Image processing apparatus, and method of remote controlling the image processing apparatus

• US 20030160999A1
• Filed: 02/10/2003
• Published: 08/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Namizuka, Yoshiyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,443,524 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0097 Storage of instructions or parameters, e.g. customised instructions or different parameters for different user IDs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00973 from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32561 using a programmed control device, e.g. a microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32593 Using a plurality of controllers, e.g. for controlling different interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32603 Multi-bus systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

The support center inputs the data for updating the processing functions of the image processing apparatus to the apparatus via the LAN. The first non-volatile memory for system control temporarily stores the updating data via the image memory access controller. The second non-volatile memory for system control temporarily stores the updating data via the image memory access controller and the image data controller. The process controller stores the program and the data into the program RAM and the data RAM of the image processor via the image data controller, and updates the processing functions.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a take-in unit that takes in a data for updating the function of a processing unit;

a temporary storing unit that temporarily stores the data; and

a data updating unit that reads the data stored in the temporary storing unit and stores the data into a storing unit into which data necessary for updating a function of the processing unit is stored when executing the updating of the function.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the take-in unit takes in the data via a network.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the take-in unit takes in the updating via the public telephone line.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data includes data for system control and data for process control of the image processing apparatus, and

the temporary storing unit includes a first temporary storing unit into which the data for system control is stored, and a second temporary storing unit into which the data for process control is stored.

5. A method of remote controlling an image processing apparatus comprising the steps of:

taking in a data for updating the function of a processing unit from a remote apparatus via a communication line;

temporarily storing the data; and

reading the data and storing the data into a storing unit into which data necessary for updating a function of the processing unit is stored when executing the updating of the function.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein

the remote apparatus transmits the data collectively or individually to each of a plurality of image processing apparatuses that are connected to the communication line.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

the image processing apparatus transmitting information about a current state of the image processing apparatus to the remote apparatus via the communication line; and

the remote apparatus selectively transmitting data for updating the current state of the image processing apparatus to the image processing apparatus based on the information about the current state received from the image processing apparatus.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein

the remote apparatus makes open a program corresponding to the function updating data and parameters on the communication line, and

the image processing apparatus or an external apparatus connected to the image processing apparatus can take in the program and the parameters via the communication line, and update the processing functions of the image processing apparatus.