Data communication apparatus capable of rewriting firmware

• US 7,213,052 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2002
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Tomita, Atsushi, Hino, Hideki, Mae, Hideo
• Primary Examiner(s): Donaghue; Larry D.
• Application Number:
  US10/106,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20020144005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,861 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709220-222, 717171-178
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

When electronic mail with firmware attached is received at a data communication apparatus, determination is made whether it corresponds to firmware data of a write process allowable state. In the case of write process allowable data, the message is downloaded from a mail server to a printer controller. Then, derived firmware is transmitted to an image formation apparatus. A firmware rewrite permission is obtained. When the firmware attached to the message does not attain a write process allowable state, waiting is conducted for reception of write process allowable firmware with the data left in the mail server. As a result, a data communication apparatus is provided that can rewrite firmware appropriately independent of a transmitted and received order of divided firmware.

Claims

1. A data communication program stored on a computer-readable medium for causing a computer to execute:

a reception step of receiving electronic mail with firmware attached via a network,

an acquirement step of acquiring information relating to a rewrite order of said firmware from said electronic mail,

a determination step of determining that said firmware attains a write allowable state into a predetermined memory, based on said acquired information relating to a rewrite order, when the writing of other firmware, having a rewrite order preceding said acquired rewrite order, into said predetermined memory has been completed, and

a write step of writing said received firmware into said predetermined memory when it is determined the received firmware attains a write allowable state by said determination step.

2. A data communication program stored on a computer-readable medium for causing a computer to execute:

a reception step of receiving electronic mail with firmware attached via a network,

an acquirement step of acquiring information relating to a rewrite order of said firmware from said electronic mail,

a determination step of determining that said firmware attains a write allowable state into a predetermined memory based on said acquired information relating to a rewrite order, when the writing of other firmware, having a rewrite order preceding said acquired rewrite order, into said predetermined memory has been completed, and

a transmission step of transmitting said received firmware to a predetermined module when it is determined the received firmware attains a write allowable state by said determination step.

3. A data communication apparatus comprising:

a reception device for receiving electronic mail with firmware attached via a network,

an acquirement device for acquiring information relating to a rewrite order of said firmware from said electronic mail,

a determination device for determining that said firmware attains a write allowable state into a predetermined memory based on said acquired information relating to a rewrite order, when the writing of other firmware, having a rewrite order preceding said acquired rewrite order, into said predetermined memory has been completed, and

a writing device for writing said received firmware into said predetermined memory when it is determined the received firmware attains a write allowable state by said determination portion.

4. An image formation apparatus comprising a data communication apparatus defined in claim 3.

5. A data communication method comprising:

a reception step of receiving electronic mail with firmware attached via a network,

an acquirement step of acquiring information relating to a rewrite order of said firmware from said electronic mail,

a determination step of determining that said firmware attains a write allowable state into a predetermined memory, based on said acquired information relating to a rewrite order, when the writing of other firmware, having a rewrite order preceding said acquired rewrite order, into said predetermined memory has been completed, and

a write step of writing said received firmware into said predetermined memory when it is determined the received firmware attains of a write allowable state by said determination step.

6. A data communication program stored on a computer-readable medium for causing a computer to execute:

a determination step of determining whether firmware attached to electronic mail is a part of predetermined firmware for a target control module,

a confirmation step of confirming existence of remaining firmware of said predetermined firmware when it is determined the attached firmware is part of the predetermined firmware, and

a write step of writing said attached firmware together with said remaining firmware into a predetermined memory of said target control module when it is confirmed said remaining firmware exists by said confirmation step, and a determination is made that all firmware of said target control module is available.

7. The data communication program according to claim 6, further causing the computer to execute:

an information acquirement step of acquiring information relating to firmware from electronic mail in a mail server, and

a firmware acquirement step of acquiring from said mail server said remaining firmware and said firmware attached to the electronic mail when it is confirmed said remaining firmware exists by said confirmation step,

wherein said determination step determines based on said acquired information, and

wherein said write step writes said respective acquired firmware into said predetermined memory.

8. The data communication program according to claim 7, further causing the computer to execute:

an acquirement step of acquiring electronic mail from a mail server, and

a storage step of storing firmware attached to said acquired electronic mail, wherein said determination step determines based on information relating to firmware obtained from said acquired electronic mail, and

wherein respective said stored firmware is written into said predetermined memory in said write step.

11. An image formation apparatus comprising a data communication apparatus defined in claim 7.

9. A data communication program stored on a computer-readable medium for causing a computer to execute:

a determination step of determining whether firmware attached to electronic mail is apart of predetermined firmware for a target control module,

a confirmation step of confirming existence of remaining firmware of said predetermined firmware when it is determined the attached firmware is a part of the predetermined firmware, and

a transmission step of transmitting said attached firmware together with said remaining firmware to a predetermined memory of said target control module when it is confirmed said remaining firmware exists by said confirmation step, and a determination is made that all firmware of said control module is available.

10. A data communication apparatus comprising:

a determination device for determining whether firmware attached to electronic mail is a part of predetermined firmware for a target control module,

a confirmation device for confirming existence of remaining firmware of said predetermined firmware when it is determined the attached firmware is part of the predetermined firmware, and

a writing device for writing said attached firmware together with said remaining firmware into a predetermined memory of said target control module when it is confirmed said remaining firmware exists by said confirmation device, and a determination is made that all firmware of said control module is available.

12. A data communication method comprising:

a determination step of determining whether firmware attached to electronic mail is a part of predetermined firmware for a target control module,

a confirmation step of confirming existence of remaining firmware of said predetermined firmware when it is determined the attached firmware is a part of the predetermined firmware, and

a write step of writing said attached firmware together with said remaining firmware into a predetermined memory of said target control module when it is confirmed said remaining firmware exists by said confirmation step, and a determination is made that all firmware of said control module is available.