JP5205348B2 - Firmware update program and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a firmware update program and an image forming apparatus.

  Image forming apparatuses such as multifunction peripherals, copiers, and printers are composed of a main controller, a print engine, peripheral devices, and the like, and each of the main controller, print engine, and peripheral devices includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit). These CPUs execute arithmetic processing according to the firmware stored in the respective nonvolatile memories, and realize various functions by cooperation with the CPU of the main controller. The image forming apparatus acquires update firmware from a storage medium (USB memory, CompactFlash (registered trademark), or the like) or a network, and writes the update firmware in the nonvolatile memory of each CPU, with the CPU of the main controller serving as the center. Update the firmware. For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses an image forming apparatus that updates firmware as described above.

JP 2008-98944 A

  By the way, in the above prior art, the firmware is updated by writing the update firmware in the nonvolatile memory of each CPU such as the main controller, print engine, and peripheral device. However, when a new function is added, an abnormal operation of the image forming apparatus may occur unless firmware of a plurality of CPUs is updated together. This is because the additional function is composed of a plurality of firmware. For example, if the additional function is executed in a state in which all firmware is not a required version, a mismatch occurs between firmware and a reset occurs.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to prevent the occurrence of abnormal operation.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a firmware update program for updating firmware corresponding to a CPU of an electronic apparatus having a plurality of CPUs, as a first solving means related to the firmware update program, Update firmware (second update firmware) of one or more second firmware that needs to be updated together when the firmware update firmware (first update firmware) is externally input to the electronic device If the update firmware is not input, the electronic device is caused to execute an update control process that does not update the first firmware with the first update firmware.

  In the present invention, as the second solving means relating to the firmware update program, in the first solving means, the update firmware is a set version indicating a minimum version of other update firmware that needs to be updated together. Information and version information indicating its own version, and the update control process compares the version information of the first update firmware with the set version information of the second update firmware, and the version When the information is greater than or equal to the set version information, a means is adopted in which the first firmware is updated with the first update firmware.

  Further, in the present invention, as a solution unit related to the image forming apparatus, a unit that executes a firmware update program that employs the first or second solution unit as the electronic device is employed.

  According to the present invention, when updating with the updating firmware input from the outside of the electronic device, if the other updating firmware that needs to be updated together is less than the required version, the updating firmware Do not update with. Thereby, since the firmware installed in the electronic device satisfies a necessary version, inconsistencies between the firmware can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of abnormal operation due to inconsistencies between firmware.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a multifunction peripheral A according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the multifunction peripheral A according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a format of firmware version information and set version information of a multifunction peripheral A according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the version information and set version information of the firmware of the multifunction peripheral A which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The multifunction peripheral (image forming apparatus) A according to the present embodiment has a copy function, a print function, a scan function, and a facsimile transmission / reception function, and writes update firmware stored in the USB memory B therein. Update the firmware. As shown in FIG. 1, the multi-function device A includes an image reading unit 1, an image data storage unit 2, an image forming unit 3, an operation display unit 4, a USB port 5, a communication I / F unit 6, a paper feeder 7, and a finisher. 8 is composed.

 The image reading unit 1 reads an image of a document, and includes a DP (Document Processor), a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor, and a scanner engine 11. The scanner engine 11 includes an image reading memory group 11a and an image reading CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11b. The image reading memory group 11a includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory), and stores the image reading firmware 11a-1 executed by the image reading CPU 11b and other data. The image reading CPU 11b controls the overall operation of the image reading unit 1 based on the image reading firmware 11a-1. In the image reading unit 1, under the control of the image reading CPU 11b, the image of the document sequentially fed by the DP is read by the CCD sensor, and the document image data based on the document image is output.

  The image data storage unit 2 is, for example, a flash memory or a hard disk, and receives document image data output from the image reading unit 1 and a communication I / F unit 6 from a client computer (not shown) under the control of the main controller 9. Print image data and facsimile image data received by the communication I / F unit 6 from a public network (not shown) are stored.

  The image forming unit 3 forms an image on recording paper supplied from the paper feeder 7 and includes a print engine 31. The print engine 31 executes an image forming process using a photosensitive drum, a charger, a developing device, a fixing roller, and the like, and includes an image forming memory group 31a and an image forming CPU 31b. The image forming memory group 31a includes a ROM and a RAM, and stores image forming firmware 31a-1 executed by the image forming CPU 31b and other data. The image forming CPU 31b controls the overall operation of the image forming unit 3 based on the image forming firmware 31a-1. Then, the image forming unit 3 forms an image made of toner based on the image data in the image data storage unit 2 under the control of the image forming CPU 31b, transfers the image onto the recording paper, and transfers the image onto the recording paper. The paper is fixed and discharged to the finisher 8.

  The operation display unit 4 includes a copy function switching key, a print function switching key, a scan function switching key, a facsimile function switching key, a start key, a stop / clear key, a power key, a numeric keypad (numeric input key), a touch panel, and other various operations. Has a key. Then, the operation display unit 4 outputs an operation instruction corresponding to the pressed key to the main controller 9. The operation display unit 4 displays various screens on the touch panel under the control of the main controller 9. The copy function switch key, print function switch key, scan function switch key, and facsimile function switch key are keys for switching the operation mode of the multifunction peripheral A when the user uses each function.

The USB port 5 is a serial interface corresponding to the USB standard. The USB port 5 inputs and outputs electronic files to and from the USB memory B under the control of the main controller 9 when the USB memory B is attached.
The communication I / F unit 6 is connected to an external client computer and a public network, and transmits / receives various signals to / from the client computer and the public network.

  The paper feeder 7 feeds recording paper to the image forming unit 3, and includes a transport roller, a feeder memory group 7a, and a feeder CPU 7b. The feeder memory group 7a is composed of ROM and RAM, and stores feeder firmware 7a-1 executed by the feeder CPU 7b and other data. The feeder CPU 7b controls the overall operation of the paper feeder 7 based on the feeder firmware 7a-1. In the paper feeder 7, the recording paper is conveyed to the image forming unit 3 by the conveyance roller under the control of the feeder CPU 7 b.

  The finisher 8 discharges the recording paper after the image formation by the image forming unit 3, and includes a plurality of discharge trays, a first finisher memory group 81a, a first finisher CPU 81b, and a second finisher memory group 82a. And a second finisher CPU 82b. The first finisher memory group 81a is composed of a ROM and a RAM, and stores the first finisher firmware 81a-1 executed by the first finisher CPU 81b and other data. The first finisher CPU 81b controls the operation of the finisher 8 together with the second finisher CPU 82b based on the first finisher firmware 81a-1.

  The second finisher memory group 82a includes a ROM and a RAM, and stores the second finisher firmware 82a-1 executed by the second finisher CPU 82b and other data. The second finisher CPU 82b controls the operation of the finisher 8 together with the first finisher CPU 81b based on the second finisher firmware 82a-1. In the finisher 8, the recording paper after image formation is performed under the control of the first finisher CPU 81b and the second finisher CPU 82 while mechanically sorting the recording paper by using the sort function, and reversely discharging the recording paper. Are discharged to each paper discharge tray.

  The main controller 9 controls the overall operation of the multifunction machine A and includes a main control memory group 9a and a main control CPU 9b. The main control memory group 9a is composed of ROM and RAM, and stores main control firmware 9a-1 executed by the main control CPU 9b and other data. The main control CPU 9b is input from various instructions and operation display unit 4 input from the client computer (not shown) and the public network (not shown) via the main control firmware 9a-1 and the communication I / F unit 6. The overall operation of the multifunction device A is controlled based on the operation instruction to be performed.

  The main control memory group 9a stores a firmware update program 9a-2 together with the main control firmware 9a-1. The main control CPU 9b, based on the firmware update program 9a-2, reads the image reading firmware 11a-1, the image forming firmware 31a-1, the feeder firmware 7a-1, the first finisher firmware 81a-1, and the second The finisher firmware 82a-1 and the main control firmware 9a-1 are updated.

Next, the operation of the MFP A according to the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described. This will be described with reference to FIG.
First, a user who wants to update the above-described firmware of the multifunction device A attaches the USB memory B storing the firmware for updating each firmware of the multifunction device A to the USB port 5.

  When the USB memory B is attached to the USB port 5, the main control CPU 9b of the main controller 9 stores the first finisher firmware 81a-1 for update in the USB memory B according to the firmware update program 9a-2. It is determined whether or not (step S1).

  If the main control CPU 9b determines “YES” in step S1, that is, if the first finisher firmware 81a-1 for update is stored in the USB memory B, the main control CPU 9b Version information of the first finisher firmware 81a-1 and update firmware other than the first finisher firmware 81a-1 (second finisher firmware 82a-1, feeder firmware 7a-1, image forming firmware 31a-1, The set version information of the image reading firmware 11a-1 and the main control firmware 9a-1) is compared, and the version information of the first finisher firmware 81a-1 for update is set version information of other update firmware. Above Luke not determined whether (step S2).

The version information and set version information will be described with reference to FIG.
Each firmware described above has version information and set version information as header information in the format of FIG. The version information is information indicating the version of the firmware itself. The set version information is information indicating the minimum version of other update firmware that needs to be updated together.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in each firmware, the set version information of the first digit (right end) of the first finisher firmware 81a-1 indicates the minimum version of the second finisher firmware 82a-1. The second digit (second from the right) corresponds to the feeder firmware 7a-1, the third digit (third from the right) corresponds to the image forming firmware 31a-1, and the fourth digit (four from the right). The second) corresponds to the image reading firmware 11a-1, and the fifth digit (left end) corresponds to the main control firmware 9a-1.

  Therefore, in the case of updating with the first finisher firmware 81a-1 “version 5” shown in FIG. 4, the second finisher firmware 82a-1 for update in the USB memory B is “version 3” or higher. There is a need. The feeder firmware 7a-1, the image forming firmware 31a-1, the image reading firmware 11a-1, and the main control firmware 9a-1 need to be “version 0 (shipment state)” or higher.

  In the second finisher firmware 82a-1, the first digit (right end) set version information corresponds to the first finisher firmware 81a-1. The second digit (second from the right) corresponds to the feeder firmware 7a-1, the third digit (third from the right) corresponds to the image forming firmware 31a-1, and the fourth digit (four from the right). The second) corresponds to the image reading firmware 11a-1, and the fifth digit (left end) corresponds to the main control firmware 9a-1. The set version information of the feeder firmware 7a-1, image forming firmware 31a-1, image reading firmware 11a-1 and main control firmware 9a-1 other than those described above also corresponds to each firmware.

  Returning to FIG. 2, if the main control CPU 9 b determines “YES” in step S 2, that is, the version information of the first finisher firmware 81 a-1 in the USB memory B is the other update firmware. The first finisher memory group 81a-1 is updated with the first finisher firmware 81a-1 for updating in the USB memory B (step S3), and then the steps S1 to S1 are performed. 3, the second finisher firmware 82 a-1, the feeder firmware 7 a-1, the image formation firmware 31 a-1, the image reading firmware 11 a-1 and the main control firmware 9 a-1 are also updated ( Step S4).

If the main control CPU 9b determines “NO” in step S2, that is, the version information of the first finisher firmware 81a-1 for update in the USB memory B is less than the set version information of the other update firmware. If YES, step S4 is executed without updating the first finisher firmware 81a-1.
If the main control CPU 9b determines “NO” in step S1, that is, if the first finisher firmware 81a-1 for update is not stored in the USB memory B, the main control CPU 9b executes steps S2 and S3. Without proceeding to step S4.

  As described above, in the MFP A according to the present embodiment, when updating with the update firmware in the USB memory B, the version is lower than the version required by the other update firmware that needs to be updated together. The update firmware is not updated. As a result, the firmware installed in the multi-function peripheral A satisfies the required version, so that inconsistencies between the firmware can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of abnormal operation due to inconsistencies between firmware.

As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, For example, the following modifications can be considered.
The above-described embodiment is the multifunction peripheral A (image forming apparatus), but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can also be applied to other electronic devices other than the image forming apparatus.

A ... MFP, 1 ... image reading unit, 2 ... image data storage unit, 3 ... image forming unit, 4 ... operation display unit, 5 ... USB port, 6 ... communication I / F unit, 7 ... paper feeder, 8 ... Finisher 9 ... Main controller 11 ... Scanner engine 11a ... Image reading memory group 11b ... Image reading CPU 11a-1 ... Image reading firmware 31 ... Print engine 31a ... Image forming memory group 31b Image forming CPU, 31a-1 Image forming firmware, 7a Feeder memory group, 7b Feeder CPU, 7a-1 Feeder firmware, 81a First finisher memory group, 81b First finisher CPU, 82a ... second finisher memory group, 82b ... second finisher CPU, 81a-1 ... first finisher Firmware, 82a-1 ... second finisher firmware, 9a-1 ... main control memory group, 9a-2 ... firmware update program, B ... USB memory

Claims (2)

A firmware update program for updating firmware corresponding to the CPU of an electronic device having a plurality of CPUs,
The update firmware has set version information indicating the minimum version of other update firmware that needs to be updated together, and version information indicating its own version,
The update firmware of one or a plurality of second firmware that needs to be updated together with the update firmware (first update firmware) of the first firmware being input to the electronic device from the outside When (second update firmware) is input, the version information set in the first update firmware and the set version information set in the second update firmware Comparing and, when the version information is greater than or equal to the set version information, the electronic device is caused to execute an update control process for updating the first firmware with the first update firmware. program. An image forming apparatus that executes the firmware update program according to claim 1 as an electronic device.

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