Apparatus and method of rewriting firmware

• US 7,587,463 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2003
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Sugita, Takatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): JEAN GILLES, JUDE
• Application Number:
  US10/464,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20040068548A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,275 Days
• Field of Search: 709/208, 709/209
• US Class Current: 709/208
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A main controller sends a “rewrite mode” command to an engine controller. Receiving the command, the engine controller 12 sends a “roger” status. This switches the mode from a print mode to a rewrite mode. In the rewrite mode, the engine controller 12 serves as a master and the main controller 11 serves as a slave, a communication which is necessary for rewriting of firmware takes place between the two, and the firmware is rewritten.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a main controller;

an engine controller which includes a writable first memory which stores firmware; and

a second memory in which an initial program loader is stored;

wherein said main controller and said engine controller are connected for mutual communications with each other and said apparatus as a whole is controlled as a plurality of types of commands are sent from said main controller to said engine controller,

wherein when a rewrite mode for rewriting firmware is selected, the number of the types of usable commands is reduced,

wherein at the time of turning on of a power source of said image forming apparatus, whether a rewrite error has occurred during execution of said rewrite mode is detected based on a program which is loaded by said initial program loader; and

wherein said image forming apparatus is guided to enter said rewrite mode upon detection of said rewrite error.

2. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein said firmware contains at least one or more pieces of error detect information;

and said rewrite error is detected based on the content of said error detect information.

3. The image forming apparatus of claim 2, wherein a header and a footer are provided respectively at the beginning and the end of said firmware as said error detect information.

4. A firmware rewriting method for use in an image forming apparatus in which an engine controller, comprising a writable memory which stores firmware, and a main controller are connected for mutual communications with each other and said apparatus as a whole is controlled as a plurality types of commands are sent from said main controller to said engine controller, said method comprising;

setting that only some of said plurality types of commands become usable when a rewrite mode for rewriting firmware is selected;

executing said rewrite mode as said main controller sends those usable commands to said engine controller,

detecting, at the time of turning on of a power source of said image forming apparatus, whether a rewrite error has occurred during execution of said rewrite mode based on a program which is loaded by an initial program loader that is stored in a second memory; and

guiding said image forming apparatus to enter said rewrite mode upon detection of said rewrite error.

5. A recording medium comprising a program for rewriting firmware for an image forming apparatus in which an engine controller, comprising a writable memory which stores said firmware, and a main controller are connected for mutual communications with each other and said apparatus as a whole is controlled as a plurality types of commands are sent from said main controller to said engine controller, said program comprising the operations of:

judging whether a rewrite mode for rewriting firmware is selected;

making only some of said plurality types of commands usable, when said rewrite mode is selected;

sending those usable commands to said engine controller from said main controller and accordingly rewriting firmware,

detecting, at the time of turning on of a power source of said image forming apparatus, whether a rewrite error has occurred during execution of said rewrite mode bases on a program which is loaded by an initial program loader that is stored in a second memory; and

guiding said image forming apparatus to enter said rewrite mode upon detection of said rewrite error.

6. An information processing system comprising:

a host apparatus;

an image forming apparatus including a writable memory which stores firmware; and

a second memory in which an initial program loader is stored,

wherein said host apparatus and said image forming apparatus are connected for mutual communications with each other and said image forming apparatus is controlled as a plurality types of commands are sent from said host apparatus to said image forming apparatus,

wherein when a rewrite mode for rewriting firmware is selected, the number of the types of usable commands is reduced,

wherein at the time of turning on of a power source of said image forming apparatus, whether a rewrite error has occurred during execution of said rewrite mode is detected based on a program which is loaded by said initial program loader; and

wherein said image forming apparatus is guided to enter said rewrite mode upon detection of said rewrite error.

7. A firmware rewriting method for use in an information processing system in which an image forming apparatus, comprising a writable memory which stores firmware, and a host apparatus are connected for mutual communications with each other and said image forming apparatus is controlled as a plurality types of commands are sent from said host apparatus to said image forming apparatus, said method comprising;

setting that only some of said plurality types of commands become usable when a rewrite mode for rewriting firmware is selected;

executing said rewrite mode as said host apparatus sends those usable commands to said image forming apparatus;

detecting, at the time of turning on of a power source of said image forming apparatus, whether a rewrite error has occurred during execution of said rewrite mode based on a program which is loaded by an initial program loader that is stored in a second memory; and

guiding said image forming apparatus to enter said rewrite mode upon detection of said rewrite error.

8. A recording medium comprising a program for rewriting firmware for an information processing system in which an image forming apparatus, comprising a writable memory which stores firmware, and a host apparatus are connected for mutual communications with each other and said image forming apparatus forms an image which corresponds to a signal fed from said host apparatus in accordance with said signal, said program comprising the operations of:

judging whether a rewrite mode for rewriting firmware is selected;

making only some of said plurality types of commands usable, when said rewrite mode is selected;

sending those usable commands to said image forming apparatus from said host apparatus and accordingly rewriting firmware;

detecting, at the time of turning on of a power source of said image forming apparatus, whether a rewrite error has occurred during execution of said rewrite mode based on a program which is loaded by an initial program loader that is stored in a second memory; and

guiding said image forming apparatus to enter said rewrite mode upon detection of said rewrite error.