MOBILE DEVICE AND RECORDING MEDIUM

• US 20160224333A1
• Filed: 01/26/2016
• Published: 08/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: OKU, Toyoaki, ISHIZU, Ryuichi, MATSUMOTO, Atsushi, NAKAMURA, Takeshi, MINORU, Katsuhiro, YOSHIDA, Daisuke
• Granted Patent: US 9,684,508 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/70 Software maintenance or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/73 Program documentation

Abstract

A mobile device receives a latest version of firmware with a firmware management system that manages firmware and receives a current version of firmware in an image forming apparatus through close-range communication with the image forming apparatus. The mobile device determines whether or not a later version than the current version of firmware in the image forming apparatus exists based on the latest version of firmware and the current version of firmware that are received.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a latest version reception section configured to receive a latest version of firmware with a firmware management system that manages firmware;

a current version reception section configured to receive a current version of firmware in an apparatus through close-range communication with the apparatus; and

a latest version determining section configured to determine whether or not a later version than the current version of firmware in the apparatus exists based on the latest version of firmware received by the latest version reception section and the current version of firmware received by the current version reception section.

2. The mobile device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a firmware management section configured to manage firmware; and

a firmware updating section configured to update the current version of firmware in the apparatus to a latest version of firmware managed by the firmware management section when the latest version determining section determines that a later version than the current version of firmware in the apparatus exists.

3. The mobile device according to claim 2, further comprising

a firmware acquiring section configured to acquire firmware from the firmware management system, wherein

the firmware acquiring section acquires the latest version of firmware received by the latest version reception section when the latest version of firmware received by the latest version reception section is not managed by the firmware management section, and

the firmware management section manages firmware acquired by the firmware acquiring section.

4. The mobile device according to claim 3, further comprising

a version reception section configured to receive a version of firmware in a user'"'"'s apparatus with a user information management system that manages versions of firmware in users'"'"' apparatus on a user-by-user basis, wherein

the version reception section receives the version of firmware in the user'"'"'s apparatus when the user is designated and reception of the version of firmware in the user'"'"'s apparatus is instructed, and

when the latest version of firmware received by the latest version reception section and the version of firmware received by the version reception section are different, the firmware acquiring section acquires the latest version of firmware received by the latest version reception section in a situation in which the latest version of firmware received by the latest version reception section is not managed by the firmware management section.

5. The mobile device according to claim 3, further comprising

an update instructing section configured to instruct the firmware management system to update the firmware in the apparatus to the latest version of firmware when communication between the mobile device and the firmware management system is not through Wi-Fi, wherein

when communication between the mobile device and the firmware management system is not through Wi-Fi, the firmware acquiring section stops acquisition of the latest version of firmware received by the latest version reception section even if the latest version of firmware received by the latest version reception section is not managed by the firmware management section.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a firmware management program that causes a mobile device to function as a mobile device that comprises:

a latest version reception section configured to receive a latest version of firmware with a firmware management system that manages firmware;

a current version reception section configured to receive a current version of firmware in an apparatus through close-range communication with the apparatus; and

a latest version determining section configured to determine whether or not a later version than the current version of firmware in the apparatus exists based on the latest version of firmware received by the latest version reception section and the current version of firmware received by the current version reception section.