JP2007200156A - Information processor and flash rom rewriting method of information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor wherein rewrite processing of a flash ROM is performed by a correct rewrite program coping with a change of an address map, and a flash ROM rewrite method of the information processor. <P>SOLUTION: A flash ROM rewrite part 310 determines whether map information and model information designated by a rewrite program coincide with those stored in a flash ROM 311 or not and executes rewrite in accordance with the rewrite program in the case of coincidence but doesn't execute it in the case of non-coincidence. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that operates in response to an instruction from a host computer and a control method thereof, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus that rewrites a flash ROM and a flash ROM rewriting method of the information processing apparatus.

  A peripheral device connected to be able to communicate with a host computer such as a printer or a scanner incorporates firmware for controlling various hardware such as a printing mechanism, a sheet feeding mechanism, and an image reading mechanism. In general, firmware is stored in a flash ROM which is a nonvolatile memory provided in a peripheral device.

  In general, the flash ROM has a basic program area in which firmware, which is a basic program for controlling various hardware, a rewrite program area in which a program for rewriting a basic program into an update program, and a printer power-on And an IPL area in which an IPL (Initial Program Loader) for reading either a basic program or a rewriting program to the main memory is stored according to the state (see Patent Document 1). These areas are areas arranged based on a predetermined address map. When the basic program is rewritten, an update program downloaded from the host computer is written into the basic program area. Here, the address map is like an address assignment table specified when the control unit of the peripheral device reads various data, and indicates what data is stored at which address.

  By the way, when it is desired to change the arrangement of these areas, that is, when it is necessary to change the address map, all the data once stored in the flash ROM is erased or the flash ROM itself is newly replaced, The update program, rewrite program, and IPL downloaded from the host computer are written in each area based on the address map defined in (1). In such a case, every time the address map is changed, a correct rewriting program and IPL corresponding to the address map must be downloaded.

  As described above, when the address map is changed and the rewrite program and the IPL are downloaded from the host computer for each change, the rewrite program or IPL program corresponding to the address map before the change is changed on the host computer side. Are often held as they are.

JP 2001-51844 A

  However, there is a case where a rewrite program or the like corresponding to the changed address map is downloaded from the host computer, but the rewrite program or IPL or the like corresponding to the address map before the change is erroneously downloaded. In this case, since the rewrite program or the like is written on the data written according to the address map before the change according to the address map after the change, the program is destroyed. In the state where the program is destroyed, the device itself cannot be started up, and all the data in the flash ROM must be erased or replaced again.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in the flash ROM rewriting process, an information processing apparatus in which rewriting processing is performed by a correct rewriting program corresponding to the change even if the address map is changed, and An object of the present invention is to provide a flash ROM rewriting method for an information processing apparatus.

The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following means.
(1) An image processing unit that prints out or acquires an image, a flash ROM that stores a program and setting values that are referred to when the program is executed, and an image that controls the image processing unit according to the program And an information processing apparatus that operates in response to an instruction from a host computer,
A receiving unit for receiving a rewriting program from the host computer;
In accordance with the rewriting program, a flash ROM rewriting unit for executing rewriting of the flash ROM
The flash ROM stores map information indicating a storage pattern of data in the flash ROM,
The flash ROM rewriting unit executes rewriting according to the rewriting program when the map information specified in the rewriting program matches the map information stored in the flash ROM, and they match. An information processing apparatus characterized in that rewriting is not performed when there is not.
(2) The flash ROM stores model information indicating the model of the information processing apparatus,
The flash ROM rewriting unit executes rewriting according to the rewriting program when the model information specified in the rewriting program matches the model information stored in the flash ROM, and does not match. The information processing apparatus according to (1), wherein rewriting is not performed in some cases.
(3) An image processing unit that prints out or obtains an image, a flash ROM that includes a program and setting values that are referred to when the program is executed, and includes map information that indicates a storage pattern of internal data; A flash ROM rewriting method for an information processing apparatus that operates according to an instruction from a host computer, and an image control unit that controls the image processing unit according to a program,
Receiving a rewrite program from the host computer;
If the map information specified in the rewrite program matches the map information stored in the flash ROM, rewrite is executed according to the rewrite program, and if not, rewrite is performed. A flash ROM rewriting method for an information processing apparatus, characterized in that:
(4) The flash ROM stores model information indicating a model of the information processing apparatus,
If the model information specified in the rewrite program matches the model information stored in the flash ROM, rewrite is executed according to the rewrite program, and if not, rewrite is not performed. (2) The flash ROM rewriting method for an information processing apparatus according to (3).

  According to the information processing apparatus and the flash ROM rewriting method of the information processing apparatus of the present invention, the flash ROM rewriting unit is provided only when the map information stored in the flash ROM matches the map information specified in the rewriting program. The rewriting process is performed. Therefore, even when the map of the information processing apparatus is changed, whether or not the rewriting program transmitted from the host computer corresponds to the map after the change can be determined based on the match / mismatch of the map information. If they do not match, the rewriting process is not performed, so that the flash ROM is not rewritten by a wrong rewriting program, and there is no possibility that the program is destroyed.

  Further, according to the information processing apparatus and the information processing apparatus flash ROM rewriting method of the present invention, at least one of the map information and the model information stored in the flash ROM matches the information specified in the rewriting program. In this case, the flash ROM rewriting unit is configured to perform the rewriting process. Therefore, even if the rewrite program for multiple types of information processing devices is held in the host computer, the flash ROM is not rewritten by the rewrite program for different models, and the program is not destroyed, so the information processing device can be operated normally after the rewrite processing. Can be activated. Even if the map of each information processing device is changed while a host computer and a plurality of types of information processing devices are connected, each information processing device does not perform rewrite processing unless the map information matches the model information. Therefore, it is possible to accurately rewrite individual information processing apparatuses even in a complicated network environment.

  Hereinafter, a printer will be described in detail as an example of an embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention with reference to the drawings. The printer 240 of this embodiment is an ink jet printer that is connected to the host computer 220 via a network so as to be communicable and performs printing in accordance with a control command or print data transmitted from the host computer 220.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing internal processing of the printer of this embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 240 according to this embodiment includes an image processing unit 307 that prints an image, a flash ROM 311 that stores firmware (program) and various setting values that are referred to when executing the firmware, and the firmware. And an image control unit 306 that controls the image processing unit 307.

  Although not shown, the host computer 220 includes a CPU, a ROM that is a nonvolatile memory, a RAM that is a volatile memory, an HDD as a large-scale storage device, an input device, and a communication interface. Yes. The host computer 220 controls the printer 240 by outputting various commands and print data to the printer 240 via the communication interface while the CPU executes the operating system and application programs stored in the HDD.

  From the viewpoint of the flash ROM rewriting process, when the rewriting process is instructed via the input device, the CPU reads a rewriting program corresponding to the rewriting instruction from the HDD and transmits the rewriting program to the printer 240 via the communication interface.

(Configuration of flash ROM rewrite processing)
When the printer 240 of this embodiment receives a rewrite program from the host computer 220, the printer 240 determines whether normal rewrite can be performed by the received rewrite program, and when it is determined that normal rewrite can be performed, The flash ROM 311 is rewritten.

Hereinafter, how the printer 240 determines whether or not normal rewriting can be performed and how to rewrite the flash ROM 311 will be described.
In the printer 240, a receiving unit 301 that receives various commands and print data transmitted from the host computer 220 and a reception buffer 302 that temporarily stores various commands and print data received by the receiving unit 301 are provided. Yes. The data received by the reception buffer 302 is analyzed by the command analysis unit 303 and transferred to the control command buffer 304 in the case of a control command, and transferred to the print buffer 305 in the case of print data by DMA transfer or the like.

  The print data temporarily stored in the print buffer 305 is subjected to data expansion processing and converted into data, and finally dot pattern data corresponding to a nozzle array of a print head (not shown) is generated and stored in the print buffer 305. Is done. On the other hand, the control command data temporarily stored in the control command buffer 304 is read by the main control unit 308, and processing according to the control command is executed.

  The image processing unit 307 is a mechanical component that is driven when image printing such as a print head or a paper transport mechanism is performed. When the print command is read by the main control unit 308, ink corresponding to the dot pattern data stored in the print buffer is ejected from the nozzle array of the print head while the paper is transported by the paper transport mechanism.

  When the main control unit 308 reads a print command, the image control unit 306 drives the image processing unit 307 according to the firmware stored in the flash ROM 311.

  The flash ROM 311 is a rewritable nonvolatile memory. In the present embodiment, map information indicating a storage pattern of data in the flash ROM 311 and model information indicating a printer model are stored. Here, the map is like an address assignment table designated when the main control unit 308 in the printer 240 reads various data, and indicates what data is stored at which address. The map information is like a name defined for each map. Specific map information and model information will be described later.

  The flash ROM rewrite unit 310 is a control unit configured by receiving a rewrite program from the host computer 220, and executes a rewrite process of the flash ROM 311 in accordance with the rewrite program transmitted from the host computer 220. Further, when the rewrite program is received, it is determined whether or not the flash ROM 311 can be rewritten based on the map information and model information stored in the flash ROM 311.

Next, the flash ROM rewriting process in the printer 240 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a flash ROM rewriting process constituted by the printer 240.
In this embodiment, when the command transmitted from the host computer 220 is analyzed by the command analysis unit 303 as a rewrite command (rewrite program) (step S11), the flash ROM rewrite unit 310 is configured. The flash ROM rewriting unit 310 determines whether the map information and model information specified in the rewriting program match the map information and model information stored in the flash ROM 311 (step S12).

  Here, specific map information and model information will be described. The format of the map information is “MAP” + ASCII two-digit number, and ASCII two-digit number is valid from “01” to “FF”. For example, “MAP01”, “MAP02”,. The model information is a specific model name of the printer 240, for example, “XX-R600”, “XX-R100”, and the like.

  In the flash ROM rewriting unit 310, the map information “MAP01” and model information “XX-R600” specified in the rewriting program and the map information “MAP01” and model information “XX-R600” stored in the flash ROM are the same. If yes, rewriting is executed according to the rewriting program (step S12: Yes). On the other hand, when the map information “MAP01” and model information “XX-R600” specified in the rewrite program do not match the map information “MAP02” and model information “XX-R100” stored in the flash ROM End without rewriting (step S12: No)

  In the present embodiment, whether or not rewriting is possible is determined from the map information and the model information, but it may be determined from only one of the information. In this embodiment, the map information and the model information are stored as separate information in a predetermined area of the flash ROM 311. However, the map information and the model information are stored as one information, and the map information is stored in the rewrite program. It is also possible to configure to specify model information.

  Thus, in this embodiment, every time the rewrite program is received from the host computer, it is determined whether the rewrite program matches the map information and the model information. Therefore, the rewrite program is not written according to an incorrect map. In addition, since rewriting programs of different models are not written by mistake, data written in the flash ROM 311 can be prevented from being destroyed. Furthermore, since the flash ROM rewriting unit 310 actually compares the map information and the model information before rewriting, it is determined whether writing is possible, so that no complicated determination is required. Therefore, the rewriting time can be shortened, and the risk due to power interruption during rewriting can be reduced.

It is a functional block diagram showing internal processing of the printer of the present embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the flash ROM rewriting process comprised by the printer of this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

220 Host computer 240 Printer (information processing device)
301 Reception Unit 306 Image Control Unit 307 Image Processing Unit 310 Flash ROM Rewrite Unit 311 Flash ROM

Claims (4)

An image processing unit that prints out or acquires an image, a flash ROM that stores a program and setting values that are referred to when the program is executed, and an image control unit that controls the image processing unit according to the program And an information processing device that operates in response to an instruction from a host computer,
A receiving unit for receiving a rewriting program from the host computer;
In accordance with the rewriting program, a flash ROM rewriting unit for executing rewriting of the flash ROM
The flash ROM stores map information indicating a storage pattern of data in the flash ROM,
The flash ROM rewriting unit executes rewriting according to the rewriting program when the map information specified in the rewriting program matches the map information stored in the flash ROM, and they match. An information processing apparatus characterized in that rewriting is not performed when there is not. The flash ROM stores model information indicating the model of the information processing apparatus,
The flash ROM rewriting unit executes rewriting according to the rewriting program when the model information specified in the rewriting program matches the model information stored in the flash ROM, and does not match. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein rewriting is not performed in some cases. An image processing unit that prints out or acquires an image, a flash ROM that includes a program and setting information that is referred to when the program is executed, and that includes map information indicating a storage pattern of internal data, and the program And a flash ROM rewriting method for an information processing apparatus that operates in response to an instruction from a host computer.
Receiving a rewrite program from the host computer;
If the map information specified in the rewrite program matches the map information stored in the flash ROM, rewrite is executed according to the rewrite program, and if not, rewrite is performed. A flash ROM rewriting method for an information processing apparatus, characterized in that: The flash ROM stores model information indicating the model of the information processing apparatus,
If the model information specified in the rewrite program matches the model information stored in the flash ROM, rewrite is executed according to the rewrite program, and if not, rewrite is not performed. The flash ROM rewriting method for an information processing apparatus according to claim 3.

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