JPH09247309A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the need for a dedicated I/F by utilizing a port, used to input data of a printer I/F, to rewrite a program. SOLUTION: Data which are inputted from an external interface 3 are inputted to a memory in order by a CPU 2a of a system control part 2 and processed according to a process stored in a ROM 2c. Data for discrimination at the head of the input data is compared with data for discrimination on a system side to check whether they match each other, and ordinary data and data for downloading are discriminated from each other. For example, the 1st byte of the inputted data is compared with the 1st byte of a reference pattern and when they match each other, the 2nd byte is compared; and this comparison is repeated. Then data detected by the program are stored in a RAM 2b of the system part and after the data are received to the end part, an FROM 2c stored with the system-side program is erased and written.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, and more particularly to a facsimile machine capable of storing and executing an inputted program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a facsimile machine or the like, conventionally, data input from an input port is treated as original data (print data, etc.) and processed, and if the program content is corrected, the ROM is replaced. Had to do. Further, the program on the card mounted in the IC card slot could not be transferred to the main body.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a port for inputting data, for example, a port for inputting data of a printer I / F is programmed. It can be used for rewriting, eliminating the need for a dedicated I / F. Furthermore, the program of the device itself can be rewritten directly from the IC card, eliminating the need for a special jig for ROM replacement or rewriting. It is a thing.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the invention, an external interface capable of inputting data, a determination means for determining whether or not the input data is program data, and an input program data And a storage unit for storing the input program, and is capable of storing and executing the input program. Therefore, normally, a port for inputting data can be used for rewriting the program. , A dedicated I / F is unnecessary.

The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, an IC card slot is used for the external interface, so that the program of the main body of the apparatus can be rewritten directly from the IC card.
This eliminates the need for a special jig for exchanging or rewriting the OM.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, a printer I / F is used as the external interface, and accordingly, a port for inputting data of the printer I / F is provided as a program. It can be used for rewriting and does not require a dedicated I / F.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram for explaining one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is an operation display unit including a liquid crystal display and a keyboard, 2 is a system control unit, and 3 is a system control unit. External I / F, 4 is IC card slot,
5 is a communication control unit, 6 is a network control unit (NCU)
The system control unit 2 includes a CPU 2a, a RAM 2b that is an element for temporarily storing data, and the C
It is composed of a rewritable FROM 2c that stores the contents of a program executed by the PU 2a.

(Invention of Claim 1) FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the present invention. First, the data input from the external interface 3 is sequentially fetched into the memory by the CPU 2a of the system control unit 2. ROM2
It is processed according to the program stored in c. The identification data at the beginning of the input data (see FIG. 3) is
By comparing with the identification data on the system side and checking whether they match, it is possible to distinguish between normal data and download data. The simplest method is to use the 1st byte of the input data as the reference pattern 1
This is a method of comparing with the second byte, and if they match, comparing the next second byte and sequentially repeating this.

Next, the data detected as the program is stored in the RAM 2b of the system control unit 2 and after the data is received up to the last portion, the FROM 2c in which the system side program is stored is erased and written. FROM2
The control method of c depends on the specifications of each device. After the rewriting is completed, the system is reset and the rewritten program is restarted to complete the processing.

(Invention of Claim 2) A storage element (ROM or SRAM) mounted in a memory card mounted in an IC card slot 4 connected to the system controller 2 by a bus 7.
Etc.) is read and executed by the CPU 2a of the system control unit 2. The ROM contains the FRO of the system section.
M2c rewriting processing is included, and by executing this, FROM2 which is a program area on the system side
The contents of c can be updated. After the rewriting is completed, the system is reset and the rewritten program is restarted to complete the processing. The actual rewriting process itself follows the control method of the FROM 2c. Also, if the version of the program you are about to download is the same as or older than the version of the program that you are using before rewriting,
A message to that effect can be displayed on the liquid crystal display of the operation display unit 1.

(Invention of Claim 3) Input data sent from a CPU or the like to a printer or a device to which an interface having an equivalent function is connected is usually interpreted by emulation of the printer and converted into image information of characters and images. However, when the data including the identification data at the head portion is received, the received data is temporarily stored in the memory and the identification data on the system side is sequentially read from the head of the data as in the invention of claim 1. The normal data and the download data are discriminated by comparing the data with the above and checking whether or not they match. At this time, in order to prevent the original print data from being mistakenly recognized as the download data, make sure that the structure of the identification data does not match the emulation code of the printer or a general alphanumeric character string. It will be a combination.

Further, when updating the program on the side of the system that is currently operating, the received data is temporarily stored in the RAM so that the program itself that has undergone the rewriting process is not rewritten, and then a work area provided separately RA
After preparing the necessary program for M, control is transferred to it and copying is performed from RAM to FRAM. After this operation is completed normally, the system is reset and restarted by the rewritten program to complete the process.

[0013]

According to the invention of claim 1, an external interface capable of inputting data, determining means for determining whether or not the input data is program data, and a memory for storing the input program data. Means for storing and executing the input program, and since a port for inputting data is normally made available for rewriting the program, a dedicated The I / F can be eliminated.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, an IC card slot is used for the external interface, and the program of the apparatus main body is rewritten directly from the IC card. , A special jig for replacing or rewriting the ROM can be eliminated.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, a printer I / F is used as the external interface, and a program is provided for a port for inputting data of the printer I / F. Since it can be used for rewriting, the dedicated I / F can be eliminated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of input data.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Operation display unit, 2 ... System control unit, 3 ... External I /
F, 4 ... IC card slot section, 5 ... Communication control section, 6 ...
NCU.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An external interface capable of inputting data, a determination means for determining whether or not the input data is program data, and a storage means for storing the input program data. A facsimile machine capable of storing and executing a stored program. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an IC card slot is used for the external interface. 3. The printer I is attached to the external interface.
The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein / F is used.