JP2012234330A - Image forming device and program updating method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device and a program updating method which can automatically repair an abnormality which occurs when updating a program correlated with another program.SOLUTION: A multi-function printer 1 as an image forming device comprises: a ROM 12 for storing a control program to be used for controlling its own device; a data storage unit 17 provided with a saving area R2 for saving the control program stored in the ROM 12; and a CPU 11 which updates the control program stored in the ROM 12 after saving the control program in the saving area R2 in the data storage unit 17, and when a specific error occurs after the update, restores the control program saved in the saving area R2 on the basis of relevant information indicating relevance to the control program.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copier, and a multifunction peripheral and a program update method.

  In recent years, many image forming apparatuses such as printers, copiers, and multifunction machines have been designed to be 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.

  The program used in the image forming apparatus is updated by, for example, mounting a medium such as a USB memory (Universal Serial Bus) storing an update program on the image forming apparatus and turning on the power of the image forming apparatus. . Alternatively, the update program stored in the server device is downloaded via a network such as the Internet.

  Although not related to the image forming apparatus, the following Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for recovering a database at a high speed when a failure occurs in the database. Specifically, a dedicated high-speed and large-capacity memory device is provided to store database backup records, and records to be saved in parallel with access to update database records are saved and updated in a dedicated high-speed and large-capacity memory device. When a failure occurs in the record that has been performed, the database is recovered at high speed by reading the record saved from the dedicated high-speed large-capacity memory device.

JP-A-2-87242

  By the way, the image forming apparatus has basic functions such as a scanner function, an image forming function, and a user interface function as standard functions. In order to realize a function according to a user's individual request, an automatic document feeding is performed. An auxiliary function such as a function or a document binding function can be added as an optional function. For this reason, a program for controlling each function of the image forming apparatus is prepared separately for each function, and these programs can be individually updated.

  However, not all programs used in the image forming apparatus are completely independent, but some programs are related to each other. Such interrelated programs basically need to be updated all at the same time, and if only a part of them is updated, a mismatch of combinations (for example, version mismatch) occurs and image formation occurs. There is a possibility that the device does not operate normally.

  Here, if the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above is applied to an image forming apparatus, it is considered that automatic restoration is possible even if the image forming apparatus does not operate normally due to a program update. In other words, if the system that saves the original program when updating the program and restores the program in which an error occurred after the update to the original program, the image forming apparatus that has stopped operating automatically is automatically It can be recovered.

  However, if the updated program is a mutually related program, if only the program in which the error occurred is restored to the original program, a part of the mutually related program is updated. A similar combination mismatch occurs. Then, the image forming apparatus that has stopped operating normally cannot be automatically restored, and there is a problem that the image forming apparatus cannot be used for a long time.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a program update method capable of automatically recovering from an abnormality that occurs when programs having mutual relations are updated. And

In order to solve the above-described problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a non-volatile storage unit that stores a program used to control its own device in the image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium, and the storage unit A storage unit provided with a save area for saving the program stored in the storage unit, and updating the program stored in the storage unit after saving the program stored in the storage unit to the save area of the storage unit And a control unit that restores the program saved in the save area to the storage unit based on related information indicating the relevance of the program when a specific error occurs after the update.
The image forming apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the related information is stored in at least one of the programs saved in the save area.
In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the specific error is a system error that occurs when an updated program is executed.
The program update method of the present invention is a program update method for updating a program used to control an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium, and the program stored in a nonvolatile storage unit is stored in a save area. A first step of updating after saving to the program, and when a specific error occurs due to execution of the updated program, storing the program saved in the save area based on related information indicating the relevance of the program And a second step of restoring the part.
In the program update method of the present invention, the second step stores the program saved in the save area based on the related information stored in at least one of the programs saved in the save area. It is a step to restore to the part.

  According to the present invention, the program stored in the storage unit is saved in the save area of the storage unit and then updated, and when a specific error occurs after the update, the save area based on the related information indicating the relevance of the program Since the program saved in the storage unit is restored to the storage unit, it is possible to automatically restore the abnormality that occurs when the mutually related programs are updated.

1 is a perspective view of a multifunction machine as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 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. It is a flowchart which shows the update control of the control program performed with the multifunctional device in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the update control of the control program performed with the multifunctional device in one Embodiment of this 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 perspective view of a multifunction peripheral as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 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 includes various optional devices (extended devices) such as an ADF (automatic document feeder) used in the scanner unit 1b, a paper feed cassette for storing paper as a recording medium, and a finisher capable of stapling and punching. ) Can be installed.

  In addition to the above-mentioned optional devices, the multifunction device 1 is configured to be mounted with a USB memory 2 which is a kind of nonvolatile memory so that various data can be exchanged with the USB memory 2. In the USB memory 2, for example, an image file such as a document image read by the scanner unit 1b, an image file of an image to be printed by the main body unit 1a, or various programs used in the multifunction device 1 is updated. The update program is stored. The USB memory 2 is attached to and detached from the multifunction device 1 by a user who uses the multifunction device 1 or an operator who performs maintenance of the multifunction device 1.

  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 machine 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 (control unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12 (storage unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, various sensor groups 14, and sheet conveyance. Unit 15, image reading unit 16, data storage unit 17 (storage unit), image forming unit 18, communication I / F unit 19, operation display unit 20, and USB port 21.

  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 data storage unit 17 is performed.

  In addition, when the USB memory 2 is attached to the UBS port 21, the CPU 11 checks whether or not an update program is stored in the USB memory 2, and stores the update program in the ROM 12 if the update program is stored. The update control of the control program being performed is performed. The above update program is a control program for upgrading the control program stored in the ROM 12, for example.

  When the CPU 11 performs update control of the control program stored in the ROM 12, the control program stored in the ROM 12 is updated after being saved in the save area R <b> 2 provided in the data storage unit 17. Further, the CPU 11 updates the control program stored in the ROM 12 and, when a system error (specific error) occurs due to the execution of the control program, the CPU 11 is based on related information indicating the relevance of the control program. Thus, the control program saved in the save area R2 of the data storage unit 17 is restored to the ROM 12. This is to enable automatic recovery of the multi-function device 1 even when a bug that interferes with the original operation of the multi-function device 1 occurs in some of the control programs that are related to each other. It is.

  When the control program stored in the ROM 12 is saved in the save area R2 of the data storage unit 17, all the control programs stored in the ROM 12 may be saved, and only the control program to be updated is saved. May be evacuated. Here, among the control program stored in the ROM 12 and the update program stored in the USB memory 2, the above-mentioned related information is stored in a program related to other programs. For this reason, if the CPU 11 refers to the contents of one of a plurality of mutually related programs, the relevance can be grasped.

  Here, the above system error refers to an error that hinders the original operation of the multifunction device 1. For example, it refers to errors such as unauthorized access to the ROM 12, RAM 13, data storage unit 17, etc., memory leaks, or communication failures between the blocks shown in FIG. It should be noted that errors that occur when the multifunction device 1 is used in a normal state (for example, a paper out or paper jam error) are not system errors.

  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 data storage unit 17 via the CPU 11.

  The data storage unit 17 is realized by a hard disk drive, for example, and stores various data under the control of the CPU 11. The data storage unit 17 is provided with an image data storage area R1 and a save area R2. The image data storage area R1 includes document image data, print image data that the communication I / F unit 19 receives from a client computer (not shown), and facsimile image that the communication I / F unit 19 receives from a public network (not shown). This is an area for storing data, image data read from the USB memory 2, and the like. The save area R2 is an area where the control program stored in the ROM 12 is saved.

  The image forming unit 18 performs image forming processing using document image data, print image data, or facsimile image data stored in the image data storage region R1 of the 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 a client computer (not shown) and a public network (not shown), and transmits and receives various signals to and from the client computer and the public network.

  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 USB port 21 is a serial interface corresponding to the USB standard, and is electrically connected to the USB memory 2 when the USB memory 2 is attached. The USB port 21 exchanges various data with the USB memory 2 under the control of the CPU 11 when connected to the USB memory 2. The USB port 21 can detect whether the USB memory 2 is attached and whether the USB memory 2 is removed, and outputs the detection result to the CPU 11.

  Next, the operation of the multifunction device 1 having the above configuration will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing control program update control performed by the multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the update control. The process shown in FIG. 3 is started when the user or worker of the multifunction device 1 attaches the USB memory 2 to the USB port 21 of the multifunction device 1 and performs an operation of turning on the power of the multifunction device 1.

  In the following, a case where the control program for controlling each of the image reading unit 16, the operation display unit 20, and the image forming unit 18 shown in FIG. 3 is updated will be described as an example. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the control program A1 of the image reading unit 16, the control program B1 of the operation display unit 20, and the control program C1 of the image forming unit 18 are updated to control programs A2, B2, and C2, respectively. The case where it will be described. Here, the control programs A1, B1, and C1 are a group of programs that are related to each other, and the control programs A2, B2, and C2 are a group of programs that are newer than the control programs A1, B1, and C1, and are related to each other. Suppose there is.

  The update program is stored in the USB memory 2 in a file format, and includes one or more files containing new control programs and files containing management information for managing these files. Become. The management information includes a keyword indicating the use of the control program, a file name, a checksum, information indicating the data format (information indicating whether it is a text format or a binary format), and the like.

  When the multifunction device 1 is turned on, various initialization processes are performed under the control of the CPU 11. At this time, since the USB memory 2 is attached to the USB port 21 of the multifunction device 1, a detection result indicating that the USB memory 2 is attached is output from the USB port 21 to the CPU 11. When a detection result indicating that the USB memory 2 is attached is output from the USB port 21, the CPU 11 searches the USB memory 2 via the USB port 21 (step S11), and whether or not an update program is stored. Is determined (step S12). Here, if only the image file is stored in the USB memory 2 or if no file is stored, the determination result is “NO”, and the series of processing shown in FIG. 3 ends. .

  On the other hand, when it is determined that there is an update program (when the determination result of step S12 is “YES”), the CPU 11 saves the control program stored in the ROM 12 in the save area R2 of the data storage unit 17. (Step S13: first step). At this time, all of the control programs stored in the ROM 12 may be saved, or an update program stored in the USB memory 2 of the control programs stored in the ROM 12 (for example, as shown in FIG. 4). Only the control program (for example, the control programs A1, B1, and C1 shown in FIG. 4) corresponding to the control programs A2, B2, and C2) may be saved.

  When the saving of the control program is completed, the CPU 11 reads the update program stored in the USB memory 2 and performs a process of updating the control program stored in the ROM 12 (step S14: first step). For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the process of updating the control program A1 of the image reading unit 16, the control program B1 of the operation display unit 20, and the control program C1 of the image forming unit 18 to the control programs A2, B2, and C2, respectively. Done.

  When the update process of the control program ends, execution of the updated control program is started. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the control program A2 of the image reading unit 16, the control program B2 of the operation display unit 20, and the control program C2 of the image forming unit 18 are executed. When these control programs A2, B2, and C2 are executed, the CPU 11 determines whether or not a system error has occurred due to the execution of the control programs A2, B2, and C2 (step S15: second step).

  When it is determined that no system error has occurred (when the determination result of step S15 is “NO”), the series of processing illustrated in FIG. 3 ends. On the other hand, when it is determined that a system error has occurred (when the determination result of step S15 is “YES”), the CPU 11 stores the data storage unit 17 based on the related information indicating the relevance of the control program. The control program saved in the save area R2 is restored to the ROM 12 (step S16: second step).

  Specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 4, since a system error has occurred in the control program A2 of the image reading unit 16, the CPU 11 stores the control program saved in the save area R2 of the data storage unit 17 in the control program A2. The corresponding control program A1 is read and saved in the ROM 12. At this time, the CPU 11 can grasp that the control program A1 and the control programs B1 and C1 are related from the related information stored in the control program A1. Therefore, the CPU 11 also reads out the control programs B1 and C1 from the save area R2 of the data storage unit 17 and restores them to the ROM 12, as shown in FIG.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the control program stored in the ROM 12 is updated after being saved in the save area R2 of the data storage unit 17, and if a system error occurs after the update, the relevance of the control program is indicated. The control program saved in the save area R2 based on the related information shown is restored to the ROM 12. As a result, all of the mutually related control programs are restored to the ROM 12 and no mismatch of combinations such as version mismatch occurs. Therefore, an abnormality that occurs when a mutually related control program is updated is automatically detected. It can be recovered.

  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-described embodiment, the example in which the USB memory storing the update program is attached to the multifunction device 1 and the control program is updated has been described. However, the present invention downloads the update program via a network such as the Internet. The present invention can also be applied when the control program is updated.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the related information indicating the relevance of the control program is stored in the control program stored in the ROM 12 and the update program stored in the USB memory 2 that is related to the other program. The case has been described as an example. However, the related information may be prepared in a table format separately from the control program.

  The medium usable in the present invention is not limited to the USB memory 2, but an SD memory card, compact flash (registered trademark), memory stick (registered trademark), smart media, flexible disk, CD-R, CD- Various media such as RW, DVD (registered trademark) -R, DVD-RW, and MO disk may be used. 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 11 CPU
12 ROM
17 Data storage part R2 save area

Claims (5)

In an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium,
A non-volatile storage unit that stores a program used to control the device itself;
A storage unit provided with a save area for saving a program stored in the storage unit;
The program stored in the storage unit is saved in the save area of the storage unit and then the program stored in the storage unit is updated. When a specific error occurs after the update, the relevance of the program is indicated. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that restores a program saved in the save area based on related information to the storage unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the related information is stored in at least one of programs saved in the save area.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific error is a system error that occurs when an updated program is executed. 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 updating the program stored in the nonvolatile storage unit after saving the program in a save area;
And a second step of restoring the program saved in the save area to the storage unit based on related information indicating the relevance of the program when a specific error occurs due to execution of the updated program. A program update method.   The second step is a step of restoring the program saved in the save area to the storage unit based on the related information stored in at least one of the programs saved in the save area. The program update method according to claim 4.

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