JP2006139665A - Electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide electronic equipment which can be surely and quickly restored into a state before it is updated into firmware which does not fit the equipment by mistake. <P>SOLUTION: When firmware is rewritten, firmware 11a(first firmware) already stored in a flash memory 11 is read, and saved to a mounted storage medium. Then, a storage medium in which new firmware 30a(second firmware) is stored is mounted, and the first firmware is rewritten with new firmware. Then, the availability/unavailability of the rewritten second firmware is accepted, and when the unavailability of the second firmware is accepted, the second firmware is rewritten with the first firmware saved to the storage medium, and when the availability of the second firmware is accepted, the saved first firmware is erased. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device that can reliably return to a state before update even when firmware is rewritten (updated) by mistake.

  The firmware is a control program positioned between the hardware and the software, which is incorporated to control the hardware that is an electronic device. A technique is used in which a plurality of types of firmware are prepared, and different functions are incorporated into different hardware in the same configuration. For example, in recent years, facsimile multifunction devices equipped with a copy function, a scan function, a printer function, and a FAX function have been put into practical use. By changing the type of firmware incorporated in the facsimile multifunction device, the function can be increased or decreased. Can change its function (commercial value).

  Conventionally, the firmware has been updated by replacing the ROM in which the firmware is stored. Recently, however, a connection interface for a compact flash (registered trademark) card (hereinafter referred to as a CF card) is provided in the hardware. A method of updating firmware by connecting a CF card storing desired firmware has been proposed. According to this method, it is very easy to cope with a bug and to cope with version upgrade, the burden on the service provider is reduced, and the cost is useful.

  However, since the firmware can be easily updated as described above, there is a possibility that the firmware is erroneously updated, a malfunction occurs in the device, and even the device cannot be started up in some cases.

Therefore, in Patent Document 1, even when the USB device includes a plurality of firmware storage units and rewriting of the firmware to the firmware storage unit fails, the USB device can be operated using the original firmware storage unit. A technique for avoiding occurrence of inoperability due to rewriting failure is disclosed.
JP 2001-117778 A

  However, the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1 requires an arithmetic device that reads and verifies data from the firmware storage means that has been rewritten after the firmware is rewritten. There is no problem. Further, when the data size of the firmware is large, the time required for verification becomes long, and there is a problem that a burden is imposed on an operator who rewrites the firmware. Furthermore, it merely verifies whether or not the firmware to be updated has been securely rewritten. If the operator updates the wrong firmware, there is a possibility that inoperability or the like may occur.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides an electronic device that can reliably and quickly return to the state before the update even if the firmware is erroneously updated to firmware that is not compatible with the device. With the goal.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus including a storage unit for storing firmware, wherein the second storage unit stores the second firmware in the electronic apparatus configured to be able to rewrite the firmware stored in the storage unit. Mounting means that can be mounted, saving means for reading out and saving the first firmware stored in the storage means, means for rewriting the first firmware in the storage means to the second firmware, and rewritten second firmware And a means for rewriting the second firmware of the storage means, which has been rewritten when the second firmware is rejected, to the saved first firmware when the second firmware is accepted as a rejection. .

  In the first invention, when rewriting the firmware, first, the first firmware (old firmware) already stored in the storage unit is read and saved. Then, the first firmware is rewritten to the second firmware (new firmware). Then, whether or not the rewritten second firmware is acceptable is accepted, and when the acceptance is made as “no”, the second firmware is rewritten to the first firmware saved. As a result, for example, even when the firmware is updated to the second firmware that does not conform to the device, it is possible to reliably and quickly return to the saved first firmware before the update. Can return.

  An electronic apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention includes means for deleting the saved first firmware when the accepting means accepts acceptance of the second firmware.

  In the second invention, when the rewritten second firmware is accepted, the saved first firmware is deleted. If the second firmware is available, it is not necessary to retain the first firmware, so that the free space for saving can be increased by deleting the second firmware.

  The electronic device according to a third aspect of the invention is characterized in that the retracting means is retracted to a storage medium attached to the attaching means.

  In the third aspect of the invention, the first firmware stored in the storage means is read out and saved in the storage medium attached to the attachment means. By saving the first firmware to a storage medium separate from the electronic device, the first firmware can be returned to the electronic device using a separate storage medium even if a failure occurs in the electronic device. it can. For example, when a known non-volatile medium such as a small memory card such as a CF card, an SD memory card, a memory stick, a smart media, or a small hard disk device such as a micro drive is used as a storage medium, Even if shut off, the saved first firmware is not erased.

  According to the present invention, even when the firmware is erroneously updated to the firmware (second firmware) that is not compatible with the device, the saved firmware (first firmware) that has been saved can be reliably and quickly restored. Yes, you can return to the state before the update.

  According to the present invention, when the second firmware is possible, it is not necessary to retain the first firmware. Therefore, by deleting, it is possible to increase the free capacity for saving.

  According to the present invention, the first firmware stored in the storage means is read out and saved in the storage medium attached to the attachment means, so that even if a malfunction occurs in the electronic device, There are excellent effects such that the first firmware can be returned to the electronic device using the storage medium.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments thereof.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile composite apparatus which is an example of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention.
The facsimile multifunction apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, a flash memory 11, a RAM 12, a reading unit 13, a recording unit 14, a display unit 15, an operation unit 16, a codec unit 17, an image memory 18, a modem 19, and an NCU (Network Control Unit) 20. , A PC interface unit 21, a memory card interface unit 22, and the like. The facsimile multifunction apparatus 1 has a reading function for reading an original by the reading unit 13 to obtain image data, read image data, image data received by facsimile communication, or image data corresponding to image data received from an externally connected PC. The recording unit 14 has a recording function and a transmission function for facsimile transmission of the read image data or the received image data.

  Specifically, the control unit 10 is constituted by a CPU, and is connected to the above-described hardware units of the facsimile multifunction peripheral 1 to control them and according to a control program stored in the flash memory 11. Perform various software functions. The flash memory 11 is an internal memory incorporated in advance in the apparatus, and stores firmware 11a (first firmware) that is various control programs necessary for the operation of the facsimile multifunction apparatus 1 in advance. And even if it is a case where the firmware 11a is updated accidentally, the main point of this invention is to return to the state before update reliably. The RAM 12 stores temporary data generated when executing a software function.

  The reading unit 13 reads a document using a CCD image sensor, for example, and outputs the read image data. The optical unit irradiates and scans the original fed to the platen glass, and the reflected light from the original is taken into the CCD image sensor via a mirror, a lens, etc., and the scanned original image data is read. The read image data is output after being subjected to shading processing or the like.

  The recording unit 14 is an electrophotographic printer device, and is an image corresponding to image data of a document read by the reading unit 13, image data received by facsimile communication, image data sent from an external PC, and the like. On the paper. The display unit 15 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display device or a CRT display, displays the operating state of the facsimile multifunction device 1, displays a screen prompting the user to input an operation, or reads an image of a document read for transmission. Data, image data transmitted from other facsimile machines or PCs, etc. are displayed.

  The codec unit 17 encodes and compresses the image data and decodes the encoded and compressed image data. The image memory 18 stores image data encoded by reading a document, image data received from another facsimile multifunction peripheral or PC, and encoded.

  The modem 19 is composed of a facsimile modem capable of facsimile communication. The modem 19 is directly connected to the NCU 20. The NCU 20 is hardware that performs operations for closing and opening a line L1 with a public switched telephone network (PSTN), and connects the modem 19 to the PSTN as necessary. The facsimile complex apparatus 1 is connected to other facsimile apparatuses by PSTN so that normal facsimile communication can be performed. The PC interface unit 21 is connected to an external PC via a communication line L2 such as a LAN, and exchanges data with the PC. Various image data created and edited by an external PC are transmitted to the facsimile multifunction apparatus 1 (PC interface unit 21) via the communication line L2, and an image corresponding to the transmitted image data is transmitted to the facsimile multifunction apparatus. 1 (recording unit 14) is printed out on paper.

  The memory card interface unit 22 is a connection unit for mounting a CF card 30 as a (portable) storage medium, and the CF card 30 stores firmware 30a (second firmware) to be updated. The CF card 30 has a non-volatility that does not erase stored data even when power is cut off. When a user such as a service provider connects (inserts) the CF card 30 to the memory card interface unit 22, the control unit 10 appropriately stores the firmware 30 a stored in the CF card 30 through the memory card interface unit 22. to access.

  The operation unit 16 is for operating the multifunction facsimile apparatus and includes various function keys. As function keys that are characteristic of the present invention, there are a firmware update key 16a for setting whether or not to update firmware, and an availability confirmation key 16b for accepting availability of new firmware. Needless to say, a short dial key, a one-touch dial key, and the like (not shown) are provided as in the conventional facsimile multifunction apparatus. In addition, by using the touch panel system for the display unit 15, some or all of the various function keys of the operation unit 16 can be substituted.

Next, the operation of the firmware update process in the facsimile multifunction machine according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of firmware update processing according to the present invention.
The control unit 10 determines whether or not firmware update processing is set based on whether or not the firmware update key 16a is pressed (step S1). If the firmware update process is not set (S1: NO), the process returns to S1.

  When the firmware update process is set (S1: YES), the control unit 10 reads the firmware 11a (old firmware) already stored in the flash memory 11 that is the internal memory, and externally passes through the memory card interface unit 22. The data is transmitted to the CF card 30 which is a memory and is saved in the CF card 30 (step S2). Then, the control unit 10 reads the firmware 30a (new firmware) to be updated stored in the CF card 30 and transmits it to the flash memory 11 through the memory card interface unit 22 to rewrite the old firmware to the new firmware. Update (step S3).

  Then, the control unit 10 restarts the facsimile multifunction apparatus so that the updated new firmware becomes valid (step S4), and inputs whether or not the new firmware is compatible with the device using the availability confirmation key 16b. Is received (step S5). In other words, if the Facsimile MFP is restarted without problems, it is considered that the new firmware is compatible with the device. Therefore, if the Facsimile MFP is restarted, the user can apply the new firmware to the device. If the facsimile multifunction peripheral has not been restarted, an input is made indicating that the new firmware is not compatible with the device. In this way, the user determines whether or not new firmware is available.

  In S5, when an input indicating that the new firmware is not compatible with the device is received (S5: NO), the old firmware saved in the CF card 30 in S2 is read, and the flash memory is read through the memory card interface unit 22. 11, the new firmware is rewritten and updated to the original old firmware (step S6). As a result, when the new firmware is not compatible with the device, the facsimile composite apparatus 1 can be reliably returned to the old firmware before the update.

  On the other hand, if an input indicating that the new firmware is compatible with the device is accepted in S5 (S5: YES), the old firmware saved in the CF card 30 in S2 is no longer necessary. Is deleted from the CF card 30 (step S7). As a result, the firmware of the facsimile multifunction peripheral 1 is updated from the old firmware to the new firmware.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, by saving the old firmware before update, for example, even if the firmware was updated to new firmware that does not conform to the device by mistake, It is possible to reliably and quickly return to the old firmware, and to return to the state before the update. Therefore, the user is not at a loss if he made a mistake after updating the firmware.

  Note that the (portable) storage medium is not limited to the CF card, and may be a small memory card such as an SD memory card, a memory stick, or smart media, or a small hard disk device such as a microdrive. By using such a nonvolatile storage medium, the saved old firmware is not erased even when the power is cut off, which is preferable from the viewpoint of safety.

  Further, although the old firmware is saved in the CF card 30, it is needless to say that the old firmware may be saved in a storage medium (for example, the RAM 12) built in the facsimile composite apparatus 1. Furthermore, although the facsimile complex apparatus has been described as an electronic apparatus, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to an electronic apparatus controlled by firmware.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a facsimile multifunction machine that is an example of an electronic apparatus according to the invention. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the firmware update process which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Facsimile compound machine 10 Control part 11 Flash memory 11a Firmware (1st firmware)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Display part 16 Operation part 16a Firmware update key 16b Approval confirmation key 22 Memory card interface part 30 Compact flash card (CF card)
30a Firmware (second firmware)

Claims (3)

In an electronic device provided with a storage means for storing firmware, and capable of rewriting the firmware stored in the storage means,
A mounting means capable of mounting a storage medium storing the second firmware;
Saving means for reading and saving the first firmware stored in the storage means;
Means for rewriting the first firmware of the storage means with the second firmware;
Accepting means for accepting whether or not the second firmware has been rewritten;
An electronic apparatus comprising: means for rewriting the second firmware of the storage means that has been rewritten to the saved first firmware when the second firmware is accepted as a negative. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit that deletes the saved first firmware when the accepting unit accepts the second firmware. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the retracting unit is configured to retract to a storage medium mounted on the mounting unit.

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