FIRMWARE UPDATING METHOD, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

• US 20130332914A1
• Filed: 05/31/2013
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Goda, Keigo
• Granted Patent: US 8,949,816 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

An updating method for firmware that is stored as a file in an image forming apparatus that includes a file system that has a journaling function. The method comprises determining whether an update for the firmware is instructed, and determining to update the firmware when it is determined that the update is instructed; determining whether firmware for the update is stored in a storing unit when it is determined to update the firmware, and disabling the journaling function when the firmware for the update is stored in the storing unit; and updating the firmware by use of the firmware for the update in a state in which the journaling function is disabled.

Claims

1. A method for updating firmware stored as a file in an image forming apparatus that includes a file system that has a journaling function, the method comprising:

determining whether an update for the firmware is instructed, and determining to update the firmware when it is determined that the update is instructed;

determining whether firmware for the update is stored in a storing unit when it is determined to update the firmware, and disabling the journaling function when the firmware for the update is stored in the storing unit; and

updating the firmware by use of the firmware for the update in a state in which the journaling function is disabled.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

setting state information indicating that the firmware is currently being updated;

validating the journaling function when the updating of the firmware is completed; and

deleting the setting of the state information when the journaling function is validated.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the updating step, writing of a file of the firmware for the update is executed after deleting a file for firmware prior to the update.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein, when it is determined that the update is instructed, the method further comprises:

determining to not update the firmware;

determining whether state information is set that indicates that the updating is being executed; and

determining the update of the firmware has failed during the update when the state information is set that indicates that the updating is being executed, and

wherein when it is determined that the update of the firmware has failed during the update, the method further comprises;

disabling the journaling function again in the disabling step; and

rewriting the file for the firmware for the update after deleting the file for the firmware during the update in the updating step.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is an external storage apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus.

6. An image forming apparatus comprising a file system that includes a file system that has a journaling function, the image forming apparatus comprising:

a determining unit configured to determine whether an update for the firmware stored as a file is instructed, and determine to update the firmware when it is determined that the update is instructed;

a disabling unit configured to determine whether firmware for the update is stored in a storing unit when it is determined to update the firmware, and disable the journaling function when the firmware for the update is stored in the storing unit; and

an updating unit configured to update the firmware by use of the firmware for the update in a state in which the journaling function is disabled.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising:

a setting unit configured to set state information indicating that the firmware is currently being updated;

a validating unit configured to validate the journaling function when the updating of the firmware is completed; and

a deleting unit configured to delete the setting of the state information when the journaling function is validated.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the updating unit executes writing of a file of the firmware for the update after deleting a file for firmware prior to the update.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, the determining unit determines to not update the firmware when it is determined that the update is instructed, and determine whether state information is set that indicates that the updating is being executed, and determines that the update of the firmware has failed during the update when state information is set that indicates that the updating is being executed, and

wherein when the determining unit determines that the update of the firmware has failed during the update, the disabling unit again disables the journaling function and the updating unit performs writing of the file for the firmware for the update after deleting the file for the firmware during the update.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the storage unit is an external storage apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus.

11. A non-transitory storage medium on which is stored a computer program for making a computer execute a method for updating firmware stored as a file in an image forming apparatus that includes a file system that has a journaling function, the method comprising:

determining whether an update for the firmware is instructed, and determining to update the firmware when it is determined that the update is instructed;

determining whether firmware for the update is stored in a storing unit when it is determined to update the firmware, and disabling the journaling function when the firmware for the update is stored in the storing unit; and

updating the firmware by use of the firmware for the update in a state in which the journaling function is disabled.