JP3501138B2 - Data communication program, computer-readable recording medium recording data communication program, data communication device, and data communication method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data communication program, a computer-readable recording medium recording the data communication program, a data communication device, and a data communication method, and more particularly to data for performing firmware data communication via the Internet. The present invention relates to a communication program, a computer-readable recording medium recording the data communication program, a data communication device, and a data communication method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, firmware for controlling the operation of an image forming apparatus is a mask ROM (Read Only Memo).
ry) was written. Therefore, when it becomes necessary to replace the firmware, the mask ROM on the control board in the image forming apparatus is replaced with the mask ROM in which new firmware is written.

The replacement work of the mask ROM is time-consuming and complicated. Therefore, in order to improve workability, a rewritable flash ROM has been used in place of the mask ROM.

The following method has been used to replace the firmware written in the flash ROM.

First, a first method is to use an external storage device such as a memory card. That is, the image forming apparatus is provided with an I / F (interface) with an external storage device such as a memory card, and the memory card storing new firmware is connected to the I / F. Then, the new firmware is written from the memory card to the flash ROM. With this method, when rewriting the firmware, remote control is not possible, and the user must actually go to the place where the image forming apparatus is installed.

A second method is to use a public line network. This method has been put to practical use mainly in facsimile machines. That is, the firmware is transmitted from the remote device connected to the public network to the image forming apparatus. The firmware is rewritten by downloading this. With this method, it is not necessary to actually go to the site unlike the first method, but the communication cost is high, and it takes a relatively long time to download the firmware.

For this reason, recently, with the spread of the Internet, as a third method, a method of downloading the firmware, which has been performed using a public network, has come to be performed via the Internet. By using the Internet, it is possible to reduce the communication cost and the time required to download the firmware.

[0008] Here, the protocol for communication performed via the Internet is H for browsing a home page.
TTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol), FTP (File Transfer Protocol) for file transfer, SMTP (Simple Mail Transf) used for sending electronic mail
er Protocol) and various protocols. However, as a protocol for downloading the firmware of the image forming apparatus from a remote location via the Internet, there is a limitation due to an increase in security awareness for communication via the Internet, and it is not possible to use any protocol.

That is, a firewall generally serving as a "defense wall" is provided at the connection port between the Internet and each user in order to deal with illegal access to the user's internal system from the Internet.
The function of this firewall is to control the communication protocol that can pass between the Internet and the user's internal system. This limits the protocols that can be passed, but usually the e-mail protocol is often set to be passable. Therefore, when transmitting the firmware via the Internet, a method of using an electronic mail system is conventionally known.

By the way, the size of the firmware of the recent image forming apparatus is 10M due to its high functionality and multi-functionality.
It swells up to around the bite. And there is a tendency to increase further in the future.

On the other hand, a mail server which provides a service of collecting and distributing electronic mails generally sets a limit on the size of receivable electronic mails and the total amount of messages held by each mail account. Is.

For this reason, the firmware should be divided into appropriate sizes so that it can be received by the mail server so that the capacity limit provided in the mail server will not be caught, and mails are sent to and received from each mailbox at an appropriate timing. Therefore, a transmission / reception method can be considered such that the mailbox always stores less than the limit data.

[0013]

However, even if the firmware is properly transmitted by the above-described method, a problem may occur depending on the timing of rewriting the firmware in the image forming apparatus that receives the firmware. There were cases.

That is, it takes a certain amount of time to rewrite the firmware, and it is necessary to restart the image forming apparatus. Therefore, for example, if the rewriting of the firmware is started during the print operation of the image forming apparatus, the print operation is interrupted. Then, new firmware is written and the image forming apparatus is restarted. Therefore, it takes time until the print operation can be started after that.
In addition, the end time of the desired print operation will be delayed.

Therefore, it is conceivable that the transmitting side which transmits the firmware monitors the state of the image forming apparatus which is the transmission destination, and carries out the transmitting process in consideration of the timing. However, this method causes a problem that the processing load on the transmitting side becomes too heavy.

In the first place, in an environment where communication is mainly carried out by electronic mail, there are times when the state of the image forming apparatus cannot be monitored.

The present invention has been conceived in consideration of such an actual situation, and an object thereof is to perform more appropriate communication of the firmware in consideration of the operating state of the receiving side without imposing a burden on the transmitting side. (EN) Provided are a data communication program, a computer-readable recording medium recording the program, a data communication device, and a data communication method.

[0018]

In order to achieve the above object, according to an aspect of the present invention, a data communication program sets a writable time of firmware.
Setting step, a receiving step of receiving an e-mail with the firmware via the network, an extracting step of extracting the firmware from the received e-mail, and a predetermined memory for storing the extracted firmware at the set writable time. A writing step to write to, and a second setting step to set the restartable time,
The firmware is written to the specified memory during the writing step.
After the data is written, it will restart at the set restart time.
And causing the computer to perform a reboot step .

According to the present invention, first, the writable time of the firmware is set. Then, when the e-mail with the firmware attached is received, the firmware is taken out from the inside, and the firmware is written in a predetermined memory at the previously set writable time.

Since the writable time is preset,
The transmitting side of the firmware does not need to detect the operating state of the receiving side device, which is not a burden. Since the firmware is written at the writable time, it is possible to avoid inconveniences such as hindering the execution of highly important jobs.

Therefore, it is possible to provide a data communication program capable of more appropriate communication of the firmware in consideration of the operating state of the receiving side without imposing a burden on the transmitting side. Also the firmware
Is written to the specified memory and then the preset
The device is restarted at the bootable time. According to
Therefore, a situation where the job is restarted while it is running
Avoid this and restart at a more efficient timing.
You can

Preferably, the data communication program is
It is characterized by further causing the computer to execute a determination step of determining whether or not the writing of the firmware by the writing step is successful, and a step of transmitting the determined writing result of the firmware to the sender of the electronic mail .

According to this, it is determined whether or not the writing of the firmware to the predetermined memory has succeeded, and the determined writing result is transmitted to the sender of the electronic mail . For example, if there is firmware to be transmitted that has been held by the transmission source, it is possible to know the preferable transmission timing from the timing when the transmission source receives this writing result.

Preferably, the writable time is set by user input in the first setting step.

Since the writable time is set by the user input, the time can be easily determined and the user's intention is reflected more directly.

[0026] Preferably, the data communication program comprises a detection step of detecting the frequency of use of the device with respect to time.
The computer is further caused to perform a determining step of determining a time zone that is the minimum frequency of use from the detected frequency of use, and the first setting step sets a writable time based on the determined time zone.

According to this, the frequency of use of the device with respect to time is detected, and the time zone having the minimum frequency of use is determined based on the result. Then, the writable time of the firmware is set based on the determined time zone. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the situation that the firmware is written while the job is being executed, and it is possible to prevent the inconvenience of delaying the end time of the job with higher priority.

[0028]

[0029]

Preferably, since the computer includes the image forming apparatus, a data communication program capable of more appropriate communication of the firmware in consideration of the operating state of the image forming apparatus is provided without imposing a burden on the transmitting side. It becomes possible.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a data communication program includes a first setting step of setting a writable time of firmware, a receiving step of receiving an e-mail with firmware via a network, and a receiving step. And the set writable time is reached with the step of taking out the firmware from the email.
Set a restart step and a sending step to send the extracted firmware to a predetermined control module .
In the second setting step and the transmission step
Configuration after the firmware is sent to the control module
Reboot step to reboot at the restartable time that was set,
Causes the computer to execute.

According to the present invention, the writable time of the firmware is set. Then, when the e-mail with the firmware attached is received, the firmware is taken out and transmitted to a predetermined control module.
Therefore, in the control module, the firmware is written in a predetermined memory at the writable time.

Since the writable time is preset,
Even when the received firmware is sent to a predetermined control module, it is not necessary to detect the operating state of the control module, which is not a burden. Then, since the firmware is written at the time when the transmitted control module can write, it is possible to avoid inconvenience such as hindering the execution of a job of high importance.

Therefore, it is possible to provide a data communication device capable of performing more appropriate communication of firmware in consideration of the operating state of the receiving side without imposing a burden on the transmitting side. Also, the firmware is
The preset re-transmission after being sent to the control module of
The device is restarted at the bootable time. According to
Therefore, a situation where the job is restarted while it is running
Avoid this and restart at a more efficient timing.
You can

According to another aspect of the present invention, a computer-readable recording medium records the data communication program described in any one of the above.

According to the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable recording medium recording a data communication program capable of performing more appropriate communication of firmware considering the operating state of the receiving side without imposing a burden on the transmitting side. It becomes possible to do.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a data communication device includes first setting means for setting a writable time of firmware, receiving means for receiving an email with firmware via a network, and receiving means. a take-out means for taking out the firmware from the electronic mail, to the writable time set, and a writing means for writing the retrieved firmware in a predetermined memory, re
The second setting means for setting the bootable time and the writer
The firmware is written to the designated memory
After rebooting, the
Including steps and .

According to the present invention, first, the writable time of the firmware is set. Then, when the e-mail with the firmware attached is received, the firmware is taken out from the inside, and the firmware is written in a predetermined memory at the previously set writable time.

Since the writable time is preset,
The transmitting side of the firmware does not need to detect the operating state of the receiving side device, which is not a burden. Since the firmware is written at the writable time, it is possible to avoid inconveniences such as hindering the execution of highly important jobs.

Therefore, it is possible to provide a data communication device capable of performing more appropriate communication of the firmware in consideration of the operating state of the receiving side without imposing a burden on the transmitting side. Also, the firmware is
Pre-configured restartable after being written to memory
During the free hours, the device is restarted. Therefore,
It avoids the situation where a reboot is performed while the job is running.
It is possible to restart at a more efficient timing.
Wear.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes the data communication device described above. According to this, more appropriate communication of the firmware in consideration of the operating state of the image forming apparatus is performed without burdening the transmitting side.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a data communication method includes a first setting step of setting a writable time of firmware, a receiving step of receiving an email with firmware via a network, and a receiving step. The step of taking out the firmware from the retrieved e-mail, the step of writing the taken out firmware to a predetermined memory at the set writable time, and the second setting step for setting the restartable time
Step and write to the specified memory in the writing step.
When the configured restart is possible after the firmware is written
And a rebooting step of rebooting in between .

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a data communication method capable of performing more appropriate communication of firmware in consideration of the operating state of the receiving side without imposing a burden on the transmitting side. Also the firmware
Is written to the specified memory and then the preset
The device is restarted at the bootable time. According to
Therefore, a situation where the job is restarted while it is running
Avoid this and restart at a more efficient timing.
You can

[0044]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Here, a case where the firmware of the image forming apparatus is rewritten using the electronic mail system will be described as an example. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration for implementing a firmware communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention. With reference to this figure, the present system includes a user-side device including an image forming device, a service center-side device that transmits firmware to the image forming device, and the Internet that connects these devices.

In this system, it is possible to connect a plurality of user side devices to one service center side device. However, here, in order to simplify the description, the case where one (group) user-side device is connected is shown as an example.

The apparatus on the user side includes the image forming apparatus 11 and the printer controller 21 connected thereto. The printer controller 21 uses the LAN to
It is connected to the firewall 31 and to the Internet via the router 32. In addition, in LAN,
A mail server 33 for collecting and distributing electronic mail is connected.

A computer 91 for transmitting firmware is installed on the service center side. The computer 91 is the printer controller 2 on the user side.
1 is connected to the firewall 81 via the LAN and to the Internet via the router 82 in order to communicate with 1. Further, a mail server 83 for collecting and distributing electronic mail is also connected to the LAN.

Although not shown, the router 82 and the router 3
A plurality of mail servers also intervene on the Internet between the two, and electronic mail is transmitted via these undetermined plurality of mail servers.

Here, the operation of rewriting the firmware will be briefly described. First, the new firmware is attached to the e-mail from the computer 91 on the service center side, and the image forming apparatus 1 on the user side is attached.
Sent to 1.

The attached firmware may be one piece of firmware, or one piece of one piece of the firmware appropriately divided. Here, it is assumed that one of the firmware pieces divided into a plurality of pieces is attached to the electronic mail.

The e-mail with the firmware is stored in the mailbox of the mail server 33 via the LAN on the service center side, the mail server 83, the Internet, and the LAN on the user side.

The printer controller 21 of the image forming apparatus 11 on the user side downloads the electronic mail from the mail server 33. Then, the firmware is taken out from the electronic mail, and the new firmware is written to the flash ROM which is the rewriting target of the image forming apparatus 11. This rewriting operation is performed within a preset rewritable time. Then, the rewriting result is transferred to the computer 91 on the service center side.
Send to.

When the rewriting is successful, the computer 91 that has received the result attaches the next one of the divided firmware to an electronic mail and sends it to the image forming apparatus 11. If the rewriting fails, retransmit the same firmware again.

The image forming apparatus 11 whose firmware has been rewritten restarts the image forming apparatus 11 at a preset restartable time.

Next, the respective devices shown in FIG. 1 will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the image forming apparatus 11. Referring to the figure, the image forming apparatus 11 scans a document image and forms a copy image on a sheet by a multi-CPU (Central Processing Uni).
t) A device with a configuration. Therefore, it is composed of four control modules, that is, the control modules 1 to 4 corresponding to the individual CPUs.

The control module 1 includes a CPU 111 that controls the overall control of the image forming apparatus 11, a rewritable Flash ROM 112 that stores the firmware thereof,
A work S-RAM 113, a battery-backed NV-RAM 114 for storing various setting values, a serial I / F 115 for transmitting / receiving various control data to / from the control module 2, and transmitting / receiving various control data to / from the control module 3. Serial I / F 116 and a serial I / F 1 for transmitting / receiving various data to / from the printer controller 2
17 and an operation panel 118 including various keys and a display unit.

The control module 2 includes a CPU 121 for controlling the print processing of the image forming apparatus 11 and a rewritable Flash ROM 1 storing the firmware thereof.
22, a working S-RAM 123, and a battery-backed NV-RAM 124 for storing various setting values.
, A serial I / F 125 that sends and receives various control data to and from the control module 1, a serial I / F 126 that sends and receives various control data to and from the control module 4, and a print load control I / O that controls the load of image forming processing. , GA
And 127.

The control module 3 controls the reading process of the original image of the image forming apparatus 11 and a rewritable Flash R storing the firmware thereof.
OM132, S-RAM133 for work, NV-RAM backed up by a battery to save various setting values
134, a serial I / F 135 that transmits and receives various control data to and from the control module 1, and an IR load control I / O, GA 136 that controls the load of the document image reading process.

The control module 4 includes a CPU 141 for controlling the image quality correction for the image forming apparatus 11 and a rewritable Flash RO storing the firmware thereof.
M142, working S-RAM 143, and battery-backed NV-RAM1 for storing various setting values
44, a serial I / F 145 that transmits and receives various control data to and from the control module 2, and an image quality correction control GA 146 that performs image quality correction control.

These control modules 1 to 4 execute communication via the serial I / F. Normally, control commands and control information are transmitted / received between the CPUs of the modules, and the firmware data is transmitted when the firmware is rewritten. Communication via serial I / F
Since the configuration is adapted to the communication data size of the control command and control information that are normally used, it takes a transmission time for a large amount of data such as firmware, and depending on the data size of the firmware, the center PC 91 may change the image forming apparatus. It may take longer than sending an e-mail to 11.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the printer controller 21. Referring to the figure, the printer controller 21 includes a CPU 201, an EP-ROM 202 storing a control program for the CPU 201, a work S-RAM 203, and an NV-RA storing various setting values.
M (nonvolatile memory) 204, a serial I / F 205 that transmits and receives various data to and from the image forming apparatus 11, and an LA
A NIC (Network Interface Card) 206 for transmitting and receiving various data via the N, an operation panel 207 for performing various operation settings, an IO 207 including an output port for controlling the power supply, and various data. It includes a backup memory 208 for saving and an operation panel 209 for performing various inputs and the like.

In the NV-RAM 204, in addition to its own IP address, the IP address of the mail server required for the printer controller 21 to download the electronic mail message addressed to itself (the image forming apparatus 11) from the mail server 33. , The name, password, etc. of your e-mail account are stored.

The backup memory 208 stores information such as the firmware rewritable time and the restartable time.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the computer 91 installed on the service center side.
Referring to this figure, a computer 91 has a CPU 901 for controlling the entire apparatus and an R that stores programs and the like.
An OM 902, a RAM 903 that is a work area and a temporary storage area for various data, a fixed storage device 904 that stores various information, a display control unit 905 that controls the display 92, a keyboard 93 and a mouse 94. An input control unit 906 and a NIC 907 for transmitting / receiving various data to / from the outside via the LAN are included.

The fixed storage device 904 includes the image forming apparatus 1
The registration information of the image forming apparatus including the model number, the electronic mail address, and the limit capacity information provided in the mail server is stored. Further, firmware corresponding to the model of the image forming apparatus 11 is also stored.

The firmware is stored in advance by the operator of the service center in different predetermined folders / directories in the fixed storage device 904 according to the model and its control module.

Subsequently, in the system shown in FIG.
The operation when the firmware of the image forming apparatus is rewritten from a remote place will be described.

First, the processing in the CPU 901 mounted on the computer 91 on the service center side will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the main routine of the processing performed by the CPU 901 of the computer 91 on the service center side. The CPU 901 starts the process when the power is turned on, and first executes a general initialization process performed by the computer device, such as memory initialization and parameter initialization (step S501). Thereafter, for example, in response to an input operation of each function key (F1 to F3) on the keyboard 93, a communication setting process (step S505), an image forming apparatus registration process (step S509), or a firmware transmission process (step S513) is performed. To do.

If the F1 key is pressed (step S
"YES" at 503), and communication setting processing is performed at step S505. That is, here, the parameters necessary for the computer 91 to send the electronic mail are set. For example, the IP address of the mail server 83 connected to the LAN on the service center side, the electronic mail address of the computer 91, and the like are input and stored in the fixed storage device 904. The e-mail address of computer 91 is computer 91
Is set in the From field when the electronic mail attached with the firmware is transmitted to the printer controller 21.

If the F2 key is pressed (step S
In step S509, the registration process of the image forming apparatus is performed. That is, the model name of each image forming apparatus, an e-mail address, the capacity information provided in the corresponding mail server, and other information such as the name, address, and telephone number of the user of each image forming apparatus are input as necessary. And stored in the fixed storage device 904.

If the F3 key is pressed (step S
“YES” in 511), and in step S513, firmware transmission processing is performed. That is, the firmware of the model to be rewritten is appropriately divided, and one of them is attached to the e-mail and the image forming apparatus 1
Sent to 1.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of data registered in the fixed storage device 904 in the registration processing (step S509) of the image forming apparatus of FIG. Before rewriting the firmware of the image forming apparatus, the operator on the service center side uses the keyboard 93, the mouse 94 and the like to input information about the image forming apparatus into the computer 91 in advance.

As shown in FIG. 6, the information about the image forming apparatus includes the model name of the image forming apparatus, the electronic mail address, and the limit capacity information of the mail server to be used.
Other information may include user information such as the name, address, and telephone number of the user of the image forming apparatus in order to easily identify the image forming apparatus.

Here, "1M" or "2M" as the capacity limit information of the mail server means the receivable e-mail capacity of the mail server or the upper limit capacity provided for each mail account. Whichever is smaller. Note that "NULL" means that the mail server is not restricted.

Information about such an image forming apparatus is input to the computer 91, collected in a table format as shown in this figure, and stored in the fixed storage device 904. Note that, for convenience of explanation, this information summarized in a table format will be described below (referred to as a "registration information table").

Next, the flow of processing in which the computer 91 creates an e-mail message to which the firmware is attached when the firmware of the image forming apparatus needs to be rewritten and the e-mail message is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 11 will be described. . FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing details of the firmware transmission process (step S513) of FIG. 5, which is executed by the CPU 901 of the computer 91 described above.

Referring to this figure, first, step S701.
At the service center operator, a computer 91 using a keyboard 93, a mouse 94, etc.
The model of the image forming apparatus for which the firmware is to be rewritten and its control module are specified. The model and the control module are specified because the firmware of the image forming apparatus generally differs depending on the model and the control module.

Next, in step S703, the registration information table (FIG. 6) stored in the fixed storage device 904 is read out, and in step S705, the number n of registrations of the designated image forming apparatus model is counted. To be done. Then, in step S707, the IDs of the designated model are sequentially stored in the ID table as shown in FIG. The ID table is a table used for checking the capacity limit for each designated model and appropriately dividing the firmware.

When the storage in the ID table is completed, the loop counter i is set to 1 in step S709, and in the subsequent steps S711 to S725, the image forming apparatus of the designated model registered in the ID table of FIG. , The firmware is appropriately divided, and the electronic mail transmission process is performed.

That is, in step S711, if the loop counter i is less than or equal to the registered number n in the ID table ("YES" in step S711), step S71.
3, the limit capacity information of the registration information table of FIG. 6 corresponding to the ID stored in the i-th record from the top of the ID table is acquired.

Then, in step S715, the capacity of the firmware of the designated model is compared with the acquired limited capacity, and if the capacity of the firmware is large ("Yes" in step S715), the firmware is divided. Be done.

For example, referring to the example of FIG. 8, in the case of the firmware of the model with the ID 1, when the capacity exceeds 1M which is the limit capacity, a plurality of firmware whose individual capacities are less than that are selected. Will be divided. In this example, for example, 4M firmware is divided into four 1M units.

In step S721, the firmware is divided so that it fits within the limit capacity of the mail server, and the number of divisions is stored in the ID table. Here, for simplicity, it is assumed that the firmware is always one type of module firmware. Also, it is assumed that the division across modules is not performed at the time of division.

When an electronic mail message is created using the divided firmware, the created electronic mail message is sent to the image forming apparatus 11 in step S723. That is, the IP of the mail server 83 set in step S505 of FIG.
After the connection with the mail server 83 is established based on the address, SMT, which is the Internet standard for sending e-mail
Mail server 8 according to P protocol (RFC821)
An e-mail message is sent to.

Then, the firmware divided into a plurality of pieces is respectively attached to an electronic mail and transmitted in order, and when the transmission of the firmware data for each module is completed, the process proceeds to step S725.

On the other hand, if the capacity of the firmware of the designated model is less than or equal to the capacity limit of the mail server ("NO" in step S715), the division of the firmware is not performed. For example, in the example of FIG. 8, the firmware of the model with the ID 21 has a capacity that does not exceed the limit capacity, or a mail server of "NULL" with no limit capacity is used. Therefore, the firmware is not split.

Therefore, in step S717, the firmware is not divided, and an electronic mail message is created. In step S719, the created electronic mail message is collectively transmitted to the image forming apparatus 11.

When the electronic mail is sent, step S7
In 25, the loop counter i is incremented by 1, and the process returns to the process of step S711 again. In this way, steps S711 to S725 are performed for all the image forming apparatuses registered in the ID table.
Processing up to is performed.

When the processing for all the devices registered in the ID table is completed (step S71)
If “1” is “NO”), the firmware transmission process ends.

According to the above processing, even if the capacity of the firmware for the designated model is larger than the limit capacity of the mail server, the firmware is appropriately divided and transmitted, so that it is impossible to transmit. It is possible to avoid it.

If the mail server has no limit capacity, or if the firmware has a capacity less than the limit of the mail server, the firmware is transmitted without being divided. Therefore, it is possible to perform more efficient firmware transmission processing in consideration of the limit capacity of the mail server.

When the firmware is dividedly transmitted, the computer 91 on the service center side sends an e-mail with the attached firmware to the image forming apparatus 11 and then displays the result of rewriting the firmware from the image forming apparatus 11. Wait for the reply mail to be sent before sending the next e-mail.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when the computer 91 receives a reply mail regarding the rewriting result. Referring to this figure, first, in step S901, the computer 91
It is checked whether or not the rewriting completion e-mail has arrived from the image forming apparatus 11 that has rewritten the firmware to the mail server 83. Whether or not the rewriting is an e-mail is determined by whether or not there is a description about the firmware in the Subject field.

If the rewriting completion mail has arrived (“YES” in step S901), step S903.
In, the Result of the body part of the email message
Is obtained. As a result, it is possible to determine whether the firmware has been successfully rewritten.

When the rewriting is normally completed (“YES” in step S905), in step S907
The division number, division number, model, and module indicated in the Subject will send an e-mail message with the following division firmware attached. On the other hand, if the rewriting is not normally completed (“NO” in step S905), the firmware indicated in Subject is retransmitted in step S909.

Then, in step S911, the computer 91 waits until a predetermined time elapses, and when the predetermined time elapses, the process returns to the processing of step S901.
Go to see if the firmware rewrite completion mail has arrived.

According to the above processing, the firmware exceeding the mail server limit capacity is appropriately divided into a plurality of pieces,
Each will be attached to an email when sent. Then, after receiving the rewriting end mail for the firmware transmitted earlier, the e-mail with the next firmware attached is transmitted. For this reason, data transmission / reception is not performed in excess of the mail server limit capacity.

Next, an electronic mail with the firmware attached will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an e-mail message text to which the divided firmware is attached, and FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an e-mail message text to which the undivided firmware is attached. .

With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, the Internet standard (RFC8
According to 22), the message field of the electronic mail is roughly divided into a header part and a body part, and both are distinguished by a NULL line.

The header part is an Internet standard (RFC
822), which is composed of a plurality of header fields, which are composed of a field name from the beginning of the line to “:” and a field body after that.

By the way, although the firmware of the image forming apparatus is binary data, RFC822 prohibits the binary data from being directly described in the e-mail message. Therefore, RFC2045,204
MIME (Multipurpose) specified in No. 6, 2047
Internet Mail Extensions) Attach the firmware of the image forming device as a file to the body of the message using the extension rules.

In the header of the message, "Fro
m ”,“ To ”,“ Date ”,“ Subject ”, and other fields defined by RFC 822, as well as MIM.
"MIME-Version" and "Content-T" accompanying E-extension
ype ”fields are added.

The field body of the Subject field describes the name of the model specified by the operator and a character string in which the number of the target control module of the attached firmware is connected with an underbar. For example, when the model name is "model1" and the target control module number is "1", the character string "model1 # module1" is described. Then, when the attached firmware data is divided, as shown in FIG. 10, the number of divisions and the number indicating the number of the data are described at the end. For example, if the firmware is the first of the four divided, the character (1/4) is described. If the attached firmware data is not divided, as shown in FIG. 11, no division number or the like is described at the end.

[0106] In the field-body of the Content-Type field, "Multipart / mixed" is designated to set the message body part so that it can be divided into a plurality of parts, and "Boundary" which represents the boundary of each part. An appropriate US-ASCII character string (in this figure, “5 kvrZF / hrA” after the character string) is designated as the parameter.

In the body part of the message, Co of the header part
A character string with "-" added before the value of the boundary parameter of the ntent-Type field ("5kvrZF / hrA" in this figure) is described, and the beginning of one part is specified. Below that, a "Content-Type" field is described, and "application / octet-stream" indicating that the file attached to the field body is binary data is specified.

Below that, "Content-Transfer-Enc
The "oding" field is described, and "base64" is specified in the field body. As mentioned above, RFC82
2 prohibits writing binary data directly in an email message, the binary data must be converted to US-ASCII characters. M
The IME extension standard defines a plurality of systems as this conversion system, and one of them is the Base64 system.

Below the above two fields, the binary data of the firmware is US-ASCI in the Base64 system.
Converted to I character and added. Finally, to indicate the end of all parts in the body part, "-" is added before and after the value of the Boundary parameter in the Content-Type field of the header part ("5kvrZF / hrA" in this figure).
The character string to which is added is described.

Next, an e-mail message when the image forming apparatus that receives the firmware rewrites the firmware in the Flash-ROM to be rewritten and returns the result by e-mail will be briefly described.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the message text of the electronic mail about the firmware rewriting result. Referring to FIG. 12, in accordance with the Internet standard (RFC822) for e-mail messages, the e-mail message field includes a header part and a NU.
It is the same as in FIGS. 10 and 11 in that it is divided into a body and a LL row.

In the "Subject" field, the model name and the module number are described, and further, the number of divisions and the number of the firmware of the division are described. And
In the "Result" field of the body part, either "OK" or "NG" indicating whether the rewriting has succeeded or failed is written.

Therefore, on the side of the service center which has received the e-mail about the rewriting result, "Result" is displayed.
By acquiring the contents of, it is possible to know whether the rewriting result has succeeded or failed. And, "Subjec
By acquiring the content of "t", it is possible to know which firmware should be attached next to send an e-mail together with the content of "Result".

Next, the processing on the user side will be described. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a main routine of processing in the CPU 201 of the printer controller 21 of the image forming apparatus 11. Referring to this figure, CP
The U201 starts the process when the power is turned on, and first performs a general initialization process performed by the computer device, such as memory initialization and parameter initialization (step S1301). After that, communication setting processing (step S1305), firmware rewriting time setting processing (step S1306), and firmware reading processing (step S1309) are performed as necessary.

For example, "setting" on the operation panel 209
When the key is input by the user (step S130)
3 "YES"), and in step S1305, the parameters necessary for transmitting / receiving the e-mail are set. That is, here, the IP address of the mail server 33 connected to the user's LAN, the name and password of the e-mail account of the image forming apparatus 11 on the mail server 33, the e-mail address of the image forming apparatus 11, the image formation. The time interval and the like for periodically checking whether or not new e-mail addressed to the device 11 has arrived are input and stored in the NV-RAM 204.

Next, in step S1306, the rewriting time of the firmware (and the restarting time of the image forming apparatus 11 associated therewith) is set. The rewriting time may be set by the user using the ten keys on the operation panel 209 or may be input by the user's personal computer via the LAN. Similarly, the restart time of the image forming apparatus 11 after rewriting is also set. The set rewrite time and restart time are the backup memory 208 respectively.
Memorized in.

In step S1307, it is determined whether the confirmation interval has elapsed. That is, step S130
Here, it is determined whether or not the time interval set in 5 (a time interval for checking whether a new electronic mail message addressed to the image forming apparatus 11 has arrived) has elapsed.

If the time interval has elapsed ("YES" in step S1307), the CPU 201 in step S1309 goes to the mail server 33 to read whether a new electronic mail message has arrived, and sends the necessary electronic mail. Performs email download processing. If the confirmation interval has not elapsed (“NO” in step S1307), for example, the process returns to step S1303, and the above processing is repeated until the confirmation interval elapses.

Next, a process in which the printer controller 21 confirms whether or not a new message addressed to the image forming apparatus 11 has arrived at the mail server 33 and, if it has arrived, downloads the message.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing details of the firmware reading process (step S1309) of FIG. Referring to this figure, first, step S140.
1, it is confirmed whether the TCP connection with the mail server 33 is established based on the IP address of the mail server 33 set in step S1305 of FIG. 13 and a new message addressed to the image forming apparatus 11 has arrived. (Step S1403).

In the confirmation processing and the later-described processing of downloading a new message addressed to the image forming apparatus 11 to the mail server 33, the POP3 (Post Office Protocol Version) will be downloaded.
3) The protocol is used. Then, here, even if a plurality of new messages addressed to the image forming apparatus 11 have arrived at the mail server 33, only one message is downloaded by one TCP connection.

As a result of checking the newly arrived message, if a new message addressed to the image forming apparatus 11 has arrived at the mail server 33 (“YES” in step S1403), the message is downloaded from the mail server 33 in step S1405. Be done. Then, in step S1407, it is determined whether the e-mail has the firmware attached. Whether or not the firmware is attached is determined by, for example, whether or not the value of the field body of the Content-Description field of the header part of the message is "Firmware".

If the firmware is attached ("YES" in step S1407), step S1409
In step S141, the US-ASCII character of the firmware portion is extracted from the message.
In 1, the extracted US-ASCII character is converted into binary data by inverse Base64 conversion.

This series of processes (steps S1403 to S1411) are repeated until the reception of all the firmware in module units is completed. When all the divided firmware for the module unit is received (“Y” in step S1412).
ES ″), the process proceeds to step S1413.

In step S1413, the target model of the firmware and the number of the target control module are read from the value of the Subject field of the header of the message. In addition, the checksum of the binary data is calculated. The calculation of the checksum value performed here is not for each divided firmware but for each module in which the divided firmware is collected. Then, the firmware data, target control module number, and checksum value returned to binary data are
It is temporarily stored in the S-RAM 203.

Next, in step S1414, it is determined whether or not the firmware rewritable time has been reached. That is, since the rewriting of the firmware is prohibited except when the firmware stored in the backup memory 208 is rewritable, the rewriting process is not performed until the rewritable time is reached.

When the rewritable time is reached (step S
1414, “YES”), and in step S1415, the firmware data and the module number are transferred to the image forming apparatus 11 via the serial I / F 205.

Then, in step S1417, the original of the message downloaded from the mail server 33 is deleted. Then, in step S1419, the image forming apparatus 11 waits until the firmware rewriting end notification is received from the image forming apparatus 11. When the rewriting end notification is received (“YES” in step S1419), step S
In 1421, the checksum value sent from the image forming apparatus 11 is compared with the checksum value temporarily stored in the S-RAM 203, and the result is OK or NG in the body of the electronic mail message. Written as Then, in step S1423, an electronic mail (end mail) describing the result is transmitted to the computer 91 on the service center side.

If the downloaded message does not include the firmware (step S
1407, “NO”), and in step S1425,
The processing when the message for the purpose other than the firmware rewriting processing of the image forming apparatus is received is executed as usual.

In this way, the printer controller 21 of the image forming apparatus 11 downloads the message from the mail server 33, and at the firmware rewritable time, the binary data of the firmware is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 11. Then, in response to the rewriting result from the image forming apparatus, whether or not the rewriting was successful is returned to the computer 91 on the service center side as an electronic mail.

Next, the processing performed in the image forming apparatus 11 will be described. FIG. 15 illustrates the image forming apparatus 11.
3 is a flowchart showing the basic processing in FIG. The image forming apparatus 11 starts its processing when the power is turned on, and first, in each control module, initial settings such as memory clear and standard mode setting are performed (step S1501). Then, next, each processing of the input acceptance processing (step S1503) and the copy control processing (step S1505) is repeatedly executed until the printer controller 21 notifies the firmware reception.

In step S1503, acceptance of various input signals is collectively performed. Here, the input signal is, for example, the operation panel 118 of the image forming apparatus 11.
It is an input signal from the above key switch group or various sensor groups in the apparatus, or a print job or firmware reception notification transmitted from the printer controller 21.

In step S1505, copy control processing, that is, processing necessary for the operation of image forming apparatus 11 is performed. For example, it is control of various operation unit groups such as paper feed control, scanning control, photoconductor drum control, and developing machine control, or processing according to a print job from the printer controller 21.

When the firmware reception notification is issued from the printer controller 21 ("Y" in step S1507).
ES ″), the firmware rewriting process is performed in step S1509. When the firmware rewriting process is completed, the process returns to step S1503, and the processes of steps S1503 and S1505 are repeated until the reception of the firmware is notified again. Is repeated.

Next, the rewriting process of the firmware of the image forming apparatus 11 will be described. First, the firmware and its target control module number transmitted by the printer controller 21 via the serial I / F 205 are received by the CPU 11 via the serial I / F 117 of the image forming apparatus 11. In this way, the CPU 111
When the firmware is received by, the Flash ROM of the target control module of the received firmware is rewritten according to the following processing.

FIG. 16 shows a firmware rewriting process in the image forming apparatus 11 (step S150 in FIG. 15).
9 is a flowchart showing the details of 9),
Run with 1. Referring to the figure, step S1601,
In steps S1605 and S1609, first, the received firmware sets the control module 1
It is determined which of the firmware of 4 to 4.

When it is determined that the firmware is the firmware of the control module 1 ("Y" in step S1601).
ES ″), in step S1603, the new firmware is written to the Flash ROM 112.
When the writing to the Flash ROM 112 is completed, the process proceeds to step S1615.

When it is determined that the received firmware is the firmware of the control module 2 (“YES” in step S1605), the firmware is the CPU 1
11 is transferred to the CPU 121 of the control module 2, and new firmware is written to the Flash ROM 122 in step S1607. Flash ROM
When writing to 122 is completed, step S1615
Proceed to processing.

If it is determined that the received firmware is the firmware of the control module 3 (“YES” in step S1609), the firmware is the CPU.
The data is transferred from 111 to the CPU 131 of the control module 3, and new firmware is written to the Flash ROM 132 in step S1611. Flash ROM
When the writing to 132 is completed, step S1615
Proceed to processing.

When it is determined that the received firmware is the firmware of the control module 4 (“NO” in step S1609), the firmware is the CPU1.
11 through the CPU 121, C of the control module 4
It is transferred to the PU 141, and the firmware thereof is written to the Flash ROM 142 in step S1613. When the writing to the Flash ROM 142 is completed,
The process proceeds to step S1615.

In step S1615, the checksum for the rewritten portion of the Flash ROM of the target module is calculated. Then, in step S1617, the calculated checksum value is the serial I / F.
To the printer controller 21 via 117,
The firmware rewriting process ends.

The flow of each processing of the computer 91 on the service center side, the mail servers 83, 33, and the image forming apparatus (printer) 11 on the user side described above will be briefly described in time series with reference to FIG. . In FIG. 17, the computer 91 and the mail server 8 are arranged in order from the left.
3, 33, and the image forming apparatus 11 (printer) are shown, and the time axis is oriented from top to bottom.

Referring to the figure, first, the firmware of the division number 1 of the module 1 is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 11 from the computer 91 on the center side (1). The image forming apparatus 11 checks whether or not new mail arrives at the mail server 33 at regular intervals (dotted line arrow). And if it arrives, the email
The message is downloaded to the image forming apparatus 11 side (2), and when the rewriting time is reached, the firmware of the corresponding part is rewritten (3).

When the rewriting is completed, the result is returned as an electronic mail to the computer 91 (4).
In response to this (5), the computer 91 learns that it becomes possible to send a large volume of e-mail again. Then, the divided firmware to be sent next is determined, and the firmware data of the next divided number is attached to the e-mail according to the contents, and the image forming apparatus 1 is attached.
Send to 1 (6).

The image forming apparatus 11 again uses the mail server 3
If it knows that there is a new mail addressed to itself, it will download it (7). When the rewriting time is reached, the firmware is rewritten (8) and the result is sent to the computer 91 as an electronic mail (9).
By receiving this (10), the computer 91 knows again that the e-mail can be sent again.

Although not shown here, when the restart time is reached, the image processing apparatus 11 (printer) restarts the rewritten module or the entire apparatus.

As described above, according to the data communication method (firmware communication method) of the present embodiment, even if the capacity of the firmware is large and exceeds the capacity limit of the mail server, the data communication is properly performed. Is possible.

That is, the firmware whose limit has been exceeded is appropriately divided and attached to an electronic mail. Then, each of the divided e-mails with firmware is transmitted in sequence after waiting for a rewriting end notification from the image forming apparatus that is the transmission destination. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the divided firmware is transmitted at the same time and cannot be transmitted because the capacity provided in each mail account of the mail server is exceeded.

Even when the image forming apparatus is composed of a plurality of control modules and it takes a relatively long time to transfer and transmit the firmware between the control modules, the image forming apparatus sends the firmware to the firmware transmission source. After the writing result is notified, the next firmware is transmitted by being attached to the electronic mail, so that the firmware can be transmitted in accordance with the operation of the image forming apparatus.

Further, the firmware rewriting process is
Since the rewriting is performed after the rewriting time set by the user, the inconvenience caused by the sudden rewriting while the normal printing operation or the like is performed can be avoided.

Incidentally, this time, the image forming apparatus has been described as an example of the data communication apparatus having the firmware to be rewritten, but the data communication apparatus is not limited to this. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to any device having a communication function such as a hub or a router.

Note that FIG. 13 shows a case where the firmware rewrite time and the restart time are set by user input (step S1306). However, the present invention is not limited to such a case. For example, when the printer controller 21 manages the operating state of the image forming apparatus 11 and counts the number of print jobs for each time period, the time when the number of print jobs is small The rewrite time and the restart time may be set in the band.

A case where the rewriting time and the restart time are automatically set will be described with reference to FIGS. 18 and 19. FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing for setting the firmware rewritable time in the printer controller 21.

Referring to this figure, the printer controller 2
First, in step S1801, it is determined whether or not a print job is received, and if it is received (“YES” in step S1801), the count number of the number of jobs at the corresponding reception time in the time zone table is determined. It is incremented by one (step S1803).

By performing this operation for a predetermined time, the relationship between the time zone and the number of print jobs can be obtained. Then, in step S1805, by scanning the time slot table, the time slot having the minimum number of received jobs is selected. The rewritable time is set in that time zone.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of the time zone table. As shown in the figure, the number of print jobs received is counted for each time period. For example, 13:
When a print job is received at 10, 13:00:00
The number of print jobs 28 shown corresponding to the time zone of 14:00 is incremented by 1 to 29. According to this figure, the minimum time zone is 1: 00-2: 00
The time 1:00 is set as the firmware rewritable time. If there are a plurality of minimum time zones, all of them are set as rewritable times.

The minimum time slot may be set as the firmware rewritable time when the number of received jobs is not zero. This is because, for example, when the number of received jobs is 0, the power is off and it may be impossible to access the mail server in the first place. With this configuration, the convenience of the user for rewriting the firmware is improved during the time when the power is on and the number of received jobs is the minimum, and at the same time,
It is possible to avoid the printer power off time as the firmware rewrite time. Note that the power-on time zone may be stored as a history, and the time zone in which the number of received jobs is minimum may be set in that time zone.

The setting of the restart time of the image forming apparatus 11 whose firmware has been rewritten is automatically obtained in the same manner as in the case shown in FIGS. 18 and 19.

Thus, by checking the time zone for receiving the print job, the input load on the user can be reduced, and the firmware rewrite time and restart time can be determined more appropriately. .

Incidentally, this time, the case where the firmware rewriting result (rewriting end information) is sent back using an electronic mail is shown. However, the reply is not limited to the electronic mail system, and the reply may be made by using another method.

Further, this time, it has been described that each rewriting result is returned only when the firmware is divided and transmitted. However, even if the firmware is transmitted without being divided, the rewriting result may be returned. In this case, since the same firmware can be retransmitted in response to the rewriting failure, the firmware rewriting process can be reliably performed.

In the present invention, the division of firmware includes not only the case of dividing a single firmware but also the case of dividing a plurality of firmware to be transmitted into a plurality of firmware according to a predetermined condition.

When the firmware is not divided but is transmitted in a batch, a method of transmitting all the firmware data as one attached file, and a method of transmitting each firmware data as a plurality of attached files by one electronic mail , A method of individually attaching each firmware to an e-mail and transmitting it can be considered.

As a method of transmitting all the firmware data as one attached file, for example, there is the following method. When the data (binary) of all the firmware is one data (binary), the data 0 to 7FFFF is the firmware data of the control module 1, the data 80000 to FFFFF is the firmware data of the control module 2, ... As described above, the storage address and size of the data of each control module in that model are stored in advance as data. This data is attached to an email and sent to the mail server.

Also in the printer controller 21, the relationship between the data storage address of each control module and the size is stored as data. Therefore, the printer controller 21 can sequentially perform the rewriting process by transmitting the firmware data at the predetermined address to the corresponding control module.

Although the printer controller and the image forming apparatus are described as separate apparatuses in FIG. 1 and the like this time, the image forming apparatus may have an integrated structure in which the function of the printer controller is incorporated. In this case, similarly, the printer controller and the control module 1 execute the processing in cooperation with each other. Further, the control executed by the CPU 101 may be executed by the CPU 201 of the printer controller.

The firmware communication method (data communication method) performed by the computer 91, the image forming apparatus 11 and the printer controller 21 shown this time can be realized by a program for causing the series of processing operations described above to function. This data communication program is
It may be installed in advance in each of the hard disks in the computer 91, the image forming apparatus 11 and the printer controller 21, or may be a CD-RO.
It may be recorded on a removable recording medium such as M or a magnetic tape. In any case, the data communication program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.

Computer-readable recording media include tape systems such as magnetic tapes and cassette tapes, magnetic disks (flexible disks, hard disk devices, etc.) and optical disks (CD-ROM / MO / MD).
/ DVD, etc., disk systems, IC cards (including memory cards), optical cards, etc., or RO
A medium such as a semiconductor memory, such as M, EPROM, EEPROM, or flash ROM, which holds the program in a fixed manner can be considered.

The content stored in the recording medium is not limited to the program and may be data.

The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description but by the claims, and is intended to include meanings equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the scope.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration for implementing a firmware communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the image forming apparatus 11.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the printer controller 21.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a computer 91 installed on the service center side.

FIG. 5 C of the computer 91 on the service center side
7 is a flowchart showing a main routine of processing performed by PU 901.

FIG. 6 is a registration process of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 5 (step S
509) is a diagram showing an example of data registered in the fixed storage device 904.

FIG. 7 shows the firmware transmission process of FIG. 5 (step S
513) is a flowchart showing the details.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an ID table registered in the fixed storage device 904.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing flow when the computer 91 receives a reply mail regarding the rewriting result.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a message text of an electronic mail to which the divided firmware is attached.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a message text of an e-mail to which undivided firmware is attached.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of an e-mail message text regarding a firmware rewriting result.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a main routine of processing in the CPU 201 of the printer controller 21 of the image forming apparatus 11.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing details of a firmware reading process (step S1309) of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing basic processing in the image forming apparatus 11.

16 is a flowchart showing details of firmware rewriting processing (step S1509 in FIG. 15) in the image forming apparatus 11. FIG.

FIG. 17 is a computer 91 on the service center side;
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the flow of each processing of the mail servers 83 and 33 and the image forming apparatus (printer) 11 on the user side.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a processing flow for setting a firmware rewritable time in the printer controller 21.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a time zone table.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 image forming apparatus, 21 printer controller, 3
2,82 Router, 33,83 Mail server, 91
Computer, 111, 121, 131, 141, 20
1,901 CPU, 112, 122, 132, 142
Flash ROM, 118, 209 Operation panel, 208
Backup memory, 904 Persistent storage.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP 2000-250741 (JP, A) JP 2000-29648 (JP, A) JP 2000-261579 (JP, A) JP 11-146108 (JP , A) JP-A-11-203120 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 11/00

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first setting step of setting a writable time of firmware, a receiving step of receiving an e-mail with firmware via a network, and an extracting step of taking out firmware from the received e-mail. At the set writable time, a writing step of writing the extracted firmware in a predetermined memory, a second setting step of setting a restartable time, and a file writing to the predetermined memory in the writing step.
After the firmware is written, the configured restart is possible
A data communication program that causes a computer to perform a restart step that causes it to restart in time . 2. A determination step of determining whether or not the writing of the firmware in the writing step is successful, and an electronic result of a determination result of the determined firmware writing.
2. The data communication program according to claim 1, further comprising: a step of transmitting the file to a transmission source of the file. 3. The data communication program according to claim 1, wherein in the first setting step, the writable time is set by user input. 4. The computer further executes a detection step of detecting the frequency of use of the device with respect to time, and a determination step of determining a time zone in which the frequency of use is the minimum from the detected use frequency, the first setting. The step sets a writable time based on the determined time zone,
The data communication program described in. Wherein said computer includes an image forming apparatus, a data communication program according to any one of claims 1-4. 6. A first setting step of setting a writable time of the firmware, a receiving step of receiving an e-mail with the firmware via a network, and an extracting step of taking out the firmware from the received e-mail. When the set writable time is reached, a transmitting step of transmitting the extracted firmware to a predetermined control module, a second setting step of setting a restartable time, and the predetermined control module in the transmitting step To
The configured reboot after the firmware is sent
A data communication program that causes a computer to perform a restart step that restarts at a timely time . 7. A computer-readable recording medium in which the data communication program according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is recorded. 8. A first setting means for setting a writable time of the firmware, a receiving means for receiving an electronic mail with the firmware via a network, and an extracting means for taking out the firmware from the received electronic mail. on the set writable time, a writing means for writing the fetched firmware in a predetermined memory, and second setting means for setting a restartable time, the farm to the predetermined memory in the writing means
After the software is written, the set restart time is set
And a restart means for restarting the device. 9. An image forming apparatus comprising the data communication device according to claim 8 . 10. A first setting step of setting a writable time of the firmware, a receiving step of receiving an e-mail with the firmware via a network, and an extracting step of taking out the firmware from the received e-mail. on the set writable time, a writing step of writing the retrieved firmware in a predetermined memory, and a second setting step of setting a restartable time, the predetermined memory in the writing step fa
After the firmware is written, the configured restart is possible
A data communication method including a restart step of restarting at time .