Apparatus setting updating system

• US 20050102663A1
• Filed: 03/20/2002
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tatsuya Fujii
• Original Assignee: Tatsuya Fujii
• Inventors: Fujii, Tatsuya
• Granted Patent: US 7,376,720 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

Installation data of an apparatus (1) is stored by installation data storage means (4) and apparatus unique data is stored by apparatus unique data storage means (5). Confirmation modification request generating means (6) generates a confirmation modification request, and confirmation modification request transmitting means (7) adds all or a part of the installation data to the confirmation modification request and the apparatus unique data and transmits them. On the other hand, the state of the apparatus (1) is analyzed from the apparatus unique data by apparatus state analyzing means (9). New installation data generating means (10) generates new installation data consisting of analysis result data corresponding to a confirmation request and modification data corresponding to a modification request. This new installation data is transmitted by new installation data transmitting means (11). The installation data is updated with the new installation data by installation data updating means (8), thereby updating the function of the apparatus, operation of the apparatus, setting of the apparatus, state of the apparatus, data version, and the like.

Claims

1. An apparatus setting updating system being characterized in updating data including at least one piece of data chosen out of data on the function of the apparatus, operation of the apparatus, setting of the apparatus, state of the apparatus, and data version, and comprising:

installation data storage means for storing installation data including at least one piece of data chosen out of function processing data for performing functions of the apparatus, operation processing data for operating the apparatus, setting data for storing settings of the apparatus, state data for storing states of the apparatus and version data for storing version of each of the data;

apparatus unique data storage means for storing data being unique to the apparatus;

confirmation modification request generating means for generating a confirmation modification request including either a confirmation request to confirm a part or all of the installation data or a modification request for the modification, or both;

confirmation modification request transmitting means for transmitting the confirmation modification request generated by the confirmation modification request generating means and the apparatus unique data stored by the apparatus unique data storage means with the addition of a part or all of the installation data stored by the installation data storage means;

apparatus state analyzing means for analyzing the apparatus unique data, obtained from the apparatus, for the state of the apparatus;

new installation data generating means for generating new installation data including either analysis result data generated based on the analysis in response to the confirmation request or modification data in response to the modification request, or both;

new installation data transmitting means for transmitting the generated new installation data; and

installation data updating means for updating the installation data in the installation data storage means with the received new installation data.

4. An apparatus setting updating system according to claims 1 to 3, wherein

the confirmation modification request transmitting means and new installation data transmitting means comprise encryption means for making an encryption key by using a part or all of the apparatus unique data.

2. An apparatus setting updating system being characterized in updating data including at least one piece of data chosen out of data on the function of the apparatus, operation of the apparatus, setting of the apparatus, state of the apparatus, and data version, and comprising:

installation data storage means for storing installation data including at least one piece of data chosen out of function processing data for performing functions of the apparatus, operation processing data for operating the apparatus, setting data for storing settings of the apparatus, state data for storing states of the apparatus and version data for storing version of each of the data;

apparatus unique data storage means for storing data being unique to the apparatus;

confirmation modification request generating means for generating a confirmation modification request including either a confirmation request to confirm a part or all of the installation data or a modification request for the modification, or both;

confirmation modification request transmitting means for transmitting the confirmation modification request generated by the confirmation modification request generating means and the apparatus unique data stored by the apparatus unique data storage means with the addition of a part or all of the installation data stored by the installation data storage means;

apparatus data communication means for transmitting and receiving a part or all of the installation data and the apparatus unique data among a plurality of apparatuses;

apparatus state analyzing means for analyzing the apparatus unique data, obtained from the apparatus, for the state of the apparatus;

new installation data generating means for generating new installation data including either analysis result data generated based on the analysis in response to the confirmation request or modification data in response to the modification request, or both;

new installation data transmitting means for transmitting the generated new installation data; and

installation data updating means for updating the installation data with the new installation data including either analysis result data generated in response to the confirmation request or modification data generated in response to the modification request, or both.

3. An apparatus setting updating system being characterized in updating data including at least one piece of data chosen out of data on the function of the apparatus, operation of the apparatus, setting of the apparatus, state of the apparatus, and data version, and comprising:

installation data storage means for storing installation data including at least one piece of data chosen out of function processing data for performing functions of the apparatus, operation processing data for operating the apparatus, setting data for storing settings of the apparatus, state data for storing states of the apparatus and version data for storing version of each of the data;

apparatus unique data storage means for storing data being unique to the apparatus;

confirmation modification request generating means for generating a confirmation modification request including either a confirmation request to confirm a part or all of the installation data or a modification request for the modification, or both;

confirmation modification request transmitting means for transmitting the confirmation modification request generated by the confirmation modification request generating means and the apparatus unique data stored by the apparatus unique data storage means with the addition of a part or all of the installation data stored by the installation data storage means;

apparatus state analyzing means for analyzing the apparatus unique data, obtained from the apparatus, for the state of the apparatus;

new installation data generating means for generating new installation data including either analysis result data generated based on the analysis in response to the confirmation request or modification data in response to the modification request, or both;

new installation data transmitting means for transmitting the generated new installation data;

data control means for assigning one each of apparatus state analyzing means, new installation data generating means and new installation data transmitting means to generate and transmit a single piece of new installation data to an apparatus wherein the number of at least one means out of the apparatus state analyzing means, new installation data generating means and new installation data transmitting means is two or more; and

installation data updating means for updating the installation data with the new installation data including either analysis result data generated in response to the confirmation request or modification data generated in response to the modification request, or both.