JP7823403B2 - Information processing device, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program.

When updating firmware in electronic devices such as image forming devices or information processing devices, the firmware update may fail due to factors such as the firmware or device status. Patent Document 1 discloses technology that checks whether updated firmware is available on a server before updating the firmware, and, if available, obtains the updated firmware from the server.

However, with conventional technology, if a firmware update is not possible due to the device's condition, it is not possible to perform the firmware update once the device is in a state where a firmware update is possible. For example, if the device temperature is high because it has just been turned on, the firmware update must be performed after the device temperature returns to normal.

In consideration of the above-mentioned problems, an embodiment of the present invention aims to perform a firmware update after a firmware update is available.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is an information processing device having a function of updating firmware, comprising: a display control unit that displays an update reservation screen on the information processing device for making a reservation to execute the firmware update; an operation reception unit that accepts an operation by a user to make the reservation; a control unit that determines an update execution time for executing the update and prohibits execution of functions that would normally be used on the information processing device from a time a predetermined time before the update execution time until the update is completed; and a processing unit that executes the update at the update execution time, wherein the display control unit displays the update reservation screen on the information processing device after the update fails .

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a firmware update can be performed after a firmware update is possible.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic diagram of a firmware update according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sequence relating to a firmware update reservation process according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a firmware update execution screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a firmware update reservation screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sequence relating to a print execution prohibition process according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print execution screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print-disabled state notification screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a print execution screen (2) according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sequence relating to a firmware update process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments of an information processing device, information processing method, and program according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[First embodiment]
<System Overview>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic diagram of a firmware update according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, an administrator (or maintenance person) of an image forming apparatus 9 attempts to update the firmware, but the firmware update fails due to a high temperature in the image forming apparatus 9's engine (the mechanical part that prints). The administrator then schedules a firmware update on the image forming apparatus 9. After a certain period of time has passed, the image forming apparatus 9 executes the firmware update when the engine temperature returns to normal. In other words, if the image forming apparatus 9 is in a state where it is unable to execute a firmware update, the administrator can schedule the firmware update by operating the image forming apparatus 9. This allows the image forming apparatus 9 to execute the firmware update when it becomes ready to execute the update. There are two methods for scheduling a firmware update: a method of updating with the shortest possible waiting time, and a method of specifying a time to execute the update.

The image forming device 9 can also estimate the update execution time when the firmware update can be performed, and prohibit the execution of functions that are normally used by the image forming device 9, such as printing, from a time a predetermined time before the update execution time until the update is complete. The reason for prohibiting the execution of functions such as printing is to prevent the engine temperature from rising when functions such as printing are executed, making it impossible to perform the firmware update at the update execution time.

In this embodiment, firmware updates are described for the image forming device 9, but this is not limited to the image forming device 9, and may also be for electronic devices or information processing devices that are capable of performing firmware updates. Furthermore, the state of the device is not limited to the engine temperature, but may also be, for example, the humidity or air pressure inside the device.

<Hardware configuration example (image forming device)>
2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus 9 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 9 (also called an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral/Product/Printer)) includes a controller 910, a short-range communication circuit 920, an engine control unit 930, an operation panel 940, and a network I/F 950.

Of these, the controller 910 includes the CPU 901, which is the main part of the computer, system memory (MEM-P) 902, north bridge (NB) 903, south bridge (SB) 904, ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 906, local memory (MEM-C) 907, HDD controller 908, and HD 909, with the NB 903 and ASIC 906 connected via an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) bus 921.

Of these, the CPU 901 controls the entire image forming device 9. The NB 903 is a bridge that connects the CPU 901 with the MEM-P 902, SB 904, and AGP bus 921, and includes a memory controller that controls reading and writing to the MEM-P 902, a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) master, and an AGP target.

MEM-P902 consists of ROM902a, which is memory for storing programs and data that realize the various functions of controller 910, and RAM902b, which is used for expanding programs and data and as drawing memory during memory printing. The programs stored in RAM902b may also be provided by being recorded in installable or executable files on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, CD-R, or DVD.

SB904 is a bridge connecting NB903 with PCI devices and peripheral devices. ASIC906 is an integrated circuit (IC) for image processing applications that contains hardware elements for image processing and acts as a bridge connecting AGP bus 921, PCI bus 922, HDD 908, and MEM-C 907. This ASIC 906 consists of a PCI target and AGP master, an arbiter (ARB) that forms the core of ASIC 906, a memory controller that controls MEM-C 907, multiple DMACs (Direct Memory Access Controllers) that rotate image data using hardware logic, and a PCI unit that transfers data between scanner unit 931 and printer unit 932 via PCI bus 922. A USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface or an IEEE 1394 (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394) interface may also be connected to the ASIC 906.

The short-range communication circuit 920 has a card reader 920a for reading user authentication information stored on an IC card or the like.

The operation panel 940 has a touch panel 940a and a numeric keypad 940b that accept input from the user. The touch panel 940a also displays application screens executed by the image forming device 9.

The media I/F 916 controls the reading or writing (storage) of data from or to a recording medium 915 such as a flash memory.

<About the function>
3 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus 9 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 9 has an operation unit 10, a control unit 13, and a processing unit 14. The operation unit 10 also includes an operation reception unit 11 and a display control unit 12. Each of these units is a function or means realized by a CPU 901 executing instructions included in one or more programs installed in the image forming apparatus 9. The storage unit 15 can be realized by, for example, a storage device such as an HDD 909 included in the image forming apparatus 9.

The operation reception unit 11 receives operations such as pressing buttons by users, such as administrators, to schedule firmware updates via the touch panel 940a of the image forming device 9.

The display control unit 12 uses the received screen information to display a firmware update execution screen, a firmware update reservation screen, etc. on the image forming device 9.

In response to a firmware update reservation received from the operation unit 10, the control unit 13 makes settings according to the reservation contents, and then sends a request to the storage unit 15 to save the firmware program to be used in the update. Furthermore, the control unit 13 manages the time to update the firmware, and when the update time has passed, retrieves the firmware program from the storage unit 15 and sends a firmware update request to the processing unit 14. The control unit 13 also sets the image forming device 9 to a state in which printing is prohibited from being performed from a predetermined time before the time to perform the firmware update until the firmware update is completed. The control unit 13 also notifies the operation unit 10 of the status related to printing execution, or a change in status.

The processing unit 14 determines the status regarding whether a firmware update can be performed based on the engine temperature, and sends a notification regarding the change in status to the control unit 13. Furthermore, the processing unit 14 executes the firmware update if the firmware update is executable in response to a firmware update execution request received from the control unit 13. If the firmware update is not executable, the processing unit 14 does not execute the firmware update, but instead estimates the predicted time when the engine temperature will drop to a normal temperature and the firmware update will be executable, and sends an update failure notification including information regarding the estimated predicted time to the control unit 13.

In response to a request from the control unit 13, the memory unit 15 stores the firmware program used in the firmware update in a storage device such as the HDD 909 of the image forming device 9.

<Firmware update reservation process>
4 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence relating to a firmware update reservation process according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this sequence, after a firmware update has failed, an administrator operates the image forming apparatus 9 to reserve a firmware update. The process of each step in FIG. 4 will now be described.

Step S20: The display control unit 12 of the operation unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 9 displays a firmware update execution screen on the image forming apparatus 9. Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of a firmware update execution screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. The firmware update execution screen 50 shown in Figure 5 has an execute button 51 that is pressed to execute a firmware update and a cancel button 52 that is pressed to cancel the firmware update. The operation acceptance unit 11 of the operation unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 9 accepts pressing of the execute button 51 by the administrator. Let's return to Figure 4 for further explanation.

Step S21: The control unit 13 of the image forming device 9 receives a firmware update execution request from the operation unit 10.

Step S22: The processing unit 14 of the image forming device 9 receives a firmware update execution request from the control unit 13.

Step S23: The processing unit 14 of the image forming device 9 detects that the engine temperature of the image forming device 9 exceeds the temperature at which a firmware update can be performed, and halts the firmware update. The processing unit 14 also estimates the predicted time when the engine temperature will drop to a normal temperature and the firmware update will be possible, and sends a firmware update failure notification including the estimated time to the control unit 13.

Step S24: The control unit 13 of the image forming device 9 sends information about the firmware update reservation screen, including the predicted time received from the processing unit 14, to the operation unit 10.

Step S25: The display control unit 12 of the operation unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 9 displays a firmware update reservation screen on the image forming apparatus 9 based on the received information. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a firmware update reservation screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. The firmware update reservation screen 60 shown in FIG. 6 has a selection button 61 for selecting "Execute at earliest possible time" and a selection button 62 for selecting "Specify update time" as methods for executing the firmware update. The predicted time estimated by the processing unit 14 in step S23 is also displayed as the earliest possible time. Here, if "Specify update time" is selected by pressing the selection button 62, the time at which the firmware update will be executed is further entered in the update time input field 63. The entered time must be a time later than the predicted time. Finally, to confirm the contents entered on the firmware update reservation screen 60, the confirm button 64 is pressed, or to cancel the firmware update reservation, the cancel button 65 is pressed. The operation acceptance unit 11 of the operation unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 9 accepts operations by the administrator on the firmware update reservation screen 60. Returning to FIG. 4, the explanation will be continued.

Step S26: The control unit 13 of the image forming device 9 receives a firmware update reservation request from the operation unit 10. The received firmware update reservation request includes information regarding the update method and update time.

Step S27: The control unit 13 of the image forming device 9 makes settings to reserve the execution of a firmware update based on the information regarding the update method and update time included in the received firmware update reservation request.

Step S28: The control unit 13 of the image forming device 9 sends a request to save the firmware program used in the firmware update in the storage device. Here, it is assumed that the control unit 13 has already acquired the firmware program via the media I/F 916 or network I/F 950 and stored it in the image forming device 9's local memory (MEM-C) 907 or the like. The storage unit 15 of the image forming device 9 saves the firmware program in a storage device such as the HDD 909 possessed by the image forming device 9.

Through the above process, the image forming device 9 accepts the administrator's operation to schedule a firmware update and sets the specified reservation method and reservation time.

<Print execution prohibition processing>
7 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence related to a print execution prohibition process according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this sequence, when the firmware update reservation method is a method of specifying the update execution time, printing is prohibited from a time a predetermined time before the update execution time until the update is completed, so that the firmware update can be executed at the update execution time. The process of each step in FIG. 7 will be described below.

Step S30: The control unit 13 of the image forming device 9 detects that the time has arrived a predetermined time before the scheduled time for executing the firmware update. For example, if the scheduled time is 1:30 PM and the predetermined time is 10 minutes, the control unit 13 detects that the time has arrived at 1:20 PM.

Step S31: The control unit 13 of the image forming device 9 changes the state of the image forming device 9 to a state in which printing is prohibited (print execution requests are not accepted).

Step S32: The display control unit 12 of the operation unit 10 of the image forming device 9 displays a print execution screen on the image forming device 9. Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example of a print execution screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. The print execution screen 70 shown in Figure 8 has an execute button 71 that is pressed to execute printing and a cancel button 72 that is pressed to cancel printing. The operation acceptance unit 11 of the operation unit 10 of the image forming device 9 accepts pressing of the execute button 71 by the administrator. Let's return to Figure 7 for further explanation.

Step S33: The control unit 13 of the image forming device 9 receives the print execution request, but does not execute printing because it is not in a state where it can accept printing.

Step S34: The control unit 13 of the image forming device 9 sends a message to the operation unit 10 notifying that printing is not possible. Based on the received message, the display control unit 12 of the operation unit 10 displays a screen on the image forming device 9 notifying that printing is not possible. Figure 9 is a diagram showing an example of a print-not possible state notification screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. The print-not possible state notification screen 80 in Figure 9 displays a message notifying that printing is not possible due to a firmware update being performed.

Through the above process, the image forming device 9 can prohibit printing from a predetermined time before the time the firmware update is performed.

Alternatively, as another method for prohibiting printing, first, in step S31, the control unit 13 of the image forming device 9 changes the state of the image forming device 9 to a state where printing will not be accepted until the firmware update is complete, and then notifies the operation unit 10 that the state has been changed. Next, in step S32, the display control unit 12 of the operation unit 10 of the image forming device 9 prohibits printing by displaying a screen on the image forming device 9 that includes a message notifying that printing cannot be performed due to the firmware update, such as the print execution screen 90 shown in FIG. 10.

<Firmware update process>
11 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence related to a firmware update process according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this sequence, the image forming apparatus 9 executes a firmware update when the scheduled firmware update time arrives. The process of each step in FIG. 11 will now be described.

Step S40: When the engine temperature drops to a temperature at which a firmware update can be performed, the processing unit 14 of the image forming device 9 sends a message to the control unit 13 notifying the control unit 13 that a firmware update can be performed. Alternatively, as another method, the control unit 13 may periodically check the processing unit 14 to see if a firmware update can be performed.

Step S41: The control unit 13 of the image forming device 9 detects that the scheduled time for the firmware update (update execution time) has passed.

Step S42: The control unit 13 of the image forming device 9 sends a message to the storage unit 15 requesting the firmware program to be used in the firmware update. Here, the firmware program is the one stored in the storage unit 15 in step S28 of the firmware update reservation process shown in Figure 4.

Step S43: The memory unit 15 of the image forming device 9 sends the firmware program to the control unit 13 in response to the received request message.

Step S44: The control unit 13 of the image forming device 9 sends a message to the processing unit 14 requesting that the firmware be updated. The control unit 13 also stores the firmware program in the local memory (MEM-C) 907 of the image forming device 9 or the like so that the processing unit 14 can execute the firmware update.

Step S45: The processing unit 14 of the image forming device 9 executes the firmware update.

Step S46: The processing unit 14 of the image forming device 9 sends a message to the control unit 13 notifying that the firmware update was successful.

Through the above process, the image forming device 9 can perform a firmware update in a state where the firmware update is possible at the scheduled time (update execution time).

Although several embodiments for implementing the present invention have been described above, the present invention is in no way limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

For example, the example functional block diagram in Figure 3 is divided according to main functions to make it easier to understand the processing by the image forming device 9 or information processing device. The invention is not limited by the way the processing units are divided or the names of the processing units. The processing in the image forming device 9 or information processing device can be divided into even more processing units depending on the processing content. It can also be divided so that one processing unit includes even more processes.

Furthermore, each function of the embodiments described above can be realized by one or more processing circuits. Here, the term "processing circuit" in this specification includes processors programmed to perform each function by software, such as processors implemented in electronic circuits, as well as devices such as ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), DSPs (Digital Signal Processors), FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays), and conventional circuit modules designed to perform each of the functions described above.

Furthermore, the described devices represent only one of several computing environments for implementing the embodiments disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the image forming device 9 or information processing device includes multiple computing devices, such as a server cluster. The multiple computing devices are configured to communicate with each other via any type of communication link, including a network, shared memory, etc., and perform the processing disclosed herein.

9 Image forming apparatus 10 Operation unit 11 Operation reception unit 12 Display control unit 13 Control unit 14 Processing unit 15 Storage unit

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-133326

Claims (8)

An information processing device having a function of updating firmware,
a display control unit that displays an update reservation screen on the information processing device for making a reservation to update the firmware;
an operation receiving unit that receives an operation by a user to make the reservation;
a control unit that determines an update execution time for executing the update, and prohibits execution of a function that is originally used by the information processing device from a time that is a predetermined time before the update execution time until the update is completed;
a processing unit that executes the update at the update execution time;
and
the display control unit displays the update reservation screen on the information processing device after the update has failed.
Information processing device. An information processing device having a function of updating firmware,
a display control unit that displays an update reservation screen on the information processing device for making a reservation to update the firmware;
an operation receiving unit that receives an operation by a user to make the reservation;
a control unit that determines an update execution time for executing the update, and prohibits execution of a function that is originally used by the information processing device from a time that is a predetermined time before the update execution time until the update is completed;
a processing unit that executes the update at the update execution time;
and
the processing unit estimates a predicted time that is the earliest time that the update can be performed;
the display control unit displays the update reservation screen including the predicted time on the information processing device;
the operation accepting unit accepts an operation by the user to specify a time that is later than the predicted time as the update execution time;
Information processing device. the operation accepting unit accepts an operation by the user to specify the predicted time as the update execution time;
The information processing device according to claim 2 . the operation acceptance unit does not accept an operation requesting execution of a function that is originally to be used in the information processing device from a time that is a predetermined time before the update execution time until the update is completed.
The information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . An information processing method executed by an information processing device having a function of updating firmware,
displaying an update reservation screen on the information processing device for making a reservation to update the firmware;
a step of accepting an operation by a user to make the reservation;
determining an update execution time for executing the update, and prohibiting execution of a function that is originally used by the information processing device from a time a predetermined time before the update execution time until the update is completed;
executing the update at the update execution time;
displaying the update reservation screen on the information processing device after the update has failed;
An information processing method comprising: An information processing method executed by an information processing device having a function of updating firmware,
displaying an update reservation screen on the information processing device for making a reservation to update the firmware;
a step of accepting an operation by a user to make the reservation;
determining an update execution time for executing the update, and prohibiting execution of a function that is originally used by the information processing device from a time a predetermined time before the update execution time until the update is completed;
executing the update at the update execution time;
estimating a predicted time, which is the earliest time that the update can be performed;
displaying the update reservation screen including the predicted time on the information processing device;
receiving an operation by the user to specify a time after the predicted time as the update execution time;
An information processing method comprising: An information processing device having a function of updating firmware,
displaying an update reservation screen on the information processing device for making a reservation to update the firmware;
a step of accepting an operation by a user to make the reservation;
determining an update execution time for executing the update, and prohibiting execution of a function that is originally used by the information processing device from a time a predetermined time before the update execution time until the update is completed;
executing the update at the update execution time;
displaying the update reservation screen on the information processing device after the update has failed;
A program that executes the following. An information processing device having a function of updating firmware,
displaying an update reservation screen on the information processing device for making a reservation to update the firmware;
a step of accepting an operation by a user to make the reservation;
determining an update execution time for executing the update, and prohibiting execution of a function that is originally used by the information processing device from a time a predetermined time before the update execution time until the update is completed;
executing the update at the update execution time;
estimating a predicted time, which is the earliest time at which the update can be performed;
displaying the update reservation screen including the predicted time on the information processing device;
receiving an operation by the user to specify a time after the predicted time as the update execution time;
A program that executes the following.