JP2009149015A - Image forming apparatus, image forming system, version management method, program, and record medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly adjust the version of the firmware of an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus 10 managing the version of the firmware includes: a print job production section 21 which produces a print job including the version expected by an operator; a firm version comparison section 13 which compares the expected version extracted from the print job with the present version being the version of the firmware during operation in the image forming apparatus; a firmware update judging section 15 which determines whether the present version is updated or not as a result of the comparison; and an obtaining section 18 which obtains the firmware of the expected version, only when it is determined that the present version is updated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming system, a version management method, a program, and a recording medium, and more particularly to a firmware upgrade technique.

As a technique related to firmware update of an image forming apparatus, it is known that when a new firmware version is released, the firmware of the image forming apparatus is automatically upgraded (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2007-148629 A

  However, the conventional firmware update has the following problems and inconveniences. In the conventional firmware update, when a new firmware version is released or the firmware version of the image forming apparatus is determined to be old, the version is automatically upgraded. Therefore, there is an inconvenience for users who do not want to destroy the image forming apparatus and its surrounding environment due to an inadvertent version upgrade or the like.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for appropriately adjusting the firmware version of an image forming apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is an image forming apparatus that manages firmware versions, and includes a print job generating unit that generates a print job including a version expected by an operator, and Version comparison means for comparing the expected version extracted from the print job with the current version that is the version of the firmware currently operating in the image forming apparatus, and whether or not to update the current version as a result of the comparison An update determination unit for determining, and an acquisition unit that acquires the firmware of the expected version only when a determination to update is obtained.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the image forming apparatus includes a print job management unit that holds a total number of print jobs and a comparison result by the version comparison unit, and the update determination unit includes: When the ratio of the comparison result that the current version is older than the expected version to the total number of print jobs exceeds a predetermined ratio, a determination is made to update the current version. .

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, the print job management unit holds the number of times the expected version is extracted for each different version, and the update determination unit includes the current determination unit. When the ratio of the comparison result that the version is older than the expected version to the total number of the print jobs exceeds a predetermined ratio, the current version is replaced with the print job management among the expected versions. A determination is made to update to the version with the highest number of times held in the means, and the acquisition means acquires the version of firmware with the highest number of times held in the print job management means among the expected versions It is characterized by doing.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second or third aspect, the print job management unit generates a print job by including update necessity information indicating the necessity of updating the firmware version. The update determination unit determines whether to update the current version based on the update necessity information extracted from the print job.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the update necessity information is divided into multiple stages including updatable information indicating that the update may be performed. The update determination unit stores the number of times the updatable information has been extracted, and the update determination unit determines that the current number of times that the updatable information has been extracted is greater than a predetermined rate when the percentage of the total number of print jobs exceeds a predetermined ratio. It is characterized by making a decision to update the version.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus in which firmware is installed and an information processing apparatus in which a printer driver for controlling the image forming apparatus is installed are communicably connected via a network. In the image forming system, the information processing apparatus includes a print job generation unit configured to generate a print job including a version expected by an operator, and a print station armament that transmits the generated print job to the image forming apparatus. And the image forming apparatus compares the expected version extracted from the print job with the current version which is the version of the firmware currently operating on the image forming apparatus, and As a result of the comparison, an update determination means for determining whether or not to update the current version and a determination to update are obtained. Only when, and having an obtaining means for obtaining the version of firmware to the expected.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a version management method for managing a firmware version of an image forming apparatus, the step of including a version expected by an operator in a print job, and the expected version extracted from the print job. And the current version which is the version of the firmware currently operating in the image forming apparatus, the step of determining whether or not to update the current version as a result of the comparison, and the determination to update A step of acquiring the expected version of firmware only in the case of

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a version management program that causes an image forming apparatus to execute each step of the version management method according to the seventh aspect.

  The invention described in claim 9 is a recording medium on which the version management program described in claim 8 is recorded.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique for appropriately adjusting the firmware version of the image forming apparatus.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 shows an example of a network configuration including a print system 1 according to the present embodiment. In the print system 1, the image forming apparatus 10 and the information processing apparatus 20a are communicably connected via a network 31. Note that there may be a plurality of information processing apparatuses 20a.

  The network 31 can be realized in the form of a LAN (local network) or the like, and is connected to an external network 33 via a router 32, a gateway server (not shown), a firewall, or the like. As the external network 33, for example, the Internet can be used. The print system 1 in the network 31 communicates with the firmware providing server 34 on the external network 33 as necessary.

  FIG. 2 shows the system configuration of the print system 1. The configuration shown in FIG. 2 is merely an example for explaining the present invention, and the present invention is not construed as being limited to this example. In FIG. 2, when the operator of the information processing apparatus 20a performs an operation such as issuing a print instruction, the print system 1 transmits a print job from the printer driver 20 installed in the information processing apparatus 20a to the image forming apparatus 10. Is done. Hereinafter, each function provided in the printer driver 20 will be described.

  The printer driver 20 includes a print job generation unit 21, a print job transmission unit 22, a driver version storage unit 23, an expected firmware version storage unit 24, a notification reception unit 25, a notification display unit 26, a firmware update necessity storage unit 27, and the like. ing.

The driver version storage unit 23 stores the current version information of the printer driver 20.
On the other hand, the expected firmware version storage unit 24 stores an expected firmware version as a firmware version that appropriately corresponds to the current version of the printer driver 20.

  The firmware update necessity storage unit 27 updates the firmware version corresponding to the version information of the printer driver 20 stored in the driver version storage unit 23 and the update necessity (hereinafter referred to as “firmware update” as the priority in the firmware update). Need information ”or simply“ update need ”).

  The print job generation unit 21 generates a print job including print data corresponding to the print setting, the print setting content, and the like from the image data. In addition, when generating a print job, the print job generation unit 21 adds the expected firmware version stored in the expected firmware version storage unit 24 and the firmware update stored in the firmware update necessity storage unit 27 to this print job. Keep the need information.

  Then, the print job generation unit 21 passes the print job holding the expected firmware version and the firmware update necessity information to the print job transmission unit 22, and the print job transmission unit 22 forms the received print job into an image formation. Transmit to device 10.

  As will be described later, the notification receiving unit 25 receives a firmware update request notification and a print processing rejection notification sent from the image forming apparatus 10, and passes them to the notification display unit 26. The notification display unit 26 displays the firmware update request notification and the print processing rejection notification received by the notification reception unit 25 on a display unit (not shown) of the information processing apparatus 20a in which the printer driver 20 is installed.

  The operator of the information processing apparatus 20a, that is, the creator of the print job, looks at the displayed update request notification and executes firmware update processing of the image forming apparatus 10 as will be described later. Next, each function provided in the image forming apparatus 10 will be described.

  The image forming apparatus 10 includes a print job reception unit 11, a print job management unit 12, a firmware version comparison unit 13, a notification transmission unit 14, a firmware update determination unit 15, a firmware update unit 16, a firmware storage unit 17, a firmware acquisition unit 18, In addition to the update necessity acquisition unit 19 and the like, the image forming apparatus includes an image forming engine and an operation panel (not shown) that are necessary for the image forming apparatus.

The firmware storage unit 17 is configured by an EPROM (Erasable and Programmable ROM) or the like, and performs firmware storage processing for storing firmware that controls hardware resources currently operating in the image forming apparatus 10 and version information thereof.
The print job reception unit 11 receives a print job sent from the print job transmission unit 22 of the printer driver 20.

  The print job management unit 12 is designated by the total number of print jobs received by the print job reception unit 11, the comparison result of the firmware version comparison unit 13, and the expected firmware version information added to the received print job. The number of times of specifying the firmware version and the number of times the firmware update necessity added to the received print job can be updated are stored.

  The firmware version comparison unit 13 performs a firmware version acquisition process for acquiring the expected firmware version held in the print job. The firmware version comparison unit 13 stores the acquired expected firmware version and the firmware storage unit 17 in the image forming apparatus 10. A firmware version comparison process is performed for comparing the currently operating firmware version. That is, the firmware version comparison unit 13 functions as firmware version acquisition means for performing firmware version acquisition processing, and firmware version comparison means for executing firmware version comparison processing for comparing the expected firmware version with the currently operating firmware version. is doing.

  The firmware acquisition unit 18 acquires the firmware of the latest version, the expected firmware version, or the designated firmware version from the firmware providing server 34 that is the firmware supply destination via the external network 33 shown in FIG. It functions as firmware acquisition means for executing processing.

  The firmware update unit 16 functions as a firmware update unit that executes firmware update processing for updating the firmware stored in the firmware storage unit 17 with the firmware acquired by the firmware acquisition unit 18.

  The firmware update determination unit 15 compares the number of times the firmware version comparison unit 13 determines that the currently operating firmware version managed by the print job management unit 12 is older and the total number of print jobs. , Whether to update the firmware, or managed by the print job management unit 12, and the number of times the firmware version comparison unit 13 determines that the currently operating firmware version is older and the print job Are compared, and it is determined whether or not to update to the version of firmware most designated as the expected firmware from the printer driver 20, or the firmware is updated according to the update necessity acquired by the update necessity acquisition unit 19 And specify its firmware version, or The number of times the past update necessity can be updated, which is managed by the print job management unit 12, is compared with the total number of print jobs, it is determined whether to update, and a version that can be updated or does not need to be specified is designated. , Functioning as update determination processing means and version designation processing means.

  The update necessity acquisition unit 19 determines an update necessity acquisition unit that executes an update necessity acquisition process held in a print job, and determines whether the firmware needs to be upgraded based on the acquired update necessity. It functions as an update necessity determination means.

  The notification transmission unit 14 receives the firmware of the latest, expected, or specified version based on the determination result of the firmware update determination unit 15, and when the acquisition fails, the printer Based on the determination result of the firmware update determination unit 15, the notification unit that performs notification processing for performing a notification (update request notification) that prompts the driver 20 to update the firmware, and the firmware update determination unit 15 has the latest or expected Alternatively, it functions as a notification unit that obtains a specified version of firmware and notifies the user when print processing is interrupted.

  With reference to FIG. 3, the first operation of the present embodiment will be described. The image forming apparatus 10 of the printing system 1 according to the present embodiment determines whether or not to update the firmware that operates on the basis of the comparison result of the firmware version and the ratio of the update request, and automatically determines the firmware based on the result. Are updated to a firmware version appropriate for the printer driver 20 that created the sent print job.

  In the printer driver 20, the print job generation unit 21 generates a print job including print data corresponding to the print setting and the print setting content from the image data, and the driver version storage unit 23 stores this print job. An expected firmware version that is an appropriate version for the version information of the current printer driver and the version of the printer driver 20 stored in the expected firmware version storage unit 24 is held, and the print job transmission unit 22 Is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 10.

  When a print job is transmitted from the printer driver 20, the image forming apparatus 10 receives the print job at the print job reception unit 11 and counts up the number of received jobs managed by the print job management unit 12. (Step S101) The firmware version comparison unit 13 acquires (extracts) the expected firmware version from the print job (Step S102), and is stored in the acquired expected firmware version and firmware storage unit 17 and is stored in the image forming apparatus 10. Compare the versions of the currently operating firmware (step S103).

In step S103, when the currently operating firmware version of the image forming apparatus 10 is newer than the expected firmware version, the process ends.
In step S103, when the firmware version currently operating on the image forming apparatus 10 is older than the expected firmware version, the current operation of the image forming apparatus 10 managed by the print job management unit 12 is performed. The number of results of the firmware version comparison unit 13 that the version of the firmware is older is counted up (step S104), and it is determined whether to update the firmware (step S105).

  When the firmware update determination unit 15 determines that the firmware is to be updated from the ratio of the value counted up in (Step S104) to the value counted up in (Step S101) in (Step S105), the firmware providing server 34 A firmware acquisition process for acquiring the firmware of the new expected firmware version is performed (step S106), and it is checked whether acquisition of the new version of the firmware has been successful (step S107).

  If the firmware acquisition is successful in (Step S107), the counter managed by the print job management unit 12 is reset, the firmware update unit updates the firmware stored in the firmware storage unit, and restarts to process. Is finished (step S108).

  If the firmware acquisition fails in (Step S107), the notification transmitting unit transmits a notification (update request notification) for prompting the printer driver that has transmitted the print job to update the firmware of the image forming apparatus, and the process is terminated. (Step S109).

  With reference to FIG. 4, the second operation of the present embodiment will be described. The image forming apparatus 20 of the print system 1 according to the present embodiment determines whether to update the firmware that operates on the basis of the update necessity and the ratio that the update necessity with respect to the number of print jobs can be updated, As a result, the firmware is automatically updated, and the firmware version appropriate for the printer driver 20 that created the sent print job is set.

  In the printer driver 20, the print job generation unit 21 generates a print job including print data corresponding to the print setting, the print setting content, and the like from the image data, and the firmware update necessity storage unit 27 stores this print job. The printer driver 20 stores the version information of the current printer driver 20 to be stored and the version of the printer driver 20 stored in the firmware update necessity storage unit 27 so that the firmware version needs to be updated. The print job is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 10.

  When a print job is transmitted from the printer driver 20, the image forming apparatus 10 receives the print job at the print job reception unit 11 and counts up the number of received jobs managed by the print job management unit 12. (Step S201) The update necessity acquisition unit 19 acquires (extracts) the update necessity from the print job (Step S202), and the acquired update necessity is stored in the firmware storage unit 17 to form an image. It is determined whether the firmware version currently operating on the apparatus 10 needs to be updated (step S203).

  If it is determined in step S203 that the firmware version stored in the firmware storage unit 17 and currently operating on the image forming apparatus 10 does not need to be updated, the image formation managed by the print job management unit 12 is performed. The number of times it is determined that updating is not necessary for the version of the firmware currently operating on the apparatus 10 is counted up (step S204), and it is determined whether to update the firmware (step S205).

  When the firmware update determination unit 15 determines that the firmware is to be updated from the ratio of the value counted up in (Step S204) to the value counted up in (Step S201) in (Step S205), the firmware providing server 34 A firmware acquisition process for acquiring firmware of a new expected firmware version is performed (step S206), and it is checked whether acquisition of the new version of firmware from the web is successful (step S207).

  If the firmware acquisition is successful in (Step S207), the counter managed by the print job management unit 12 is reset, the firmware update unit 16 updates the firmware stored in the firmware storage unit 17, and restarts. The process is terminated (step S208).

  If the firmware acquisition fails in (Step S207), the notification transmission unit 14 transmits a notification (update request notification) that prompts the printer driver 20 that has transmitted the print job to update the firmware of the image forming apparatus 10. Is finished (step S209).

  If it is determined in step S203 that the firmware version stored in the firmware storage unit 17 and currently operating on the image forming apparatus 10 is required to be updated, the print job received by the print job reception unit 11 is held in the print job. The print processing is canceled (step S210), a notification that the print processing is stopped is transmitted (step S211), and firmware acquisition processing for acquiring firmware of the new expected firmware version from the firmware providing server 34 is performed. (Step S206) It is checked whether acquisition of the new version of firmware from the web has succeeded (step S207).

  According to the present embodiment, a print job is generated including the firmware version information expected by the operator, which is held on each printer driver side, and the information is compared with the current firmware version. However, only when a decision to update is obtained, a new version of the firmware is automatically acquired, so the firmware can be updated according to the situation and wishes of the user on the printer driver side. It is not necessary to change the environment around the image forming apparatus.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the version of firmware expected by the operator on the printer driver side is stored in a newer version than the current version of firmware, and the result is compared to the total number of print jobs. Since the update process is performed only when the ratio of the comparison result exceeds a predetermined ratio, it is possible to update only firmware having a high update request level.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the print job management unit 12 holds the number of times the expected version is extracted for each different version, and the firmware update determination unit 15 determines that the current version is older than the expected version. When the ratio of the comparison result to the total number of print jobs exceeds a predetermined ratio, the current version is changed to the version most frequently held in the print job management unit 12 among the expected versions. The firmware acquisition unit 18 acquires the version of firmware with the highest number of times held in the print job management unit 12 from the expected versions. For this reason, it is possible to automatically update the firmware to a version having a particularly high requirement among the versions expected by the operator. This is particularly advantageous when the print system of the present embodiment is used in a local network or the like and the expected version varies depending on the user.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the printer driver side holds update necessity information indicating whether or not the firmware of the image forming apparatus needs to be updated, and how much is necessary. The image forming apparatus extracts the information every time a print job is received. Therefore, it is possible to selectively update only the version of firmware that is highly required to be updated.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the update necessity information is divided into multiple stages. In particular, in the case of an update necessity of “may be updated”, the print job management unit 12 determines the update necessity information. The number of received print jobs is stored. Since the update process is performed only when the ratio of the number of times to the total number of print jobs exceeds a predetermined ratio, it is possible to update only firmware having a high update request level.

[Second Embodiment]
The first embodiment is a form for implementing the present invention in a printing system including an information processing apparatus including a printer driver and an image forming apparatus connected to the information processing apparatus via a network. However, the present invention can also be implemented by a form in which the printer driver is mounted on the image forming apparatus itself. The present embodiment is an embodiment in which such a printer driver is mounted on the image forming apparatus itself. FIG. 5 shows the configuration of this embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the printer driver 20 is mounted on the image forming apparatus 10 itself. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 10 can generate a print job without requiring another apparatus such as the information processing apparatus 20a illustrated in FIG.

  The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

1 is a network configuration diagram including a print system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating an operation of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating an operation of the image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image forming apparatus of other embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Print system 10 Image forming apparatus 11 Print job receiving part 12 Print job management part 13 Firmware version comparison part 14 Notification transmission part 15 Firmware update judgment part 16 Firmware update part 17 Firmware storage part 18 Firmware acquisition part 19 Update necessity acquisition part 20 Printer driver 20a Information processing device 21 Print job generation unit 22 Print job transmission unit 23 Driver version storage unit 24 Expected firmware version storage unit 25 Notification reception unit 26 Notification display unit 27 Firmware update necessity storage unit 31 Network 32 Router 33 External network 34 Firmware providing server

Claims (9)

An image forming apparatus for managing firmware versions,
Print job generation means for generating a print job including the version expected by the operator;
Version comparison means for comparing the expected version extracted from the print job with the current version which is the version of the firmware currently operating on the image forming apparatus;
As a result of the comparison, update determination means for determining whether or not to update the current version;
An acquisition means for acquiring the expected version of firmware only when a decision to update is obtained;
An image forming apparatus comprising: A print job management unit that holds a total number of print jobs and a comparison result by the version comparison unit;
The update determination means determines to update the current version when the ratio of the comparison result that the current version is older than the expected version to the total number of the print jobs exceeds a predetermined ratio. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is performed. The print job management means holds the number of times the expected version is extracted for each different version;
The update determination means expects the current version when the ratio of the comparison result that the current version is older than the expected version to the total number of the print jobs exceeds a predetermined ratio. Among the versions, a determination is made to update to the version with the highest number of times held in the print job management unit,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the obtaining unit obtains the version of firmware having the highest number of times held in the print job management unit among the expected versions. The print job management means includes update necessity information indicating the necessity of updating the firmware version, generates a print job,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the update determination unit determines whether to update the current version based on the update necessity information extracted from the print job. The update necessity information includes updateable information indicating that it may be updated, and is divided into multiple stages.
The print job management unit holds the number of times the updatable information is extracted;
The update determination means performs a determination to update the current version when a ratio of the number of times the updatable information is extracted to a total number of the print jobs exceeds a predetermined ratio. Item 5. The image forming apparatus according to Item 4. An image forming system in which an image forming apparatus installed with firmware and an information processing apparatus installed with a printer driver for controlling the image forming apparatus are communicably connected via a network,
The information processing apparatus includes:
Print job generation means for generating a print job including the version expected by the operator;
Printing station armament means for transmitting the generated print job to the image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus includes:
Version comparison means for comparing the expected version extracted from the print job with the current version which is the version of the firmware currently operating on the image forming apparatus;
As a result of the comparison, update determination means for determining whether or not to update the current version;
An acquisition means for acquiring the expected version of firmware only when a decision to update is obtained;
An image forming system comprising: A version management method for managing the firmware version of an image forming apparatus,
Including the version expected by the operator in the print job;
Comparing the expected version extracted from the print job with the current version which is the version of the firmware currently operating on the image forming apparatus;
As a result of comparison, determining whether to update the current version; and
Obtaining the expected version of firmware only when a decision to update is obtained;
A version management method comprising:   A version management program for causing an image forming apparatus to execute each step of the version management method according to claim 7.   A recording medium on which the version management program according to claim 8 is recorded.

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