Image processing apparatus, and method of remote controlling the image processing apparatus

• US 7,443,524 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2003
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Namizuka, Yoshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): EBRAHIMI DEHKORDY, SAEID
• Application Number:
  US10/360,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20030160999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,087 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/1.9, 717/173, 709/206, 709/203, 709/217, 395/712
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0097 Storage of instructions or parameters, e.g. customised instructions or different parameters for different user IDs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00973 from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32561 using a programmed control device, e.g. a microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32593 Using a plurality of controllers, e.g. for controlling different interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32603 Multi-bus systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

The support center inputs the data for updating the processing functions of the image processing apparatus to the apparatus via the LAN. The first non-volatile memory for system control temporarily stores the updating data via the image memory access controller. The second non-volatile memory for system control temporarily stores the updating data via the image memory access controller and the image data controller. The process controller stores the program and the data into the program RAM and the data RAM of the image processor via the image data controller, and updates the processing functions.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a take-in unit that takes in a data for updating a function of a processing unit, the data for updating including program data for system control and process control data for process control;

a temporary storing unit that temporarily stores the data for updating; and

a data updating unit that reads the data for updating stored in the temporary storing unit and segregates the data for updating into a first storing unit into which the program data is stored and a second storing unit into which the process control data is stored, the program data and the process control data being used in the updating of the function of the processing unit.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the take-in unit takes in the data for updating via a network.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the take-in unit takes in the data for updating via the public telephone line.

4. A method of remote controlling an image processing apparatus comprising the steps of:

taking in a data for updating a function of a processing unit from a remote apparatus via a communication line, the data for updating including program data for system control and process control data for process control;

temporarily storing the data for updating; and

reading the data for updating and segregating the data for updating into a first storing unit into which the program data is stored and a second storing unit into which the process control data is stored, the program data and the process control data being used in the updating of the function of the processing unit.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein

the remote apparatus transmits the data for updating collectively or individually to each of a plurality of image processing apparatuses that are connected to the communication line.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

the image processing apparatus transmitting information about a current state of the image processing apparatus to the remote apparatus via the communication line; and

the remote apparatus selectively transmitting data for updating the current state of the image processing apparatus to the image processing apparatus based on the information about the current state received from the image processing apparatus.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein

the remote apparatus makes open a program corresponding to the data for updating on the communication line, and

the image processing apparatus or an external apparatus connected to the image processing apparatus can take in the data for updating via the communication line, and update the processing functions of the image processing apparatus.

8. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a take-in unit that takes in a data for updating functions of a processing unit, the data for updating including program data for system control and process control data for process control of the image processing apparatus;

a temporary storing unit that temporarily stores the data for updating, the temporary storing unit including a first temporary storing unit into which the program data for system control is stored and a second temporary storing unit into which the process control data for process control is stored; and

a data updating unit that reads the data for updating stored in the temporary storing unit and stores the program data for system control into a first storing unit accessed by a system controller and the process control data for process control into a second storing unit accessed by a process controller, the program data and the process control data being used for updating the functions of the processing unit.