US 7,398,331 B2 · Peripheral apparatus, firmware updating method thereof for determining whether an error has occurred during the installation of a rewrite operation

Abstract

A peripheral apparatus reserves and stores, on a nonvolatile storage medium, a first storage area which stores a control program for implementing a function of the peripheral apparatus, and a second storage area which stores a rewrite program for rewriting the control program. The firmware is formed from at least the control program and the rewrite program. When selectively switching and controlling a first mode for updating the firmware of the rewrite program, and a second mode for executing the control program, the first mode receives updating data of the control program from an external apparatus, rewrites the control program stored in the first storage area to updating data, using the rewrite program, determines that a rewrite operation is normally ended, and performs the rewrite operation again when the rewrite operation is not normally ended.

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Drawings

Claims9

Dependent claims

A peripheral apparatus which controls itself on the basis of firmware, wherein the firmware is formed from at least a control program and a rewrite program, comprising

storage means for reserving and storing, on a nonvolatile storage medium, a first storage area which stores the control program for implementing a function of the peripheral apparatus, and a second storage area which stores the rewrite program for rewriting the control program, and
control means for selectively switching and controlling a first mode for updating the firmware by the rewrite program, and a second mode for executing the control program,
wherein the first mode comprises
reception step for receiving updating data of the control program from an external apparatus,
rewrite step for rewriting the control program stored in the first storage area to the updating data received by said reception step, using the rewrite program,
determination step for determining whether a rewrite operation executed by said rewrite step has ended normally, and
rewrite control step for performing the rewrite operation again by said rewrite step by receiving again the updating data of the control program which failed to rewrite, when said determination step determines that the rewrite operation has not ended normally,
wherein the first mode further comprises, in a storage medium, rewrite status information storage step for storing rewrite status information indicating the rewrite status acquired by said rewrite step, and wherein after the rewrite operation executed by said rewrite step is interrupted, when the rewrite operation is to be started again, said rewrite control step rewrites only unrewritten updating data with reference to the rewrite status information stored in the storage medium just before the interruption.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description6,332 words

Summary1,590 words

#The present invention relates to a peripheral apparatus which controls the apparatus itself on the basis of firmware, a firmware updating method of the peripheral apparatus, and a program.

#Conventionally, a printing apparatus which prints characters or images on a printing medium such as a sheet material (e.g., printing paper and a thin plastic plate), and recently a CD (medium to be printed) has been known. In this printing apparatus, a microprocessing unit (MPU) incorporated in the printing apparatus to control the printing apparatus analyzes reception data from a host computer connected to the printing apparatus, and executes a printer control program which implements printer engine control and the like (e.g., convey of a printing medium, and control of a printhead).

#A program indicating the control sequence of this MPU is stored in a nonvolatile EPROM or mask ROM. Hardware is used for the engine control such as generation of a driving pulse for the printhead, and various logic units for generation of print data and the like. Recently, a gate array on which these logic portions are integrated in one LSI is generally used.

Brief description of the drawings5 figures

#The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

Detailed description4,599 words

#A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail in accordance with the accompanying drawings.

#More specifically, in an embodiment, a printing apparatus will be described as an example.

#The characteristic feature according to this embodiment of the present invention resides in the following functions.

Facts

Application

10/900,171Filed 28 Jul 2004

Priority

JP 2003-2905938 Aug 2003

Published

US 2005/0036348 A117 Feb 2005

Granted

8 Jul 2008

Term ended

10 Oct 2025

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 439 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification5 codes

G06F 11/1433
At system level: during software upgrading
G11C 16/102
Programming or data input circuits: external programming circuits, e.g. EPROM programmers; In-circuit programming or reprogramming; EPROM emulators
G06F 8/654
Updates: using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories
G06F
Computing and data processing

Timeline

8 Aug 2003Priority claimedJP 2003-290593
28 Jul 2004Application filedUS 10/900,171
28 Jul 2004Assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaishaassignment of assignor's interest
17 Feb 2005PublishedUS 2005/0036348 A1
8 Jul 2008GrantedUS 7,398,331 B2
10 Oct 2025Term endedEstimated, includes 439 days of adjustment

Peripheral apparatus, firmware updating method thereof for determining whether an error has occurred during the installation of a rewrite operation

Life of this patent

Peripheral apparatus, firmware updating method thereof for determining whether an error has occurred during the installation of a rewrite operation

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims9

Description6,332 words

Drawings

Classification5 codes

Life of this patent

Description6,332 words