JP5290880B2 - Electronic apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic device that normally operates by preventing a control program from being rewritten to a program that has never operated. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic device that operates by executing a control program stored in a storing means includes: a nonvolatile storing part for storing the control program; an operation history managing part for storing operation history information of the control program stored in the storing part; a program transferring part for transferring a control program for rewriting; and a determining part for determining whether to rewrite the control program stored in the storing part to the control program for rewriting on the basis of the operation history information stored in the operation history managing part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus and an image forming apparatus that operate by executing a program stored in a storage unit, and more particularly to an electronic apparatus and an image forming apparatus that can rewrite a program.

  When the conventional electronic device compares the version number of the program stored in the storage unit at the time of startup with the version number of the latest program stored in the storage unit of the host device, and detects that the version number is different, There is one that downloads the latest program from the apparatus and rewrites the program stored in the storage unit with the latest program to perform the operation (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-3213 (paragraph “0016” to paragraph “0021”, FIG. 2)

  However, in the above-described conventional technology, when the hardware configuration of the electronic device to which the program is rewritten is changed, the hardware and the program do not match if the program is rewritten to a program having no operation record in the device. There is a problem that the device does not operate normally.

  An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to operate the apparatus normally by preventing rewriting to a program having no operation record.

Therefore, the present invention stores a non-volatile storage unit that stores a control program and operation result information of the control program stored in the storage unit in an electronic device that operates by executing the control program stored in the storage unit. An operation result management unit that performs rewriting, a program transfer unit that transfers a rewrite control program, and the operation result management unit that stores whether or not the control program stored in the storage unit can be rewritten to the rewrite control program. A determination unit that determines based on the operation result information that is being performed, an external storage unit communication control unit that communicates with the connected external storage unit, and the external storage unit communication control unit to the operation result management unit and an operation record information transfer unit for transferring the operation record information stored in the version number and the operation record management unit of the determination unit control program for the rewrite When it is confirmed that the version number does not exist in the operation result information by comparing with the stored operation result information, the operation result information transfer unit transfers the operation result information to the external storage unit communication control unit Then, the operation result information is stored in the external storage unit .

  According to the present invention as described above, it is possible to prevent the rewriting to a program having no operation record and to operate the apparatus normally.

Functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus in the first embodiment 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. Schematic explanatory diagram of the mechanism of the image forming apparatus in the first embodiment Explanatory drawing of the version number information of the operation information management unit in the first embodiment Explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the control program for rewriting in 1st Example. The flowchart which shows the rewriting process of the control program in a 1st Example Functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus in the second embodiment The flowchart which shows the rewriting process of the control program in 2nd Example

  Embodiments of an electronic apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus in the first embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 101 as an electronic apparatus that operates by executing a program (software) stored in a storage unit includes an external storage unit communication control unit 103, an operation result management unit 104, a program transfer unit 105, and a determination. Unit 106, execution unit 107, work area 108, loader program storage unit 109, control program storage unit 110, and panel unit 202, and is communicably connected to an external storage unit 102 as an external device.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.

  2, the image forming apparatus 101 includes a main control unit 212, an engine control unit 204, a panel unit 202, and a mechanism unit 208. The main control unit 212 includes an external communication control unit 201, a data control unit 203, A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 205, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 206, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 207 are configured. The mechanism unit 208 further includes a sheet feeding mechanism unit 301, an electrophotographic process unit 311, and a fixing unit 310. It is configured.

  The CPU 205, which is a calculation unit, executes a program (software) stored in the ROM 206, which is a non-rewritable storage unit, or the RAM 207, which is a rewritable storage unit, and uses a predetermined area of the RAM 207 as a work area to perform data Process.

  The external communication control unit 201 is a control unit that interfaces with the external storage unit 102 and a plurality of different communication ports and transmits / receives data to / from an external device such as the external storage unit 102.

  Data transmission / reception between the external communication control unit 201, the CPU 205, the ROM 206, the RAM 207, the engine control unit 204, and the panel unit 202 as devices of the main control unit 212 is performed through the data control unit 203.

  The engine control unit 204 controls the sheet feeding mechanism unit 301, the electrophotographic process unit 311, and the fixing unit 310 in the mechanism unit 208 to print image data.

  The panel unit 202 is for receiving information input to the user and the operator of the image forming apparatus 101 and information input by the operation of the user or the like.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view of the mechanism of the image forming apparatus in the first embodiment.

  The image forming apparatus 101 includes a sheet feeding mechanism 301, an electrophotographic process unit 311, a fixing unit 310, and a panel unit 202.

  The sheet feeding mechanism 301 includes a main motor 309, a registration motor 305, a sheet presence / absence sensor 313, a registration-in sensor 304, a writing position sensor 303, a discharge sensor 307, a registration roller 306, and a discharge roller 308. A certain sheet is sequentially conveyed from the sheet cassette 302 to each part in the image forming apparatus 101 through a sheet route 312.

  The main motor 309 rotates the electrophotographic process unit 311, the fixing unit 310, and the discharge roller 308, and the registration motor 305 rotates the registration roller 306.

  The paper presence sensor 313 detects the presence or absence of paper in the paper cassette 302. The registration sensor 304, the writing start position sensor 303, and the discharge sensor 307 each detect the presence or absence of paper in each part, and are used for managing the position of the paper being conveyed.

  The electrophotographic process unit 311 is for transferring a toner image onto a sheet to be printed, and the fixing unit 310 is for thermally fixing the toner image transferred onto the sheet.

  Next, a configuration for rewriting the control program of the image forming apparatus 101 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The external storage unit 102 is a general-purpose storage medium, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory. It is assumed that the external storage unit 102 stores in advance a control program for the image forming apparatus 101 for rewriting (hereinafter referred to as “rewriting control program”).

  The image forming apparatus 101 is an apparatus that processes image data based on a control program stored in a storage unit included in the image forming apparatus 101. Specifically, the storage unit is a RAM 207 as a nonvolatile storage unit in the main control unit 212, and is a control program storage unit 110 that stores the control program in an image that can be directly executed. The ROM 206 in the main control unit 212 includes a loader program storage unit 109 that stores a loader program in an image that can be directly executed.

  Here, the control program is a program for controlling the operation of the entire image forming apparatus 101, and the loader program is a rewrite control program downloaded from the external storage unit 102 and stored in the control program storage unit 110. This is a program for rewriting a control program that has been downloaded into a rewritten control program.

  The external storage unit communication control unit 103 is a control unit that performs communication with the connected external storage unit 102 and reads (downloads) a rewrite control program stored in the external storage unit 102.

  The program transfer unit 105 is a part that transfers the rewrite control program read by the external storage unit communication control unit 103 to the determination unit 106 and the execution unit 107.

  The operation result management unit 104 is a storage unit that stores, as version information (operation result information), the version number of a control program that has been rewritten to date and has been operated in the image forming apparatus 101. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the operation result management unit 104 sets the version number of the control program having the operation results to “V3.00”, “V4.00”, “V6.00”, “V7.00”, “ It is stored as version number information such as “V8.00”.

  The determination unit 106 collates the version number of the control program included in the rewrite control program read from the external storage unit 102 with the version number information stored in the operation result management unit 104, and determines the control program This is a part for determining whether or not to rewrite the control program in the storage unit 110. Here, the rewrite control program read from the external storage unit 102 is composed of, for example, a control program main body and a version number of the control program as shown in FIG.

  When the judgment unit 106 compares the version number of the rewrite control program with the version number information stored in the operation result management unit 104 and confirms that there is a matching version number in the version number information Then, it is determined that the rewriting control program is a control program with an operation record.

  The execution unit 107 uses the work area 108 as a work area according to the loader program stored in the loader program storage unit 109, rewrites the control program stored in the control program storage unit 110, and controls the control program storage unit 110. This is a part that uses the work area 108 as a work area in accordance with the control program stored in, and controls the operation of the entire image forming apparatus 101.

  The operation of the above configuration will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control program rewriting process in the first embodiment, which will be described in accordance with steps indicated by S in the figure and with reference to FIGS.

  First, it is assumed that the power is turned on and the image forming apparatus 101 is activated.

  S1: When the image forming apparatus 101 is activated, the determination unit 106 in FIG. 1 determines whether or not the external storage unit 102 is connected through the external storage unit communication control unit 103. When determining that the external storage unit 102 is not connected, the determination unit 106 notifies the execution unit 107 that the control program rewriting process is not performed, and the execution unit 107 returns to the normal processing of S8.

  S2: On the other hand, when it is determined in S1 that the external storage unit 102 is connected, the determination unit 106 determines whether or not a rewrite control program is stored in the external storage unit 102 through the external storage unit communication control unit 103. Determine. If it is determined that the rewrite control program is not stored in the external storage unit 102, the determination unit 106 notifies the execution unit 107 that the rewrite process of the control program is not performed, and the execution unit 107 returns to the normal process of S8. .

  S3: If it is determined in S2 that the rewrite control program is stored in the external storage unit 102, the external storage unit communication control unit 103 reads the rewrite control program stored in the external storage unit 102 and transfers the program. The data is transferred to the determination unit 106 through the unit 105.

  S4: The determination unit 106 reads the version number of the control program from the transferred control program for rewriting, and compares the read version number with the version information of the control program stored in the operation result management unit 104. Then, it is determined whether or not the version number read from the rewrite control program is newer than all the version number information stored in the operation result management unit 104.

  If it is determined that the version number read from the control program for rewriting is a newer version number than all the version number information stored in the operation result management unit 104, the determination unit 106 requires the execution unit 107 to rewrite the control program. And a rewrite control program is transferred through the program transfer unit 105.

  S5: The execution unit 107 that has received the notification that the rewriting process of the control program is necessary is stored in the control program storage unit 110 using the work area 108 in accordance with the program stored in the loader program storage unit 109. The rewriting process is performed to rewrite the control program to the control program for rewriting.

  S6: When the rewriting process is completed, the determination unit 106 causes the operation result management unit 104 to store the version number of the rewritten control program.

  S7: The determination unit 106 displays on the panel unit 202 that the rewriting of the control program is completed, and notifies the operator.

  S8: The execution unit 107 performs normal processing according to the control program stored in the control program storage unit 110.

  S9: On the other hand, when it is determined in S4 that the version number read from the rewrite control program is not a newer version number than the version information stored in the operation result management unit 104, the determination unit 106 determines from the rewrite control program. The read version number and the version number information of the control program stored in the operation result management unit 104 are collated, and the version information stored in the operation result management unit 104 is read from the rewrite control program. Determine whether there is a version number that matches the version number.

  If it is determined that there is a matching version number, the determination unit 106 notifies the execution unit 107 that the rewriting process of the control program is necessary, and transfers the rewrite control program through the program transfer unit 105.

  S10: The execution unit 107 that has received the notification that the rewriting process of the control program is necessary is stored in the control program storage unit 110 using the work area 108 in accordance with the program stored in the loader program storage unit 109. A rewrite process is performed to rewrite the existing control program with a rewrite control program, and the process proceeds to S7.

  S11: When it is determined that there is no matching version number in S9, the determination unit 106 notifies the execution unit 107 that the control program rewriting process is not performed, and the panel unit 202 cannot rewrite the control program. Is displayed and notified to the operator.

  As described above, when it is determined that the version number read from the rewrite control program is older than the latest version number of the version number information stored in the operation result management unit 104, the version number is stored in the operation result management unit 104. The control program rewrite process is performed only when it is determined that there is a version number that matches the version number read from the control program for rewriting in the version number information being stored. It is possible to rewrite the 110 control program only to a control program with an operation record, to prevent rewriting to a control program with no operation record, and to prevent the apparatus from malfunctioning.

  Here, an example of a problem when the control program is rewritten to an old version with no operation record will be described.

  As a hardware configuration of the new image forming apparatus 101, for example, when the sheet presence sensor 313 shown in FIG. 3 which is necessary in the apparatus of the first lot becomes unnecessary when adopting the new control method and is deleted from the next lot, The control program employed in the next lot of apparatus is a control program adapted to new hardware from which the paper presence sensor 313 is deleted, and the version number is also updated (for example, updated from V1.00 to V2.00). .

  After that, the version number of the control program is updated (for example, updated from V2.00 to V3.00) due to performance improvement or correction of a defect in the control program, and the control program is rewritten, but a new control program (for example, , V3.00) has been found to be defective, and may be rewritten to an old version of the control program as an emergency measure.

  At this time, the image forming apparatus 101 having a new hardware configuration in which the paper presence / absence sensor 313 is deleted has an old version number (for example, V1.00) having no operation record for the hardware configuration in which the paper presence / absence sensor 313 is mounted. If the control program is rewritten, the paper presence / absence sensor 313 is not mounted as a hardware configuration, but the control program requires input information from the paper presence / absence sensor 313, so that the image forming apparatus 101 operates normally. It will disappear. Therefore, it is necessary to confirm the operation results of the control program as in this embodiment.

  In one apparatus, the hardware configuration may change due to the change of the control program as described above. When the hardware configuration is changed together with the control program in this way, it is preferable that the version information stored in the operation result management unit 104 is only the latest version and the previous version is deleted. This makes it possible to manage the rewritable version number according to the hardware configuration.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the version number read from the rewrite control program is determined to be older than the latest version number of the version information stored in the operation result management unit. Only when it is determined that there is a version number that matches the version number read from the control program for rewriting in the version number information stored in the operation result management unit, the control program is rewritten. As a result, it is possible to prevent the device from being normally operated by preventing rewriting to a control program having no operation record.

  FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus in the second embodiment. In the configuration of the second embodiment, a version number information transfer unit 501 is added to the configuration of the first embodiment.

  In FIG. 7, an image forming apparatus 101 as an electronic apparatus includes an external storage unit communication control unit 103, an operation result management unit 104, a program transfer unit 105, a determination unit 106, an execution unit 107, a work area 108, and a loader program storage unit 109. The control program storage unit 110, the panel unit 202, and the version number information transfer unit 501 are communicably connected to the external storage unit 102 as an external device.

  The version number information transfer unit 501 as the operation result information transfer unit is a part that transfers the version number information as the operation result information stored in the operation result management unit 104 from the determination unit 106 to the external storage unit communication control unit 103. is there. The external storage unit communication control unit 103 stores the transferred version number information in the external storage unit 102.

  Note that parts similar to those of the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  The operation of the above configuration will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the rewriting process of the control program in the second embodiment, which will be described according to the step indicated by S in the figure and with reference to FIG.

  First, it is assumed that the power is turned on and the image forming apparatus 101 is activated.

  S21: When the image forming apparatus 101 is activated, the determination unit 106 in FIG. 7 determines whether or not the external storage unit 102 is connected through the external storage unit communication control unit 103. When determining that the external storage unit 102 is not connected, the determination unit 106 notifies the execution unit 107 that the control program rewriting process is not performed, and the execution unit 107 returns to the normal processing of S29.

  S22: On the other hand, when determining in S21 that the external storage unit 102 is connected, the determination unit 106 determines whether or not a rewrite control program is stored in the external storage unit 102 through the external storage unit communication control unit 103. Determine. When determining that the control program for rewriting is not stored in the external storage unit 102, the determining unit 106 notifies the executing unit 107 that the rewriting process of the control program is not performed, and the executing unit 107 returns to the normal processing of S29. .

  S23: If it is determined in S22 that the rewrite control program is stored in the external storage unit 102, the determination unit 106 determines whether version number information is stored in the external storage unit 102 through the external storage unit communication control unit 103. Is determined. If it is determined that version number information is not stored in the external storage unit 102, the process proceeds to S24. If it is determined that version number information is stored in the external storage unit 102, the process proceeds to S33. Notifies the execution unit 107 that the control program rewriting process is not performed, displays on the panel unit 202 that the control program cannot be rewritten, and notifies the operator.

  S24: When it is determined in S23 that the version number information is not stored in the external storage unit 102, the external storage unit communication control unit 103 reads the rewrite control program stored in the external storage unit 102, and the program transfer unit 105 To the determination unit 106.

  S25: The determination unit 106 reads the version number of the control program from the transferred control program for rewriting, and compares the read version number with the version information of the control program stored in the operation result management unit 104. Then, it is determined whether or not the version number read from the rewrite control program is newer than all the version number information stored in the operation result management unit 104.

  If it is determined that the version number read from the control program for rewriting is a newer version number than all the version number information stored in the operation result management unit 104, the determination unit 106 requires the execution unit 107 to rewrite the control program. And a rewrite control program is transferred through the program transfer unit 105.

  S26: The execution unit 107 that has received the notification that the rewriting process of the control program is necessary is stored in the control program storage unit 110 using the work area 108 in accordance with the program stored in the loader program storage unit 109. The rewriting process is performed to rewrite the control program to the control program for rewriting.

  S27: When the rewriting process is completed, the determination unit 106 causes the operation result management unit 104 to store the version number of the rewritten control program.

  S28: The determination unit 106 displays on the panel unit 202 that the rewriting of the control program is completed, and notifies the operator.

  S29: The execution unit 107 performs normal processing according to the control program stored in the control program storage unit 110.

  S30: On the other hand, if it is determined in S25 that the version read from the rewrite control program is not a newer version than the version information stored in the operation result management unit 104, the determination unit 106 determines from the rewrite control program. The read version number and the version number information of the control program stored in the operation result management unit 104 are collated, and the version information stored in the operation result management unit 104 is read from the rewrite control program. Determine whether there is a version number that matches the version number.

  If it is determined that there is a matching version number, the determination unit 106 notifies the execution unit 107 that the rewriting process of the control program is necessary, and transfers the rewrite control program through the program transfer unit 105.

  S31: The execution unit 107 that has received the notification that the rewriting process of the control program is necessary is stored in the control program storage unit 110 using the work area 108 in accordance with the program stored in the loader program storage unit 109. The rewriting process is performed to rewrite the control program to the rewriting control program, and the process proceeds to S28.

  S32: When determining that there is no matching version number in S30, the determination unit 106 transfers the version number information stored in the operation result management unit 104 to the external storage unit communication control unit 103 through the version number information transfer unit 501. Then, the version number information is written in the external storage unit 102.

  S33: The determination unit 106 notifies the execution unit 107 that the control program rewriting process is not performed, displays on the panel unit 202 that the control program cannot be rewritten, and notifies the operator.

  As described above, when it is determined that the rewrite control program stored in the external storage unit 102 cannot be rewritten, the version number information stored in the operation result management unit 104 is stored in the external storage unit 102. In addition, when the external storage unit 102 is connected again, if it is determined that the version number information is stored, the external storage unit 102 is erroneously set to not read the control program from the external storage unit 102. Even if connected, it can be determined that the control program cannot be rewritten before the control program is read, and the operator can be notified immediately.

  Note that the version number information stored in the external storage unit 102 can be browsed by an apparatus having a function of reading the information stored in the external storage unit 102.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, when it is determined that the rewrite control program stored in the external storage unit is not rewritable, the operation result management unit Version number information stored in the external storage unit, and when the external storage unit is reconnected, if the version number information is determined to be stored, the control program is read from the external storage unit As a result, it is possible to determine that the control program cannot be rewritten before reading the control program even if the external storage unit is mistakenly connected, and promptly notify the operator accordingly. The effect that it can be obtained.

  In the first and second embodiments, the image forming apparatus has been described as a printer. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral), a facsimile, a copier, or a complex machine of these.

  Further, although the electronic apparatus has been described as an image forming apparatus, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the present invention may be applied to an electronic apparatus that controls the operation using firmware.

101 Image forming apparatus (electronic device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 102 External storage part 103 External storage part Communication control part 104 Operation | movement results management part 105 Program transfer part 106 Judgment part 107 Execution part 108 Work area 109 Loader program storage part 110 Control program storage part 202 Panel part

Claims (3)

In an electronic device that operates by executing a control program stored in a storage means,
A non-volatile storage unit for storing the control program;
An operation result management unit for storing operation result information of the control program stored in the storage unit;
A program transfer unit for transferring a control program for rewriting,
A determination unit for determining whether or not the control program stored in the storage unit can be rewritten to the control program for rewriting based on operation result information stored in the operation result management unit ;
An external storage unit communication control unit for communicating with the connected external storage unit;
An operation result information transfer unit for transferring operation result information stored in the operation result management unit to the external storage unit communication control unit ;
When the determination unit confirms that the version number does not exist in the operation result information by comparing the version number of the control program for rewriting with the operation result information stored in the operation result management unit, the operation The performance information transfer unit transfers the operation result information to the external storage unit communication control unit, and stores the operation result information in the external storage unit . The electronic device of claim 1 .
When the determination unit confirms that the operation result information is already stored in the external storage unit, the version number of the rewrite control program and the operation result information stored in the operation result management unit are obtained. An electronic apparatus characterized in that the control program is not rewritten without verification. An image forming apparatus having an electronic device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

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