JP5613617B2 - Image forming apparatus and program updating method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a multifunction peripheral, and a program updating method.

  In recent years, many image forming apparatuses such as copiers and multi-function machines have been made multi-functional in order to increase added value, and it is general that each function is realized by program control. Since it is difficult to realize a perfect program from the beginning, such an image forming apparatus is configured so that the program can be updated (upgraded) even after being sold or delivered to the user. There are many. In recent years, a program that can be updated via a network such as the Internet has been developed.

  Although not limited to the image forming apparatus, the following Patent Document 1 automatically reinstalls when there is a failure in an application program or data stored in a personal computer (PC) or an embedded device. Techniques that can be performed are disclosed. Specifically, if an application program or data is deleted due to some failure or cannot be started normally because it is partially broken, an application program or data that operates normally from another computer connected to the network Downloading realizes normal startup.

JP 2002-236588 A

  By the way, image forming apparatuses tend to be used more frequently as their functions increase. For example, a multi-function device that has both a copy function, a print function, and a facsimile transmission / reception function may not be used frequently. Since the sum is added, the frequency of use is inevitably higher than that of a device having only one of these functions. For this reason, it is necessary to avoid as much as possible that the state in which the image forming apparatus cannot be used continues for a long time.

  While the program used in the image forming apparatus is being updated, the image forming apparatus cannot be used. For this reason, it is necessary to update the program efficiently in as short a time as possible. In addition, since the image forming apparatus is often used by an unspecified number of users including those who are unfamiliar with the image forming apparatus, it is preferable to update the program without making the user aware of it as much as possible.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus and a program update method capable of efficiently updating a program without making the user aware of it as much as possible.

In order to solve the above-described problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is used in an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium, a display unit that displays apparatus information indicating a state of the apparatus, and a control of the apparatus. A non-volatile storage unit for storing a program to be recorded , a communication unit capable of communication via a network, and first information indicating an overview of the failure when a failure occurs in image formation on the recording medium; Control the communication unit with an update program for updating the program stored in the storage unit as well as causing the display unit to display the second information indicating the details of the failure and a coping method as the device information. An update confirmation screen acquired from a server device connected to the network and confirming whether or not to update the program is not overlapped with the first and second information. Is displayed on the display unit in such manner, when the update instruction of the program within a predetermined time from the update confirmation screen is displayed on the display unit is made to update the program stored in the storage unit And a control unit.
In addition, the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a sensor unit capable of detecting at least one of the absence of the recording medium and the conveyance error of the recording medium, and the control unit is configured to detect the recording medium at the sensor unit. when at least one of the conveying error of the lack and the recording medium is detected, failure for the image formation on the recording medium is characterized in that judged to have occurred.
In the image forming apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the control unit controls the communication unit to acquire information about an update program for updating the program from the server device, and the update program is more than the program. In a new case, the update program is acquired from the server device.
The method of program update present invention is a program updating method of updating a program used to control an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, when a failure with respect to the image formation on the recording medium is generated A first step of displaying on the display unit first information indicating an outline of the failure and second information indicating details of the failure and a coping method; and updating the program when the failure occurs The display unit in a mode in which a second step of acquiring an update program via a network and an update confirmation screen for confirming whether or not to update the program are overlapped with the first and second information The third step to be displayed on the screen, and the update confirmation screen when the program update instruction is given within a predetermined time after the display is displayed on the display unit. It is characterized by a fourth step of updating the grams.
In the program update method of the present invention, when the second step obtains information related to an update program for updating the program via a network, and the update program is newer than the program, the update is performed. It is a step of acquiring a program via the network .

  According to the present invention, the program stored in the storage unit is updated at the timing when the display unit displays device information indicating that the state of the own device is a state in which an obstacle to image formation on the recording medium has occurred. Therefore, the program can be updated efficiently without making the user aware of it as much as possible.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an update system to which a multifunction peripheral as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a multifunction peripheral as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the multifunction machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of paper error information of a multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus and a program update method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, a case where the image forming apparatus is a multifunction peripheral will be described as an example.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an update system to which a multifunction peripheral as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected. As shown in FIG. 1, the update system RS has a configuration in which a multifunction device 1 and a server device 2 are connected to each other via a network N. Even if a service person is not present at the place where the multifunction device 1 is installed, the multifunction device 1 1 is a system that makes it possible to update a control program (program) used in 1.

  The multifunction machine 1 includes a main body 1a, a scanner 1b, an operation display panel 1c, and the like, and has a copy function, a print function, and a facsimile transmission / reception function. The multifunction device 1 can communicate with the server device 2 via the network N, and acquires (downloads) the update program itself in addition to the information indicating the presence / absence and version of the update program.

  The server device 2 stores an update program for updating a control program used in the multifunction device 1 and related information (for example, version information) related to the update program, and requests from the multifunction device 1 (information In response to a transmission request or a download request), information indicating the presence or absence of an update program or information indicating the version is transmitted, or an update program is transmitted. The network N is, for example, the Internet or a LAN (Local Area Network).

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a multifunction peripheral as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the multifunction device 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 (control unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12 (storage unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, and various sensor groups 14 (sensor units). ), A paper transport unit 15, an image reading unit 16, an image data storage unit 17, an image forming unit 18, a communication I / F unit 19 (communication unit), and an operation display unit 20 (display unit).

  The CPU 11 refers to various detection signals output from the various sensor groups 14 based on a control program stored in the ROM 12, and via an operation instruction input from the operation display unit 20 or the communication I / F unit 19. The operation of the multifunction device 1 is controlled in response to various instructions from a client computer (not shown) or the like input. For example, image data reading control by the image reading unit 16 or print control and transmission control of various image data such as document image data, print image data, and facsimile image data stored in the image data storage unit 17 is performed.

  In addition, when the various sensor groups 14 detect that the sheet is out of paper (lack of recording medium) or paper is jammed (recording medium transport error), the CPU 11 detects paper error information (paper error information indicating that a paper out or paper jam has occurred). (Apparatus information) is displayed on the operation display unit 20, and the update program and its information are acquired (downloaded) from the server apparatus 2 at the timing when out of paper or paper jam is detected. Further, update control of the control program stored in the ROM 12 is performed at the timing when the above-mentioned paper error information is displayed on the operation display unit 20.

  Such a process is performed in order to efficiently update the control program without making the user aware of it as much as possible. That is, if the multi-function device 1 runs out of paper or paper jam, it cannot perform image forming processing until the paper runs out or paper jam is resolved, and there is an obstacle to image formation on the printing paper as a recording medium. It is in a state that has occurred. However, since it is possible to perform processes other than the image forming process in such a state, an efficient program update is realized by updating the control program in this state.

  Further, when the CPU 11 updates the control program to the update program, the CPU 11 displays an update confirmation screen for confirming whether or not to execute the update control of the control program on the operation display unit 20, and then instructs to update the control program. Is input from the operation display unit 20 and then updated. This is to prevent a program update unintended by the user.

  The ROM 12 is a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM that stores a control program executed by the CPU 11 and other data. The RAM 13 is a volatile memory used as a working area as a temporary storage destination of data when the CPU 11 executes a control program and performs various operations. The various sensor groups 14 are various sensors necessary for an image forming operation such as a paper out detection sensor, a paper jam detection sensor, a paper position detection sensor, a temperature sensor, and the like, and the CPU 11 uses various information detected by each sensor as detection signals. Output to.

  The paper transport unit 15 includes a transport roller, a motor for driving the transport roller, and the like. The paper transport unit 15 transports the printing paper stored in the paper tray to the image forming unit 18, and after the image forming process by the image forming unit 18. The performed printing paper is conveyed to a paper discharge tray (not shown). The image reading unit 16 includes an ADF (automatic document feeder), a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor, and the like, and causes the CCD sensor to read an image of a document sequentially fed by the ADF, and a document image based on the document image. Output data. The document image data output from the image reading unit 16 is stored in the image data storage unit 17 via the CPU 11.

  The image data storage unit 17 is realized by, for example, a hard disk drive, and stores various data under the control of the CPU 11. For example, document image data, print image data received by the communication I / F unit 19 from a client computer (not shown), facsimile image data received by the communication I / F unit 19 from a public network (not shown), and the like are stored. .

  The image forming unit 18 performs image forming processing using the document image data, print image data, or facsimile image data stored in the image data storage unit 17 under the control of the CPU 11. Specifically, the image forming image corresponding to the various image data is transferred onto the printing paper conveyed from the paper conveying unit 15 using toner, and the fixing process of the image forming image is performed by the fixing roller. The communication I / F unit 19 is connected to the network N and public network (not shown) shown in FIG. 1 and is connected to a client computer (not shown) and the server apparatus 2 via the network N under the control of the CPU 11. Communication or communication through a public network is performed. It is assumed that an address (for example, an IP address) for communicating with the server device 2 is set in the multifunction device 1 in advance.

  The operation display unit 20 includes a touch panel 20a as the operation display panel 1c and various operation keys, and outputs operation contents of the operation keys to the CPU 11 and displays various information on the touch panel 20a under the control of the CPU 11. . Various operation keys provided in the operation display unit 20 include, for example, 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, and a numeric keypad (numeric input key). Can be mentioned. The copy function switch key, print function switch key, scan function switch key, and facsimile function switch key are keys for switching the multifunction device 1 to the operation mode of each function when the user uses each function. is there.

  Further, by displaying various buttons on the touch panel 20a, it is possible to use soft keys other than the above various keys. The soft keys used in this embodiment include a button for instructing whether or not to update the control program stored in the ROM 12 to the update program downloaded from the server device 2.

  Next, the operation of the multifunction device 1 having the above configuration will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the multifunction machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. The process shown in FIG. 3 is started each time a print instruction is given to the multifunction device 1. For example, in a state where the copy function switching key is operated in advance and the copy function is enabled, the user sets a document on the ADF provided in the image reading unit 16 and presses the start key provided in the operation instruction unit 20. The operation shown in FIG. 3 is started by operating and instructing copy start.

  When the process is started, the CPU 11 determines whether or not a sheet has run out or is jammed based on detection signals from the various sensor groups 14 (step S11). When it is determined that there is no paper out or paper jam (when the determination result is “NO”), the series of processing illustrated in FIG. 3 ends. If the determination result in step S11 is “NO”, the copy process performed in response to the user's copy start instruction ends normally.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S11 that the paper has run out or paper jam has occurred (if the determination result is “YES”), the paper error information indicating that the paper has run out or paper jam has occurred. Processing to be displayed on the display unit 20 is performed by the CPU 11 (step S12: first step). FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display example of sheet error information of the multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the operation display unit 20 of the multifunction device 1 includes error information E1 indicating an outline of an error that has occurred in the multifunction device 1, and error countermeasures indicating a specific content of the error and a simple countermeasure. Information E2 is displayed. In the example shown in FIG. 4, a message “print error: out of paper” is displayed as the error information E1. Further, as the error countermeasure information E2, an image Q showing the appearance of the multifunction device 1 and a message M1 “A4 paper in the cassette 1 is out. Please replenish.” Are displayed. The message M1 is displayed so as to indicate the location (cassette 1) where the error of the image Q has occurred.

Also, when it is determined that a sheet has run out or a sheet jam has occurred, information regarding an update program (update firmware) for updating the control program (here, firmware) stored in the ROM 11 at that timing is as follows: The processing acquired from the server device 2 via the network N is performed by the CPU 11 (step S13: second step ). When the information about the update firmware is acquired, the version of the firmware currently used and the version of the update firmware are compared, and the version of the update firmware is newer than the firmware currently used. For example, the CPU 11 performs a process of downloading update firmware from the server apparatus 2 via the network N.

When the download is completed, a firmware update confirmation screen is displayed on the operation display unit 20 under the control of the CPU 11 (step S14 : third step ). This firmware update confirmation screen is a screen for allowing the user of the multifunction device 1 to confirm whether or not the firmware stored in the ROM 12 may be updated. As shown in FIG. It is displayed in such a manner that it does not overlap with the error countermeasure information E2.

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, a message M2 “Firmware can be updated. Do you want to update?”, “YES” button B1 for inputting an instruction to update, and an instruction not to update. An information window W1 on which a “NO” button B2 for inputting “NO” is displayed as a firmware update confirmation screen. As a result of this display, the user of the multifunction device 1 needs to replenish the “cassette 1” with A4 size paper in order to eliminate a paper out error and to eliminate the paper out error. It is possible to grasp that there is, and that the firmware can be updated.

When the firmware update confirmation screen is displayed, the CPU 11 determines whether or not a firmware update instruction has been input (step S15). Here, when the user presses the “YES” button B1 displayed in the information window W1, the determination result in step S15 is “YES”, and the firmware stored in the ROM 12 is downloaded to the update firmware. The CPU 11 performs processing for updating to (step S16 : fourth step ).

  Here, when the “YES” button B1 displayed in the information window W1 is pressed, the user performs an operation of supplying A4 size paper to “Cassette 1” based on the display content of the firmware update confirmation screen. In this way, the firmware update process is performed during the paper replenishment operation, so that the firmware can be updated efficiently.

  On the other hand, when the user presses the “NO” button B2 displayed in the information window W1, or when a certain time (for example, 10 seconds) has elapsed since the information window W1 was displayed, the process proceeds to step S15. The determination result is “NO”, the control program is not updated, and the series of processes shown in FIG. 3 ends.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the firmware stored in the ROM 12 is updated to the update firmware at the timing when the sheet error information indicating that the sheet has run out or jammed is displayed on the operation display unit 20. I am doing so. As a result, the firmware is updated while the user who refers to the paper error information is performing the operation of eliminating the paper out or paper jam, so that the program can be updated efficiently.

  In this embodiment, the update firmware is automatically downloaded from the server device 2 at the timing when the sheet error information indicating that the sheet has run out or is jammed is displayed on the operation display unit 20. Yes. Thereby, the firmware can be updated without making the user aware of it.

  The image forming apparatus and the program update method according to the embodiment of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be freely changed within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, an example has been described in which firmware is updated when a sheet runs out or a sheet jam occurs. However, the present invention is not limited to a case where a sheet runs out or a sheet jam occurs, and the firmware can be updated when there is an obstacle to image formation on a printing sheet as a recording medium.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is a multifunction machine has been described as an example. However, the present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copier, and a facsimile. it can.

1 MFP 2 Server device 11 CPU
12 ROM
14 Various sensor groups 19 Communication I / F unit 20 Operation display unit N Network

Claims (5)

In an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium,
A display unit for displaying device information indicating the state of the device;
A non-volatile storage unit that stores a program used to control the device itself;
A communication unit capable of communicating via a network;
When a failure occurs in image formation on the recording medium, first information indicating an overview of the failure and second information indicating details of the failure and a countermeasure are displayed on the display unit as the device information. In addition, an update program for updating the program stored in the storage unit is acquired from the server device connected to the network by controlling the communication unit, and it is confirmed whether to update the program An update confirmation screen to be displayed is displayed on the display unit in a manner that does not overlap the first and second information, and an update instruction for the program is issued within a predetermined time after the update confirmation screen is displayed on the display unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that, when made , updates the program stored in the storage unit. A sensor unit capable of detecting at least one of the absence of the recording medium and the conveyance error of the recording medium;
Wherein, when at least one of the conveying error of the lack and the recording medium of said recording medium by said sensor unit is detected, to determine an obstacle to image formation on the recording medium is generated The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The control unit controls the communication unit to obtain information about an update program for updating the program from the server device, and when the update program is newer than the program, the control unit transmits the update program to the server. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is obtained from the apparatus. A program update method for updating a program used to control an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium,
A first step of displaying, on a display unit, first information indicating an outline of the failure and second information indicating details of the failure and a coping method when a failure occurs in image formation on the recording medium;
A second step of acquiring an update program for updating the program via a network when the failure occurs;
A third step of displaying an update confirmation screen for confirming whether or not to update the program on the display unit in such a manner as not to overlap the first and second information;
A program update method comprising: a fourth step of updating the program when an instruction to update the program is given within a predetermined time after the update confirmation screen is displayed on the display unit . The second step includes obtaining information about an update program for updating the program via a network, and obtaining the update program via the network when the update program is newer than the program. The program update method according to claim 4, wherein:

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