JP2005040974A - Image forming apparatus and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent unauthorized copy of a plurality of firmware files in units of file. <P>SOLUTION: When a multifunction machine is started, mount processing of an external recording card (SD card) is carried out. When it can be mounted, content of the SD card is read in and when a firmware file is present in the SD card, registration information of the multifunction machine affixed to an arbitrary position in the firmware file and registratin information of the SD card registered in the copy machine body is acquired. Matching of two pieces of information is then checked and when they match each other, the firmware is developed in the memory of the multifunction machine and the firmware is started. When registration information does not exist in the SD card and the memory of the multifunction machine, inherent identification information of a started multifunction machine is affixed to an arbitrary position of the firmware file. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming system having a function of preventing unauthorized copying of firmware recorded on an external recording medium (such as an SD card).
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a conventional technique, Patent Document 1 describes a printer device that compares the type of font to be used with the fonts of a storage medium set in an external storage unit, and stops printing if they do not match. ing. The technique described in Patent Document 1 can be set to print a special font as a substitute font or prevent the printing from being performed when the corresponding font (character code) does not exist, rather than preventing unauthorized copying. With this function, control is performed such as whether or not printing is performed, and a convenient printing function is provided.
[0003]
In Patent Document 2, the unique information of the apparatus main body is written in an exchangeable storage medium at the first access, and the unique information in the main body and the unique information read from the storage medium are stored from the second access. In comparison, there is described an information processing apparatus that prohibits the use of the same storage medium in a plurality of apparatuses and prevents the illegal use of software by prohibiting access to the storage medium if they do not match. According to the technique described in Patent Document 2, model-specific identification information is written to a special sector of an external storage medium such as an FD (floppy (R) disk), and the FD in which this model-specific identification information is written is written. The main body and the model information recorded in the FD are compared, and if they do not match, the apparatus is not activated, and the FD in which the model information is registered is used even once by another image forming apparatus. It is disclosed that when activated, a prohibition flag is written so that the original image forming apparatus cannot be activated.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-291010
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-7-287655
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Conventionally, the firmware file of the image forming apparatus is recorded in a DIMM mounted on the main unit, a flash memory, or the like, and the font data is recorded in the mask ROM. Therefore, it is easy to copy the firmware file. Instead, the firmware file could not be used illegally. However, recent image forming apparatuses have also been proposed in which firmware is directly activated from a recording medium such as an SD card that can be read and written by a normal computer in order to reduce costs.
[0006]
Prior to that, as in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-260, the mainstream is to start a firmware application by using an external storage medium such as an FD. The model-specific identification information is written in a special sector of the FD, the main body, The unauthorized copy prevention function is realized by comparing the model information recorded in the computer.
[0007]
Incidentally, in recent years, the size of each firmware application has increased, but on the other hand, the capacity of the recording medium has also increased, and it has become possible to write a plurality of firmware applications on a single external recording medium. Here, in order to prevent unauthorized copying of the firmware, all of the plurality of files can be avoided by an operation such as encryption. However, by performing the operation, there is a possibility that the start-up time is delayed due to restoration or the like, and the processing becomes complicated.
[0008]
The invention described in Patent Document 2 cannot be started unless the special FD is used or the serial number of the FD is registered in the main body. However, when the file itself is copied, it can be started on other image forming apparatuses. There is a possibility. Further, in the invention described in Patent Document 2, it does not correspond to processing such as a case where a plurality of files exist in one FD or individual access rights.
[0009]
The present invention solves such problems, provides a function for preventing unauthorized copying of firmware without delaying the startup time as much as possible without performing complicated processing such as encryption and the like, and using only a specific image forming apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming system capable of incorporating a function that can only start firmware.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the object, the invention according to claim 1 is stored in the external recording medium, means for forming an image by a predetermined image forming process, means for reading and writing by connecting to an external recording medium In an image forming apparatus having a control unit that reads a firmware file and expands the firmware file to a specified location in the memory of the image forming apparatus and activates the firmware, in an arbitrary location in the firmware file stored in the external recording medium, Means for adding unique identification information enabling identification of the image forming apparatus, and when the image forming apparatus is started up, the control means provides the unique identification information of the image forming apparatus mounted with the external recording medium and the external recording Compare with the unique identification information of the firmware file read from the media. And wherein the activating the firmware. With this configuration, since the unique identification information of the image forming apparatus is added to the firmware file, even if there are multiple firmware files on the external recording medium, the firmware file has a function of preventing unauthorized copying. In addition, even when the firmware file is copied to another storage means and used for activation, the function of preventing unauthorized copying can be maintained.
[0011]
The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that in the invention according to claim 1, there is provided means for recording the unique identification information added to an arbitrary location of the firmware file in a memory of the image forming apparatus or another external recording medium. And With such a configuration, it is possible to use the medium on which the firmware is recorded for starting up the firmware.
[0012]
The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 1 or 2, there is provided means for dividing the unique identification information into a plurality of parts and adding a plurality of pieces of information to arbitrary locations in the firmware file.
[0013]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first, second, or third aspect, when there are a plurality of firmware files, means for designating a firmware file to which the unique identification information is added from the plurality of firmware files. The unique identification information is added only to the designated firmware file. With such a configuration, it is possible to provide an unauthorized copy prevention function only to a firmware file for which unauthorized copying is to be prevented, and it is possible to reduce the time required for checking the firmware file.
[0014]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system formed by connecting a plurality of the image forming apparatuses according to any one of the first to fourth aspects to the network, the at least one image forming apparatus includes the plurality of image forming apparatuses. When an external recording medium storing a usable firmware file is mounted, the image forming apparatus on the network directly accesses the image forming apparatus mounted with the external recording medium, and the firmware file is uniquely identified from the external recording medium. The information is read, the unique identification information of the image forming apparatus on the network is compared with the unique identification information of the firmware file, and if they match, the firmware file is downloaded in the image forming apparatus on the network and expanded on the memory Specially To. With this configuration, a firmware file stored in an external recording medium in another image forming apparatus on the same network can be activated on an image forming apparatus that does not have another external recording apparatus. It becomes possible. In addition, firmware of a plurality of image forming apparatuses can be managed in an integrated manner, and efficiency such as version upgrade can be achieved.
[0015]
The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 5, wherein the downloaded firmware file is written to the external recording medium of the image forming apparatus as the download destination, and the firmware is recorded from the external recording medium when the image forming apparatus is activated next time. Is read out to enable activation. With this configuration, when there are multiple image forming devices on the same network, it is possible to register a model that can use the firmware file stored in the external recording medium. become.
[0016]
The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 5 or 6, there is provided means for registering a firmware file in a network server provided in the network, downloading the firmware from the server, and starting the firmware. And By configuring in this way, it is possible to start firmware not only from an image forming apparatus but also from a network server or the like, and by enabling the firmware even in a network environment where there is no image forming apparatus having an external recording medium, It is possible to effectively use other resources on the network.
[0017]
The invention according to an eighth aspect is the invention according to the fifth, sixth or seventh aspect, characterized in that means for adding a plurality of types of unique identification information is provided to each image forming apparatus constituting the network. With this configuration, it is possible to easily manage the use of the same firmware with a plurality of the same models.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0019]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration related to a printer function and a relationship with a host in a multifunction machine. Reference numeral 9 denotes a printer engine, 10 denotes a controller, and 13 denotes a host PC.
[0020]
The controller 10 converts the print data converted in the actual page description language into video data under the condition of the print correction mode set by the printer driver installed in the main body or the host PC 13 in the multifunction peripheral. A generic term for output devices to the printer engine, which includes RAM1, ROM2, font ROM3, CPU4, ASIC5, engine I / F6, host I / F7, HDD8, NIC11, TIMER12, and the like.
[0021]
The host I / F 7 is an interface for data transmission from the host PC 13 to the printer, and status signals and data reception from the printer to the host PC 13. The SD card I / F 14 is an interface or an insertion slot for an external recording medium. Whether or not a card is inserted can be recognized by a change in voltage or the like when the card is hot-plugged into and removed from the SD card I / F 14.
[0022]
The CPU 4 and the ASIC 5 process data (print data) from the host PC 13 according to the ROM (PROGRAM) 2. The RAM 1 is a work memory when the CPU 4 processes, a buffer for managing and temporarily storing data from the host PC 13 in units of pages, a bit for converting the data stored in the buffer into an actual print pattern, and storing video data Used for map memory etc. The font ROM 3 has various fonts that are actually used. The engine I / F 6 is an interface for a control signal from the controller 10 to the printer engine 9 and an engine status signal to the controller 10. The printer engine 9 creates and develops an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member by a video signal and a control signal from the controller 10, feeds transfer paper from a paper feeding unit, performs transfer and fixing, and forms an image. To do. The HDD 8 stores document data information, document data, print data, and the like. The TIMER 12 is a device that always measures the current time. The NIC 11 provides an interface for connecting to a network.
[0023]
When the print command from the host PC 13 or the data received from the host PC 13 exceeds one page, the controller 10 first converts the intermediate code into video data, and when that is finished, the printer engine is connected via the engine I / F 6. A print start command is output to 9. This operation is repeated, and the data from the host PC 13 is actually printed through the printer engine 9.
[0024]
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an image forming system using a plurality of multifunction machines and a plurality of host PCs connected on the same network. Reference numerals 30, 31, and 32 denote a copying function, a printer function, a facsimile function, and a scanner function. This is a multifunction device that can be connected to the network.
[0025]
From a plurality of client PCs (in this case, the host PC 20 and the host PC 21), print data can be transmitted to each of the multifunction machines 30, 31, and 32, and processing such as printing, storage, or writing can be performed. In this environment, the multifunction machine 30 has an SD card recording device as an external recording card, and application firmware files (hereinafter referred to as firmware files) such as printers, fax machines, and scanners are stored in the SD card. Has been. When each of the multifunction devices 30 to 32 is activated, the firmware file in the SD card of the multifunction device 30 is read, downloaded onto the memory of the multifunction device, and expanded to activate the firmware. The firmware file stored in the SD card can be easily referred to and written from a PC having the SD card I / F 14.
[0026]
FIG. 3 shows the structure of the firmware file in the SD card. Each application firmware file is stored in the Module directory in the SD card. In the example shown in FIG. mod is a printer, fax. mod is a fax, scanner. mod is a firmware file of the scanner.
[0027]
Information such as the download destination of the firmware file is registered in the header portion of each firmware file, a special file created separately from the firmware file, and the multifunction device side. However, if the firmware file in the SD card is copied to another new SD card as it is, the firmware can be activated even in another same multi-function device.
[0028]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the SD card storing the firmware is used for the first time and the firmware is activated, unique identification information of the activated multifunction device, for example, the multifunction device 30 is activated on the SD card. The machine number information of the machine 30 is written. Further, in the non-volatile memory (NVRAM) in the multifunction device 30, a flag indicating that the unique identification information has been registered in the SD card, the serial number of the SD card in which the unique identification information of the multifunction device 30 is registered, and firmware file information Record (type, version, size, etc.).
[0029]
When the multifunction device 30 is activated next time, registration information related to the multifunction device on the SD card side, such as the unique identification information of the activated multifunction device, and the multifunction device 30 side, such as the serial number of the SD card and firmware file information. The registration information regarding the SD card and the firmware file (hereinafter simply referred to as SD card registration information) is compared, and the firmware file is expanded in the memory of the multi-function device 30 only when the information matches. On the other hand, if they match, for example, the registered flag, the serial number of the registered SD card, and the firmware file information are registered on the MFP 30 main body side, but the unique identification information of the MFP 30 is already registered. When an SD card that is not registered is inserted and activated, or the serial number and firmware file information of the SD card are not registered on the multifunction device 30 main body, the unique identification of the multifunction device 30 If an SD card in which information is written is inserted to start the firmware, the firmware cannot be started.
[0030]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the activation check in this embodiment. First, when the multifunction machine is activated (S1), an external recording card (SD card) is mounted (S2). If it cannot be mounted (failure of S3), the check process is skipped and the MFP start process is performed. If it can be mounted (successful mounting in S3), then the contents of the SD card are read (S4), and if there is a firmware file on the SD card (S5), the composite added at any location in the firmware file The registration information of the machine and the registration information of the SD card registered in the copying machine main body are acquired (S6, S7), and the consistency check of the two information is performed (S8). If these two pieces of information match the unique identification information of the MFP, the serial number of the SD card, and the firmware file information (matching the registration information in S8), mount the copying machine as usual. And start the firmware (S10). Further, when the registration information is new (when there is no registration information in the SD card side and the main body side NVRAM) (no registration information in S8), the unique identification information of the activated multifunction device is displayed at an arbitrary location in the firmware file. It is added (S11).
[0031]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure from the mounting process of the SD card to the actual activation of the firmware contained in the SD card. The download destination is acquired from the header information of the firmware, and the file obtained by removing the header information portion from the firmware file is copied and expanded to a predetermined memory location at the acquired download destination, and download is started.
[0032]
By the way, the registration information regarding the multifunction peripheral in the SD card is added to the header of the firmware file in the SD card or an arbitrary location of the firmware file. When adding to this arbitrary place, special unique identification key information such as a magic number can be added to the registration information related to the multifunction machine to be inserted so that it can be distinguished from other information, It can be added by securing an address block unit. Or you may preserve | save in an SD card as a hidden file which cannot be referred as a normal file.
[0033]
In addition, although it cannot be used by a normal user, the multifunction peripheral has a function of deleting and initializing registration information such as unique identification information registered in the SD card.
[0034]
Also, the registration information regarding the multifunction peripheral in the SD card can be divided and added / inserted into the firmware file.
[0035]
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the registration information is inserted into the firmware file. When inserting the registration information into the firmware file, three keywords (@ KEY_START @... @ KEY_CONTAIN @... @ KEY_END @) are used to distinguish the registration information from other data. @ KEY_START @ indicates the key information start position, @ KEY_END @ indicates the key information end position, and @ KEY_CONTINUE @ indicates that the registration information is continued when the registration information is divided.
[0036]
FIG. 6A shows a case where unique identification information of a plurality of models is inserted into one firmware file. When one firmware file is used with a plurality of models, for example, the multifunction device 31 in FIG. When using a firmware file stored in the SD card of the multi-function device 30, the numbers after the KEY are separated as in @ KEY1_START @ and @ KEY2_START @ so that the multi-function device 30 and the multi-function device 31 Distinguish unique identification information.
[0037]
FIG. 6B shows a case where model key information is divided and inserted into one file. FIG. 6 (b) shows an example of division into three parts, in which @ KEY_START @ is inserted at the beginning of the first key information and @ KEY_CONTINUE @ is inserted at the end. Also, @ KEY_START @ is inserted at the beginning of the second key information, and @ KEY_CONTINUE @ is inserted at the end. Furthermore, @ KEY_START @ is inserted at the beginning of the third (last) unique identification information, and @ KEY_END @ is inserted at the end.
[0038]
Here, if the unique identification information of the copying machine is added to all firmware files, it is necessary to check the data consistency for all firmware files, so it may take time to start the firmware. . Therefore, the unique identification information of the copying machine is added only to a specific firmware file that can be used independently or in common among models, such as font data. Incorporating an unauthorized copy prevention function for such a minimum can speed up the startup.
[0039]
By the way, according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the firmware file in the SD card of the multifunction device 30 connected on the same network is downloaded to another multifunction device 31 or the multifunction device 32 and expanded. Then, there is a media-less network activation function that activates the application.
[0040]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a startup sequence when the network is started without a medium. The connection information can be registered from WEB or the operation panel of the multifunction device 31 or the multifunction device 32. After the MFP 31 or the MFP 32 is activated, connection destination information is acquired from the main body memory, and the connection destination, that is, the MFP 30 is connected to the network.
[0041]
After the connection is completed, the multi-function device 31 or the multi-function device 32 accesses the multi-function device 30 and reads registration information regarding the multi-function device in the CD card. If the read registration information matches the registration information related to the CD card in the multifunction device, the firmware file is downloaded from the CD card of the multifunction device 30 onto the memory of the multifunction device 31 or the multifunction device 32, expanded, and the normal Start the firmware. In addition, if the multifunction device on which the firmware file is downloaded (assumed to be the multifunction device 31) has a new media card or has a storage device for storing information in a disk-shaped storage medium such as an HDD, the card Alternatively, download and write to a disk to create a firmware application launch card or disk. Then, it is possible to start from its own card or disk from the next startup.
[0042]
Here, since it cannot be downloaded when the power of the multifunction machine 30 as the connection destination is not turned on, the firmware file is backed up in advance on a server or the like, and further has a function that can be downloaded and mounted from the server or the like. May be allowed. Also, it is possible to set in advance that the server can be started without using an external medium. By using these functions, it is possible to easily manage firmware versions, multifunction devices to be used, and the like.
[0043]
In addition, in a plurality of MFPs connected to the network, a plurality of registration information can be further added to the firmware management header information of the MFP 30, and registration identification information when using the same firmware file in a plurality of MFPs is provided. Enable centralized management. At that time, a list of multifunction peripherals that can be used on the server is created and saved as a file, and the firmware to be activated can be similarly restricted from the file.
[0044]
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not restricted to embodiment mentioned above. For example, according to the network shown in FIG. 2, the MFPs 30, 31, and 32 are all of the same type, but not limited thereto, a printer that can use a firmware file of a printer stored in the SD card of the MFP 30, A system in which a scanner device that can use a scanner firmware file, a facsimile device that can use a fax firmware file, and the like are connected to a network, and the firmware file stored in the SD card of the MFP 30 is downloaded and activated. Also good.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention configured as described above, the unique identification information of the image forming apparatus is added to the firmware file, and the unique identification information of the firmware file matches the unique identification information of the activated image forming apparatus. By configuring so that the firmware can be activated sometimes, it is possible to easily prevent unauthorized copying in units of files when there are multiple files in the external recording media instead of in units of external recording media. It becomes possible.
[0046]
In addition, it enables effective use of firmware between image forming apparatuses and network servers connected on the same network, and also manages firmware etc. centrally, provides the latest environment, and unauthorized copy prevention environment Can be easily realized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration related to a printer function in a multifunction peripheral and a relationship with a host.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating an image forming system including a plurality of multifunction peripherals and a plurality of host PCs connected on the same network.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of a firmware file in an SD card
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a start check in the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure from the mounting process of the SD card to the actual activation of the firmware contained in the SD card.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which unique identification key information is inserted into a firmware file
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a startup sequence when a network is started without media.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 RAM
2 ROM
3 Font ROM
4 CPU
5 ASIC
6 Engine I / F
7 Host I / F
8 HDD
9 Printer engine
10 Controller
11 NIC
12 TIMER
13 Host PC
14 SD card I / F
13, 20, 21 Host PC
30, 31, 32 MFP

Claims (8)

A means for forming an image by a predetermined image forming process, a means for connecting to an external recording medium for reading and writing, and a firmware file stored in the external recording medium are read out and expanded to a specified location in the memory of the image forming apparatus And an image forming apparatus having control means for starting the firmware,
Means for adding unique identification information enabling identification of the image forming apparatus to an arbitrary location in the firmware file stored in the external recording medium, and the control means when the image forming apparatus is activated; Comparing the unique identification information of the image forming apparatus mounted with the external recording medium with the unique identification information of the firmware file read from the external recording medium, and starting the firmware if they match . 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for recording the unique identification information added to an arbitrary location of the firmware file in a memory of the image forming apparatus or another external recording medium. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for dividing the unique identification information into a plurality of parts and adding the plurality of unique identification information to arbitrary locations in the firmware file. The means for designating a firmware file to which unique identification information is added from the plurality of firmware files when there are a plurality of firmware files, wherein the unique identification information is added only to the designated firmware file. The image forming apparatus according to 1, 2 or 3. 5. An image forming system formed by connecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses according to claim 1 to a network, and storing firmware files usable in the plurality of image forming apparatuses in at least one image forming apparatus. When the external recording medium is mounted, the image forming apparatus on the network directly accesses the image forming apparatus on which the external recording medium is mounted, and reads the unique identification information of the firmware file from the external recording medium. The unique identification information of the image forming apparatus is compared with the unique identification information of the firmware file, and if they match, the firmware file is downloaded to the image forming apparatus on the network and is developed on the memory and activated. Image forming system . 6. The downloaded firmware file is written into an external recording medium of an image forming apparatus as a download destination, and the firmware is read from the external recording medium from the next activation of the image forming apparatus so that the firmware can be activated. Image forming system. 7. The image forming system according to claim 5, further comprising means for registering a firmware file in a network server provided in the network, downloading the firmware from the server, and starting the firmware. 8. The image forming system according to claim 5, wherein means for adding a plurality of types of unique identification information is provided to each image forming apparatus constituting the network.

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