the host device 500 downloads the corresponding firmware to the controller 400 (external download: S304). Then, the controller 400 stores the firmware in a built-in memory (first memory). In this external download, the controller 400 always accepts a print job and sends the print job (that is, image data) to the printer unit 119 (specific processing unit). As a result, at the time of external download, the printer unit 119 executes printing.

  When the external download is completed, the controller 400 inquires the CPU 201 about the download (S305). When an OK response is returned from the CPU 201 in response to this inquiry (S306), the firmware stored in the built-in memory is downloaded from the controller 400 to the printer unit 119 (internal download: S307).

  When the CPU 201 receives the firmware by the internal download, the CPU 201 stores the firmware in the Firmware area 202-1 as the update firmware.

  Here, the printer unit 119, that is, the CPU 201, cannot perform internal download and print processing in parallel. When a print job is received during internal download (during download execution) (S308), the controller 400 notifies the CPU 201 of a print job reception notification indicating that the print job (also referred to as a print request (job processing request)) has occurred. To do. Then, the controller 400 temporarily stops the internal download. Thereafter, the controller 400 transmits a print job to the CPU 201 (S309).

  Upon receiving a print job reception notification, the CPU 201 displays download progress data (progress status data) including interrupt information indicating that internal download has been interrupted and progress information indicating how far the update firmware has been downloaded in a latch area. Save to 202-3. Thereafter, the CPU 201 executes a print job.

  When the print job ends, the CPU 201 notifies the controller 400 to that effect. As a result, the controller 400 resumes downloading. The CPU 201 refers to the download progress data stored in the latch area 202-3 and stores the updated firmware in the Firmware area 202-1.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the internal download S307 shown in FIG. 3 in detail. The process shown in FIG. 4 is performed by the controller 400.

  As described above, when the external download is completed, the controller 400 inquires the CPU 201 about the download. When an OK response is returned from the CPU 201 in response to this inquiry, the controller 400 starts an internal download (step S1002). Thereafter, the controller 400 monitors whether or not a print job (JOB) has been input during the internal download (step S1003).

  If no print job is input (NO in step S1003), the controller 400 determines whether or not the internal download (DL) is completed (step S1004). If the DL is not completed (NO in step S1004), the controller 400 returns to the process of step S1003.

  On the other hand, if the DL is completed without a print job being input (YES in step S1004), the controller 400 shifts the image forming apparatus to a standby state (step S1005) and ends the internal download process.

  If it is determined that a print job has been input (YES in step S1003), the controller 400 transmits a print job reception notification to the CPU 201 and then interrupts the DL (step S1007). Then, the controller 400 transmits the print job to the CPU 201 and starts the print job (step S1008).

  The controller 400 monitors whether a job end notification has been received from the CPU 201 (step S1009). If the job end notification is not received (NO in step S1009), the controller 400 stands by. On the other hand, when the job end notification is received (YES in step S1009), the controller 400 resumes DL (step S1010) and returns to the process of step S1002.

  As described above, when the host device 500 is a USB memory, for example, when the USB memory is inserted into a USB port provided in the image forming apparatus, the controller 400 performs an external download using the insertion as a trigger. To start.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a memory map in the nonvolatile memory 202 shown in FIG.

  The nonvolatile memory 202 (second memory) includes a vector area 202-4, a boot area, in addition to the above-described firmware area 202-1, work area 202-2, and latch area 202-3. 202-5 and a constant (Const) area 202-6. The firmware area 202-1 is divided into a first firmware area (first storage area) 202-1 (1) and a second firmware area (second storage area) 202-1 (2). .

  In the Vector area 202-4, a destination (address) to which a transition is made by reset or interruption is recorded. The boot area 202-5 stores a boot program, and the firmware is written in the firmware area 202-1 by the operation of the boot program.

  When shipping the image forming apparatus, the Vector data for operating Firmware 1 is written in the Vector area 202-4, and the Firmware is written in the second Firmware area 202-1 (2) in the Boot area 202-5. The boot program is written. The initial firmware is written in the first firmware area 202-1 (1), and the constant is written in the const area 202-6. Then, initial data is written in the latch area 202-3.

  When downloading the firmware from the external device 500 (that is, when updating the firmware), the controller 400 temporarily stores the updated firmware in the built-in memory as described above. Thereafter, the controller 400 downloads the firmware stored in the built-in memory to the printer unit 119.

  At the time of internal download, the program in the Boot area 202-5 is called by the operation of the initial Firmware, and the updated Firmware is written in the second Firmware area 202-1 (2).

  When a print job is notified from the controller 400, the initial firmware operating on the CPU 201 sends a request for interruption to the boot program. As a result, the Boot program running on the CPU 201 interrupts the internal download. The Boot program stores the download progress data in a predetermined area of the latch area 202-3 and renounces the execution right. As a result, the initial firmware executes print processing.

  The initial firmware transfers the execution right to the boot program again when the print job is completed. The Boot program refers to the download progress data written in the latch area 202-3, and resumes writing the update firmware to the second Firmware area 202-1 (2).

  When the writing of the update firmware to the second firmware area 202-1 (2) is completed, the boot program is activated at the next startup, that is, at the next update, the first firmware area 202-1 ( 1) Change its own setting to write the update firmware in 1). Then, the Boot program transfers the execution right of the Vector data stored in the Vector area 202-4 to the update Firmware stored in the second Firmware area 202-1 (2) at the next reset. Change the setting.

  When the image forming apparatus shifts to the standby state, a soft reset is performed on the initial firmware written in the first firmware area 202-1 (1). As a result, the update firmware stored in the second firmware area 202-1 (2) starts to operate according to the vector data stored in the vector area 202-4.

  In general, in the nonvolatile memory 202, the Firmware area 202-1, the Vector area 202-4, the Boot area 202-5, and the Const area 202-6 are configured by a flash ROM, and the other areas are based on battery backup. It is composed of RAM. Further, all areas may be configured with high-speed nonvolatile memory represented by MRAM or FeRAM so as to be compatible with high-speed processing.

  Thus, in the embodiment of the present invention, the controller 400 once downloads the firmware from the external device 500 by external download. Then, the firmware is internally downloaded from the controller 400 to the printer unit 119. At this time, when a print job is input, the controller 400 temporarily interrupts the internal download and executes the print job process by the printer unit 119. When the print job ends, the controller 400 resumes internal download. Accordingly, when software upgrade such as Firmware is being performed, priority can be given to job processing in the printer unit 119 that is a module to be upgraded. In other words, when a print job processing request is made while the software is being downloaded internally, the internal download is temporarily interrupted, so that the job processing can be performed immediately without waiting for the job processing.

  When the print job is finished, the internal download is resumed immediately, so that the time required for the internal download can be minimized.

  Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the Firmware is stored in the nonvolatile memory at the time of the internal download, so that it is not necessary to transfer the Firmware from the RAM to the nonvolatile memory such as a flash ROM after the completion of the internal download. As a result, the update firmware can be used immediately after the completion of the internal download.

  As is clear from the above description, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the controller 400 functions as an external download unit, an internal download unit, a job transmission unit, and a download restart unit. The CPU 201 functions as a first control unit, a second control unit, and a job execution unit.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example of upgrading the firmware has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the firmware, and the present invention can be similarly applied when upgrading software used in a processing unit such as a printer unit.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the firmware used in the printer unit is upgraded in the image forming apparatus has been described. However, the firmware in the other components such as the image reader and the operation unit is also upgraded. The present invention can be similarly applied.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus which is one of the information processing apparatuses has been described as an example. However, the image forming apparatus is not limited to the image forming apparatus, and a plurality of processing units and the plurality of processing units are controlled. The present invention can be similarly applied to any information processing apparatus that includes a main control unit and selectively executes a plurality of processing units according to a job processing request.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on embodiment, this invention is not limited to these embodiment, Various forms of the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention are also contained in this invention. .

  For example, the function of the above embodiment may be used as a control method, and this control method may be executed by the information processing apparatus. In addition, a program having the functions of the above-described embodiments may be used as a control program, and the control program may be executed by a computer included in the information processing apparatus. The control program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, for example.

  At this time, each of the control method and the control program has at least an external download step, an internal download step, a job transmission step, and a download restart step.

  The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various recording media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

119 Printer unit 201 CPU
202 Non-volatile memory 203 Device controller (DCON)
206 Operation Unit 400 Controller 300 Image Forming Device 500 Host Device

Claims (5)

An information processing apparatus having a plurality of processing units and main control means for controlling the plurality of processing units, and selectively executing the plurality of processing units according to a job processing request,
The main control means is an external download means for downloading software used in any of the plurality of processing units from an external device and recording the software in a first memory;
Internal download means for downloading the software recorded in the first memory to a specific processing unit in which the software is used;
If there is a job processing request for the specific processing unit during download by the internal download unit, the download by the internal download unit is interrupted, and a job transmission unit for sending the job related to the job processing request to the specific processing unit When,
An information processing apparatus comprising: a download resuming unit that resumes the download by the internal download unit when the execution of the job by the specific processing unit is completed. Each of the plurality of processing units includes a first control unit that stores software downloaded by the internal download unit in a second memory;
When the download by the internal download means is interrupted, there is a second control means for storing the progress status of the download by the internal download means as progress status data in the second memory,
The first control means stores the software in the second memory with reference to the progress data when download by the internal download is resumed by a download resume means. The information processing apparatus described in 1. The second memory defines at least a first storage area and a second storage area in which the software is recorded,
When updating the software stored in the first storage area, the first control means stores the software downloaded by the internal download means in the second storage area,
When the download by the internal download unit is completed, the job execution unit executes the job by software stored in the second storage area when executing the job according to the job processing request. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of processing units; and a main control unit that controls the plurality of processing units, and selectively executing the plurality of processing units in response to a job processing request. There,
The main control means is an external download step of downloading software used in any of the plurality of processing units from an external device and recording the software in a first memory;
An internal download step of downloading the software recorded in the first memory to a specific processing unit in which the software is used;
A job transmission step of interrupting download by the internal download step and sending a job related to the job processing request to the specific processing unit when there is a job processing request to the specific processing unit during download execution by the internal download step When,
When the execution of the job by the specific processing unit is completed, a download resuming step of resuming download by the internal download step is performed. A control program used in an information processing apparatus that has a plurality of processing units and executes jobs by selectively using the plurality of processing units in response to a job processing request,
In the computer provided in the information processing apparatus,
An external download step of downloading software used in any of the plurality of processing units from an external device and recording the software in a first memory;
An internal download step of downloading the software recorded in the first memory to a specific processing unit in which the software is used;
A job transmission step of interrupting download by the internal download step and sending a job related to the job processing request to the specific processing unit when there is a job processing request to the specific processing unit during download execution by the internal download step When,
When the execution of the job by the specific processing unit is completed, a control program for executing a download resuming step for resuming download by the internal download step.

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