Firmware updating method, image forming apparatus, and storage medium

• US 8,949,816 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2013
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Goda, Keigo
• Primary Examiner(s): Kang, Insun
• Application Number:
  US13/907,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20130332914A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

An updating method for firmware that is stored as a file in an image forming apparatus that includes a file system that has a journaling function. The method comprises determining whether an update for the firmware is instructed, and determining to update the firmware when it is determined that the update is instructed; determining whether firmware for the update is stored in a storing unit when it is determined to update the firmware, and disabling the journaling function when the firmware for the update is stored in the storing unit; and updating the firmware by use of the firmware for the update in a state in which the journaling function is disabled.

Claims

1. A method for updating firmware stored as a file in an image forming apparatus that includes a file system that has a journaling function, the method comprising the steps of:

determining whether an update of the firmware is instructed, and determining to update the firmware when it is determined that the update is instructed;

determining whether an updating firmware is stored in a storing unit when it is determined to update the firmware, and disabling the journaling function when the updating firmware is stored in the storing unit; and

updating the firmware by use of the updating firmware in a state in which the journaling function is disabled.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

setting state information indicating that the firmware is currently being updated;

validating the journaling function when the update of the firmware is completed; and

deleting the setting of the state information when the journaling function is validated.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein, in the updating step, writing a file for the updating firmware is executed after deleting a file for the firmware before the updating.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein, when it is determined that the update is not instructed, the method further comprises the steps of:

determining to not update the firmware;

determining whether the state information indicating that the firmware is currently being updated is set; and

determining whether the update of the firmware has failed during updating when the state information indicating that the firmware is currently being updated is set, and

when it is determined that the update of the firmware has failed during the update, the method further comprises the steps of;

disabling the journaling function again; and

rewriting a file for the updating firmware after deleting the file for the updating firmware during updating.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is an external storage apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus.

6. An image forming apparatus that comprises a file system that includes a journaling function and is provided with a processor to function as:

a determining unit configured to determine whether an update of the firmware stored as a file is instructed, and determine to update the firmware when it is determined that the update is instructed;

a disabling unit configured to determine whether an updating firmware is stored in a storing unit when it is determined to update the firmware, and disable the journaling function when the updating firmware is stored in the storing unit; and

an updating unit configured to update the firmware by use of the updating firmware in a state in which the journaling function is disabled.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, where the processor further functions as:

a setting unit configured to set state information indicating that the firmware is currently being updated;

a validating unit configured to validate the journaling function when the update of the firmware is completed; and

a deleting unit configured to delete the setting of the state information when the journaling function is validated.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the updating unit executes writing a file for the updating firmware after deleting a file for the firmware before updating.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, when it is determined that the update is not instructed, the determining unit determines to not update the firmware, determines whether the state information indicating that the firmware is currently being updated is set, and determines whether the update of the firmware has failed during updating when the state information indicating that the firmware is currently being updated is set, and

when the determining unit determines that the update of the firmware has failed during updating, the disabling unit again disables the journaling function and the updating unit rewrites a file for the updating firmware after deleting the file for the updating firmware during updating.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the storage unit is an external storage apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus.

11. A non-transitory storage medium on which is stored a computer program for making a computer execute a method for updating firmware stored as a file in an image forming apparatus that includes a file system that has a journaling function, the method comprising:

determining whether an update of the firmware is instructed, and determining to update the firmware when it is determined that the update is instructed;

determining whether an updating firmware is stored in a storing unit when it is determined to update the firmware, and disabling the journaling function when the updating firmware is stored in the storing unit; and

updating the firmware by use of the updating firmware in a state in which the journaling function is disabled.