JP2002297395A - Data communication program, computer readable recording medium having the same program recorded thereon, data communication equipment and data communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To more efficiently rewrite firmware irrespective of the transmission/ reception order of divided firmware. SOLUTION: When an email with firmware is received (S1007), it is judged whether the whole firmware data in a write-enabled state are made available (S1009). When the whole data are available, a message is down-loaded from a mail server to a printer controller. Firmware which is taken out is transmitted to a picture generation device (S1015) and the rewriting permission of the firmware is obtained (S107). Thus, firmware is collectively rewritten in a picture generating device-side. When the whole data whose write processing is enabled are not available, a system waits until firmware where a write processing is enabled is received while keeping the data in the mail server (S1021).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data communication program, a computer-readable recording medium on which the data communication program is recorded, a data communication device, and a data communication method, and more particularly, to data for performing firmware data communication via the Internet. The present invention relates to a communication program, a computer-readable recording medium storing a data communication program, a data communication device, and a data communication method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a firmware for controlling the operation of an image forming apparatus is a mask ROM (Read On).
ly Memory). Therefore, when it is necessary to replace the firmware, a method has been adopted in which the mask ROM on the control base in the image forming apparatus is replaced with a mask ROM in which new firmware is written.

[0003] Replacing the mask ROM takes time and is complicated. Therefore, in order to improve workability, a rewritable flash ROM has been used instead of the mask ROM.

When replacing the firmware written in the flash ROM, the following method has been adopted.

First, a first method is to use an external storage device such as a memory card. That is, an I / F (interface) with an external storage device such as a memory card is provided in the image forming apparatus, and a memory card storing new firmware is connected to the I / F. Then, new firmware is written from the memory card to the flash ROM. In this method, the firmware cannot be rewritten from a remote location, and it is necessary to go to the place where the image forming apparatus is actually installed and perform the rewriting operation.

A second method is to use a public line network. This method has been put to practical use mainly for facsimile machines. That is, firmware is transmitted to the image forming apparatus from a remote device connected to the public line network. Downloading this will rewrite the firmware. In this method, it is not necessary to actually go out as in the first method, but there is a problem that the communication cost is high and a relatively long time is required for downloading the firmware.

For this reason, with the recent spread of the Internet, as a third method, a method of downloading firmware via a public network, which has been performed using a public line network, has been adopted. Using the Internet can reduce the communication cost and the time required for downloading the firmware.

[0008] Here, the protocol of communication performed through the Internet includes H for browsing a homepage.
TTP (Hyper Text Transfer P
protocol (FTP), FTP (Fi
le Transfer Protocol), SMTP (Simple Ma) used for sending e-mail
There are various protocols such as il Transfer Protocol). However, a protocol for downloading the firmware of the image forming apparatus from a remote place via the Internet is restricted due to an increase in security awareness regarding communication via the Internet, and any protocol may not be used.

[0009] That is, at the connection port between the Internet and each user, a firewall generally serving as a "defense wall" is provided in order to cope with unauthorized access to the user's internal system from the Internet.
The function of the firewall is to control a communication protocol that can pass between the Internet and the user's internal system. This limits the protocols that can be passed, but usually the email protocol is often set to be passable. For this reason, when transmitting firmware via the Internet, a method of using an electronic mail system has been conventionally considered.

Meanwhile, the size of the firmware of recent image forming apparatuses has been increased to 10 M
It is swollen to around the bite. And it tends to increase further in the future.

On the other hand, a mail server which provides a service of collecting and distributing e-mails generally limits the size of e-mail messages that can be received.
It seems that this limit size is often set to about 1 Mbyte.

For this reason, when trying to send firmware of the above-mentioned size by e-mail, it is expected that the size of the firmware will exceed the limit size and that the mail server will often be refused to receive it.

Therefore, in order to avoid this, it is conceivable to transmit the firmware data appropriately instead of transmitting the firmware data all at once.

[0014]

However, even if the firmware is appropriately attached to an e-mail and divided and transmitted by the above-described method, when rewriting the firmware, there is a problem on the mail server side and other problems. It is conceivable that the order of the e-mails finally received on the image forming apparatus side is different from the transmission order due to some factors.

In this case, if the rewriting process of the firmware is performed in the order of reception on the image forming apparatus side, the rewriting processing order which should be performed in the order of transmission is different from that of the rewriting process, and the rewritten image forming apparatus may not operate normally. .

Even if the order of transmission and reception is the same, it is inefficient because the rewriting process of a part of the target firmware is performed every time the divided firmware is received. However, it was not an appropriate treatment.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a data communication program capable of more efficiently rewriting firmware regardless of the transmission / reception order of the divided firmware.
An object of the present invention is to provide a computer-readable recording medium on which the program is recorded, a data communication device, and a data communication method.

[0018]

To achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, a data communication program determines whether or not firmware attached to an e-mail is a part of predetermined firmware. The determining step, and when the determining step determines that the firmware is a part of the predetermined firmware, confirming the existence of the remaining firmware of the predetermined firmware; and confirming the existence of the remaining firmware by the confirming step. In this case, the computer executes a writing step of writing the firmware to a predetermined memory together with the remaining firmware.

According to the present invention, when it is determined that the firmware attached to the e-mail is a part of the predetermined firmware, the existence of the remaining firmware of the predetermined firmware is confirmed. Then, only when the existence of the remaining firmware is confirmed, the target firmware is written to the memory together with the remaining firmware.

For example, when the predetermined firmware is firmware for one module, and a part of the firmware is firmware attached to an e-mail, whether all the remaining firmware exists in the mail server or its own device. It is determined whether or not. Then, writing of some firmware is suspended until all are completed, and rewriting processing is performed on one module as one firmware only when all are completed.

If the predetermined firmware is firmware necessary for writing, the writing to the memory cannot be performed unless all the remaining firmware is available. Further, even when writing can be performed with some firmware instead of the firmware necessary for writing, it is inefficient to perform the writing process each time it is attached to an e-mail and transmitted.

Therefore, it is possible to provide a data communication program capable of more efficiently rewriting firmware regardless of the transmission / reception order of the divided firmware by rewriting all firmware at once. Becomes possible.

Preferably, the data communication program includes: an information acquisition step for acquiring information about the firmware from an e-mail present in the mail server; and, when the existence of the remaining firmware is confirmed by the confirmation step, the remaining firmware and the electronic And a firmware obtaining step of obtaining the firmware attached to the mail from the mail server. The determining step determines based on the obtained information, and the writing step determines each of the obtained firmware in a predetermined manner. Writing to the memory.

According to the present invention, information on the firmware such as whether or not the firmware attached to the electronic mail is a part of the predetermined firmware is obtained from the mail server. Then, when it is confirmed that the remaining firmware exists in the mail server, all of these firmware are downloaded and written to a predetermined memory in an appropriate order.

Since the firmware obtained by dividing the predetermined firmware is downloaded from the mail server, there is no unnecessary state in which the divided firmware is stored in the apparatus for a long time. Therefore, a large amount of firmware data does not overwhelm the memory in the device.

Preferably, the data communication program comprises: an obtaining step of obtaining an electronic mail from a mail server;
Storing the firmware attached to the obtained e-mail, and causing the computer to further execute the storage step. The determining step determines based on information about the firmware obtained from the obtained e-mail, and the writing step includes storing Each written firmware is written to a predetermined memory.

According to the present invention, an electronic mail is appropriately acquired from the mail server, and the firmware attached to the electronic mail is stored in the apparatus. Then, when all the predetermined firmware data are prepared in the apparatus, a writing process to a predetermined memory is performed. E-mail is no longer stored on the mail server,
You won't be hit by mail server capacity limits. Also,
When the rewriting operation is performed, the firmware data stored in advance is used, so that the processing time is reduced.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a data communication device includes a determining step of determining whether firmware attached to an electronic mail is a part of a predetermined firmware, and the determining step determines whether the firmware attached to the predetermined firmware is a part of the predetermined firmware. A confirmation step of confirming the existence of the remaining firmware of the predetermined firmware when it is determined that the firmware is a part;
And transmitting the firmware to a predetermined module together with the remaining firmware when the presence of the remaining firmware is confirmed by the confirmation step.

According to the present invention, when it is determined that the firmware attached to the electronic mail is a part of the predetermined firmware, the existence of the remaining firmware of the predetermined firmware is confirmed. Then, only when the existence of the remaining firmware is confirmed, the target firmware is transmitted to a predetermined module together with the remaining firmware for writing to the memory.

For example, when the predetermined firmware is firmware for one module, and a part of the firmware is firmware attached to an e-mail, whether all the remaining firmware is in the mail server or its own device. It is determined whether or not. Then, transmission of a part of the firmware to the predetermined module is suspended until all the firmware is obtained, and the transmission processing is performed on one module as one firmware only when all the firmware is obtained. It is inefficient to perform a transmission process to a module each time one firmware is attached to an e-mail and transmitted, and it is also inefficient to perform a writing process each time.

Therefore, all the firmware can be collectively transmitted to the module, that is, written to the memory, so that the firmware can be rewritten more efficiently regardless of the transmission / reception order of the divided firmware. It is possible to provide a data communication program capable of performing the following.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a computer-readable recording medium records the data communication program according to any of the above.

According to the present invention, since all the firmware are rewritten collectively, a data communication program capable of rewriting the firmware more efficiently regardless of the transmission / reception order of the divided firmware is provided. It is possible to provide a recorded computer-readable recording medium.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the data communication device includes a determining unit for determining whether the firmware attached to the e-mail is a part of the predetermined firmware, and a predetermined firmware by the determining unit. Means for confirming the presence of the remaining firmware in the predetermined firmware when it is determined that the firmware is a part of the predetermined firmware. And writing means for writing to the memory.

According to the present invention, when it is determined that the firmware attached to the e-mail is a part of the predetermined firmware, the existence of the remaining firmware of the predetermined firmware is confirmed. Then, only when the existence of the remaining firmware is confirmed, the target firmware is written to the memory together with the remaining firmware.

For example, when the predetermined firmware is firmware for one module, and a part of the firmware is firmware attached to an e-mail, if all the remaining firmware are in the mail server or its own device, It is determined whether or not. Then, writing of some firmware is suspended until all are completed, and rewriting processing is performed on one module as one firmware only when all are completed.

When the predetermined firmware is necessary for writing, the writing to the memory cannot be performed unless all the remaining firmware is available. Further, even when writing can be performed with some firmware instead of the firmware necessary for writing, it is inefficient to perform the writing process each time it is attached to an e-mail and transmitted.

Therefore, it is possible to provide a data communication device capable of more efficiently rewriting firmware regardless of the transmission / reception order of the divided firmware by rewriting all firmware at once. Becomes possible.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes the above-described data communication device. Therefore, regardless of the transmission order of the divided firmware, it is possible to more efficiently rewrite the firmware of the image forming apparatus.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a data communication method comprises the steps of: determining whether firmware attached to an electronic mail is a part of predetermined firmware; If it is determined that the remaining firmware is a part of the predetermined firmware, a confirmation step of confirming the existence of the remaining firmware of the predetermined firmware is performed. And writing the data to the memory.

According to the present invention, there is provided a data communication method capable of more efficiently rewriting firmware irrespective of the transmission / reception order of the divided firmware by rewriting all firmware at once. Can be provided.

[0042]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

Here, a case where the firmware of the image forming apparatus is rewritten using an electronic mail system will be described as an example. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration for implementing a firmware communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the present system includes a user-side apparatus including an image forming apparatus, a service center-side apparatus that transmits firmware to the image forming apparatus, and the Internet connecting these apparatuses.

In the present system, a plurality of user devices can be connected to one service center device. However, here, for simplicity of explanation, an example is shown in which one (set) of user-side devices is connected.

The devices on the user side include the image forming apparatus 11 and the printer controller 21 connected thereto. The printer controller 21 communicates via the LAN
It is connected to a firewall 31 and to the Internet via a router 32. Also, LAN
A mail server 33 that performs a service of collecting and distributing e-mail is connected.

A computer 91 for transmitting firmware is installed on the service center side. The computer 91 is connected to the printer controller 2 on the user side.
1 is connected to a firewall 81 via a LAN and to the Internet via a router 82 to communicate with the Internet. The LAN is also connected to a mail server 83 that provides a service of collecting and distributing e-mail.

Although not shown, the router 82 and the router 3
On the Internet between the two, a plurality of mail servers intervene, and an e-mail is transmitted via an infinite number of mail servers. In addition, the Internet does not guarantee data transmission to the destination, does not guarantee the data transmission order,
The transmission path is indefinite, and transmission data may be lost. Therefore, depending on the e-mail, the number of mail servers and the number of mail servers to be passed may be different, and the processing time in the mail server may be different for each mail server. When transmitting an electronic mail from a transmission source to a transmission destination, transmission is performed through a plurality of mail servers. For this reason, as described in the subject, even when a plurality of e-mails are transmitted almost simultaneously from the service center, the mail server may receive the plurality of e-mails at a later time.

Here, the operation of rewriting the firmware will be briefly described with reference to FIG. First, new firmware is attached to an e-mail from the computer 91 on the service center side and transmitted to the image forming apparatus 11 on the user side.

The attached firmware may be one piece of firmware, or one piece of one piece of firmware which is appropriately divided. Here, it is assumed that one piece of firmware divided into a plurality of pieces is attached to an e-mail and transmitted sequentially.

The divided e-mail with firmware is stored in the mailbox of the mail server 33 via the LAN of the service center, the mail server 83, the Internet, and the LAN of the user as appropriate.

When the printer controller 21 of the image forming apparatus 11 on the user side determines that all the firmware data in a rewriteable state are available, the mail server 33 sends the corresponding e-mail messages in an appropriate order. To download. Then, the firmware is extracted from each e-mail, and the new firmware is written in the flash ROM to be rewritten in the image forming apparatus 11.

Next, each device shown in FIG. 1 will be described in detail.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the image forming apparatus 11. Referring to FIG. 1, image forming apparatus 1
A multi-CPU (Central Process) 1 scans a document image and forms a copy image on paper.
ing Unit). Therefore, it is composed of four control modules from the control module 1 to the control module 4 corresponding to each CPU.

The control module 1 includes a CPU 111 that controls the overall control of the image forming apparatus 11, a rewritable Flash ROM 112 storing the firmware thereof,
Work S-RAM 113, battery-backed NV-RAM 114 for storing various set values, serial I / F 115 for transmitting and receiving various control data to and from control module 2, and transmission and reception of various control data to and from control module 3. Serial I / F 116 for transmitting / receiving various data to / from the printer controller 2
17 and an operation panel 118 including various keys and a display unit.

The control module 2 includes a CPU 121 for controlling print processing of the image forming apparatus 11 and a rewritable Flash ROM 1 storing the firmware.
22, a working S-RAM 123, and a battery-backed NV-RAM 124 for storing various set values.
A serial I / F 125 for transmitting and receiving various control data to and from the control module 1, a serial I / F 126 for transmitting and receiving various control data to and from the control module 4, and a print load control I / O for controlling the load of image forming processing. , GA
127.

The control module 3 includes a CPU 131 for controlling the reading process of the original image of the image forming apparatus 11 and a rewritable Flash R storing the firmware thereof.
OM 132, working S-RAM 133, battery-backed NV-RAM for storing various set values
134, a serial I / F 135 for transmitting and receiving various control data to and from the control module 1, and an IR load control I / O and GA 136 for controlling the load of the original image reading process.

The control module 4 includes a CPU 141 for controlling image quality correction for the image forming apparatus 11 and a rewritable Flash RO storing the firmware thereof.
M-142, a working S-RAM 143, and a battery-backed NV-RAM 1 for storing various set values
44, a serial I / F 145 for transmitting and receiving various control data to and from the control module 2, and an image quality correction control GA 146 for performing image quality correction control.

These control modules 1-4 are serial I
Execute communication via / F. Usually C of each module
Transmission and reception of control commands and control information between PUs are performed, and when firmware is rewritten, transmission of firmware data is performed. Communication via serial I / F
Since the configuration is adapted to the communication data size of control commands and control information that are normally used, transmission time is required for large-capacity data such as firmware. In some cases, it may take longer than sending an e-mail to the e-mail.

The CPU provided in the control module
Relatively close to (within the same control module)
Flash ROM is arranged. This is to prevent a failure in loading the firmware program due to noise caused by communication when loading the firmware program into the CPU.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the printer controller 21. Referring to this figure, a printer controller 21 includes a CPU 201, an EP-ROM 202 in which a control program is stored, a work S-RAM 203, and an NV-RA for storing various set values.
M (non-volatile memory) 204, a serial I / F 205 for transmitting and receiving various data to and from the image forming apparatus 11,
An NIC (network interface card) 206 for transmitting and receiving various data via N, an IO 207 including an output port for controlling power, a backup memory 208 for storing various data, various inputs and the like. And an operation panel 209 for performing the operation.

The NV-RAM 204 contains, besides its own IP address, the IP address of a mail server necessary for the printer controller 21 to download an e-mail message addressed to itself (the image forming apparatus 11) from the mail server 33. , And the name and password of the user's own e-mail account.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the computer 91 installed on the service center side.
Referring to the figure, a computer 91 has a CPU 901 for controlling the entire apparatus, and an R for storing programs and the like.
An OM 902, a RAM 903 which is a temporary storage area of a work area and various data, a fixed storage device 904 storing various information and the like, a display control unit 905 for controlling a display 92, and a keyboard 93 and a mouse 94 are controlled. An input control unit 906 and an NIC 907 for transmitting and receiving various data to and from the outside via a LAN are included.

The fixed storage device 904 has the image forming device 1
The registration information of the image forming apparatus is stored, including one model, an e-mail address, and limited capacity information provided in a mail server. Further, firmware corresponding to the model of the image forming apparatus 11 is also stored.

The firmware is stored in a predetermined folder / directory different from the fixed storage device 904 in advance by the service center operator according to the model and its control module.

Subsequently, in the system shown in FIG.
An operation when the firmware of the image forming apparatus is transmitted from a remote place and rewritten will be described.

First, the processing in the CPU 901 mounted on the computer 91 of the service center will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a main routine of a process performed by CPU 901 of computer 91 on the service center side. The CPU 901 starts processing when the power is turned on, and first executes general initialization processing performed by a computer device, such as memory initialization and parameter initialization (step S501). Thereafter, for example, in response to an input operation of each function key (F1 to F3) on the keyboard 93, a communication setting process (step S505), an image forming device registration process (step S509), or a firmware transmission process (step S513) is performed. Do.

If the F1 key is pressed (step S
“YES” in 503), and communication setting processing is performed in step S505. That is, here, the parameters necessary for the computer 91 to transmit the e-mail are set. For example, the IP address of the mail server 83 connected to the LAN on the service center side, the e-mail address of the computer 91, and the like are input and stored in the fixed storage device 904, respectively. The e-mail address of the computer 91 is
Is set in the From field when the e-mail attached with the firmware is transmitted to the printer controller 21.

If the F2 key is pressed (step S
"YES" in 507), and in step S509, registration processing of the image forming apparatus is performed. That is, information such as a model name of each image forming apparatus, an e-mail address, limited capacity information provided in a corresponding mail server, and other information such as a user name, an address, and a telephone number of each image forming apparatus are input as necessary. And stored in the fixed storage device 904.

If the F3 key is pressed (step S
“YES” in 511), in step S513, a firmware transmission process is performed. That is, the firmware of the model to be rewritten is appropriately divided, and each of the firmware is attached to another electronic mail and transmitted to the image forming apparatus 11.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of data registered in the fixed storage device 904 in the registration processing (step S509) of the image forming apparatus in FIG. Before rewriting the firmware of the image forming apparatus, the operator of the service center inputs information on the image forming apparatus to the computer 91 using the keyboard 93, the mouse 94, and the like in advance.

As shown in FIG. 6, the information on the image forming apparatus includes a model name of the image forming apparatus, an e-mail address, and other information. The other information may include, for example, user information such as the name, address, and telephone number of the user of the image forming apparatus in order to easily identify the image forming apparatus.

Information on such an image forming apparatus is input to the computer 91, compiled in a table format as shown in FIG. Note that this information is summarized below in a table format for convenience of explanation (hereinafter, referred to as “registration information table”).

Next, a description will be given of the flow of a process in which, when it becomes necessary to rewrite the firmware of the image forming apparatus, an e-mail message with the attached firmware is created by the computer 91 and transmitted to the image forming apparatus 11. . FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing details of the firmware transmission process (step S513) of FIG.

Referring to this figure, first, at step S701
, The operator at the service center uses a keyboard 93, a mouse 94, etc.
First, the model of the image forming apparatus whose firmware is to be rewritten and the control module thereof are specified. The model and the control module are specified because the firmware of the image forming apparatus generally differs depending on the model and the control module.

Next, in step S703, the registration information table (FIG. 6) stored in the fixed storage device 904 is read, and in step S705, the number of registrations n for the model of the designated image forming apparatus is counted. Is done. In step S707, the loop counter is set to 1. Thereafter, until the loop counter i exceeds the registered number n, the image forming apparatus of the designated model is appropriately divided into firmware and the like, and the e-mail Transmission processing is performed.

That is, in step S709, the loop counter i is compared with the registered number n of the designated model, and
If the loop counter i is equal to or smaller than the registered number n of the designated model (“YES” in step S709), step S711 is performed.
In step (1), an e-mail message with the firmware attached is created to the e-mail address of the i-th image forming apparatus of the designated model.

On the service center side, a limit is set in advance on the size of the mail to be sent, for example, 1 Mbyte, and the firmware is divided so as not to exceed the limit size. Then, an e-mail message is created with the divided firmware attached.

As a method for dividing the firmware, a method may be employed in which division is not simply based on the limit size, but is first performed in units of multiple chips, and then, if the size exceeds the limit size, the data is further divided so as not to exceed the limit size. .

Note that the limit size stored on the service center side is not uniform, and may be registered for each user.

Next, in step S713, the created e-mail message is transmitted to the image forming apparatus. That is, after a connection with the mail server 83 is established based on the IP address of the mail server 83 set in step S505 in FIG. 5, the SMTP protocol (RFC
The electronic mail message is transmitted to the mail server 83 according to 821).

When the e-mail is transmitted, step S7
At 15, the loop counter i is incremented by one, and the process returns to step S709 again. In this way, step S70 is performed for all the image forming apparatuses for the designated model registered in the registration information table.
9 to step S715 are performed.

When the processing for all devices equal to the designated model registered in the registration information table is completed (“NO” in step S 709), the firmware transmission processing is completed.

According to the above processing, even if the capacity of the firmware for the designated model is larger than the limited capacity of the mail server, the firmware cannot be transmitted because the firmware is appropriately divided and transmitted. It is possible to avoid.

Next, the e-mail attached with the firmware will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an electronic mail message to which the divided firmware is attached.

Referring to FIG. 8, according to the Internet standard (RFC822) for electronic mail messages,
The message field of an e-mail is roughly divided into a header part and a body part, and both are NULL.
It is distinguished by L rows.

The header part is an Internet standard (RFC)
822). The header field is composed of a field name from the beginning of the line to ":" and a subsequent field body.

Incidentally, the firmware of the image forming apparatus is binary data, but RFC822 prohibits writing binary data directly in an e-mail message. For this reason, RFC 2045, 204
6 and 2047 (MIME (Multip
urpose Internet Mail Exte
nsions) Using the extended rules, the firmware of the image forming apparatus is attached as a file to the body of the message.

The message header contains “Fro
m, "To,""Date,""Subject," etc.
"MIME-Version", "C
Each field of “entent-Type” is added.

The fields of the Subject field
In the body, a character string in which the name of the model designated by the operator and the number of the target control module of the attached firmware are connected by underbars is described.
For example, if the model name is “model1” and the number of the target control module is “1”, “model1” modu
A character string "le1" is described. If the attached firmware data is divided, the number of divisions and the number indicating the number of data are described at the end as shown in FIG. For example, if the firmware is the first of three parts, (1/3)
Is described. If the attached firmware data is not divided, the division number and the like are not described at the end.

[0091] The field body of the Content-Type field includes "Multipart / mix".
"ed" is specified so that the message body part can be divided into a plurality of parts, and a US-A suitable for the "Boundary" parameter representing the boundary of each part is set.
SCII character string (in this figure, after the character string "5kvrZF /
hrA ”).

In the body part of the message, C in the header part
boundary of the content-type field
Parameter value ("5kvrZF / hrA" in this figure)
Is described before the character string, and the beginning of one part is specified. Below that, "Content
-Type "field is described.
"Application / octet-str" indicating that the file attached to the body is binary data
eam "is specified.

Further below, “Content-Tr”
An answer-Encoding field is described, and "base64" is specified in the field body. As described above, direct description of binary data in an e-mail message is prohibited by RFC 822, so the binary data must be converted to US-ASCII characters. In the MIME extension specification, a plurality of methods are defined as the conversion method, and one of them is the Base64 method.

Under the above two fields, the binary data of the firmware is stored in US-AS in Base64 format.
Converted to CII characters and added. Finally, in order to indicate the end of all parts of the body part, the Bou of the Content-Type field of the header part is referred to.
The value of the ndary parameter (“5 kvrZF /
hrA) are described before and after, respectively.

Next, processing on the user side will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a main routine of processing in the CPU 201 of the printer controller 21 of the image forming apparatus 11. Referring to FIG.
201 starts processing when the power is turned on, and first performs general initialization processing performed by a computer device, such as memory initialization and parameter initialization (step S901). Thereafter, communication setting processing (step S905) and firmware reading processing (step S909) are performed as necessary.

For example, “Setting” on operation panel 209
When a key is input by the user (step S903)
In step S905, parameters necessary for transmitting and receiving an e-mail are set. That is, here, the IP address of the mail server 33 connected to the user's LAN, the mail server 3
3, the name and password of the e-mail account of the image forming apparatus 11, the e-mail address of the image forming apparatus 11, and the time interval for periodically checking whether a new e-mail addressed to the image forming apparatus 11 has arrived. Are input and stored in the NV-RAM 204, respectively.

In step S907, it is determined whether the confirmation interval has elapsed. That is, it is determined here whether the time interval set in step S905 (time interval for checking whether a new electronic mail message addressed to image forming apparatus 11 has arrived) has elapsed or not.

If the time interval has elapsed (“YES” in step S 907), in step S 909,
The CPU 201 goes to the mail server 33 to check whether a new e-mail message has arrived, and performs a necessary e-mail download process. If the confirmation interval has not elapsed (“N” in step S907)
O "), for example, returning to the process of step S903, and repeating the above process until the confirmation interval has elapsed.

Next, the processing in the CPU 201 of the printer controller 21 on the user side will be described.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing details of the firmware reading process (step S909) of FIG. Referring to the figure, first, in step S1001, a TCP connection with mail server 33 is established based on the IP address of mail server 33 set in step S905 in FIG. It is confirmed whether a new message has arrived (step S1003).

In the confirmation processing and the processing described below of downloading a new message addressed to the image forming apparatus 11 to the mail server 33 when it arrives, the POP3 (Post Office Pro) is used.
Tocol Version 3) protocol is used.

As a result of checking the new message, if a new message addressed to the image forming apparatus 11 has arrived at the mail server 33 (“YES” at step S1003), the message information is acquired from the mail server 33 at step S1005. You. That is, the subject information of the header part of the message is obtained.

Then, in step S1007, it is determined whether or not the electronic mail has firmware attached. Whether the firmware is attached or not can be determined, for example, by checking the Content-Des in the header
The determination is made based on whether or not the value of the field body of the description field is “Firmware”.

If the firmware is attached (the rewrite permission flag is turned on in step S1117 → “YES” in step S1007), in step S1009, it is determined whether all the firmware data in the write-processable state are stored in the mail server 33 together. Is determined. That is, when a character such as 1/3 indicating division is recognized in the Subject field, it is recognized that the firmware is divided. And
In the subject of the same code, the existence of the remaining divided firmware, that is, the existence of each divided firmware data of 2/3 and 3/3 is checked.

As a result, if the existence of the firmware is confirmed, a message to which the writable firmware is attached is downloaded from the mail server 33 to the printer controller 21 in a succeeding step S1011.

Then, in step S1013, the US-ASCI of the firmware portion is included in the message.
I character is extracted and the extracted US-ASCI
The I character is converted back to binary data by inverse Base64 conversion. In step S1015, the binary data and the module number are transmitted to the CPU 111 of the image forming apparatus 11 via the serial I / F 205.

When the firmware data and the module number are transmitted, the rewriting permission flag of the firmware is turned on to the image forming apparatus 11 in step S1017, and rewriting permission is given. Then, in step S1019, the original message in the mail server is deleted, and in step S1025, the TCP connection with the mail server 33 is disconnected.

If it is determined in step S1009 that there is no firmware that is ready to be written ("NO" in step S1009), the mail server 33 waits until the firmware is ready with the data held. (Step S1021).

Also, if no firmware is attached to the downloaded message (step S
“NO” in step 1007), and in step S1023,
Processing when a message for a use other than the firmware rewriting processing of the image forming apparatus is received is executed as usual.

In this manner, in the printer controller 21 of the image forming apparatus 11, when the firmware data in the write-processable state is ready, the message from the mail server 33 is downloaded. And
The binary data of the firmware is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 11 and rewriting permission is given.

After all the divided firmware necessary for writing are prepared, the message is downloaded from the mail server. Therefore, the message is downloaded every time a message is received. Is no longer stored in the memory. Therefore, a large amount of firmware data does not overwhelm the memory in the device.

Next, processing performed in image forming apparatus 11 will be described. FIG. 11 illustrates an image forming apparatus 11.
5 is a flowchart showing a basic process in the embodiment, which is executed by the CPU 111 in the apparatus. The image forming apparatus 11 starts processing when the power is turned on or the like, and first, in each control module, initial settings such as clearing of a memory and setting of a standard mode are performed (step S110).
1). Then, until the printer controller 21 notifies the reception of the firmware, the input accepting process (step S1103) and the copy control process (step S1105) are repeatedly executed.

In step S1103, reception of various input signals is collectively performed. Here, the input signal is, for example, the operation panel 118 of the image forming apparatus 11.
Input signals from the above key switch group or various sensor groups in the apparatus, or a print job transmitted from the printer controller 21 or the like.

In step S1105, copy control processing, that is, processing necessary for the operation of image forming apparatus 11 is performed. For example, control of various operation units such as paper feed control, scanning control, photosensitive drum control, and development machine control, or processing in accordance with a print job from the printer controller 21 and the like.

When a notification of firmware reception is received from the printer controller 21 and the firmware rewrite processing permission flag is turned on (step S1017 in FIG. 10).
To turn on the rewrite permission flag → "YE" in step S1107.
S '') First, in step S1109, the rewrite permission flag is cleared, and in step S1111 the firmware rewrite process is performed.

When the firmware rewriting process is completed, the process returns to the step S1103, the reception of the firmware is notified again, and the rewriting permission flag is set to O.
Until N, steps S1103 and S1105
Is repeated.

Next, the process of rewriting the firmware of the image forming apparatus 11 will be described. First, the firmware and the target control module number transmitted by the printer controller 21 via the serial I / F 205 are received by the CPU 111 via the serial I / F 117 of the image forming apparatus 11. Thus, the CPU 11
1 receives the firmware, the Flash ROM of the target control module of the received firmware
It is rewritten according to the following processing.

FIG. 12 shows the firmware rewriting process in the image forming apparatus 11 (step S111 in FIG. 11).
It is a flowchart which showed the detail of 1). Referring to this figure, in steps S1201, S1205, and S1209, it is first determined which of the control modules 1 to 4 the received firmware is.

If it is determined that the firmware is for the control module 1 ("Y" in step S1201).
ES "), the new firmware is written to the Flash ROM 112 in step S1203.

If it is determined that the received firmware is the firmware of the control module 2 ("YES" in step S1205), the firmware
11 is transferred to the CPU 121 of the control module 2, and the new firmware is written to the Flash ROM 122 in step S 1207.

If it is determined that the received firmware is the firmware of the control module 3 (“YES” in step S1209), the firmware
The firmware is transferred from the CPU 111 to the CPU 131 of the control module 3, and new firmware is written to the flash ROM 132 in step S 1211.

If it is determined that the received firmware is the firmware of the control module 4 ("NO" in step S1209), the firmware
11 through the CPU 121 to the C of the control module 4
The firmware is transferred to the PU 141, and the firmware is written to the Flash ROM 142 in step S1213.

As described above, the firmware of the image forming apparatus 11 is appropriately rewritten in module units.

The flow of each process of the computer 91 on the service center side, the mail servers 83 and 33, and the image forming apparatus (printer) 11 on the user side described above will be briefly described in time series with reference to FIG. . 13, the computer 91 and the mail server 8 are arranged in order from the left.
3, 33 and the printer 11 are shown, and the time axis is oriented from top to bottom.

As described above, a plurality of mail servers intervene on the Internet between the router 82 and the router 32,
E-mail is sent via an infinite number of mail servers. When transmitting an electronic mail from a transmission source to a transmission destination, the transmission is performed through a plurality of mail servers. In addition, the Internet is an infrastructure that does not guarantee data transmission to a transmission destination, does not guarantee the data transmission order, and may have a loss of transmission data. In such an environment, even if a plurality of e-mails are transmitted almost simultaneously from the center, the e-mail server may receive a plurality of e-mails at a certain time.

Referring to this figure, first, image forming apparatus 11
Checks whether new mail has arrived at the mail server 33 at regular intervals (dotted arrow). When the firmware (1/3) of the division number 1 of the module 1 is transmitted from the computer 91 on the center side to the image forming apparatus 11 (1), the subject information is received from the e-mail message in response to the transmission (1). Acquire (2).

That is, here, information is obtained that the firmware is firmware divided for one module, and there is no remaining divided firmware for that module. For this reason, the message is not downloaded and the system waits for the remaining divided firmware to be transmitted.

Next, when the electronic mail with the firmware of the module 2 is transmitted from the computer 91 on the center side (3), the image forming apparatus 11 receives this and acquires the information of the message (4). Also in this case, information is obtained that the firmware is the firmware (2/3) divided for one module, and the remaining divided firmware does not exist yet. Therefore,
The message is not downloaded and the system waits for the remaining split firmware to be sent.

Thereafter, the firmware of the division number 3 of the module 1 (3 /
When 3) is transmitted (5), the image forming apparatus 11 receives this and acquires the information of the message. Here, the firmware is the firmware divided for one module, and the existence of the remaining divided firmware for this module has already been confirmed. Therefore, it is recognized that all the divided firmware for this module is complete. .

Therefore, it is determined that the firmware is writable, and the divided firmware (1/3), (2/3) and (2/2) corresponding to the module 1 stored in the mail server 33 are stored. ) Is downloaded and written into the corresponding Flash ROM (6).

As described above, the firmware of the message received by the mail server 33 is not immediately rewritten, but is temporarily stored, and the rewriting process is performed after a predetermined number of firmware are prepared. For example, when the firmware for each module is prepared, the firmware is downloaded and rewritten in order from the firmware determined to be capable of writing the firmware. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a problem that the device does not operate normally due to a difference in the rewriting order of the firmware. Also, the management of the memory in which the firmware is written becomes easy.

This time, a case has been described in which the e-mail message with the firmware attached is held in the mail server until it is determined that the firmware can be rewritten. However, in addition to such a case, data may be stored on the image forming apparatus 11 or the printer controller 21 side.

That is, the printer controller 21 that has received the e-mail message downloads the message regardless of whether the message is a firmware rewritable message. Then, the data may be stored in a memory and transmitted to the image forming apparatus 11 at the time when the firmware data for each module is prepared, so that rewriting permission may be given. Such a case will be briefly described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing details of the firmware reading process (step S909 in FIG. 9) when the printer controller 21 holds the firmware data. Referring to this figure, here, FIG.
Unlike the flowchart of FIG. 0, if it is determined in step S1003 that there is a new mail, the printer controller 21 downloads the message (step S1405).

Then, from the downloaded data,
The firmware is taken out (step S1408),
Until all pieces of data are ready to be written, the retrieved firmware data is held and the firmware is not rewritten (step S1421).

When all the writable firmware are available (“YES” in step S1009), all of the retrieved firmware data is transmitted to image forming apparatus 11 (step S1015). Then, permission to rewrite the firmware is given (step S1017).

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the flow of each process of the computer 91 on the service center side, the mail servers 83 and 33, and the printer (image forming apparatus) 11 of the user.

Referring to this figure, upon receiving an e-mail message (1), image forming apparatus 11 first downloads the message, regardless of whether the firmware is writable or not (2). However, here, the firmware rewriting process is not performed.

Similarly, when an e-mail message is received (3), the message is downloaded regardless of whether the firmware is writable (4). Here, the firmware rewriting process is not performed.

Thereafter, when the remaining e-mail message with firmware is transmitted (5), the printer controller 21 downloads the message and permits rewriting of the firmware because all the firmware has been prepared. Then, the firmware of the module 1 is rewritten in the printer 11 together with the firmware data downloaded and taken out before (6).

As described above, when an e-mail message addressed to the image forming apparatus 11 has arrived at the mail server 33, regardless of whether the firmware attached to the message is data that can be written. Is downloaded to the printer controller 21. For this reason, it is possible to avoid a problem that a message including a plurality of firmware is stored in a mailbox and exceeds a capacity limit of a mail server. In addition, when performing the rewriting process, the firmware data downloaded and stored in advance is used, so that the processing time is reduced.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a plurality of divided firmwares are collectively written into the memory in units of modules, so that writing control to the memory is facilitated. It is also possible to manage write errors in memory units and to cancel write errors in module units.

[0143] Although the image forming apparatus has been described as an example of the data communication apparatus having the firmware to be rewritten this time, the present invention is not limited to this. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to any device having a communication function such as a hub or a router.

The division of firmware in the present invention includes not only a case where a single firmware is divided, but also a case where a plurality of firmware to be transmitted is divided into a plurality of firmware according to predetermined conditions. The module unit refers to a control module unit that executes a single firmware program, and refers to, for example, a CPU or a functional block including a CPU. As another example, the module unit is a unit of a control module that loads a program from a single memory, and is, for example, a CPU or a functional block including a CPU.

Although no writing error of the firmware has been described this time, an error check may be performed as follows, for example. That is, Flash ROM prepared for each control module
When the firmware is written to the memory, a write error may be determined by comparing the checksum value counted at the time of sending the firmware mail with the checksum value of the firmware written in the memory.

The firmware communication method (data communication method) performed by the computer 91, the image forming apparatus 11, and the printer controller 21 described above can be realized by a program for causing the above-described series of processing operations to function. This data communication program
The software may be installed in advance on the hard disk in the computer 91, the image forming apparatus 11, and the printer controller 21, respectively, or may be a CD-RO
M, or may be recorded on a removable recording medium such as a magnetic tape. In any case, the data communication program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.

The computer-readable recording media include tapes such as magnetic tapes and cassette tapes, magnetic disks (flexible disks, hard disk devices, etc.) and optical disks (CD-ROM / MO / MD).
/ DVD etc.), card system such as IC card (including memory card) and optical card, or RO
A medium that fixedly holds a program, such as a semiconductor memory such as an M, an EPROM, an EEPROM, or a flash ROM, is considered.

The contents stored on the recording medium are not limited to programs, but may be data.

Although the printer controller and the image forming apparatus have been described as separate devices as shown in FIG. 1 and the like this time, the image forming apparatus may have an integrated structure in which the function of the printer controller is incorporated. Good. In this case, similarly, the process is executed while the printer controller and the control module 1 cooperate with each other. Further, the control performed by the CPU 101 may be executed by the CPU 201 of the printer controller.

The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration for implementing a firmware communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the image forming apparatus 11.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the printer controller 21.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a computer 91 installed on the service center side.

FIG. 5 is C of the computer 91 on the service center side.
9 is a flowchart illustrating a main routine of a process performed by a PU 901.

FIG. 6 shows a registration process (step S) of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 509) illustrates an example of data registered in the fixed storage device 904 in (509).

FIG. 7 shows the firmware transmission process (step S
It is a flowchart which showed the detail of 513).

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a message text of an electronic mail to which the divided firmware is attached.

FIG. 9 shows a printer controller 2 of the image forming apparatus 11.
9 is a flowchart illustrating a main routine of processing in one CPU 201.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing details of a firmware reading process (step S909) of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing basic processing in the image forming apparatus 11;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating details of a firmware rewriting process (step S1111 in FIG. 11) in the image forming apparatus 11.

FIG. 13 shows a computer 91 and mail servers 83 and 3.
3 is a diagram for explaining the flow of each process of the image forming apparatus (printer) 11 on the user side.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing details of firmware reading processing (step S909 in FIG. 9) when the printer controller 21 holds firmware data.

FIG. 15 shows a computer 91 and mail servers 83 and 3.
3 is a diagram for explaining the flow of each process of the image forming apparatus (printer) 11 on the user side.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 image forming apparatus, 21 printer controller, 3
2,82 router, 33,83 mail server, 91
Computer, 111, 121, 131, 141, 20
1,901 CPU, 112,122,132,142
FlashROM, 118, 209 Operation panel, 2
08 backup memory, 904 permanent storage.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 13/00 625 G06F 9/06 640A (72) Inventor Hideki Hino 2-3-3 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi No. 13 Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2C061 HJ06 HQ17 HS07 5B021 AA01 AA02 BB04 CC05 EE01 5B076 BB04 BB06 EB02

Claims (8)

[Claims] A determining step of determining whether the firmware attached to the electronic mail is a part of the predetermined firmware; and determining that the firmware is a part of the predetermined firmware by the determining step. A confirmation step of confirming the existence of the remaining firmware of the predetermined firmware; and a writing step of writing the firmware to a predetermined memory together with the remaining firmware when the existence of the remaining firmware is confirmed by the confirmation step. And a data communication program for causing a computer to execute. 2. An information acquisition step for acquiring information about firmware from an e-mail present in a mail server; and when the existence of the remaining firmware is confirmed by the confirmation step, the information is transmitted to the remaining firmware and the e-mail. Further causing the computer to execute a firmware acquisition step of acquiring the attached firmware from the mail server, wherein the determination step determines based on the acquired information, and the writing step includes: 2. The data communication program according to claim 1, wherein firmware is written to the predetermined memory. 3. The method further comprising: causing a computer to execute an obtaining step of obtaining an e-mail from a mail server; and a storing step of storing firmware attached to the obtained e-mail. The data communication program according to claim 1, wherein the determination is performed based on information about firmware obtained from an electronic mail, and wherein the writing step writes the stored firmware to the predetermined memory. A determining step of determining whether the firmware attached to the electronic mail is a part of the predetermined firmware; and determining that the firmware is a part of the predetermined firmware by the determining step. A confirmation step of confirming the existence of the remaining firmware of the predetermined firmware; and a transmitting step of transmitting the firmware to a predetermined module together with the remaining firmware when the existence of the remaining firmware is confirmed by the confirmation step. And a data communication program for causing a computer to execute. 5. A computer-readable recording medium on which the data communication program according to claim 1 is recorded. 6. A determining means for determining whether the firmware attached to the e-mail is a part of the predetermined firmware, and when the determining means determines that the firmware is a part of the predetermined firmware, Confirming means for confirming the existence of the remaining firmware of the predetermined firmware; and when the existence of the remaining firmware is confirmed by the confirming means, together with the remaining firmware,
Writing means for writing the firmware into a predetermined memory. 7. An image forming apparatus comprising the data communication device according to claim 6. 8. A determining step of determining whether the firmware attached to the e-mail is a part of the predetermined firmware, and determining that the firmware is a part of the predetermined firmware by the determining step. A confirmation step of confirming the existence of the remaining firmware of the predetermined firmware; and a writing step of writing the firmware to a predetermined memory together with the remaining firmware when the existence of the remaining firmware is confirmed by the confirmation step. And a data communication method.