JP2020129341A - Electronic device and program execution program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an electronic device and a program execution program capable of facilitating execution of a program modified by a user.SOLUTION: MFP includes a storage unit configured to store firmware, a connection unit to which a storage medium storing a partial alternative to the firmware can be communicatively connected, and a firmware execution unit configured to execute the firmware. When a storage medium connected to the connection unit stores an alternative program or an alternative library as the partial alternative to the firmware (YES in S33), the firmware execution unit executes the firmware (S35) preferentially using the alternative program or the alternative library stored in the storage medium connected to the connection unit over a configuration program or a configuration library stored as part of firmware in the storage unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic device that executes a program stored in an external storage medium and a program execution program.

Conventionally, as an electronic device that executes a program stored in an external storage medium, an electronic device that executes an OS (Operating System) as a program stored in a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory as an external storage medium A computer device is known as such (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The computer device described in Patent Document 1 executes the OS stored in the USB memory in a specific case where the USB memory storing the OS is connected, and in a case other than the specific case, The OS inside the computer itself is executed.

Special table 2014-513365 gazette

However, in the conventional computer device, since the entire OS needs to be stored in the external USB memory, it is difficult for the user to create the OS stored in the external USB memory. However, there is a problem that the OS modified by the user cannot be executed.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device and a program execution program that can facilitate execution of a program modified by a user.

An electronic apparatus of the present invention includes a storage unit that stores a program, a connection unit that allows a storage medium that stores a part of the alternative program to be communicatively connected, and a program execution unit that executes the program, The program execution unit may preferentially use the alternative over the part when the alternative is stored in the storage medium connected to the connection unit.

With this configuration, the electronic device of the present invention is more external than the part of the program stored in the storage unit when the replacement of a part of the program is stored in the storage medium connected to the connection unit. The alternative part of the program stored in the storage medium is preferentially used to execute the program. Therefore, only the alternative part of the program is stored in the external storage medium, not the alternative part of the program. It should be remembered. Therefore, the electronic device of the present invention can facilitate execution of the program modified by the user.

The electronic device of the present invention includes a priority use setting unit that sets whether to preferentially use the alternative over the part, and the program execution unit is the storage medium connected to the connection unit. Even when the alternative is stored in the table, the alternative does not have to be used when the preferential use setting unit does not set to preferentially use the alternative over the part. ..

With this configuration, the electronic device according to the present invention can store a part of the program stored in the storage unit in the storage medium connected to the connection unit, even if a part of the program is stored in the storage unit. Even if a part of the program stored in the external storage medium is not set to be preferentially used, a part of the program stored in the external storage medium is used Since the program is executed without executing the program, the substitute of the part of the program stored in the external storage medium is preferentially used over the part of the program stored in the storage unit to execute the program. The execution can be restricted to the user, and as a result, the convenience can be improved.

In the electronic device of the present invention, the program executing unit may notify that the alternative stored in the storage medium is being used when the alternative is used preferentially over the part. good.

With this configuration, the electronic device of the present invention preferentially uses a part of the program stored in the external storage medium instead of the part of the program stored in the storage unit, When executing, the notification that the part of the program stored in the external storage medium is being used is notified, so the operator can easily determine whether or not to use this electronic device. can do.

A program execution program of the present invention is a program for executing the program in an electronic device that includes a storage unit that stores the program and a connection unit that is communicably connectable to a storage medium that stores a part of the alternative of the program. An executing unit is realized, and the program executing unit preferentially uses the alternative over the part when the alternative is stored in the storage medium connected to the connecting unit. And

With this configuration, the electronic device that executes the program execution program of the present invention stores the program stored in the storage unit when a part of the program is stored in the storage medium connected to the connection unit. Since the program is executed by preferentially using a part of the program stored in the external storage medium rather than a part of the program, the external storage medium does not replace the program in its entirety, but instead of the program. Only some alternatives need to be stored. Therefore, the electronic device that executes the program execution program of the present invention can facilitate the execution of the program modified by the user.

The electronic device and the program execution program of the present invention can facilitate execution of the program modified by the user.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an MFP according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a storage medium connectable to a connection unit shown in FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 1 when activating firmware. 9 is a flowchart of a modified example of the operation shown in FIG. 3.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, the configuration of an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) as an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the MFP 10 according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 10 includes an operation unit 11 which is an input device such as a button for inputting various operations, and a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) which displays various information. Section 12, printer 13 which is a printing device for printing an image on a recording medium such as paper, scanner 14 which is a reading device for reading an image from an original, communication with an external facsimile device (not shown) and public telephone line A fax communication unit 15, which is a fax device for performing fax communication via a line, and a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet, or communicates with an external device directly by wire or wirelessly without using the network. A communication unit 16 that is a communication device that performs communication, a connection unit 17 such as a USB port or an SD card slot that is communicatively connectable to an external storage medium such as a USB memory or an SD card, and stores various information. The storage unit 18 is a non-volatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and a control unit 19 that controls the entire MFP 10.

The storage unit 18 stores the firmware 18a of the MFP 10 as a program. The firmware 18a includes a program (hereinafter, referred to as “configuration program”) 18b that configures a part of the firmware 18a. The firmware 18a can include at least one configuration program in addition to the configuration program 18b. The firmware 18a includes a library 18c that constitutes a part of the firmware 18a and is not a configuration program (hereinafter referred to as "configuration library") 18c. The firmware 18a can include at least one configuration library in addition to the configuration library 18c. The firmware 18a may be installed in the MFP 10 at the manufacturing stage of the MFP 10, may be additionally installed in the MFP 10 from an external storage medium such as a USB memory, or may be additionally installed in the MFP 10 from the network. May be.

The storage unit 18 stores a firmware execution program 18d as a program execution program for executing the firmware 18a. The firmware execution program 18d may be installed in the MFP 10 at the manufacturing stage of the MFP 10, may be additionally installed in the MFP 10 from an external storage medium such as a USB memory, or may be additionally installed in the MFP 10 from the network. May be installed.

The storage unit 18 uses the configuration program or the configuration library stored in the external storage medium in preference to the configuration program or the configuration library stored inside the MFP 10 itself. Information 18e can be stored. The preferential use information 18e may be LD_LIBRARY_PATH when the OS of the MFP 10 is Linux (registered trademark), for example.

The control unit 19 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs and various data, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) as a memory used as a work area of the CPU. Equipped with. The CPU executes the program stored in the storage unit 18 or the ROM.

By executing the firmware execution program 18d, the control unit 19 gives priority to the configuration program or the configuration library stored in the external storage medium over the configuration program or the configuration library stored inside the MFP 10 itself. A priority use setting unit 19a for setting whether or not to use the firmware and a firmware execution unit 19b as a program execution unit for executing the firmware 18a are realized.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the storage medium 20 connectable to the connection unit 17.

As shown in FIG. 2, the storage medium 20 can store an alternative configuration program (hereinafter, referred to as “alternative program”) 20a of any of the configuration programs stored inside the MFP 10. The storage medium 20 can store at least one alternative program other than the alternative program 20a.

The storage medium 20 can store an alternative configuration library (hereinafter referred to as “alternative library”) 20b of any of the configuration libraries stored inside the MFP 10. The storage medium 20 can store at least one alternative library other than the alternative library 20b.

Next, the operation of the MFP 10 when changing the preferential use information 18e will be described.

The control unit 19 can display the setting screen of the MFP 10 on the display unit 12 according to an instruction via the operation unit 11. When the setting screen of the MFP 10 is displayed on the display unit 12, the user can instruct various settings of the MFP 10 from the setting screen to the MFP 10 via the operation unit 11.

In addition, the control unit 19 can provide the web page of the setting screen of the MFP 10 to the electronic device external to the MFP 10 via the communication unit 16 according to the instruction via the communication unit 16. When the setting screen of the MFP 10 is displayed on the display unit of an electronic device external to the MFP 10 such as a PC (Personal Computer) via a web browser, the user can perform various settings of the MFP 10 from the setting screen. It is possible to give an instruction to the MFP 10 via the operation unit and the communication unit of this electronic device.

When the priority use setting unit 19a is instructed to change the priority use information 18e via the operation unit 11 or the communication unit 16, the priority use setting unit 19a changes the priority use information 18e according to the instruction.

Next, the operation of the MFP 10 when activating the firmware 18a will be described.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP 10 when activating the firmware 18a.

The firmware execution unit 19b executes the operation shown in FIG. 3 when the firmware 18a of the MFP 10 is started, for example, when the MFP 10 itself is restarted.

As shown in FIG. 3, the firmware execution unit 19b gives priority to an alternative program or an alternative library stored in a storage medium external to the MFP 10 over a composition program or a configuration library stored inside the MFP 10 itself. It is determined whether or not the preferential use is indicated in the preferential use information 18e (S31).

The firmware execution unit 19b preferentially uses the alternative program or the alternative library stored in the external storage medium over the configuration program or the alternative library stored inside the MFP 10 itself. If the storage medium 20 is connected to the connection unit 17, it is determined whether the storage medium 20 is connected to the connection unit 17 (S32).

When the firmware execution unit 19b determines in S32 that the storage medium 20 is connected to the connection unit 17, it determines whether the storage medium 20 connected to the connection unit 17 stores the alternative program or the alternative library. A judgment is made (S33).

The firmware execution unit 19b preferentially uses the alternative program or the alternative library stored in the external storage medium over the configuration program or the alternative library stored inside the MFP 10 itself. Is not shown in S31, it is determined in S32 that the storage medium 20 is not connected to the connection unit 17, or it is determined in S33 that the alternative program or the alternative library is not stored in the storage medium 20. Then, without using the alternative program and the alternative library, the firmware 18a stored in the MFP 10 itself is executed (S34), and the operation shown in FIG. 3 ends.

When the firmware execution unit 19b determines in S33 that the alternative program or the alternative library is stored in the storage medium 20, the firmware execution unit 19b stores the alternative program or the alternative library in the storage medium 20 external to the configuration program or the configuration library stored inside the MFP 10 itself. The stored alternative program or alternative library is preferentially used to execute the firmware 18a stored inside the MFP 10 itself (S35).

Next, the firmware execution unit 19b displays the fact that the alternative program or the alternative library stored in the external storage medium 20 is being used on the screen or the like displayed on the display unit 12 (S36). Therefore, the operator can recognize that the non-genuine firmware 18a of the manufacturer of the MFP 10 may be executed.

When the processing of S36 ends, the firmware execution unit 19b ends the operation illustrated in FIG.

As described above, when the storage medium 20 connected to the connection unit 17 stores a part of the firmware 18a as an alternative, that is, the alternative program or the alternative library (YES in S33), the MFP 10 is described. , A part of the firmware 18a stored in the storage unit 18, that is, by preferentially using the alternative program or the alternative library stored in the external storage medium 20 over the configuration program or the composition library, Since the firmware is executed (S35), the external storage medium 20 need only store a part of the firmware 18a instead of the entire replacement of the firmware 18a. Therefore, the MFP 10 can facilitate the execution of the firmware modified by the user.

Here, the firmware 18a has some vulnerabilities such as a vulnerability caused by a vulnerability of the open source program forming the firmware 18a and a vulnerability of the firmware 18a itself which is not a vulnerability of the open source program forming the firmware 18a. If found, it is preferably corrected as soon as possible. However, the release of the modified version of the firmware 18a may be delayed due to the business hours of the maker of the MFP 10 or the working resources of the developer of the maker of the MFP 10, and in some cases, due to the end of the support period of the MFP 10, the firmware may be released. The modified version of 18a may not be released.

The MFP 10 can execute the firmware by using the alternative program or the alternative library stored in the external storage medium 20, so that the user can create the alternative program or the alternative library. On the Internet, the user discloses on the Internet the source code of at least a part of the firmware 18a disclosed by the manufacturer of the MFP 10 and the open source program that constitutes the firmware 18a and is provided with a license such as GPL (GNU General Public License). An alternative program or an alternative library can be created by referring to the source code disclosed in. The complete development environment such as a compiler and a library is disclosed by the manufacturer of the MFP 10.

Therefore, even if a vulnerability is found in the firmware 18a, the user of the MFP 10 can perform an alternative to correct the vulnerability of the firmware 18a before the modified version of the firmware 18a is released by the manufacturer of the MFP 10. By writing the program or the alternative library by itself and writing it in the storage medium 20, the corrected firmware can be executed by the MFP 10.

In addition, the vulnerability of the firmware 18a has been described above. However, the user of the MFP 10 can cause the MFP 10 to execute the firmware that has been corrected other than the vulnerability correction. For example, the user of the MFP 10 can cause the MFP 10 to execute the firmware that has been modified to comply with the new communication standard.

Since the alternative program or the alternative library is stored in the external storage medium 20 instead of the storage unit 18, the MFP 10 uses the alternative program or the alternative library stored in the external storage medium 20 to update the firmware. If the firmware has been executed, the storage medium 20 is removed from the connection unit 17 and the firmware is restarted (NO in S32), whereby the firmware 18a stored in the storage unit 18 can be executed. That is, the MFP 10 does not need to rewrite the firmware 18a stored in the storage unit 18 even when the firmware modified by the user is executed. Therefore, the MFP 10 can prevent the guarantee of the manufacturer of the MFP 10 from being lost due to the unauthorized rewriting of the firmware 18a stored in the storage unit 18. Therefore, in the MFP 10, for example, when the modified version of the firmware 18a is officially released from the manufacturer of the MFP 10, the firmware 18a stored in the storage unit 18 can be overwritten by the modified version.

Even when the storage medium 20 connected to the connection unit 17 stores the alternative program or the alternative library, the MFP 10 is more external than the configuration program or the configuration library stored in the storage unit 18. When the preferential use of the alternative program or the alternative library stored in the other storage medium 20 is not set (NO in S31), the alternative program and the alternative library stored in the external storage medium 20 are set. Since the firmware is executed without using the (S34), the alternative program or the alternative library stored in the external storage medium 20 is given priority over the configuration program or the alternative library stored in the storage unit 18. It is possible to restrict the user from executing the firmware (S35), and as a result, the convenience can be improved.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the storage medium 20 storing the alternative program or the alternative library is connected to the connection unit 17, the MFP 10 stores the configuration program stored in the MFP 10 itself or The configuration may be such that the substitute program or substitute library stored in the external storage medium 20 is preferentially used over the configuration library, and the firmware 18a stored inside the MFP 10 itself is always executed.

The MFP 10 preferentially uses the alternative program or the alternative library stored in the external storage medium 20 over the configuration program or the alternative library stored in the storage unit 18 to execute the firmware (S35). In this case, since the fact that the alternative program or the alternative library stored in the external storage medium 20 is used is notified (S36), the operator can easily determine whether or not to use the MFP 10. be able to. For example, when the operator recognizes the display in S36, the operator may determine to use the MFP 10 only when the administrator of the MFP 10 has previously notified that the firmware has been patched. Therefore, for example, even if the storage medium 20 stores an alternative program or an alternative library that has been tampered with by a malicious person, the MFP 10 operates the damage caused by the use of the alternative program or the alternative library. It is possible to reduce the possibility that the person will receive.

The program of the present invention is firmware in the present embodiment, but may be a program other than firmware, such as an OS.

Although the electronic device of the present invention is the MFP in the present embodiment, it may be an image forming apparatus other than the MFP, such as a printer-dedicated machine, or an electronic device other than the image forming apparatus, such as a PC.

10 MFP (electronic device)
17 Connection Unit 18 Storage Unit 18a Firmware (Program)
18b Configuration program (part of the program)
18c configuration library (part of the program)
18d Firmware execution program (program execution program)
19a Priority use setting section 19b Firmware execution section (program execution section)
20 Storage Medium 20a Alternative Program (Part of Program Alternative)
20b Substitute library (substitute for part of the program)

Claims (4)

A storage unit for storing the program,
A storage medium, which stores a part of the alternative of the program, is communicably connectable to a connection unit,
A program execution unit that executes the program,
The electronic device, wherein the program execution unit preferentially uses the alternative over the part when the alternative is stored in the storage medium connected to the connection unit. A priority use setting unit for setting whether to preferentially use the alternative over the part,
The program execution unit may preferentially use the alternative over the part even when the alternative is stored in the storage medium connected to the connection unit. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the alternative is not used when not set by a unit. The program execution unit notifies that the alternative stored in the storage medium is being used when the alternative is preferentially used over the part. The electronic device according to claim 2. A storage unit for storing the program,
A program execution unit that executes the program, in an electronic device that includes a connection unit that is communicably connectable with a storage medium that stores a part of the program,
A program execution program, wherein the program execution unit preferentially uses the alternative over the part when the alternative is stored in the storage medium connected to the connection unit.

Images