JP6792215B2 - Software update system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a software update system, an electronic device, and a management server that update software of an electronic device.

Conventionally, when a new version of the firmware of the image processing device is generated, the firmware version information after the update is sent to the wireless tag of the image processing device in a state where the packaged image processing device is not supplied with external power. A technique for storing by wireless communication is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The image processing device described in Patent Document 1 is automatically updated when the version information newer than the version information of its own firmware is stored in the wireless tag when it is unpacked and power is supplied from the outside. Download the version of the firmware and run a prompt to update the firmware.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-152711

However, in the conventional technique, there is a problem that it is inconvenient because the user has to execute an instruction to update the firmware to the image processing device.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a software update system, an electronic device, and a management server that can improve convenience.

The software update system of the present invention includes an electronic device and a management server that manages the electronic device. The electronic device receives power from a power supply unit to which power is supplied from the outside of the electronic device and power from the power supply unit. A communication unit that can be supplied and perform communication, and a wireless communication storage unit that can receive and store update information for updating software of the electronic device by wireless communication even if power is not supplied from the power supply unit. When the power is supplied to the power supply unit and the update information is stored in the wireless communication storage unit, the program required for the update is acquired from the management server via the communication unit. It is characterized by having an update means for executing an update.

With this configuration, the software update system of the present invention is a program required for software update when power is supplied to the power supply unit of the electronic device and the update information is stored in the wireless communication storage unit of the electronic device. Is obtained from the management server by the electronic device and the software is updated, so that the convenience can be improved.

In the software update system of the present invention, the update information includes address information indicating the address of the management server as the acquisition destination of the program, and the update means is based on the address information included in the update information. The program may be obtained from the management server.

With this configuration, the software update system of the present invention can respond to a change in the address of the management server by the address information included in the update information, so that convenience can be improved.

In the software update system of the present invention, the electronic device includes a display unit, and the update means indicates that the update is required when the program cannot be acquired via the communication unit. It may be displayed on the part.

With this configuration, the software update system of the present invention requires software update only when the automatic update of software by the electronic device fails when power is supplied to the power supply of the electronic device. Since it is displayed on the display unit of the electronic device, convenience can be improved.

The software update system of the present invention includes a communication device that receives identification information of the electronic device from the wireless communication storage unit and transmits the identification information to the management server when the update information is transmitted to the wireless communication storage unit. When the management server becomes able to communicate with the identification information management means for managing the identification information transmitted from the communication device and the electronic device corresponding to the identification information managed by the identification information management means. In addition, an update instruction means for instructing the electronic device to perform the update when the necessary update has not yet been executed in the electronic device may be provided.

With this configuration, the software update system of the present invention provides software from the management server to the electronic device even when the automatic update of the software by the electronic device fails when power is supplied to the power supply unit of the electronic device. Since the update of is instructed, the convenience can be improved.

The electronic device of the present invention includes a power supply unit to which power is supplied from the outside of the electronic device, a communication unit to which power is supplied from the power supply unit to execute communication, and power supply unit from which power is not supplied. Also, when power is supplied to the wireless communication storage unit that can receive and store the update information for updating the software of the electronic device by wireless communication and the power supply unit, the update information is stored in the wireless communication storage unit. Is stored, the software is provided with an update means for acquiring the program required for the update via the communication unit and executing the update.

With this configuration, the electronic device of the present invention acquires the program necessary for updating the software from the outside when the update information is stored in the wireless communication storage unit when the power supply unit is supplied with power. Since the update is executed, the convenience can be improved.

The management server of the present invention is a management server that manages an electronic device, and is managed by an identification information management means for managing the identification information of the electronic device and the identification information management means transmitted from the outside. When communication with the electronic device corresponding to the identification information becomes possible, and when the necessary update of the software of the electronic device has not yet been executed in the electronic device, an update instruction for instructing the electronic device to perform the update. It is characterized by having means.

With this configuration, the management server of the present invention instructs the electronic device to update the software even when the automatic update of the software by the electronic device fails, so that the convenience can be improved.

The software update system, electronic device and management server of the present invention can improve convenience.

It is a block diagram of the software update system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the MFP shown in FIG. It is a block diagram of the management server shown in FIG. It is a block diagram of the communication device shown in FIG. It is a sequence diagram of the operation of the software update system shown in FIG. 1 when the update information is stored in the NFC tag of the MFP. It is a sequence diagram of the operation of the software update system shown in FIG. 1 when the update information is confirmed. It is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 2 when the power supply unit in the state where power is supplied is turned on. It is a figure which shows an example of the update required notification screen displayed in the operation shown in FIG. 7. It is a flowchart of the update process shown in FIG. It is a sequence diagram of the operation of the software update system shown in FIG. 1 when the power supply unit of the MFP in the state of being supplied with power is turned on.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, the configuration of the software update system according to the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the software update system 10 according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the software update system 10 wirelessly communicates between an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) 20 as an electronic device, a management server 30 that manages the MFP 20, and an NFC (Near Field Communication) tag described later in the MFP 20. It is provided with a communication device 40 capable of communicating.

The MFP 20 includes a power supply unit 20a to which power is supplied from the outside of the MFP 20.

The MFP 20 and the management server 30 can communicate with each other via a network 11 such as the Internet. Similarly, the management server 30 and the communication device 40 can communicate with each other via the network 11.

The software update system 10 can include at least one MFP similar to the MFP 20. The management server 30 can behave in the same manner as for the MFP 20 for MFPs other than the MFP 20 included in the software update system 10.

The software update system 10 can include at least one communication device similar to the communication device 40. The management server 30 can behave in the same manner as for the communication device 40 for communication devices other than the communication device 40 included in the software update system 10.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP 20.

As shown in FIG. 2, the MFP 20 includes an operation unit 21 which is an input device such as a button into which various operations are input, and a display unit 22 which is a display device such as an LCD (Fixed Crystal Display) that displays various information. A scanner 23, which is a scanning device that reads an image from a document, a printer 24, which is a printing device that prints on a recording medium such as paper, and an external facsimile machine (not shown) and a communication line such as a public telephone line. No power is supplied from the fax communication unit 25, which is a fax device that performs fax communication, the communication unit 26, which is a communication device that communicates with an external device via the network 11 (see FIG. 1), and the power supply unit 20a. The NFC tag 27 is a wireless communication storage unit that can store information received by wireless communication, and the storage unit 28 is a non-volatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory or HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that stores various types of information. And a control unit 29 that controls the entire MFP 20.

The display unit 22, the scanner 23, the printer 24, the fax communication unit 25, the communication unit 26, the storage unit 28, and the control unit 29 function by being supplied with electric power from the power supply unit 20a. For example, when the power supply unit 20a is not supplied with power, such as when the MFP 20 is packed, the communication unit 26 cannot supply power from the power supply unit 20a, so that the communication unit 26 can execute communication. It functions when power is supplied from the power supply unit 20a and communication is possible.

The storage unit 28 stores the firmware 28a as software of the MFP 20.

The NFC tag 27 can receive update information for updating the firmware 28a, and the received update information can be stored as it is as the update information 27a. The update information 27a includes update instruction information 27b indicating that the firmware 28a needs to be updated, version information 27c indicating a new version of the firmware 28a, and a program required for updating the firmware 28a (hereinafter, “update program”). ) Includes address information 27d indicating the address of the management server 30 (see FIG. 1) as the acquisition destination.

Further, the NFC tag 27 stores the serial number 27e as the identification information of the MFP 20.

The control unit 29 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs and various data, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that is used as a work area of the CPU. There is. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 28.

The control unit 29 realizes the update means 29a that controls the update of the firmware 28a by executing the program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 28.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the management server 30.

As shown in FIG. 3, the management server 30 is an operation unit 31 which is an input device such as a mouse and a keyboard into which various operations by a user are input, and a display which is a display device such as an LCD which displays various information. A unit 32, a communication unit 33 which is a communication device that communicates with an external device via a network 11, a storage unit 34 which is a non-volatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory or an HDD that stores various data, and a storage unit 34. It includes a control unit 35 that controls the entire management server 30. For example, the management server 30 is composed of a computer such as a PC (Personal Computer).

The control unit 35 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data, and a RAM that is used as a work area of the CPU. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 34.

The control unit 35 provides identification information management means 35a for managing the serial number of the MFP and update instruction means 35b for instructing the MFP to update the firmware by executing a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 34. Realize.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the communication device 40.

As shown in FIG. 4, the communication device 40 includes an operation unit 41 which is an input device into which various operations by a user are input, a display unit 42 which is a display device such as an LCD for displaying various information, and a network. Various data are stored in the communication unit 43, which is a communication device that communicates with an external device via 11 (see FIG. 1), and the NFC communication unit 44, which is a communication device that communicates with an external device by NFC. It includes a storage unit 45 which is a non-volatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory and an HDD, and a control unit 46 which controls the entire communication device 40. For example, the communication device 40 is composed of a mobile terminal such as a smartphone.

The control unit 46 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data, and a RAM that is used as a work area of the CPU. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 45.

The control unit 46 transmits the update information of the MFP firmware to the NFC tag of the MFP via the NFC communication unit 44 by executing the program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 45, and the update information transmitting means 46a. When the update information transmission means 46a transmits the update information to the NFC tag of the MFP, the identification information receiving means 46b that receives the serial number of the MFP from the NFC tag via the NFC communication unit 44 and the identification information receiving means 46b receive the update information. The identification information transmitting means 46c that transmits the serial number to the management server 30 via the communication unit 43, the update information receiving means 46d that receives the update information of the MFP firmware from the NFC tag of the MFP via the NFC communication unit 44, and so on. The update information display means 46e that displays the update information received by the update information receiving means 46d on the display unit 42 is realized.

Next, the operation of the software update system 10 will be described.

First, the operation of the software update system 10 when the update information 27a is stored in the NFC tag 27 will be described.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the software update system 10 when the update information 27a is stored in the NFC tag 27.

When the operation shown in FIG. 5 is executed, the MFP 20 is, for example, in a packaged state, that is, a state in which power is not supplied to the power supply unit 20a from the outside of the MFP 20. Further, when the operation shown in FIG. 5 is executed, the MFP 20 is placed at the shipping source together with other MFPs, for example, before shipping.

When the operation shown in FIG. 5 is executed, the communication device 40 is used, for example, by a worker at the shipping source. When the operation shown in FIG. 5 is executed, the communication device 40 stores the update information of the firmware 28a of the MFP 20 in advance in the RAM or the storage unit 45.

The control unit 46 of the communication device 40 starts the operation shown in FIG. 5 when an instruction to store the update information in the MFP 20 is input via the operation unit 41 and the communication device 40 is brought close to the NFC tag 27 of the MFP 20. ..

As shown in FIG. 5, the identification information receiving means 46b of the communication device 40 requests the serial number of the MFP 20 from the NFC tag 27 via the NFC communication unit 44 (S101). Therefore, the NFC tag 27 transmits the serial number 27e to the communication device 40 (S102). That is, the identification information receiving means 46b receives the serial number 27e of the MFP 20 from the NFC tag 27 via the NFC communication unit 44.

Next, the update information transmitting means 46a of the communication device 40 transmits the update information of the firmware 28a of the MFP 20 stored in the RAM or the storage unit 45 to the NFC tag 27 via the NFC communication unit 44 (S103). Therefore, the NFC tag 27 stores the update information transmitted in S103 as the update information 27a (S104).

Next, the identification information transmitting means 46c of the communication device 40 transmits the serial number received in S102 to the management server 30 via the communication unit 43 (S105). Therefore, the identification information management means 35a of the management server 30 stores the serial number transmitted in S105 in, for example, the storage unit 34 (S106).

The process of S103 may be executed before the process of S101. Further, when the process of S101 is executed before the process of S103, the process of S105 may be executed before the process of S103.

Next, the operation of the software update system 10 when the update information 27a is confirmed will be described.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the software update system 10 when the update information 27a is confirmed.

When the operation shown in FIG. 6 is executed, the MFP 20 is in a packed state, that is, a state in which power is not supplied to the power supply unit 20a from the outside of the MFP 20. Further, when the operation shown in FIG. 6 is executed, the MFP 20 is placed at the shipping destination, for example.

When the operation shown in FIG. 6 is executed, the communication device 40 is used by, for example, a service person who performs setup such as initial setting of the MFP 20 at the shipping destination. The communication device 40 in the operation shown in FIG. 5 and the communication device 40 in the operation shown in FIG. 6 may be separate devices.

When the control unit 46 of the communication device 40 receives an instruction to acquire the update information of the firmware 28a of the MFP 20 from the MFP 20 via the operation unit 41 and the communication device 40 is brought closer to the NFC tag 27 of the MFP 20, FIG. The indicated operation is started.

As shown in FIG. 6, the update information receiving means 46d of the communication device 40 requests the update information of the firmware 28a of the MFP 20 from the NFC tag 27 via the NFC communication unit 44 (S131). Therefore, the NFC tag 27 transmits the update information 27a to the communication device 40 (S132). That is, the update information receiving means 46d receives the update information 27a from the NFC tag 27 via the NFC communication unit 44.

Next, the update information display means 46e of the communication device 40 displays the update information received in S132 on the display unit 42 (S133).

Therefore, for example, the service person can confirm whether or not the firmware 28a of the MFP 20 needs to be updated via the display unit 42 before unpacking the MFP 20. By checking whether the firmware 28a of the MFP20 needs to be updated before unpacking the MFP20, the service person predicts, for example, the time required to set up the MFP20 to some extent before unpacking the MFP20. can do.

Next, the operation of the MFP 20 when the power supply unit 20a in the state where power is supplied is turned on will be described.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP 20 when the power supply unit 20a in a state where power is supplied is turned on.

When the operation shown in FIG. 7 is executed, the MFP 20 is in a state of being unpacked and installed at the shipping destination, for example.

As shown in FIG. 7, the update means 29a of the MFP 20 determines whether or not the update information 27a is stored in the NFC tag 27 when the power supply unit 20a in the state where power is being supplied is turned on (S161). ). Here, the update means 29a determines that the update information 27a is stored in the NFC tag 27 when the update instruction information 27b is stored in the NFC tag 27.

When the update means 29a determines in S161 that the update information 27a is stored in the NFC tag 27, the update means 29a attempts to access the management server 30 via the communication unit 26 based on the address information 27d included in the update information 27a (S162). ).

Next, the update means 29a determines whether or not the management server 30 can be accessed (S163).

When the update means 29a determines in S163 that the management server 30 is not accessible, the update required update notification screen 50 (see FIG. 8) for notifying that the firmware 28a needs to be updated is displayed on the display unit 22. (S164).

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the update required update notification screen 50.

As shown in FIG. 8, the update required update notification screen 50 includes a message 51 indicating that the firmware 28a needs to be updated, and an OK button 52. When the OK button 52 is pressed via the operation unit 21, the update means 29a ends the display of the update required update notification screen 50.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the update means 29a determines in S161 that the update information 27a is not stored in the NFC tag 27 or executes the process of S164, the update means 29a normally starts without executing the update of the firmware 28a. (S165), the operation shown in FIG. 7 is terminated.

When the update means 29a determines in S163 that the management server 30 can be accessed, the update means 29a executes the update process shown in FIG. 9 for updating the firmware 28a (S166).

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the update process.

As shown in FIG. 9, the update means 29a acquires the update program of the firmware 28a from the management server 30 via the communication unit 26 (S201). Here, the update means 29a requests the management server 30 for an update program for updating the firmware 28a to the version indicated by the version information 27c included in the update information 27a.

The new version of the firmware 28a of the MFP 20 may be determined by the management server 30 each time the MFP 20 requests the management server 30 to update the firmware 28a in S201. If the new version is determined by the management server 30, the update information 27a does not have to include the version information 27c.

The firmware of the MFP may be customized for a specific user of the MFP and provided by the manufacturer of the MFP. Therefore, the latest version of all the versions managed by the management server 30 as the firmware version of the MFP of the same model as the MFP 20 is not always the appropriate version for the MFP 20. Therefore, if the management server 30 determines a new version of the firmware 28a of the MFP 20, the management server 30 will send the firmware 28a of the MFP 20 by transmitting the current version of the firmware 28a of the MFP 20 from the MFP 20 to the management server 30. Based on the current version of, you can properly determine which new version should be updated.

After the processing of S201, the update means 29a updates the firmware 28a by the update program acquired in S201 (S202).

Next, the update means 29a erases the update information 27a from the NFC tag 27 (S203), then starts the process of restarting the MFP 20 (S204), and ends the operation shown in FIG. Therefore, the update means 29a executes the operation shown in FIG. 7 again when the MFP 20 is restarted, in which the power supply unit 20a is once turned off and then turned on again. Then, in the operation, the update means 29a determines in S161 that the update information 27a is not stored in the NFC tag 27, and normally starts in S165 without executing the update of the firmware 28a.

Next, the operation of the software update system 10 when the power supply unit 20a in the state where power is being supplied is turned on will be described.

FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the software update system 10 when the power supply unit 20a in a state where power is supplied is turned on.

When the power supply unit 20a in the state where the electric power is supplied is turned on, the MFP 20 can communicate with the management server 30 via the communication unit 26. When the update instruction means 35b of the management server 30 determines in S106 that it has become possible to communicate with the MFP 20 corresponding to the serial number stored in the storage unit 34, the update instruction means 35b executes the operation shown in FIG. Here, after the power supply unit 20a of the MFP 20 is turned on, the firmware 28a of the MFP 20 may be updated by the operation shown in FIG. 7, so that the management server 30 is stored in the storage unit 34 in S106. After determining that communication with the MFP 20 corresponding to the serial number has become possible, the operation shown in FIG. 10 may be executed after a specific time has elapsed.

As shown in FIG. 10, the update instruction means 35b asks the MFP 20 whether the necessary update of the firmware 28a has not yet been executed in the MFP 20 (S231).

The update means 29a of the MFP 20 determines whether or not the necessary update of the firmware 28a has not yet been executed in the MFP 20 (S232). Here, the update means 29a determines that the necessary update of the firmware 28a has not yet been executed in the MFP 20 when the update information 27a is stored in the NFC tag 27. On the other hand, when the update information 27a is not stored in the NFC tag 27, the update means 29a determines that there is no necessary update of the firmware 28a that has not yet been executed in the MFP 20.

The update means 29a returns to the management server 30 whether or not the necessary update of the firmware 28a has not yet been executed in the MFP 20 (S233).

The update instruction means 35b of the management server 30 instructs the MFP 20 to update the firmware 28a when the MFP 20 returns in S233 that the necessary update of the firmware 28a has not yet been executed in the MFP 20 (S234). On the other hand, the update instruction means 35b does not instruct the MFP 20 to update the firmware 28a when the MFP 20 responds in S233 that there is no necessary update of the firmware 28a that has not yet been executed in the MFP 20.

When the update of the firmware 28a is instructed by the management server 30 in S234, the update means 29a of the MFP 20 executes the update of the firmware 28a by executing the operation shown in FIG.

As described above, the software update system 10 has the firmware 28a when the update information 27a is stored in the NFC tag 27 of the MFP 20 when the power supply unit 20a of the MFP 20 is supplied with power (YES in S161). Since the MFP 20 acquires the update program of the above from the management server 30 (S201) and executes the update of the firmware 28a (S202), the convenience can be improved.

Since the software update system 10 can respond to the change of the address of the management server 30 by the address information 27d included in the update information 27a, the convenience can be improved.

In the software update system 10, the MFP 20 displays on the display unit 22 that the firmware 28a needs to be updated when the update program cannot be acquired via the communication unit 26 (NO in S163) (S164). ). With this configuration, the software update system 10 indicates that the firmware 28a needs to be updated only when the automatic update of the firmware 28a by the MFP 20 fails when the power supply unit 20a of the MFP 20 is supplied with power. Since it is displayed on the display unit 22 of the above, convenience can be improved.

The software update system 10 instructs the MFP 20 to update the firmware 28a from the management server 30 even when the automatic update of the firmware 28a by the MFP 20 fails when the power supply unit 20a of the MFP 20 is supplied with power. (S234), so convenience can be improved.

In the software update system 10, the firmware of the MFP is the software to be updated in the present embodiment, but the software of the MFP other than the firmware may be the software to be updated.

Although the software update system 10 employs NFC as the short-range wireless communication technology in the present embodiment, short-range wireless communication technology other than NFC may be adopted.

The electronic device of the present invention is an MFP in the present embodiment, but may be an image forming device other than the MFP, such as a printer-dedicated machine, a scanner-dedicated machine, a FAX-dedicated machine, and a copy-only machine. An electronic device other than the image forming apparatus may be used.

10 Software update system 20 MFP (electronic device)
20a Power supply unit 22 Display unit 26 Communication unit 27 NFC tag (wireless communication storage unit)
27a Update information 27d Address information 27e Serial number (identification information)
28a Firmware (software)
29a Update means 30 Management server 35a Identification information management means 35b Update instruction means 40 Communication device

Claims (3)

With electronic devices
A software update system Ru and a management server for managing the electronic device,
The electronic device is
A power supply unit to which power is supplied from the outside of the electronic device and
A communication unit that can execute communication by supplying power from the power supply unit,
A wireless communication storage unit that can receive and store update information for updating software of the electronic device by wireless communication even if power is not supplied from the power supply unit.
When power is supplied to the power supply unit and the update information is stored in the wireless communication storage unit, the program required for the update is acquired from the management server via the communication unit and the update is performed. a update unit for execution,
The software update system includes a communication device that receives identification information of the electronic device from the wireless communication storage unit and transmits the identification information to the management server when the update information is transmitted to the wireless communication storage unit.
The management server
An identification information management means for managing the identification information transmitted from the communication device, and
When it becomes possible to communicate with the electronic device corresponding to the identification information managed by the identification information management means, and when the necessary update has not yet been executed in the electronic device, the update to the electronic device. With update instruction means to instruct
With
A software update system characterized in that reception of the identification information from the wireless communication storage unit by the communication device is executed before transmission of the update information to the wireless communication storage unit by the communication device . The update information includes address information indicating the address of the management server as the acquisition destination of the program.
The software update system according to claim 1, wherein the update means acquires the program from the management server based on the address information included in the update information. The electronic device includes a display unit and has a display unit.
The update means according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the program cannot be acquired via the communication unit, the display unit indicates that the update is required. Software update system.

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