JP2012234328A - Electronic apparatus and program update method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic apparatus and a program update method capable of updating a program which is used in a plurality of apparatuses in a short time, without preparing a plurality of memory mediums in which an update program is stored.SOLUTION: A composite machine 1 comprises: a USB port 21 on which USB memory 2 is mounted; ROM 12 for storing a control program; an operation display part 20 which displays a version upgrade confirmation screen for confirming whether or not version upgrade of the control program stored in the ROM 12 should be performed, and in which an instruction as to whether or not the version upgrade is performed is inputted; and a CPU 11 which makes the operation display part 20 display the version upgrade confirmation screen when a version upgrade program is stored in the USB memory 2 mounted on the USB port 21, and starts reading the version upgrade program from the USB memory 2.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device such as a copying machine or a multifunction peripheral, and a program update method.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image forming apparatuses such as copiers and multi-function machines are increasingly capable of transferring various data to and from storage media such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory and SD (Secure Digital) memory card. . Since such an image forming apparatus can store a printout of a document file or the like stored in a storage medium, or an image file such as a document image read by a scanner included in the image forming apparatus, in the storage medium. User convenience can be improved.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus described above can be used for various programs (print control program, scanner control program, etc.) used in the image forming apparatus if a predetermined instruction is given in a state where a storage medium storing an update program is loaded. ) Can be updated to the update program stored in the storage medium. For this reason, for example, the working efficiency of the worker who performs maintenance of the image forming apparatus can be improved. For details of the technique for reading out the program stored in the external storage device and updating various programs used in the electronic device and the image forming apparatus, see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 below.

JP 2008-112315 A JP 2002-268843 A

  By the way, the image forming apparatus generally stores various programs in a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), and updates the program (for example, upgrades) by rewriting the program. I do. The program is updated by sequentially overwriting a program stored in a nonvolatile memory with a program stored in a storage medium such as a USB memory. For this reason, basically, the storage medium cannot be removed during the update of the program, and it is necessary to wait for the removal until the update is completed.

  When the number of image forming apparatuses that need to be updated is one, it is considered that the waiting time is not so long. However, when updating the programs of a plurality of image forming apparatuses, there is a problem that a waiting time corresponding to the number of image forming apparatuses occurs and the efficiency is extremely low. Here, if as many storage media as the number of image forming apparatuses that need to be updated are prepared, the programs of a plurality of image forming apparatuses can be updated at a time. However, it takes time to prepare a plurality of storage media, and there is a possibility that sufficient management cannot be performed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an electronic device and a program capable of updating a program used in a plurality of devices in a short time without preparing a plurality of storage media storing update programs. The purpose is to provide an update method.

In order to solve the above problems, an electronic device according to the present invention includes a mounting unit on which a removable storage medium is mounted, and data can be exchanged with the storage medium mounted on the mounting unit. A non-volatile storage unit that stores a program, a display unit that displays confirmation information for confirming whether or not to update the program stored in the storage unit, and a storage unit that stores the confirmation information An input unit for inputting instruction information for instructing whether or not to update the program; and when the update program is stored in the storage medium mounted on the mounting unit, the confirmation information is displayed on the display unit. And reading the update program from the storage medium, and when instruction information for instructing program update is input from the input unit, the program stored in the storage unit is stored. It is characterized in that a control section for updating the update that read from the storage medium.
The electronic device according to the present invention is characterized in that the control unit displays on the display unit that the storage medium can be removed after the reading of the update program from the storage medium is completed. Yes.
In the electronic device of the present invention, the control unit performs a confirmation process for confirming the validity of the update program in parallel with the reading of the update program from the storage medium.
In addition, in the electronic device according to the present invention, when the instruction information indicating that the control unit does not update the program is input from the input unit, a predetermined time has elapsed since the confirmation information was displayed on the display unit. In this case, or when the validity of the update program is not confirmed in the confirmation process, the update program read from the storage medium is discarded.
The program update method of the present invention includes a mounting unit on which a removable storage medium is mounted, and a program used in an electronic device capable of transferring data to and from the storage medium mounted on the mounting unit Is a program update method for updating the program, and displays confirmation information for confirming whether or not to update the program used in the electronic device and starts reading the update program stored in the storage medium. A step, a second step for determining whether or not instruction information for instructing to update the program is input after the first step, and a determination that the instruction information has been input in the second step. And a third step of updating a program used in the electronic device to an update program read from the storage medium. There.
In the program update method of the present invention, the first step is a step of performing a confirmation process for confirming the validity of the update program in parallel with the reading of the update program from the storage medium. It is said.
In the program update method of the present invention, when it is determined that instruction information indicating that the program is not updated is input in the second step, a predetermined time has elapsed since the confirmation information was displayed in the first step. Or a fourth step of discarding the update program read from the storage medium when the validity of the update program is not confirmed in the confirmation process.
In addition, the program update method of the present invention has a fifth step of confirming whether or not the update program is stored in a storage medium attached to the attachment unit before the first step. It is said.

  According to the present invention, when an update program is stored in a storage medium attached to the attachment unit, confirmation information for confirming whether or not to update the program stored in the storage unit is displayed and stored. Since reading of the update program from the medium is started, there is an effect that the storage medium can be removed at an early stage. Accordingly, there is an effect that a program used in a plurality of devices can be updated in a short time without preparing a plurality of storage media storing update programs.

1 is a front view of a multifunction peripheral as an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a multifunction peripheral as an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the multifunction machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of an operation display unit of a multifunction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following, a case where the electronic device is a multi-function device which is a kind of image forming apparatus will be described as an example.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of a multifunction peripheral as an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction machine 1 includes a main body 1a, a scanner 1b, an operation display panel 1c, and the like, and has a copy function, a print function, and a facsimile transmission / reception function. The multifunction device 1 is equipped with a USB memory 2 (storage medium) that is a kind of nonvolatile memory, and can exchange various data with the USB memory 2. The USB memory 2 is attached to and detached from the multifunction device 1 by a user who uses the multifunction device 1 or an operator who performs maintenance of the multifunction device 1.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a multifunction peripheral as an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the multifunction machine 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 (control unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12 (storage unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, various sensor groups 14, and sheet conveyance. Unit 15, image reading unit 16, image data storage unit 17, image forming unit 18, communication I / F unit 19, operation display unit 20 (display unit, input unit), and USB port 21 (mounting unit).

  The CPU 11 refers to various detection signals output from the various sensor groups 14 based on a control program stored in the ROM 12, and via an operation instruction input from the operation display unit 20 or the communication I / F unit 19. The operation of the multifunction device 1 is controlled in response to various instructions from a client computer (not shown) or the like input. For example, image data reading control by the image reading unit 16 or print control and transmission control of various image data such as document image data, print image data, and facsimile image data stored in the image data storage unit 17 is performed.

  In addition, when the USB memory 2 is attached to the UBS port 21, the CPU 11 checks whether or not an update program is stored in the USB memory 2. If the update program is stored, the CPU 11 stores the update program in the ROM 12. Update control of the stored control program is performed. The above update program is a control program for upgrading the control program stored in the ROM 12, for example.

  When performing the above update control, the CPU 11 displays a confirmation screen for confirming whether or not to execute the update control of the control program on the operation display unit 20 and starts reading the update program from the USB memory 2 at the same time. This is because the USB memory 2 can be removed before the program update is completed (during the program update). However, the CPU 11 executes update control after an instruction to update the control program is input from the operation display unit 20. This is to prevent a program update unintended by the user or operator.

  Here, in parallel with the reading of the update program stored in the USB memory 2, the CPU 11 performs a confirmation process for checking the validity of the update program being read. This is because the apparent time required for the confirmation process is shortened by performing the reading of the update program and the confirmation process almost simultaneously. If the time required for the belief process is shortened, the time required for updating the program can be shortened accordingly.

  In addition, when an instruction indicating that the control program is not updated is input from the operation display unit 20, when a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds) has elapsed after the confirmation screen is displayed on the operation display unit 20, Alternatively, when the validity of the update program is not confirmed, a process of discarding (deleting) the update program already read from the USB memory 2 is performed. Details of the control performed by the CPU 11 will be described later.

  The ROM 12 is a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM that stores a control program executed by the CPU 11 and other data. The RAM 13 is a volatile memory used as a working area as a temporary storage destination of data when the CPU 11 executes a control program and performs various operations. The various sensor groups 14 are various sensors necessary for an image forming operation such as a paper out detection sensor, a paper jam detection sensor, a paper position detection sensor, a temperature sensor, and the like, and the CPU 11 uses various information detected by each sensor as detection signals. Output to.

  The paper transport unit 15 includes a transport roller, a motor for driving the transport roller, and the like. The paper transport unit 15 transports the printing paper stored in the paper tray to the image forming unit 18, and after the image forming process by the image forming unit 18. The performed printing paper is conveyed to a paper discharge tray (not shown). The image reading unit 16 includes an ADF (automatic document feeder), a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor, and the like, and causes the CCD sensor to read an image of a document sequentially fed by the ADF, and a document image based on the document image. Output data. The document image data output from the image reading unit 16 is stored in the image data storage unit 17 via the CPU 11.

  The image data storage unit 17 includes a memory such as a flash memory. Under the control of the CPU 11, document image data, print image data received by the communication I / F unit 19 from a client computer (not shown), and communication The I / F unit 19 stores facsimile image data received from a public network (not shown). Further, when image data is stored in the USB memory 2, the image data read out via the USB port 21 is stored.

  The image forming unit 18 performs image forming processing using the document image data, print image data, or facsimile image data stored in the image data storage unit 17 under the control of the CPU 11. Specifically, the image forming image corresponding to the various image data is transferred onto the printing paper conveyed from the paper conveying unit 15 using toner, and the fixing process of the image forming image is performed by the fixing roller. The communication I / F unit 19 is connected to a client computer (not shown) and a public network (not shown), and transmits and receives various signals to and from the client computer and the public network.

  The operation display unit 20 includes a touch panel 20a as the operation display panel 1c and various operation keys, and outputs operation contents of the operation keys to the CPU 11 and displays various information on the touch panel 20a under the control of the CPU 11. . Various operation keys provided in the operation display unit 20 include, for example, a copy function switching key, a print function switching key, a scan function switching key, a facsimile function switching key, a start key, a stop / clear key, a power key, and a numeric keypad (numeric input key). Can be mentioned. The copy function switch key, print function switch key, scan function switch key, and facsimile function switch key are keys for switching the multifunction device 1 to the operation mode of each function when the user uses each function. is there.

  Further, by displaying various buttons on the touch panel 20a, it is possible to use soft keys other than the above various keys. The soft key used in the present embodiment includes a button for instructing whether or not to update the control program stored in the ROM 12 to the update program stored in the USB memory 2. Details of these buttons will be described later.

  The USB port 21 is a serial interface corresponding to the USB standard, and is electrically connected to the USB memory 2 when the USB memory 2 is attached. The USB port 21 exchanges various data with the USB memory 2 under the control of the CPU 11 when connected to the USB memory 2. The USB port 21 can detect whether the USB memory 2 is attached and whether the USB memory 2 is removed, and outputs the detection result to the CPU 11.

  Next, the operation of the multifunction device 1 having the above configuration will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the multifunction machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of the operation display unit of the multifunction machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. The process shown in FIG. 3 is started when the user or worker of the multifunction device 1 attaches the USB memory 2 to the USB port 21 of the multifunction device 1 and performs an operation of turning on the power of the multifunction device 1.

  Here, it is assumed that the USB memory 2 attached to the USB port 21 stores an update program for upgrading the control program stored in the ROM 12 of the multifunction machine 1. The update program is stored in the USB memory 2 in a file format, and contains one or more files containing a new version of the control program and management information for managing these files. File. The management information includes a keyword indicating the use of the control program, a file name, a checksum, information indicating the data format (information indicating whether it is a text format or a binary format), and the like.

  When the power of the multifunction device 1 is turned on, various initialization processes are performed under the control of the CPU 11, and the operation display unit 20 indicates that the multifunction device 1 has been activated as shown in FIG. “WELCOME” is displayed. Further, since the USB memory 2 is attached to the USB port 21 of the multi-function device 1, a detection result indicating that the USB memory 2 is attached is output from the USB port 21 to the CPU 11.

  The CPU 11 searches the USB memory 2 based on the detection result of the USB port 21, and determines the presence / absence of version upgrade data (update program for performing version upgrade) (step S11: fifth step). If the upgrade data is not stored in the USB memory 2 or if the USB memory 2 is not attached to the USB port 21, the determination result in step S 11 is “NO” and the CPU 11 is under the control of the CPU 11. Then, the normal activation process is performed (step S12), and the normal screen shown in FIG. 4B is displayed. The “normal startup process” here is a startup process performed when the USB memory 2 is not attached to the USB port 21 and the power is turned on. The “normal screen” is a normal process. It is a screen displayed on the operation display unit 20 when the activation process is performed.

  On the other hand, when the upgrade data is stored in the USB memory 2, the determination result in step S11 is “YES”, and the upgrade confirmation screen shown in FIG. Is displayed on the unit 20 (step S13: first step). Here, the upgrade confirmation screen illustrated in FIG. 4C is a screen for allowing the user or the operator to confirm whether or not to upgrade the control program stored in the ROM 20.

  In the version upgrade confirmation screen shown in FIG. 4C, “Yes” is displayed instructing the version upgrade execution together with a message for confirming the version upgrade execution such as “Version upgrade data found. Do you want to upgrade?”. A button B1 and a “no” button B2 that does not instruct execution of version upgrade are displayed. The upgrade confirmation screen may display various information such as information indicating the type and version of the upgrade data, information indicating what version is changed from what, and the like together with the above message.

  Almost simultaneously with the display of the above version upgrade confirmation screen, reading of the version backup data from the USB memory 2 by the CPU 11 is started (step S14: first step). Note that the upgrade data read from the USB memory 2 is temporarily stored in, for example, the RAM 13 or the like. In parallel with the reading of the upgrade data, a confirmation process for confirming the validity of the upgrade data being read is performed by the CPU 11 as a background process (step S15: first step). In this confirmation process, for example, a process for confirming that the program has not been tampered with using a checksum is performed. In FIG. 3, for easy understanding, steps S13 to S15 are illustrated as separate processes, but it should be noted that the processes of steps S13 to S15 are performed as a series of processes.

  When the upgrade confirmation screen is displayed, the CPU 11 determines whether or not an upgrade instruction has been input (step S16: second step). Here, when the user or worker presses the “No” button B2 displayed on the upgrade confirmation screen shown in FIG. 4C, or after the upgrade confirmation screen is displayed, a certain time (for example, 10 When the second) has elapsed, the determination result in step S16 is “NO”, and the upgrade data that has been read out in step S14 is discarded (deleted) by the CPU 11 (step S17: fourth step). Thereafter, normal startup processing is performed under the control of the CPU 11 (step S12), and the normal screen shown in FIG. 4B is displayed.

  On the other hand, when the user or the operator presses the “Yes” button B1 displayed on the upgrade confirmation screen shown in FIG. 4C, the determination result in Step S16 becomes “YES”, Based on the result of the confirmation processing performed in S15, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the version upgrade data is valid (step S18). Note that if the reading of the upgrade data and the confirmation process of its validity have not been completed when the “Yes” button B1 is pressed, the validity confirmation shown in FIG. Is displayed on the operation display unit 20, and when these processes are completed, the determination in step S18 is performed.

  When it is determined that the version upgrade data is valid (when the determination result in step S18 is “YES”), the CPU 11 performs a process (version upgrade process) for rewriting the control program stored in the ROM 12 with the version upgrade data ( Step S19: Third step). Here, the above-described version upgrade data to be rewritten is the version upgrade data that has been read in step S14 and has been validated in step S15.

  During the upgrade process, as shown in FIG. 4 (e), a message “Upgrading” indicating that the upgrade process is in progress and that the USB memory 2 can be removed are shown. The message “USB memory can be removed” is displayed on the operation display unit 20. By displaying such a message, the user or the operator can know that the USB memory 2 can be removed. If the USB memory 2 is removed during the upgrade process, the message “USB memory can be removed” is deleted.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the upgrade data is not valid (when the determination result of step S18 is “NO”), the CPU 11 discards (deletes) the upgrade data that has been read in step S14 (step S14). S20: Fourth step), a screen indicating that the upgrade data is abnormal is displayed on the operation display unit 20 (step S21). For example, as shown in FIG. 4 (f), a screen including a message “Version update data is not correct. Select Next to start normally or turn off the power.” And a “Next” button B 3 is displayed. Display. Here, when the user or worker presses the “Next” button B3, a normal activation process is performed under the control of the CPU 11 (step S12), and the normal screen shown in FIG. 4B is displayed.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when upgrade data is stored in the USB memory 2 attached to the USB port 11, it is determined whether or not to upgrade the control program stored in the ROM 20. A confirmation screen to be confirmed by the user is displayed on the operation display unit 20 and reading of the upgrade data from the USB memory 2 is started. By doing so, the USB memory 2 can be taken out at an early stage, so that a program used in a plurality of MFPs 1 can be updated in a short time without preparing a plurality of USB memories 2 storing version upgrade data. can do.

  The electronic device and the program update method according to the embodiment of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be freely changed within the scope of the present invention. For example, the storage medium usable in the present invention is not limited to the USB memory 2, but an SD memory card, CompactFlash (registered trademark), Memory Stick (registered trademark), SmartMedia, flexible disk, CD-R, CD- Various storage media such as RW, DVD (registered trademark) -R, DVD-RW, and MO disk may be used.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the electronic apparatus according to the present invention is a multifunction peripheral that is one of the image forming apparatuses has been described as an example. However, the present invention includes a mounting unit on which a storage medium is mounted. If so, the present invention can be applied to any electronic device such as a personal computer.

1 MFP 2 USB memory 11 CPU
12 ROM
20 Operation display 21 USB port

Claims (8)

In an electronic device that includes a mounting unit on which a removable storage medium is mounted, and that can exchange data with the storage medium mounted on the mounting unit,
A non-volatile storage unit for storing the program;
A display unit for displaying confirmation information for confirming whether or not to update the program stored in the storage unit;
An input unit for inputting instruction information for instructing whether or not to update the program stored in the storage unit;
When an update program is stored in a storage medium attached to the attachment unit, the confirmation information is displayed on the display unit, and reading of the update program from the storage medium is started, and an instruction to update the program is given. An electronic device comprising: a control unit that updates a program stored in the storage unit to an update program read from the storage medium when instruction information to be input is input from the input unit.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays on the display unit that the storage medium can be removed after reading of the update program from the storage medium is completed.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs a confirmation process for confirming the validity of the update program in parallel with the reading of the update program from the storage medium.   The control unit, when instruction information indicating that the program is not updated is input from the input unit, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the confirmation information is displayed on the display unit, or in the confirmation process 4. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein when the validity of the update program is not confirmed, the update program read from the storage medium is discarded. A program update method for updating a program used in an electronic device that includes a mounting unit to which a removable storage medium is mounted and that can exchange data with the storage medium mounted in the mounting unit. And
A first step of displaying confirmation information for confirming whether or not to update a program used in the electronic device and starting reading of the update program stored in the storage medium;
A second step of determining whether or not instruction information for instructing the update of the program is input after the first step;
And a third step of updating a program used in the electronic device to an update program read from the storage medium when it is determined that the instruction information is input in the second step. Method.   6. The program update method according to claim 5, wherein the first step is a step of performing a confirmation process for confirming the validity of the update program in parallel with the reading of the update program from the storage medium. .   When it is determined that instruction information indicating that the program is not to be updated is input in the second step, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the confirmation information is displayed in the first step, or the update is performed in the confirmation process. 7. The program update method according to claim 6, further comprising a fourth step of discarding the update program read from the storage medium when the validity of the program is not confirmed.   8. The fifth step according to claim 5, further comprising a fifth step of confirming whether or not the update program is stored in a storage medium attached to the attachment unit before the first step. The program update method as described in any one of Claims.

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