In-Package Storing of Data for an Electronic Device

• US 20170046284A1
• Filed: 08/13/2015
• Published: 02/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Doria, Steve A., Manatt, John J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,089,249 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/102 where the programme performs an interfacing function, e.g. device driver G06F13/105 takes precedence; scheduling within device drivers G06F9/52; contention policies within device drivers G06F9/4881
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/16 for access to memory bus G06F13/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4068 Electrical coupling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4282 on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247

Abstract

An apparatus, shipping container, and system for in-package storing of data for an electronic device are disclosed. In one example, the apparatus comprises an electronic device that has a housing and is packaged in a shipping container that substantially encloses the electronic device. The housing includes a first communication interface and the shipping container includes a second communication interface. The second communication interface is in electrical communication with the first communication interface such that power and data signals can be communicated via the first and second communication interfaces between the electronic device and another electronic device located outside the shipping container.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an electronic device having a housing, the electronic device packaged in a shipping container that substantially encloses the electronic device,

wherein,

the housing includes a first communication interface,

the shipping container includes a second communication interface, and

the second communication interface is in electrical communication with the first communication interface such that power and data signals can be communicated via the first and second communication interfaces between the electronic device and another electronic device located outside the shipping container.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first communication interface and the second communication interface are electrically connected with each other via a cable.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first communication interface is a first Universal Serial Bus protocol (USB) interface, and

the second communication interface is a second USB interface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the other electronic device supplies at least one power signal and a plurality of data signals to be communicated to the electronic device via the first and second communication interfaces.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

the electronic device includes memory, and

the at least one power signal and the plurality of data signals include signals for causing data to be stored in the memory.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the memory is a non-volatile memory.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the non-volatile memory is an EEPROM memory.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the non-volatile memory is a NAND flash memory.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the memory has stored thereon firmware for the electronic device, and wherein the data includes an update to the firmware.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the electronic device further includes:

a first controller that controls the memory when the electronic device is powered up; and

a second controller that controls the memory when the electronic device is powered down.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the electronic device further includes:

a selecting unit that selectively causes the first communication interface to be communicatively coupled to either the first controller or the second controller.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein, when the first communication interface is communicatively coupled to the second controller, the second controller is configured to receive the signals for causing data to be stored in the memory and to cause the data to be stored in the memory.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is an image forming device.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a first communication interface in a housing of an electronic device, the electronic device packaged in a shipping container that substantially encloses the electronic device; and

a second communication interface in the shipping container, wherein the second communication interface is in electrical communication with the first communication interface such that power and data signals can be communicated via the first and second communication interfaces between the electronic device and another electronic device located outside the shipping container.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first communication interface and the second communication interface are electrically connected with each other via a cable.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:

the first communication interface is a first Universal Serial Bus protocol (USB) interface, and

the second communication interface is a second USB interface.

17. A shipping container for packaging an electronic device, wherein the electronic device has a housing including a first communication interface, the shipping container comprising:

a second communication interface electrically connectable to the first communication interface,

wherein, when the electronic device is packaged in the shipping container;

the shipping container substantially encloses the electronic device, and

the second communication interface is in electrical communication with the first communication interface such that power and data signals can be communicated via the first and second communication interfaces between the electronic device and a second electronic device located outside the shipping container.

18. The shipping container of claim 17, wherein:

the first communication interface is a first Universal Serial Bus protocol (USB) interface, and

the second communication interface is a second USB interface.

19. A system comprising:

a first electronic device having a housing, the first electronic device packaged in a shipping container that substantially encloses the first electronic device; and

a second electronic device located outside the shipping container,

wherein,

the housing includes a first communication interface,

the shipping container includes a second communication interface, and

the second communication interface is in electrical communication with the first communication interface such that power and data signals can be communicated via the first and second communication interfaces between the first electronic device and the second electronic device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the second electronic device supplies at least one power signal and a plurality of data signals to be communicated to the first electronic device via the first and second communication interfaces.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein:

the first electronic device includes memory, and

the at least one power signal and the plurality of data signals include signals for causing data to be stored in the memory.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the memory is a non-volatile memory.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the memory has stored thereon firmware for the first electronic device, and wherein the data includes an update to the firmware.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the first electronic device further includes:

a first controller that controls the memory when the first electronic device is powered up,

a second controller that controls the memory when the first electronic device is powered down, and

a selecting unit that selectively causes the first communication interface to be communicatively coupled to either the first controller or the second controller.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein, when the first communication interface is communicatively coupled to the second controller, the second controller is configured to receive the signals for causing data to be stored in the memory and to cause the data to be stored in the memory.