JP5488412B2 - Terminal device and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for updating a firmware file.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, the device downloads a firmware file from the information processing apparatus and updates the firmware file on condition that the device has not been used for a certain period of time after shifting to the power saving state.

JP 2010-9474 A

By the way, another method for updating the firmware file of the device has been demanded.
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide another technique for causing a device to update a firmware file.

In order to achieve this object, an apparatus according to the present invention is a terminal device connected to a device, and a file storage unit for storing a firmware file for update for the device; A state determining unit that determines whether the device is in a state; and a sending unit that sends the update firmware file to the device when the device is determined to be in the power saving state. It is characterized by.
In this configuration, since the terminal device determines whether or not the device is in the power saving state, when the device is determined to be in the power saving state, in other words, when the load on the device is low, the terminal device Can send a firmware file for update to the device. If this configuration is adopted, the terminal device can cause the device to update the firmware file at an appropriate timing.

In the above apparatus, the terminal device can be connected to two or more devices, and the state determination unit determines whether or not the two or more devices are in the power saving state, and sends The unit preferably sends the update firmware file to at least one of the two or more devices when it is determined that the two or more devices are in the power saving state.
With this configuration, for example, firmware files of a plurality of devices can be updated, so that firmware files can be updated efficiently.

In the above apparatus, the terminal apparatus can be connected to N (N ≧ 2) devices including the two or more devices, and uses N pieces of information acquired from the N devices. , A selection unit for selecting M (2 ≦ M ≦ N) devices including the two or more devices from the N devices, and the state determination unit is selected by the selection unit In addition, it is determined whether or not the M devices are in the power saving state, and the sending unit determines that the firmware file for updating is determined when it is determined that the M devices are in the power saving state. Is preferably sent to the at least one of the M devices.
With this configuration, since M devices can be selected from the N devices using N information of the N devices, whether the selected M devices are in the power saving state. You only have to judge whether or not.

Further, in the above apparatus, the selection unit selects the M devices belonging to a specific group using the information acquired from the N devices, and firmware among the M devices The two or more devices that need to be updated are selected, and the sending unit selects the two or more firmware files for updating when the M devices are determined to be in the power saving state. It is preferable to send to at least one of the devices.
With this configuration, it is possible to easily select a device that requires updating of the firmware file.

In the above apparatus, the apparatus further includes a time detection unit that detects that a predetermined time has elapsed since the two or more devices are in a power saving state, and the sending unit includes the two or more devices in a power saving state. When it is detected that a certain time has elapsed since then, it is preferable to send the update firmware file to the at least one device of the two or more devices.
As in this configuration, by setting the power saving state of the device and the elapse of a certain time as a condition for updating the firmware file, compared to when only the power saving state of the device is set as the updating condition, The firmware file can be updated at a more appropriate timing.

Further, in the above apparatus, a setting storage unit that stores a period that is preset by a user and that is used to update a firmware file currently used by the device to the firmware file for update; A time determination unit that determines whether the time is a time within the period, and the sending unit is determined by the time determination unit that the current time is a time within the period In this case, the firmware file for update may be sent to the device.
With this configuration, the firmware file can be set to be updated within a period preset by the user, for example, within a period when the device is expected not to be used. Can be updated.

The above apparatus may further include a notification unit that notifies the user that the firmware file of the device should be updated to the firmware file for update.
With this configuration, the user who uses the device can know whether or not the device is an update target of the firmware file.

In the above apparatus, the sending unit may further send a signal to the device to turn off the power after the firmware file of the device is updated to the firmware file for update. You may send it.
With this configuration, power consumption of the device can be suppressed.

In addition, a completion determination unit that determines that the device has completed the update of the update firmware file, and the update determination from the storage unit when the completion determination unit determines that the update has been completed. It is preferable to include an erasing unit that erases the firmware file.
With this configuration, the remaining capacity of the storage unit can be increased.

  The present invention can be realized in various modes such as a terminal device, a method executed by the terminal device, a computer program for realizing the function of the method or device, and a recording medium on which the computer program is recorded. it can.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the system in 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows a management list. The figure which shows an update list. The figure which shows the user interface which sets the group which updates a firmware file. The sequence diagram which showed the process between a terminal device, a device, and a server in time series. The figure which shows the specific example of the update notification displayed on the panel of a device. The figure which shows the user interface which sets the conditions of an update setting process. The flowchart which shows the whole update process. 6 is a flowchart showing a device update notice. The flowchart which shows the transmission process of a firmware file. 9 is a flowchart illustrating firmware file transmission processing according to the second embodiment. The figure which shows the user interface which sets the conditions of the update setting process in 2nd Embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a device update notice in the third embodiment. The figure which shows the user interface which sets the conditions of the update setting process in 3rd Embodiment. A specific example of sending update notifications to users using email.

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

<Embodiment 1>
(System configuration)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a system in the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the system includes a terminal device 10 that holds a management application, a printer 20, and a server 30 that stores a firmware file for update.

(Terminal device)
The terminal device 10 is a general client computer, and includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, an HDD (hard disk drive) 14, an operation unit 15, a display unit 16, and a network interface 17.

  The CPU 11 controls the operation of the terminal device 10. The ROM 12 stores a program such as BIOS. The HDD 14 stores an OS, application programs, data, and the like.

  In particular, in this embodiment, the HDD 14 stores a management program for causing the printer 20 to update the firmware file. The CPU 11 reads the management program stored in the HDD 14, stores it in the RAM 13, and executes the management program. Thereby, the CPU 11 can control the update of the firmware file by the printer 20. At this time, the CPU 11 creates a management list 51, a monitoring target list 53, and an update list 54 in the RAM 13. These lists will be described later.

  The operation unit 15 includes a keyboard and a pointing device, and the user inputs various instructions to the CPU 11 using the operation unit 15. The network interface 17 is connected to the LAN 40.

(Printer)
The printer 20 includes a CPU 21, a RAM 22, an NVRAM 23, a printing unit 24, a display unit 25, and a network interface 26.

  The CPU 21 controls the operation of the printer 20. The NVRAM 23 is a nonvolatile memory, and stores a firmware file (program) 23a for the CPU 21 to control the operation of the printer 20. The firmware file 23a has a file name and version information.

  The printer 20 can update the firmware file by rewriting the old version firmware file 23a already installed in the printer 20 with a new version firmware file.

  The network interface 26 is connected to the LAN 40, thereby enabling communication between the terminal device 10 and the printer 20. The display unit 25 includes a display, and the user can check firmware file update information, printer status, and firmware file version information by viewing a screen displayed on the display unit. The printing unit 24 forms an image under the control of the CPU 21 based on the print data supplied from the terminal device 10.

  Although FIG. 1 shows a state in which a total of three printers 20, 20A, 20B are connected to the LAN 40, in this system, two or four or more printers can be connected. In addition, different models of printers 20 can be mixed in this system.

  The LAN 40 is connected to a WAN 41 such as the Internet via a router (not shown). A server 30 is connected to the WAN 41.

(server)
As will be described later, the server 30 stores the latest version information of the firmware file for each model of the printer 20 and the firmware file for updating, and supplies necessary information in response to a request from the terminal device 10.

(Storage table in the terminal device)
Incidentally, as described above, the management list 51, the monitoring target list 53, and the update list 54 are created in the terminal device 10.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the management list 51 is a list indicating a plurality (N) of printers 20 to be managed, in other words, a plurality (N) of printers connected to the terminal device 10 via the LAN 40. And is stored in the RAM 13 in the terminal device 10. In the management list 51, information such as a printer model name, an installation location (Location), and an administrator (Contact) is registered for each printer. Information about each printer can be acquired by using, for example, the SNMP protocol.

  The monitoring target list 53 (not shown) indicates a plurality (M) of printers that are candidates that may need to be updated among a plurality (N) of printers registered in the management list 51. It is a list. The CPU 11 registers the printers 20 belonging to the group designated by the user from the printers 20 registered in the management list 51 in the monitoring target list 53. Note that the user can designate a group using information of each printer.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the update list 54 includes a plurality of (M) printers 20 registered in the monitoring target list 53 (not shown) and determined to need to update the firmware file. 6 is a list showing (two or more) printers 20. In the update list 54, as shown in FIG. 3, the model name, IP address, Location column (where the printer 20 is installed), and Contact column (who manages the printer 20) ) Etc.

  FIG. 4 shows a user interface used when the user designates a printer 20 belonging to a specific group from among the printers 20 in the management list 51 in order to create the monitoring target list 53. First, as described in the upper part of FIG. 4, the user can select whether to designate a group for updating the firmware file. When designating a group for updating the firmware file, for example, the model name of the printer 20, the items in the Location column, and the Contact column can be designated. Among these items, the user selects a check mark of an item he / she wants to set and designates a condition.

(System operation)
Next, transmission / reception of data between the terminal device 10, the printer 20, and the server 30 will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG.

  The CPU 11 transmits a signal requesting information on the firmware file 23a to each printer 20 registered in the monitoring target list 53 (S1). In response to this request, the CPU 11 receives information on the firmware file 23a currently used by the printer 20 from the printer 20 (S2). For example, the firmware file information includes the name of the firmware file and version information. The firmware file information may be any information that can identify the firmware file.

  When the CPU 11 receives information on the firmware file 23a currently used by the printer 20 from the printer 20, the CPU 11 transmits the information on the firmware file 23a to the server 30 (S3). Then, the server 30 determines whether there is an update firmware file. For example, if the firmware file 23a and the firmware file 30a have the same name but the version information is different, it is determined that there is an update firmware file. The CPU 11 of the terminal device 10 receives information indicating whether there is an update firmware file and the name of the update firmware file 30a from the server 30 (S4).

  The CPU 11 registers the printer 20 using the firmware file 30a for update in the update list 54 described above, and sends a signal for notifying the firmware file update notice to the printer 20 registered in the update list 54 (the printer 20 to be updated). ) (S5). FIG. 6 shows a message displayed on the display unit of the printer 20 that has been determined that the firmware file needs to be updated.

  Subsequently, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the M printers 20 registered in the monitoring target list 53 are in a power saving state with respect to each printer 20 registered in the monitoring target list 53. A signal requesting printer status information is transmitted (S6). The printer status information includes, for example, status information indicating that printing is being performed and status information indicating that the printer is in a power saving state. The CPU 11 receives a signal having status information from the printer 20 that has received the request signal (S7). By continuously transmitting and receiving this signal, the CPU 11 monitors the states of the M printers 20 registered in the monitoring target list 53. In this embodiment, the power saving state is a state in which the network interface 26 is operating but power is not supplied to the printing unit 24 of the printer 20. When the printer includes a plurality of CPUs, the power saving state may be a state where the operation of at least one CPU is stopped. As described above, the power saving state may be a state where the power consumption is lower than that during printing.

  When it is determined that the M printers 20 registered in the monitoring target list 53 have shifted to the power saving state, the CPU 11 updates the server 30 to apply to the update target printer 20 registered in the update list 54. A signal for requesting the firmware file 30a is transmitted (S8). The CPU 11 receives the update firmware file 30a from the server 30 that has received the request signal (S9).

  After receiving the update firmware file 30a, the CPU 11 transmits the update firmware file 30a to each printer 20 registered in the update list 54 (S10). Thereafter, the CPU 11 transmits a signal requesting status information to each printer 20 registered in the update list 54 in order to determine whether or not the firmware file 23a of the printer 20 has been updated (S11). ). The CPU 11 repeats the transmission process until it can be confirmed that the update process of each printer 20 registered in the update list 54 has been completed.

  Whether or not the firmware file of the printer 20 has been updated is confirmed as follows. Normally, during the update of the firmware file, the network interface 17 of the terminal device 10 and the network interface 26 of the printer 20 cannot be connected, and signals cannot be transmitted / received between the terminal device 10 and the printer 20. On the other hand, when the update of the firmware file is completed, signals can be transmitted and received between the terminal device 10 and the printer 20. Accordingly, the terminal device 10 can confirm that the update process of the printer 20 has been completed when the terminal device 10 shifts from a state where it cannot receive the state information from the printer 20 to a state where it can receive the state information. The terminal device 10 may further confirm that the update process of the printer 20 has been completed by acquiring version information of the printer firmware file 23a.

  When it is confirmed that the update of the firmware file 23a of the printer 20 is completed (S12), the CPU 11 sequentially changes the status of the printers 20 registered in the update list 54 that have been updated. Instruct (S13). In this embodiment, a signal instructing to turn off the power is transmitted.

  By the way, in this embodiment, the user sets conditions for starting the update of the firmware file of the printer 20. FIG. 7 shows a user interface for setting conditions for starting the update of the firmware file of the printer 20. As shown in FIG. 7, as conditions for starting the update, for example, how long after the printer 20 shifts to the power saving state, the update of the firmware file is started, and in which time zone the firmware is started. You can specify whether to update the file. Information on the set conditions is stored in the HDD 14. This condition will be further described later.

(Device operation)
Next, the flow of update processing for causing the CPU 11 of the terminal device 10 to update the firmware file with the printer will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the entire update process.

  The update process is started when the CPU 11 receives an instruction to check whether the firmware file of the printer 20 has been updated by the user (S100). When receiving the instruction from the user, the CPU 11 checks whether or not a group for managing the update of the firmware file is designated (S200).

  When the group is designated, the CPU 11 registers the printer 20 belonging to the designated group among the N printers 20 in the management list 51 in the monitoring target list 53 (S300). If no group is designated, the CPU 11 registers all the printers 20 registered in the management list 51 in the monitoring target list 53 (S400).

  Subsequently, for the M printers registered in the monitoring target list 53, the CPU 11 receives information received from the server 30 (information on the name of the updated firmware file 30a and whether there is an update firmware file). ) To check whether there is a printer 20 whose firmware file 23a of the printer 20 should be updated (S500, corresponding to S1 to S4 in FIG. 5). When it is determined that no update is necessary for all the printers 20 in the monitoring target list 53, the CPU 11 displays a message indicating that the update is not necessary on the display unit 16 of the CPU 11 (S600), and FIG. The firmware file update process ends. The message may be displayed on a display unit on the printer.

  If it is determined that there is at least one printer that needs to be updated in the firmware file, the CPU 11 registers the printer 20 that needs to be updated in the update list 54 shown in FIG. 3 (S700).

  The CPU 11 confirms with the user whether or not to update the firmware file of the printer 20 displayed in the update list 54 (S800). This confirmation is performed depending on whether or not the execution button in the user interface shown in FIG. 3 is pressed by the user. Note that the printer 20 that the user wants to monitor may be individually selected in the user interface.

  When the CPU 11 receives an instruction from the user that the printer 20 is not required to be updated (when the cancel button is pressed in the display shown in FIG. 3), the firmware file of FIG. The update process ends. On the other hand, when the user gives an instruction to monitor the printer update, the CPU 11 performs a printer update notice process, which is a process for notifying the update of the firmware file of each printer (S900, corresponding to S5 in FIG. 5). .

  The printer update notice notification process in S900 of FIG. 8 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, the CPU 11 selects the printer 20 registered first in the update list 54 stored in the RAM 13 as a notification destination printer (S902). Subsequently, the CPU 11 notifies the notification destination printer that the firmware file is to be updated (S904). In this case, that is, the message shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the panel of the notification destination printer.

  When the update notice to the first registered printer 20 in the update list 54 is completed, the CPU 11 confirms whether or not the printer for which the notification has been completed is the printer 20 registered last in the update list 54 ( S906). If the printer is not the last registered printer in the update list 54, that is, if it is determined that there is a printer that has not been notified in the update list 54, the printer 20 registered next in the update list 54 is notified. The destination printer is selected (S908). If it is determined that the notification has been completed up to the last printer 20 in the update list 54, the printer update notification processing is terminated.

  In S900 of FIG. 8, when the update notice notification process for the printer 20 is completed, the CPU 11 subsequently checks whether all the printers 20 registered in the monitoring target list 53 are in the power saving state (S1000). . Specifically, the CPU 11 transmits a signal for requesting status information to the M printers 20 registered in the monitoring target list 53 (S1000, corresponding to S6 and S7 in FIG. 5). This process is continuously performed until it can be confirmed that all the M printers are in the power saving state.

  When the CPU 11 receives status information indicating that the power saving state is received from all the M printers 20 in the monitoring target list 53, the CPU 11 starts measuring time (S1100), and the user displays the above-described user interface of FIG. It waits until the fixed time set beforehand passes.

  Thereafter, the CPU 11 continuously checks whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed after the printer 20 has shifted to the power saving state (S1200). If the predetermined time has not elapsed, the CPU 11 checks whether or not all the M printers registered in the monitoring target list 53 can maintain the power saving state (S1300).

  If all the M printers 20 in the monitoring target list 53 have been able to maintain the power saving state (S1300 YES), the CPU 11 returns the process to S1200. On the other hand, if at least one of the printers registered in the monitoring target list 53 has changed to a state that is not in the power saving state (NO in S1300), the process returns to S1000 again.

  In this way, when all the M printers registered in the monitoring target list 53 are in the power saving state (S1000 YES) and a certain time has elapsed after all the M printers have shifted to the power saving state. (S1200 YES), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the current time is within the firmware file update permission time set by the user using the user interface of FIG. 7 (S1400).

  When it is determined that the current time is within the update permission time of the firmware file, the CPU 11 executes a firmware file transmission process described later (S1500; S8 to S13 in FIG. 5). Thereafter, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the printer that has been updated in S1500 is the last printer listed in the update list 54 (S1600). When it is determined that the printer remains in the update list 54 (S1600 NO), the CPU 11 confirms again whether it is within the update permission time (S1400). As long as it is determined that it is within the update permission time, the update process of the firmware file 23a of the printer 20 registered in the update list 54 is continued. When it is confirmed that all the printers 20 in the update list 54 have been updated, the CPU 11 ends the update process of FIG. If there is only one printer registered in the update list 54, the update process ends when the update of one printer is completed.

  Next, the firmware file transmission process in S1500 of FIG. 8 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The CPU 11 selects the first printer 20 registered in the update list 54 as an update target (S1502). Next, the CPU 11 checks whether a firmware file to be applied to the selected printer 20 has been downloaded to the HDD 14 of the terminal device (S1504). When it is confirmed that the firmware file has not been downloaded, the CPU 11 downloads the target firmware file 30a from the server 30 to the HDD 14 (S1506, corresponding to S8 and S9 in FIG. 5).

  Subsequently, the CPU 11 transmits an update firmware file 30a to the printer 20 (S1508, corresponding to S10 in FIG. 5). At this time, the firmware file is updated in the printer. Subsequently, the CPU 11 requests the printer 20 for a signal requesting status information from the printer 20 and receives the information from the printer 20 in order to determine whether or not the firmware file of the printer 20 has been updated (S1510). (Corresponding to S11 and S12 in FIG. 5). As described above, whether or not the update of the firmware file has been completed is determined based on a transition from a state in which the terminal device 10 cannot receive the state information from the printer 20 to a state in which the state information can be received.

  If it is determined that the update of the firmware file of the printer 20 has been completed (S1510 YES), the CPU 11 transmits a signal for turning off the power of the printer 20 to the printer 20 (S1512, corresponding to S13 in FIG. 5). When a signal is transmitted to the printer 20 between the terminal device 10 and the printer 20, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the printer 20 to which the same update firmware file is applied exists in the update list 54 (S1514). ). For example, the same firmware file can be applied to printers having the same model name.

  If there is a printer 20 to which the same firmware file is applied (YES in S1514), the update firmware file is not deleted from the CPU 11. On the other hand, when there is no printer 20 to which the same update firmware file is applied (S1514 NO), the CPU 11 deletes the update firmware file from the CPU 11 (S1516). Thereafter, the CPU 11 deletes the entry of the printer 20 for which the update of the firmware file has been completed from the update list 54 (S1518), and ends the firmware file transmission process.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing firmware file transmission processing. Since the system configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 12 is a modification of the user interface shown in FIG. In addition to the contents shown in FIG. 7, in FIG. 12, an item for specifying the state of the printer 20 after the update of the firmware file is added. This item allows the user to select whether to return the printer 20 to the power saving state or to turn off the printer after the firmware file update is completed.

  The following is desired as an effect of this. That is, in the first embodiment, after executing the firmware file transmission process, the CPU 11 transmits a signal for cutting off the power of the printer 20 after the update is completed to the printer 20. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, after the update of the firmware file is completed, the user can be designated in advance as to what state the printer 20 is to be shifted to.

  Actual processing will be described. First, the CPU 11 selects the first registered printer 20 in the update list 54 stored in the RAM 13 as an update target (S1502a). Next, the CPU 11 identifies the state of the printer 20 selected as the update target at the moment of shifting to S1500, and stores the state of the printer 20 (S1503). Here, the printer state refers to a state where power is not supplied to the printing unit 24 of the printer 20, a so-called sleep state, a standby state, a state where power is supplied only to the network interface 26, and the like.

  Next, the CPU 11 checks whether or not a firmware file to be applied to the selected printer 20 has been downloaded to the HDD 14 of the terminal device (S1504a). When it is confirmed that the firmware file has not been downloaded, the CPU 11 downloads the target firmware file from the server 30 to the HDD 14 (S1506a, corresponding to S8 and S9 in FIG. 5). Subsequently, the CPU 11 transmits an update firmware file to the printer 20 (S1508a, corresponding to S10 in FIG. 5). At this time, the firmware file is updated in the printer.

  Subsequently, the CPU 11 receives a signal indicating an update state from the printer 20 in order to determine whether or not the update of the firmware file of the printer 20 has been completed (S1510a, corresponding to S11 and S12 in FIG. 5). When a signal indicating that the update of the firmware file has been completed is received from the printer 20 (YES in S1510a), the CPU 11 instructs the user to return the state of the printer 20 to the state before the update using the user interface shown in FIG. It is confirmed whether it has been done (S1511).

  If it is instructed to return to the state before the update (YES in S1511), the CPU 11 transmits a signal holding the state before the update to the printer 20 and instructs the printer 20 to shift to the state before the update. A request is made (S1513). On the other hand, if the restoration of the status of the printer 20 is not designated (NO in S1511), a signal is transmitted to the printer 20 so as to turn off the printer 20 as in the first embodiment (see FIG. S1512a).

  Since the subsequent processing is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

<Embodiment 3>
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an update notification process for the printer.

  FIG. 14 is a modification of the user interface shown in FIG. In addition to the contents shown in FIG. 7, whether or not the firmware file needs to be updated in FIG. 14 is notified not only to the panel of the printer 20 but also to the user terminal device in advance of the update. An item that specifies is added. With this item, it is possible to notify the user whether or not the printer needs to be updated using the display of the terminal device. When it is designated to notify the user of the firmware file update, the message shown in FIG. 15 is transmitted to the user, and the user can receive the message using the terminal device 10 or the like.

  Actual processing will be described. First, the CPU 11 selects the printer 20 registered first in the update list 54 stored in the RAM 13 as a notification destination printer (S902a). Subsequently, the CPU 11 determines whether or not notification to notify the user of the update of the firmware file is designated (S903).

  When it is specified to notify the user terminal device of the firmware file update (YES in S903), the CPU 11 sets the contact address of the user to be notified in advance in the NVRAM 23. It is confirmed whether or not there is (S905). If the user contact address is set (YES in S905), the CPU 11 transmits the message shown in FIG. 15 to the user contact address (S907). Subsequently, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, a notification for notifying the update is also transmitted to the printer 20 (S904a).

  On the other hand, when it is not designated to notify the user of the update (S903 NO), or when the user contact address is not set (S905 NO), the CPU 11 performs the printer 20 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. A notification for notifying the update is transmitted only to (S904a).

  Since the subsequent processing is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, description has been made using a printer as an example of a device, but this is merely an example. Therefore, any device that needs to update the firmware file can update the firmware file using the present invention.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the firmware model name, the location where the printer is installed, and the printer administrator are described as items for specifying the group. However, it is also possible to include other items, such as the printer manufacturer name. In general, M printers may be selected from N printers using information acquired from N printers.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, it has been described on the assumption that one firmware file is stored in one printer 20, but a plurality of firmware files may be stored in one printer 20. . When at least one firmware file 30a for update is included among the plurality of firmware files 23a stored in the printer 20, the firmware file 30a for update is transmitted to the printer 20 and processing for updating the firmware file 23a is executed.

  In the first embodiment, the printer to be registered in the monitoring target list 53 is specified by specifying a group. For example, a printer arbitrarily selected by the user from the management list 51 is registered in the monitoring target list 53. It is good also as a structure.

  Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, it is described that after updating of the firmware file of the device is completed, the state of the device is shifted to the power saving state and the power of the device is turned off. However, for example, it may be configured to always shift to the power saving state.

  In the above description, among the management programs controlled by the CPU 21, S6 and S7 in FIG. 5 and S1000 and S1300 in FIG. 8 correspond to the processing of the state determination unit of the present invention. Further, S10 in FIG. 5 and S1502, S1504, S1506, and S1508 in FIG. 10 correspond to processing of the sending unit. Further, S200, S300, S400, S500, S600, S700, and S800 of FIG. 8 correspond to the processing of the selection unit. Further, S1100 and S1200 in FIG. 8 correspond to the processing of the time detection unit. Further, S1400 in FIG. 8 corresponds to the processing of the time determination unit. Further, S5 in FIG. 5 and S900 in FIG. 8 correspond to the processing of the notification unit. Further, S11 and S12 in FIG. 5 and S1510 in FIG. 10 correspond to the processing of the completion determination unit. Further, S1514, S1516, and S1518 in FIG. 10 correspond to the processing of the erasure unit. The HDD 14 corresponds to a file storage unit and a setting storage unit.

  In the above description, printers registered in the management list 51 correspond to N devices of the present invention. The printers registered in the monitoring target list 53 correspond to M printers of the present invention. Further, the printer registered in the update list 54 corresponds to two or more devices of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Terminal device, 11 ... CPU, 12 ... ROM, 13 ... RAM, 14 ... HDD, 15 ... Operation part, 16 ... Display part, 17 ... Network interface, 20 ... Device, 21 ... CPU, 22 ... RAM, 23 ... NVRAM, 23a ... firmware file, 24 ... printing unit, 25 ... display unit, 26 ... network interface, 30 ... server, 30a ... firmware file for update, 40 ... LAN, 41 ... WAN, 51 ... management list, 53 ... monitoring target List, 54 ... Update list

Claims (8)

A terminal device connectable to N (N ≧ 2) devices including two or more devices ,
A file storage unit for storing a firmware file for update for at least one of the N devices ;
A selection unit for selecting M (2 ≦ M ≦ N) devices including the two or more devices from the N devices, using information acquired from the N devices;
A state determination unit that determines whether or not the M devices selected by the selection unit are in a power saving state;
A sending unit that sends the update firmware file to the at least one device of the M devices when it is determined that the M devices are in the power saving state;
A terminal device comprising: The terminal device according to claim 1 ,
The selection unit selects the M devices belonging to a specific group using the information acquired from the N devices, and the firmware file needs to be updated among the M devices. Select two or more devices
The sending unit is a terminal that sends the update firmware file to the at least one device of the two or more devices when the M devices are determined to be in the power saving state. apparatus. The terminal device according to claim 1 , wherein
A time detection unit for detecting that a predetermined time has elapsed since the M devices are in a power saving state;
The sending unit sends the update firmware file to the at least one device among the M devices when it is detected that a predetermined time has elapsed since the M devices have entered a power saving state. To the terminal device. The terminal apparatus according to claims 1 to 3, further
A setting storage unit that stores a period that is preset by a user and that updates the firmware file currently used by the at least one device to the firmware file for update;
A time determination unit for determining whether the current time is a time within the period;
With
The sending part
A terminal device that sends the update firmware file to the at least one device when the time determination unit determines that the current time is a time within the period. The terminal apparatus according to claims 1 to 4,
A terminal device comprising: a notification unit that notifies a user that the firmware file of the at least one device should be updated to the firmware file for update. The terminal apparatus according to claims 1 to 5, wherein the sending unit is further
After the firmware file of the at least one device is updated to the firmware file for update, a terminal device that transmits a signal for causing the at least one device to turn off power to the at least one device . The terminal apparatus according to claims 1 to 6, further
A completion determination unit that determines that the at least one device has completed the update of the firmware file for update;
A terminal device comprising: an erasure unit that erases the update firmware file from the storage unit when the completion determination unit makes an update completion determination. Devices and can be connected to N (N ≧ 2) containing two or more devices, a storage unit for storing a firmware file for updating for at least one device of said N devices On the computer,
A selection unit for selecting M (2 ≦ M ≦ N) devices including the two or more devices from the N devices, using information acquired from the N devices;
A state determination unit that determines whether or not the M devices selected by the selection unit are in a power saving state;
A sending unit for sending a trigger, the firmware file for the update to the at least one device among the M devices that it has determined that the M devices are the power conservation state,
Program to function as.