JP2006243905A - Method for upgrading version of firmware of image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display the upgrade time designated from a server and an operation part on the operation part, and upgrade firmware at the designated time. <P>SOLUTION: This device comprises a means for designating the upgrade time from the server or the operation part, a means for displaying the designated time on the operation part, and a means for upgrading the firmware at the designated time. Firmware data may be downloaded and stored in a storage device before the designated time, or acquired from the server at the designated time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for upgrading each firmware of an image forming apparatus connected to a server via a network.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus is used to print various images at an office, a print service output center, or the like. The image forming apparatus includes an image input unit, a frame memory, an image processing unit, a paper transport unit, an exposure unit, a development processing unit, a system control unit, a CPU unit, and the like, and is based on a software program (hereinafter referred to as firmware). Each processing unit operates to realize image printing. These firmwares may be upgraded to add new functions or to correct program mistakes called bugs. In such a case, a service person who performs maintenance work visits an office or the like where the image forming apparatus is placed to upgrade the firmware of the image forming apparatus. However, if the work is performed while checking the combination of the firmware, there is a problem that a work mistake occurs or the work takes a long time. In view of this, a technique for upgrading the firmware of the image forming apparatus by transmitting appropriate firmware data from a server having a firmware database connected to the image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus is considered.

As a conventional example, for example, Patent Document 1 can be cited.
JP 2001-265599 A

  In a conventional form in which firmware data is transmitted from a server connected to a network to the image forming apparatus to upgrade the firmware of the image forming apparatus, the administrator of the image forming apparatus uses a user by e-mail, information bulletin board, verbal means, etc. The user was able to recognize in advance the time when it could not be used by making an announcement of the version upgrade time. However, a user who has not received the announcement or a user who has forgotten the announcement does not know the unavailable time of the image forming apparatus, and therefore may execute some job on the image forming apparatus during the version upgrade. was there. Or, the administrator may avoid the trouble of the user by performing the version upgrade in the night when there are few users. In this case, the administrator has to wait until it is time to start the work. Therefore, in the present invention, the upgrade time is designated from the server or the operation unit, the designated time is displayed on the operation unit, and the upgrade is performed at the designated time, thereby improving the notification property to the user and management. The load on the person can be reduced.

  In order to solve the above problem, the present invention provides a version upgrade time designating unit for designating a firmware version upgrade time from the server or the operation unit to the image forming apparatus in a network environment having one or more image forming apparatuses and a server. Having a version upgrade time display means for displaying the version upgrade time designated by the version upgrade time designation means on the operation unit, and downloaded and stored in advance from the server at the time designated by the version upgrade time designation means Firmware upgrade method for image forming apparatus characterized in that firmware is upgraded with firmware data stored in the means, and in a network environment having one or more image forming apparatuses and a server Has a version upgrade time designating unit for designating a firmware upgrade time from the operation unit to the image forming apparatus, and displays a version upgrade time designated by the version upgrade time designating unit on the operation unit A firmware version upgrade method for an image forming apparatus, wherein firmware data is downloaded from a server and the firmware is upgraded at a time designated by the version upgrade time designation means.

  In a conventional form in which firmware data is transmitted from a server connected to a network to the image forming apparatus to upgrade the firmware of the image forming apparatus, the administrator of the image forming apparatus uses a user by e-mail, information bulletin board, verbal means, etc. The user was able to recognize in advance the time when it could not be used by making an announcement of the version upgrade time. However, a user who has not received the announcement or a user who has forgotten the announcement does not know the unavailable time of the image forming apparatus, and therefore may execute some job on the image forming apparatus during the version upgrade. was there. Or, the administrator may avoid the trouble of the user by performing the version upgrade in the night when there are few users. In this case, the administrator has to wait until it is time to start the work. Therefore, in the present invention, the upgrade time is designated from the server or the operation unit, the designated time is displayed on the operation unit, and the upgrade is performed at the designated time, thereby improving the notification property to the user and management. The load on the person can be reduced.

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

(Embodiment)
First, the overall configuration of an image input / output system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of an image input / output system. A reader unit (image input device) 200 optically reads a document image and converts it into image data. The reader unit 200 includes a scanner unit 210 having a function for reading a document and a document feeding unit 250 having a function for transporting a document sheet.

  A printer unit (image output device) 300 conveys recording paper, prints image data as a visible image thereon, and discharges the recording paper out of the device. The printer unit 300 includes a paper feed unit 310 having a plurality of types of recording paper cassettes, a marking unit 320 having a function of transferring and fixing print data to the recording paper, and sorting and stapling the printed recording paper. And a paper discharge unit 330 having a function of outputting to

  The control device 110 is electrically connected to the reader unit 200, the printer unit 300, and the hard disk 600, and is further connected to host computers 401 and 402 via the network 400.

  The control device 110 controls the reader unit 200 to read the print data of the original, and controls the printer unit 300 to output the print data to a recording sheet to provide a copy function. Also, a scanner function for converting print data read from the reader unit 200 into code data and transmitting the code data to the host computer via the network 400, and converting code data received from the host computer via the network 400 into print data, A printer function for outputting to the printer unit 300. Furthermore, it has a function of storing print data in the hard disk 600.

  The operation unit 150 is connected to the control device 110, is configured with a liquid crystal touch panel, and provides a user I / F for operating the image input / output system.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the reader unit 200 and the printer unit 300. The document feeding unit 250 of the reader unit feeds the documents one by one on the platen glass 211 in order from the top, and discharges the documents on the platen glass 211 after the document reading operation is completed. When the document is conveyed onto the platen glass 211, the lamp 212 is turned on, and the movement of the optical unit 213 is started to expose and scan the document. Reflected light from the original at this time is guided to a CCD image sensor (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 218 by mirrors 214, 215, and 216 and a lens 217. Thus, the scanned image of the original is read by the CCD 218. Image data output from the CCD 218 is transferred to the control device 110 after being subjected to predetermined processing.

  A laser driver 321 of the printer unit 300 drives the laser light emitting unit 322, and causes the laser light emitting unit 322 to emit laser light corresponding to the image data output from the control device 110. The laser beam is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 323, and a latent image corresponding to the laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 323. A developer is attached to the latent image portion of the photosensitive drum 323 by a developing device 324.

  Then, at the timing synchronized with the start of laser light irradiation, the recording paper is fed from either the cassette 311 or the cassette 312 and conveyed to the transfer unit 325, and the developer attached to the photosensitive drum 323 is transferred to the recording paper. To do. The recording paper on which the developer is placed is conveyed to the fixing unit 326, and the developer is fixed on the image recording paper by the heat and pressure of the fixing unit 326. The recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 326 is ejected by the ejection roller 327, and the paper ejection unit 330 bundles the ejected recording paper to sort the recording paper or staples the sorted recording paper.

  If double-sided recording is set, the recording paper is conveyed to the discharge roller 327, and then the rotation direction of the discharge roller 327 is reversed and guided to the refeed conveyance path 329 by the flapper 328. The recording sheet guided to the refeed conveyance path 329 is fed to the transfer unit 325 at the timing described above.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operation unit 150 of the copying apparatus. A power lamp 502 indicates whether or not the power of the copying apparatus is turned on, and is turned on when the power switch 501 is pressed to turn on the power. 503 is a copy function selection key for selecting a copy function, 504 is a fax function selection key for selecting a fax function, and 505 is a personal box selection key for selecting a personal box function. Reference numeral 512 denotes a numeric keypad, which is used for setting the number of images to be formed and inputting numerical values for mode setting. On the facsimile setting screen, it is used for inputting a telephone number. The clear key 513 is used to invalidate the setting input with the numeric keypad 512. A reset key 508 is used to return a set mode such as the number of formed images, an operation mode, and a selected paper feed stage to a default value. A start key 506 is a key to be pressed when starting image formation, and a stop key 507 is used to stop a copying operation. A guide key 509 is a key that is pressed when a certain key function is unknown, and displays a description of the key whose function is unknown on the display panel 516. A user mode key 510 is a key used when changing the setting of the copying apparatus. An interrupt key 511 is a key to be pressed when the user wants to perform another work during the image forming operation. Reference numeral 514 denotes 20 one-touch dial keys which are used when dialing with one touch in facsimile transmission. Reference numeral 515 denotes two lids, which are double lids having a shape in which each key portion of the one-touch dial key 524 is cut out. A sensor switch (not shown) detects a first state in which the two lids are closed, a second state in which the first lid is closed, and a third state in which the two lids are open. The combination of the three open / closed states and the one-touch dial key 514 has the same effect as a total of 60 keys in this embodiment. Reference numeral 516 denotes a touch panel, which displays a setting screen for each mode, and can make various detailed settings by touching the drawn keys.

  FIG. 4 is a connection conceptual diagram of the server A, the server B, and the image forming apparatus on the network according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 4, reference numerals 405 and 406 denote different offices, and 407 denotes a maintenance center. The office A 405 has an environment in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses 100, 101, 102, 103 and a server A 108 are connected via a LAN 400. The server A 108 manages the version of the firmware group included in each of the image forming apparatuses 100 to 103 connected to the LAN 400 and is connected to the WAN 404. The office B 406 has an environment in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses 104, 105, 106, 107 and a server A 109 are connected via a LAN 403. The server A 109 manages the version of the firmware group included in each of the image forming apparatuses 104 to 107 connected to the LAN 403 and is connected to the WAN 404. The maintenance center 407 has a server B 112, and the server B 112 has a firmware database 111. The firmware database 111 holds firmware data groups of various image forming apparatuses, and the firmware data is registered every time new development is performed. The types of firmware data include a control program for the reader unit 200, a control program for the printer unit 300, a control program for the control device 110, a startup control program, a language-specific message displayed on the operation unit 150, a print font file, and the like. The server A 108 and the server A 109 can communicate with the server B 112 via the WAN 404, can acquire predetermined firmware data from the firmware database server 111 included in the server B 112, and the server A 108 uses the acquired firmware data for predetermined image formation. It is possible to upgrade the firmware corresponding to the transmitted firmware data of the transmission destination image forming apparatus by transmitting to any of the apparatuses 100 to 103, and the server A 109 transmits the acquired firmware data to the predetermined image forming apparatus 104. The firmware corresponding to the transmitted firmware data of the transmission destination image forming apparatus can be upgraded. In FIG. 4, the server A 108, the server A 109, and the server B 110 also serve as gateways to the WAN 404, but other different servers may be used as gateways to the WAN 404. Further, although the LAN 400 and the LAN 403 in FIG. 4 show a bus connection type, other network topologies may be used. In FIG. 4, the server B has the firmware database, but the server A may have it. In that case, the server A also functions as the server B. Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described in the case where the server A and the server B exist.

  First, the explanation about claim 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The operation flow of the server A will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in S001, the server A acquires each firmware information installed in each image forming apparatus from each image forming apparatus on the LAN to which the server A is connected. Details of S001 will be described later. Next, the process proceeds to S002, where it is searched whether firmware that is newer than the version of each firmware acquired in S001 exists in the firmware database of the server B, and the process proceeds to S003. If it is determined that new firmware exists, the process proceeds to S004. If no new firmware exists, the process returns to S002. In S004, the information on the new firmware discovered in S003 is acquired from the server B, and the image forming apparatus has whether or not the image forming apparatus having the same type of firmware can be upgraded with the new firmware. The consistency with the firmware information is determined. If there is consistency, the process proceeds to S005, and if there is no consistency, the process returns to S002. Details of the consistency determination method will be described later. In S005, new firmware is downloaded from the server B. Any communication protocol can be used for downloading the new firmware. In step S006, the image forming apparatus that is determined to be able to download the new firmware in step S004 is instructed to shift to the download mode. In step S007, new firmware is downloaded to the image forming apparatus instructed in step S006, and the process advances to step S008. In S008, the upgrade specification time is transmitted to the image forming apparatus. In S009, it waits for a notification of the upgrade result from the image forming apparatus. If the result notification is received, the process proceeds to S010. In S010, after downloading the new firmware, it is determined whether the image forming apparatus has been upgraded normally. If the upgrade is normally completed, the process proceeds to S011, and if the upgrade is not normally completed, the process proceeds to S012. In S011, the firmware information of the image forming apparatus that has been successfully upgraded in S010 is updated, and the process proceeds to S012. In S012, it is determined whether the operation end condition is satisfied by an external or internal factor with respect to the server A. If it is determined that the operation is ended, the process ends. If not, the process returns to S002.

  Next, details of S001 will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the details of S001. The image forming apparatus receives a property acquisition command from the server A (S021). Although the details of the property acquisition command are omitted, the property acquisition command means an instruction for acquiring information on firmware included in the image forming apparatus. Upon receiving the property acquisition command, the image forming apparatus searches the storage device for a property file in which firmware information is described (S022). When the property file is found, the property file is opened and the described property is read. (S023). If there is no property file whose property has not been read in S022 (or there is no property file), the process proceeds to S024, and all read properties are transmitted to the server A as a reply to the property acquisition command.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing details of the property file.

  In the property file, several variables and values are described in the format of “variable = value”.

  The # line is a comment.

TargetName-> Indicates the product name of the image forming device
FileType-> indicates the type of firmware
Country-> shows country code
Language-> indicates language code
Version-> indicates version
Size-> indicates file size
The ChkSum-> checksum value property file is a text file that is written to the storage device when each firmware is downloaded to the image forming apparatus and upgraded. The server A lists and manages various types of firmware information included in each image forming apparatus from each image forming apparatus for each image forming apparatus.

  FIG. 12 is a tree structure graph relating to firmware information management means in the server A and having a firmware information node 701, image forming apparatus nodes (702 to 705), and firmware information nodes (706 to 715). Here, reference numerals 702 to 705 denote the image forming apparatuses 100 to 103, and reference numerals 706 to 715 denote information equivalent to the property information of each firmware of the image forming apparatuses 100 to 103, respectively. When a new image forming apparatus is connected to the same LAN as the server A, a node for the newly connected image forming apparatus is added in S001 of FIG. 5, and a new node is newly added under the node. A node corresponding to the property information of each firmware included in the connected image forming apparatus is added. On the contrary, when there is an image forming apparatus removed from the LAN, all nodes corresponding to the image forming apparatus are deleted.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the server B related to S002 of FIG. In S101, the server B determines whether or not there is an inquiry from the server A. If there is an inquiry, the process proceeds to S102, and if there is no inquiry, the process proceeds to S101. In S <b> 102, the firmware information inquired from the server A is transmitted to the server A. Then, the process proceeds to S103, where it is determined whether or not the operation end condition is satisfied by an external or internal factor with respect to the server B. If it is determined that the operation is ended, the process ends. If not, the process returns to S101.

  The firmware information inquired from the server A in S102 is information described in an information file added to each firmware registered in the firmware database of the server B. The information file is a text file by ASCII code. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing details of the information file.

  In the information file, several variables and values are described in a format of “variable = value”. The # line is a comment.

FileName-> Indicates the name of the download file (equivalent to the firmware name)
TargetName-> Indicates the image forming device name
Country-> shows country code
Language-> indicates language code
Version-> indicates version
Size-> indicates file size
ChkSum-> Indicates the checksum value. In addition, the information file indicates which version of all firmware stored in the storage device of the TargetName value (image forming apparatus name) the downloaded file that is the FileName value. The information shown is described.

Ctrl_Program0-> indicates the version of the corresponding firmware Ctrl_Program0
Ctrl_Program1-> Indicates the version of the corresponding firmware Ctrl_Program1:
Ctrl_Program9-> indicates the version of the corresponding firmware Ctrl_Program9
Resource2-> indicates the version of the corresponding firmware Resource2
Resource3-> Indicates the version of the corresponding firmware Resource3:
Resource8-> indicates the version of the corresponding firmware Resource8 The information described in this information file is used in the consistency determination in S004 of FIG.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing details of the consistency check in S004. For the sake of clarity, “T_” is added to the variable acquired from the property information of the firmware already installed in the storage device of the image forming apparatus acquired in S001 of FIG. 5, and “T_” is added to the variable acquired from the information file. I_ "is added. First, T_TargetName and I_TargetName are compared in order to check whether the firmware to be downloaded is compatible with the connection destination image forming apparatus (S301). Here, when it does not correspond, it progresses to S306. If they match, the process proceeds to S302. In S302, the firmware corresponding to T_FileType is searched. As a result of the search, if there is no corresponding variable, the process proceeds to S306. If there is a corresponding variable, the corresponding version is acquired (S304), and it is determined whether I_Version is the corresponding version (S305). If I_Version corresponds, the process proceeds to S307, and if not, the process proceeds to S306. In step S307, the consistency flag is set to OK, and in step S306, the consistency flag is set to NG. The consistency flag determines whether to proceed to S005 or S002 as a step after S004.

  Next, FIG. 7 will be described. FIG. 7 shows an operation flow of the server B related to S007 of FIG.

  First, in S104, the server B determines whether or not there is an inquiry from the server A. If there is an inquiry, the process proceeds to S105, and the firmware data requested from the server A is transmitted to the server A. At this time, any communication protocol may be used for downloading the new firmware. Then, in S106, it is determined whether or not the download is successful to the server A. If the download is successful, the process proceeds to S107, and if the download is not successful, the process returns to S104. In S107, it is determined whether the operation end condition is satisfied by an external or internal factor with respect to the server B. If it is determined that the operation is ended, the process is ended. If not, the process returns to S104.

  Next, FIG. 9 will be described. FIG. 9 is an operation flow of the image forming apparatus related to S006, S007, and S008 in FIG.

  First, in step S <b> 201, the image forming apparatus determines whether there is an instruction from the server A to shift to the download mode. The download mode instruction from the server A is performed by transmitting a special data packet to the image forming apparatus. If there is support for shifting to the download mode, the process advances to step S202, and the image forming apparatus switches the operation mode to an operation mode dedicated to firmware download. In the download mode, the copying operation and the printer operation are stopped, and the firmware data reception from the server A is waited. In step S203, reception of firmware data is started. In step S204, it is determined whether all data has been received. If all data has not been received, the process returns to step S203. If all data has been received, the process proceeds to step S205. In S205, it is determined whether or not the upgrade designated time has been set from the operation unit. If it has been set, the process proceeds to S207, and if it has not been set, the process proceeds to S206. In S207, the designated time input from the operation unit is displayed on the operation unit. In S206, it is determined whether or not the specified time is received from the server A. If received, the process proceeds to S208, and the upgrade time specified from the server A is displayed on the operation unit. If the designated time is not received from the server A, the process proceeds to S210. In S209, it waits for the designated time. In S210, the corresponding firmware is upgraded with the received firmware data. Next, it progresses to S211 and it is discriminate | determined whether it was able to upgrade normally. If the version has been upgraded normally, the process proceeds to S212, and if the version has not been upgraded normally, the process proceeds to S213. In S212, the upgrade status is OK, and in S213, the upgrade status is NG. In S214, the upgrade status set in S212 or S213 is transmitted to server A.

  FIG. 15 is a screen example 900 of the operation unit related to S206, which is a basic screen after activation of the image forming apparatus.

  A magnification display 901 displays a magnification value of a document image set on a magnification setting screen (not shown) displayed by pressing a magnification setting button 904. The initial value is set to 100%. The paper display 908 displays the print paper size set on the paper selection screen (not shown) displayed by pressing the paper selection button 902. The initial value is set to automatic paper, and when automatic paper is set, printing is performed on printing paper suitable for the document size detected by the reader unit 200. The same size button 903 is a button for setting the magnification to 100%. When the sorter button 905 is pressed, a finishing setting screen (not shown) is displayed, and sorting settings, stapling settings, and the like can be set. When the double-sided button 906 is pressed, a double-sided setting screen (not shown) is displayed and double-sided original designation or double-sided printing designation can be performed. The copy number display 907 displays a numerical value input from the numeric keypad 512 of the operation unit 150, which means the number of copies to be printed. The print density bar 909 is for setting the print density. When the right button 910 is pressed, the density is increased, and when the left button 911 is pressed, the density is decreased. When the application mode button 912 is pressed, an application mode setting screen (not shown) is displayed, and various image processing settings can be set. When the system status button 913 is pressed, a system status screen (not shown) is displayed and the status of the job being executed and the job history can be confirmed. The upgrade message 914 is a message displayed based on the upgrade designated time designated by the server A.

  FIG. 16 shows a version upgrade time designation screen 950 related to S205 for performing version upgrade designation from the operation unit. The upgrade time designation screen is displayed when the numeric keypad 512 is pressed in a certain combination while the basic screen is displayed. Reference numerals 951 to 956 denote input frames for inputting values of year, month, day, hour, minute, and second from the numeric keypad 512, respectively. The version upgrade time can be designated by inputting each value from the numeric keypad. When the cancel key 957 is pressed, the input upgrade specified time is canceled and the screen returns to the basic screen. When the OK key 958 is pressed, the input upgrade designated time is set and the screen returns to the basic screen.

  Next, an operation related to claim 2 will be described.

  FIG. 17 is an operation flow of server A relating to claim 2. Steps S001 to S005 are the same as those in FIG. The flow after S005 is different. The next step of S005 is S401, and here, the upgrade designated time is transmitted to the image forming apparatus. In step S402, a firmware download request from the image forming apparatus is awaited. When the download request is received, the process proceeds to S403, the firmware is downloaded, and the process proceeds to S404. In S404, after receiving a version upgrade result notification from the image forming apparatus and downloading new firmware, it is determined whether the image forming apparatus has been upgraded normally. If the upgrade is normally completed, the process proceeds to S405. If the upgrade is not normally completed, the process proceeds to S406. In S405, the firmware information of the image forming apparatus that has been successfully upgraded is updated, and the process proceeds to S406. In S406, it is determined whether the operation end condition is satisfied by an external or internal factor with respect to the server A. If it is determined that the operation is ended, the process is ended. If it is not determined, the process returns to S002.

  FIG. 8 shows an operation flow of the image forming apparatus according to claim 2.

  First, in S501, it is determined whether or not the upgrade designated time has been set from the operation unit. If it has been set, the process proceeds to S503, and if it has not been set, the process proceeds to S502. In S503, the designated time input from the operation unit is displayed on the operation unit. In S502, it is determined whether or not the specified time is received from the server A. If received, the process proceeds to S504, and the upgrade time specified from the server A is displayed on the operation unit. If the designated time is not received from the server A, the process proceeds to S506. In S505, it waits for the designated time. In step S506, the image forming apparatus switches the operation mode to an operation mode dedicated to firmware download. In the download mode, the copying operation and the printer operation are stopped, and the firmware data reception from the server A is waited. In step S507, reception of firmware data is started. In step S508, it is determined whether all data has been received. If all data has not been received, the process returns to step S507. If all data has been received, the process proceeds to step S509. In step S509, the corresponding firmware is upgraded with the received firmware data. Next, the process proceeds to S510, and it is determined whether the version has been upgraded normally. If the version has been upgraded normally, the process proceeds to S511. If the version has not been upgraded normally, the process proceeds to S512. In S511, the upgrade status is OK, and in S512, the upgrade status is NG. In S513, the upgrade status set in S511 or S512 is transmitted to the server A.

  In the second aspect, the upgrade time designation and the upgrade time display from the operation unit are the same as those in FIGS. 15 and 16.

1 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operation unit of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a network of a server A, a server B, and an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. It is an operation | movement flowchart of the server A regarding an Example. It is an operation | movement flowchart of the server B regarding an Example. It is an operation | movement flowchart of the server B regarding an Example. 3 is an operation flowchart of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. 3 is an operation flowchart of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. 3 is an operation flowchart of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. It is a property file regarding an Example. It is a figure explaining the firmware management means in the server A regarding an Example. It is the information file regarding an Example. It is an operation | movement flowchart of the server A regarding an Example. It is the operation part screen regarding an Example. It is the operation part screen regarding an Example. It is an operation | movement flowchart of the server A regarding an Example.

Claims (2)

In a network environment having one or more image forming apparatuses and servers,
Having a version upgrade time designation means for designating a firmware version upgrade time from the server or the operation unit to the image forming apparatus;
The upgrade time display means for displaying the upgrade time designated by the upgrade time designation means on the operation unit,
A firmware upgrade method for an image forming apparatus, wherein firmware is upgraded with firmware data previously downloaded from a server and stored in a storage means at a time designated by the upgrade time designation means. In a network environment having one or more image forming apparatuses and servers,
Having a version upgrade time designation means for designating a firmware version upgrade time from the server or the operation unit to the image forming apparatus;
The upgrade time display means for displaying the upgrade time designated by the upgrade time designation means on the operation unit,
A firmware version upgrade method for an image forming apparatus, wherein firmware data is upgraded by downloading firmware data from a server at a time designated by the upgrade time designation means.

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