JPH1091453A - Software update system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the loss of software information and to reduce burden accompanied by update work when a software supplier can easily provide update software information to a user and a user-side can securely update software. SOLUTION: When the interface device 10 of a peripheral equipment 100 can use a mail server device 500 which can accumulate mail information and which operates for 24 hours, mail information delivered to the server device 500 is taken out from a maintenance server device 600 and it is discriminated to be update information containing update software information or not. When the mail server device 500 cannot be used, mail information is discriminated to be update information which is directly required or not and it is taken out from the maintenance server device 600. Update software information is extracted from update information and it is stored in an update software storage part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a software update system, and more particularly, to a software provider which can easily provide software information to be updated to a user, and which can reliably update software on the user side. Regarding what you can do.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, local area networks (L)
With the widespread use of a system using an AN), a plurality of terminal devices such as a personal computer (PC), a word processor (WP), and a workstation (WS) have been connected. As a means for printing, instead of individually connecting low-function printers, a high-function printer (such as a digital copier) having functions such as high-speed, double-sided, sort, staple, and color printing is connected to the same network. It is becoming common to connect and use them as peripheral devices in common. In addition, a facsimile machine and the like in addition to a copying machine and a printer are connected to the network peripheral device and commonly used.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional network peripheral device, a so-called error or defect in software after delivery to a user is called.
When a bug is found, when a function is extended, or when software is upgraded, it is necessary to perform an update operation (installation) for replacing software. In such a case, the worker directly goes from the manufacturer (software provider) to perform the update work, or the user receives the installation information or software information itself for updating from the manufacturer and mails the work. Is updating. However, when an update operation is requested from the manufacturer, it takes time to complete the operation and requires a large amount of money. There is a problem that the work is difficult and inconvenience depending on the work ability to install the device in the device.

[0004] Further, it is complicated for both the manufacturer and the user to manage the update work by verbal or written communication that the software information has been updated or not updated due to an increase in the number and types of peripheral devices. And there is a problem that it is difficult to perform it reliably.
To solve this problem, see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-147.
No. 10 proposes a device in which software information (installation information) is transmitted together with update instruction information from a manufacturer side to a user side device by general-purpose e-mail via a communication line, and is automatically updated to the latest version. I have.

[0005] In this case, however, the e-mail is exchanged for each user's device. Therefore, when the user's device is not used, or when the power is turned off because it is a holiday or at night, an error occurs. The mail is returned for each device that has delivered the e-mail. For this reason, there is a problem that the work of confirming the error mail is complicated, and it is difficult to determine the timing of resending the e-mail at various times when the e-mail is returned. In addition, when there is a relay device between the user and the device on the user side, there is a problem in that the transmitted e-mail is lost halfway and the software information cannot be updated and set correctly.

Therefore, the invention according to claim 1 distributes update information for updating from a software provider to a server device which can be reliably stored in correspondence with a peripheral device, and thereafter, the peripheral device side transmits the update information to the server device. An object of the present invention is to receive update information from a device and update software information, thereby eliminating loss of the update information and reducing a load associated with the update operation.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the peripheral device performs the work of receiving and updating necessary update information directly from the storage device of the software provider without transmitting the information from the software provider. An object of the present invention is to eliminate loss of update information and to reduce a burden associated with the update work. A third object of the present invention is to use the updated software information after confirming whether or not the software information can be used, so that there is no trouble after the update operation.

An object of the present invention is to update and use the software information while retaining the software information before the update, so that there is no problem during or after the update operation. It is an object of the present invention to notify a software provider or a user of a processing result so that a prompt response can be made.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a software updating system for updating software information used by an apparatus body using update information received from a software provider. A server device that has a function of storing information sent via a communication line and is registered as a destination for transmitting update information to a software provider and is always operating; and a communication line mounted on the device body. An interface device that has a function of executing information transmission between the server and an interface device that extracts update information of accumulated information accumulated by the server device via the communication line and updates software information stored in the storage unit, Periodically, arbitrarily or at a preset time whether or not the interface device has stored information stored by the server device Information confirming means for confirming, information discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the accumulated information is update information, information acquiring means for extracting and acquiring accumulated information from the server device based on the confirmation information or the discrimination result; And information updating means for updating software information in the storage means using update information of accumulated information based on the information. Here, the determination as to whether or not the accumulated information is the update information may be made in a state of being stored in the server device or after being taken out. While the information is taken out from the server device in accordance with the above, when the discrimination is made after the taking out, the accumulated information of the update information may be used or the accumulated information other than the update information may be discarded according to the result of the judgment.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, after the update information used for the update work is sent from the software provider to the server apparatus which is always operating (operated 24 hours) and stored, the interface apparatus stores the update information. If the presence or absence of the information is checked and the stored information is determined to be update information, or if the presence or absence of the stored information is determined and the storage information is determined to be the update information, the update is performed. The software information in the storage unit is updated with the information. Therefore, the software provider can reliably receive the update information only by sending the update information to the server device that is always operating, while the interface device performs the update work only by checking and discriminating the accumulated information in the server device. Can do it.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a software updating system for updating software information used by an apparatus main body using update information received from a software provider. An interface device that has a function of transmitting information between the software devices and updates the software information stored in a storage unit by extracting the update information from a storage device in which the software provider stores the update information via a communication line. An information determining means for periodically, arbitrarily or at a preset time, determining whether or not the update information in the storage device is for the software information stored in the storage means; Information acquisition means for extracting and acquiring update information from a storage device based on It is characterized in that provided the information updating means for updating the software configuration information in the storage means using a multicast, a.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the update information used for the update work is determined by the interface device as the update information in the storage device of the software provider corresponding to the software information stored in the storage means. In this case, the software information in the storage unit is updated with the update information extracted from the storage device. Therefore, the software provider only needs to store the update information in the storage device, while the interface device reliably performs the update work only by checking and discriminating the update information in the storage device prepared by the software provider. be able to.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first or second aspect, the storage means includes a first storage unit for storing software information before update, and a software information after update. And a second storage unit for storing
When the update information is received and the software information is updated, the second storage unit is selected automatically or in response to manual input, and the apparatus main body is started using the software information stored in the second storage unit. The apparatus is characterized in that an activation means for causing the activation is provided. The first, here,
The second storage section may not be fixed. That is, the second
After storing updated software information that is used as a storage unit and the software information can normally start the apparatus body, the second storage unit is stored in the first storage unit.
The updated software information in the second storage unit may be stored in the first storage unit and used after confirming that the software can be started normally.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the software information after the update is stored in the second storage while the software information before the update is stored in the first storage, and automatically or in response to a manual input. For example, the second storage unit is selected at the time of startup or at the end of processing, and the apparatus main body is activated and used by the updated software information. Therefore, the updated software information can be stored in the second storage unit while the apparatus main body is operated by the software information in the first storage unit, that is, without interrupting the operation of the apparatus main body.

[0015] The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claims 1 to 3.
In addition to the configuration of the invention according to any one of the above, a self-diagnosis means for performing a process of checking whether or not the apparatus main body can be normally operated with the software information updated by the update information received from the software provider; and Information switching means for using the updated software information when the software information can be normally operated, and continuously using the software information before the update when the software software cannot be normally operated. It is characterized by the following.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is checked whether or not the updated software information can normally operate the apparatus main body. If the updated software information is normal, the updated software information is used. If abnormal, the software information before update is continuously used. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the apparatus main body from becoming unusable due to the updating operation.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the fourth aspect of the present invention, a result notifying means for notifying the software provider of a check result by the self-diagnosis means together with identification information for specifying the apparatus main body is provided. It is characterized by having been provided. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the software provider is notified of the identification information of the apparatus main body and the result of the normal operation (such as activation). Therefore, if the software provider cannot operate normally, retransmission and confirmation of update information can be performed quickly. Note that the processing result may be notified to the software provider when normal operation cannot be performed.

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claims 1 to 5
In addition to the configuration of the invention described in any one of the above, a result notifying means for notifying the processing result of receiving and processing the update information from the software provider to the apparatus main body is provided. According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, processing results such as updating of software information and availability of normal operation are notified to the apparatus main body. Therefore, for example, the apparatus main body can output the processing result by an output unit such as a recording unit or a display unit provided to notify the user of the processing result. Confirmation can be promptly requested from the software provider.

Here, the update information may be software information itself to be used after the update, or install information in a case where a part of the information is updated after being updated. If the computer does not have a program to execute, it may include the program. The device body may be the device body of the interface device.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 7 are diagrams showing one embodiment of a software update system according to the present invention. First, the configuration will be described.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a LAN (Local Area N).
network device connected to the LAN 50 as a peripheral device 100, a high-performance network printer device 200, a digital copier 300, or a facsimile device 400, The interface device 10 includes terminal devices such as a personal computer (PC), a word processor (WP), and a workstation (WS) connected to the LAN 50 and a peripheral device main body 100 (20).
0, 300, and 400) to enable the common use of these peripheral devices 100. LAN5
0 is configured to be connectable to the Internet 51, and the interface device 10 can also transmit data to and from an external device via the Internet 51. The peripheral device 100 is configured so that the interface device 10 manages software information for operating a function of the peripheral device 100. When the peripheral device 100 is started, the interface device 10 stores and manages (updates) the information in a storage unit described later. It is configured to receive software information and write and use it in a storage unit (not shown). Further, the printer device 200, the digital copier 300, and the facsimile device 400 of the peripheral device 100 include means for realizing the respective functions, and will not be described in detail. A recording unit (output means) for recording and outputting various information by adopting L, and for displaying and outputting various information
A display unit (output means) composed of a CD (Liquid Crystal Display) and an operation unit operated by an operator using the peripheral device 100 are provided. The transmission of data by the interface device 10 may be performed by a known method, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Reference numeral 500 denotes a mail server device. The mail server device 500 is connected to the same LAN 50 as the printer device 200 and operates for 24 hours (always), and stores sent mail information in a mailbox. . Reference numeral 600 denotes a maintenance server connected to the LAN 50,
The maintenance server device 600 accumulates the mail information and distributes the mail information to a destination registered in advance in the mail list, for example, according to the transmission command. The maintenance server device 600 updates software information used by each of the printer device 200, the digital copier 300, and the facsimile device 400 to correct so-called bugs, enhance functions, and change (upgrade) to the latest version. Information is stored as e-mail information (storage information). This update information includes a model number of the peripheral device 100, version information of software information, and execution script information for updating software information, and a self-diagnosis function. And installation information that is rewritten to the latest version of software information.

Here, the printer device 200, the mail server device 500, the digital copying machine 300, and the facsimile device 40
0, the maintenance server device 600 is a separate LA
The printer device 200 is connected to N50 and used by users A, B, C and a maker M (software provider). For example, the printer device 200 is commonly used by workers belonging to the user A and exchanges data with the mail server device 500. While transmitting,
Maintenance server device 600 via Internet 51
And data is transmitted between them. Therefore, in the following description, the devices 200, 30
For each of 0, 400, and 600, LAN 50 is LAN 50A, 50B, 50
C, 50M, and the interface device 10 are also referred to as interface devices 10A, 10B, and 10C.

As shown in FIG. 2, the interface device 10 has a CPU for controlling various parts of the device in order to realize the present invention together with an interface function according to a control program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) not shown.
(Central Processor Unit), a central processing unit 11 composed of an interrupt controller, etc., generation of a frame for transmitting and receiving data such as control information and processing information via the LAN 50, transmission and reception of the frame, and error checking of the received frame. And a network control unit 12 that performs
A LAN interface unit 13 connected to a physical transmission medium such as a coaxial cable or an optical fiber which constitutes the N50 and transmitting / receiving data via the LAN 50; The peripheral device interface unit 14 that inputs and outputs control information and response information between the peripheral device 100 and a current software storage unit (first device) that stores software information currently used by the peripheral device 100.
A storage unit) 15 and an updated software storage unit (second storage unit) 16 for storing updated software information in which a so-called bug has been found or a software extension or a version-updated updated software information that has been found. A boot loader unit 17 that checks whether software information has been updated in response to a start command at the time of start-up and starts an operation based on the software information stored in any of the storage units 15 and 16, and updates the software information And a script translation execution unit 18 for executing an update operation for storing the updated software information in the update software storage unit 16 and update information (mail information) received from the mail server device 500 or the maintenance server device 600. Script work storage unit 19, and the data necessary for executing the interface function and update work. Work storage unit for storing data
20 and. The storage units 15, 16, 19, 20
May be configured by a separate RAM (Random Access Memory), or may be used by specifying an area in a RAM having a necessary capacity. Further, the storage units 15 and 16 may be fixed and rewritten after the update work is completed, but in the present embodiment, the update software storage unit 16 is replaced with the current software storage unit after the update work is completed. Use as 15. In the following description, the updated software information is simply referred to as updated software information.

The interface device 10A mounted on the printer device 200 is connected to the maintenance server device 60.
0 is set by the manufacturer to send mail information to the mail server device 500 via the LAN 50 and the Internet 51, so that the preset timing (for example, at regular intervals or at startup) or the printer device In response to input from the operation unit of the main body 200, mail information (accumulated information) is taken out from the mailbox of the mail server device 500 to receive update information, and update work is performed using the update information. The update software information is stored in the update software storage unit 16. On the other hand, the interface device 10 mounted on the digital copying machine 300 or the facsimile machine 400
B and 10C are mail server devices 500 on LAN 50B and 50C.
Is not prepared, and according to a preset timing or an input from the operation unit, for example, a WWW server is designated and the maintenance server 600 is connected to the LAN 50.
And access the accumulated update information by directly accessing via the Internet 51. The update information is executed by using the update information, and the update software information is stored in the update software storage unit 16. ing. That is, the LAN 50 and the Internet 51 constitute different communication lines, and the mail server 50
0 is a server device, and the maintenance server device 600 is a storage device.

Next, the operation of updating the software information of the interface device 10 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. First, in updating software information of the printer device 200, the interface device 10A
As shown in the figure, the network control unit 12
20 is connected to the mail server device 500 which receives and accumulates the mail information sent from the maintenance server device 600 or the like for 24 hours using the address and the directory registered in advance at a predetermined timing, and connects the mail to the mail server device 500 at the preset timing. The presence / absence of mail information stored in the box is confirmed and taken out and temporarily stored in an auxiliary storage unit (not shown) (step P1).

Next, the script translation execution unit 18 confirms (determines) whether or not the mail information is a maintenance message instructing the update of software information including the update information sent from the maintenance server device 600 ( In step P2), if the message is not a maintenance message, the mail information is discarded as it is (step P2).
3) While ending this processing, if the message is a maintenance message, update information is extracted from the mail information and stored and stored in the script work storage unit 19 (step P4). That is, the network control unit 12 constitutes an information confirmation unit and an information acquisition unit, and the script translation execution unit 18 constitutes an information determination unit. At this time, whether or not the message is a maintenance message may be transmitted from the maintenance server device 600 with information indicating that fact, or may be confirmed according to the presence or absence of update information.

Next, the script translation execution unit 18 extracts the version information from the update information in the script work storage unit 19 and extracts the version information from the current software storage unit 15, for example, from the header part of the software information, and compares the extracted version information. After that, the version information extracted from the update information is recorded in the work storage unit 20 (step P5).
At this time, if the version information is the same or older, the update work may be interrupted and the process may proceed to step P8.

Next, the script translation execution unit 18 extracts and translates the execution script information from the update information in the script work storage unit 19, executes the script, and executes the script. Software information) for extracting and updating software storage unit 16
Then, an operation of installing the updated software information is performed (step P6). That is, the script translation execution unit
18 constitutes information updating means. At this time, the software information in the current software storage unit 15 is kept as it is. For example, when the software information is partially changed, the current software storage unit 16 is stored in the update software storage unit 16. After the software information in the unit 15 is copied, the software information is updated (installed) to the updated software information by the installation information. When exchanging the entire software information, the work of installing and updating the software information itself in the update software storage unit 16 is performed. Do.

Next, after recording the execution result of the success or failure of the update work in the work storage unit 20 (step P7), it is confirmed whether the next mail information is stored in the mailbox of the mail server device 500 (step P7). P8) If there is, return to step P1 to continue the same processing, and if not, end this processing. Meanwhile, digital copier 300
In updating the software information of the facsimile apparatus 400 or the facsimile apparatus 400, since the interface apparatuses 10B and 10C are not provided with the mail server apparatus, as shown in FIG. A request for connection is made to the maintenance server 600 at a remote location at a preset timing using an address and directory registered in advance (step P1).
1) The connection ID and password for connection are automatically transmitted (step P12), and it is confirmed whether or not the connection has been completed (step P13). If the connection has failed, the resulting communication log is stored in the working storage unit 20. (Step P14), the script translation execution unit 18 extracts the version information from the current software storage unit 15, for example, from the header of the software information. Compared with the version information of the update information associated with the model number of the digital copying machine 300 or the facsimile machine 400 via the unit 12, whether or not the update information is for the software information stored in the current software storage unit 15 (For example, whether or not the version information needs to be updated anew) and take it out and record it in the script work storage unit 19. The information is stored (step P15). That is, the interface devices 10B, 10C
Then, the script translation execution unit 18
Together, they constitute information discriminating means and information acquiring means. At this time, when the update information that needs to be updated is not stored in the maintenance server device 600, the process may be terminated.

Next, similarly, the script translation execution unit 18 similarly extracts version information from the update information in the script work storage unit 19 and records it in the work storage unit 20 (step P16). The execution script information is extracted from the update information in 19, translated and executed, and then the installation information (or software information) is extracted from the update information in the script work storage unit 19, and the updated software information is stored in the update software storage unit 16. Is performed (step P17), the result of the success or failure of the update is recorded in the work storage unit 20 (step P18), and the process ends.

Then, in any of the subsequent interface devices 10, as shown in FIG.
After confirming that the update work for installing the updated software information in the update software storage unit 16 is completed (step P21), the update work execution result is taken out together with the version information from the work storage unit 20, and the result is reported. An update processing message to be notified (notified) is created (step P22) and sent to the peripheral device 100 together with the output request (step P23), so that the peripheral device 100 stores in the storage unit (not shown) according to a preset output method. After the message stored in the file is converted into a format that can be displayed or recorded and output (step P24), the message is displayed on the display unit (LCD) when displaying and outputting (step P25 and P26), and when the recording and outputting is performed. Prints the message on a sheet of paper by the recording unit (steps P27 and P28), and ends this processing. That is, the central processing unit 11 constitutes a result notifying unit.

Thereafter, the peripheral device 100 is started (started).
When the operation is performed, as shown in FIG. 6, in the interface device 10, the boot loader unit 17 refers to the execution result in the work storage unit 20 to confirm whether or not the software information is updated (step P31). If the update operation has not been performed, a normal startup operation of loading the software information in the current software storage unit 15 and sending it to the peripheral device main body 100 is executed (step P33).

On the other hand, when the update operation is performed and the latest software information is installed in the update software storage unit 16, the load destination is switched to load the software information in the update software storage unit 16. It starts up (steps P34 and P35) and checks whether or not it can be executed by the included self-diagnosis function (step P34)
36) If it can be executed, the startup operation of sending the updated software information to the peripheral device main body 100 is continued (step P38). If it cannot be executed, the error information is recorded in the work storage unit 20. After executing the start-up operation of loading the software information in the current software storage unit 15 and sending the software information to the peripheral device main body 100 (step P39), the central processing unit 11 transmits the address and directory registered in the work storage unit 20. The connection ID and the password are automatically transmitted to the maintenance server device 600 by using (steps P40 and P41), and when the connection fails, the communication log of the result is recorded in the working storage unit 20 (step P40). P4
3) When the connection is completed, the error information is taken out from the working storage unit 20 and set in a predetermined area of the maintenance server device 600 together with the model number (step P44), and this process ends. That is, the boot loader unit 17 constitutes a starting unit, a self-diagnosis unit, and an information switching unit, and the central processing unit 11 constitutes a result notifying unit.

At the same time, as shown in FIG. 7, the central processing unit 11 terminates normally if the booting is normally completed according to the availability of the update software information in the update software storage unit 16. A message is created (steps P51 and P52), and if it cannot be started (operated) normally, an abnormal termination message is created (steps P51 and P53) and sent to the peripheral device 100 together with its output request. (Step P54), the peripheral device 100 converts the message into a format that can be output (step P55), and then displays the message on the display unit (LCD) (steps P25 and P26), similarly to the previous update message. Alternatively, printing is performed on paper by the recording unit (steps P27 and P28).
This processing ends.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the software information of the printer device 200 is updated by the interface device 10A after the mail server device 500, which has been operating for 24 hours, receives and accumulates the update information from the maintenance server device 600. The update information is extracted and determined, and the update information is installed and updated in the update software storage unit 16 using the update information. For this reason, the maintenance server 600 only needs to deliver update information to a peripheral device that can use the mail server device, for example, according to a mailing list.
Since the power of 200 is turned off, an error is not returned and an error mail is not returned. Also, the interface device 10A can perform update work by acquiring and determining update information from the mail server device 500 asynchronously with the maintenance server device 600. Therefore, the maker M can surely distribute the update information without burden without considering ON / OFF of the printer device 200. Further, the interface device 10A can receive the update information without loss and can easily perform the update operation of the software information.

On the other hand, the software information of the digital copier 300 and the facsimile machine 400 that cannot use the mail server device is transmitted to the interface devices 10B and 10C.
However, without waiting for distribution from the maintenance server device 600, it directly connects to the maintenance server device 600, determines and acquires necessary update information, and uses the update information to update software information in the update software storage unit 16. Install and update. For this reason, unlike the case of distribution from the maintenance server device 600, since the power of the digital copying machine 300 or the facsimile device 400 is turned off, an error does not occur and an error mail is not returned. Therefore, the maker M only needs to store the update information in the maintenance server device 600, and the interface devices 10B and 10C
The software information can be easily updated by receiving the update information in the software without loss.

At this time, since the updated software information is stored in the updating software storage unit 16 while the current software information is stored in the current software storage unit 15, the operation based on the software information in the current software storage unit 15 is interrupted. In addition, the installation of the updated software information can be executed. The update software information stored in the update software storage unit 16 is loaded after being checked whether it can be normally executed (started) and is continuously used. Since the software information is loaded and reused, it is possible to prevent the peripheral device main body 100 from becoming unusable due to this update work, and the peripheral device 100 is being updated regardless of whether the update is successful or not. And it can be used without trouble even after the update work.

The result of execution of the update work and the result of processing of the check result are output by the recording unit and the display unit provided in the peripheral device 100. Therefore, the result is notified to an operator or an administrator who uses the peripheral device 100. It is possible to manage the update of the software information and, when an error occurs, promptly request the manufacturer M to resend the update information or confirm the error.

The result of checking whether or not the update can be executed normally is set in a predetermined area of the maintenance server device 600. Therefore, even if there is no request from the users A to C, retransmission or error of the update information can be performed. Confirmation can be performed promptly.

[0041]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the update information is stored in the server device that is always operating, so that the transmission of the update information from the software provider causes an error because the power is turned off. Without updating, the software provider can send update information without considering ON / OFF of the other party, and can surely receive the update information. Then, the software information stored in the storage unit can be updated with the extracted update information only by the interface device mounted on the device main body checking and discriminating the inside of the server device. Therefore, the software information can be easily updated without losing the update information even when the software provider and the apparatus main body are asynchronous. In particular, for example, the software provider only needs to sequentially distribute the update information in accordance with the user list, and can reduce the burden associated with the update work.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the update information is updated by updating the software information stored in the storage device of the software provider, which is determined by the interface device mounted on the device main body. Even if there is no server device, only the software provider stores the software information in the storage device, and the device main body side can directly connect to the storage device and perform the update work reliably.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, after the software information before update is stored in the first storage while the software information before update is stored in the second storage, the second storage is selected. Then, the apparatus main body is started by the software information, so that the updated software information can be stored in the second storage section while the operation of the apparatus main body based on the software information in the first storage section can be continued, and the updated software information can be stored. If the operation of the first storage unit becomes abnormal, the software information in the first storage unit can be continuously used.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the updated software information is used after checking whether or not the apparatus main body can be normally operated, and if abnormal, the software information before the update is used. Since the software information is continuously used, it is possible to prevent the apparatus main body from becoming unusable due to the update of the software information, and it is possible to use the software information without any trouble regardless of the success or failure of the update.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the software provider is notified of the check result as to whether or not the apparatus can be normally operated together with the identification information of the apparatus main body.
If the software provider cannot operate normally, it can promptly deal with it. Claim 6
According to the invention described in (1), since the processing result at the time of the update work is notified to the apparatus main body, the processing result can be output to the output means such as the recording means and the display means of the apparatus main body and can be notified to the user. If it cannot be operated, it is possible to promptly ask the software provider for a countermeasure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a software update system according to the present invention, and is a network connection diagram illustrating an entire configuration thereof.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the interface device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating updating of the software information.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating updating of software information in a connection environment different from that of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a report of the update work result.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process after the update operation.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a report of a processing result after the update operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Interface device 11 Central processing unit (result notification means, result notification means) 12 Network control unit (information confirmation means, information discrimination means, information acquisition means) 13 LAN interface unit 14 Peripheral device interface unit 15 Current software storage unit (storage means , First storage unit) 16 update software storage unit (storage unit, second storage unit) 17 boot loader unit (self-diagnosis unit, information switching unit,
Start-up unit) 18 Script translation execution unit (information discriminating unit, information updating unit, information acquisition unit) 19 Script work storage unit 20 Work storage unit 50 LAN (communication line) 51 Internet (communication line) 100 Peripheral device 500 Mail server device (Server device) 600 Maintenance server device (storage device)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A software update system for updating software information used by an apparatus body using update information received from a software provider, the software update system having a function of storing information sent via a communication line. A server device that is registered as a destination for transmitting update information to a software provider and that is always operating, and has a function of executing information transmission between the device and a communication line mounted on the device main body, and through the communication line An interface device for retrieving the update information of the accumulated information stored in the server device and updating the software information stored in the storage means, wherein the interface device periodically, arbitrarily or in advance determines whether or not the accumulated information stored in the server device is present. Information confirmation means for confirming at a set time, and whether or not accumulated information is update information Information discriminating means, information acquiring means for extracting and acquiring accumulated information from the server device based on the confirmation information or the discrimination result, and software information in the storage means using update information of the accumulated information based on the discrimination result. Software updating system, comprising: an information updating unit for updating the information. 2. A software updating system for updating software information used by an apparatus main body using update information received from a software provider, wherein the software updating system executes information transmission between the apparatus main body and a communication line. An interface device that retrieves the update information from a storage device in which the software provider stores the update information via a communication line and updates the software information stored in the storage unit. Information discriminating means for periodically, arbitrarily or at a preset time, judging whether or not the update information in the storage device is for the software information stored in the storage device, and updating from the storage device based on the discrimination result Information acquisition means for extracting and acquiring information; and the storage means using the acquired update information. Software update system, characterized in that the information updating means for updating the software information of the inner and provided. 3. A storage unit comprising: a first storage unit for storing software information before update; and a second storage unit for storing software information after update, and receiving the update information to update the software information. When the processing is performed, a starting unit is provided for selecting the second storage unit automatically or in response to a manual input and activating the apparatus main body using the software information stored in the second storage unit. The software automatic update system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 4. A self-diagnosis means for performing a process of checking whether or not the apparatus main body can be normally operated with the software information updated based on the update information received from the software provider; 2. An information switching means for using updated software information when possible, and continuously using software information before update when normal operation is not possible. 4. The automatic software update system according to any one of items 1 to 3. 5. The software automatic updating system according to claim 4, further comprising a result notifying means for notifying the software provider of the check result by the self-diagnosis means together with the identification information for specifying the apparatus main body. 6. The software automatic update according to claim 1, further comprising a result notifying means for notifying the processing result of receiving and processing the update information from the software provider to the apparatus main body. system.