Information processing apparatus capable of updating firmware, control method therefor, and storage medium storing control program therefor

• US 9,348,578 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2015
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Suwabe, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): TECKLU, ISAAC TUKU
• Application Number:
  US14/698,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20150317150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories

Abstract

An information processing apparatus that is capable of shortening downtime caused by updating firmware. A setting unit sets obtaining time at which update firmware for updating firmware of the information processing apparatus is obtained and update time at which the firmware of the information processing apparatus is updated. An obtaining unit obtains the update firmware from an external apparatus at the obtaining time. A development unit develops the update firmware obtained to a predetermined area. A determination unit determines whether the development unit has completed development of the update firmware at the update time. The information processing apparatus changes to the update starting state from the normal starting state when the update firmware has been developed. And the information processing apparatus cancels the developed update firmware and changes to the update starting state from the normal starting state after cancelling when the update firmware has not been developed.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus that is operable in a normal state and an update state, the information processing apparatus comprising:

a storage device;

a processor configured to execute computer executable instructions recorded on the storage device, the computer executable instructions including instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the information processing apparatus to;

set an obtaining time at which update firmware for updating firmware of the information processing apparatus is obtained and an update time at which the firmware of the information processing apparatus is updated;

obtain the update firmware from an external apparatus at the set obtaining time;

develop the obtained update firmware to a predetermined area; and

determine whether development of the obtained update firmware has been completed at the set update time,

wherein the information processing apparatus is caused to change to the update state from the normal state in a case where it is determined that the development of the obtained update firmware has been completed, and

wherein the information processing apparatus is caused to cancel the obtained update firmware that has been developed to the predetermined area and change to the update state from the normal state after cancelling the obtained update firmware that has been developed to the predetermined area in a case where it is determined that the development of the obtained update firmware has not been completed.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the computer executable instructions further include instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the information processing apparatus to display a setting screen through which a user designates the obtaining time and the update time,

wherein the obtaining time and the update time are set according to the user'"'"'s designations input through the setting screen.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is caused to download the update firmware from the external apparatus on a network.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said information processing apparatus is a printing apparatus.

5. An information processing apparatus that is operable in a normal state and an update state, the information processing apparatus comprising:

a storage device;

a processor configured to execute computer executable instructions recorded on the storage device, the computer executable instructions including instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the information processing apparatus to;

set an obtaining time at which an update firmware for updating firmware of the information processing apparatus is obtained and an update time at which the firmware of the information processing apparatus is updated;

obtain the update firmware from an external apparatus at the set obtaining time;

develop the obtained update firmware to a predetermined area; and

determine whether development of the update firmware has been completed at the set update time,

wherein the information processing apparatus is caused to change to the update state from the normal state in a case where it is determined that the development of the obtained update firmware has been completed, and

wherein the information processing apparatus is caused to continue the development of the obtained update firmware and change to the update state from the normal state after the development of the obtained update firmware is completed in a case where it is determined that the development of the obtained update firmware has not been completed.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the computer executable instructions further include instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the information processing apparatus to display a setting screen through which a user designates the obtaining time and the update time,

wherein the obtaining time and the update time are set according to the user'"'"'s designations input through the setting screen.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the information processing apparatus is caused to download the update firmware from the external apparatus on a network.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said information processing apparatus is a printing apparatus.

9. An information processing apparatus that is operable in a normal state and an update state, the information processing apparatus comprising:

a storage device;

a processor configured to execute computer executable instructions recorded on the storage device, the computer executable instructions including instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the information processing apparatus to;

set an obtaining time at which an update firmware for updating firmware of the information processing apparatus is obtained and an update time at which the firmware of the information processing apparatus is updated;

obtain the update firmware from an external apparatus at the set obtaining time;

develop the obtained update firmware to a predetermined area; and

determine whether development of the obtained update firmware has been completed at the set update time,

wherein the information processing apparatus is caused to change to the update state from the normal state in a case where it is determined that the development of the obtained update firmware has been completed, and

wherein the information processing apparatus is caused to stop the development of the obtained update firmware, change to the update state from the normal state, and resume the development of the obtained update firmware after changing to the update state in a case where it is determined that the development of the obtained update firmware has not been completed.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the computer executable instructions further include instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the information processing apparatus to display a setting screen through which a user designates the obtaining time and the update time,

wherein the obtaining time and the update time are set according to the user'"'"'s designations input through the setting screen.

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the information processing apparatus is caused to download the update firmware from the external apparatus on a network.

12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said information processing apparatus is a printing apparatus.

13. A control method for an information processing apparatus that is operable in a normal state and an update state, the control method comprising:

setting an obtaining time at which an update firmware for updating firmware of the information processing apparatus is obtained and an update time at which the firmware of the information processing apparatus is updated;

obtaining the update firmware from an external apparatus at the set obtaining time;

developing the obtained update firmware to a predetermined area; and

determining whether the development of the obtained update firmware has been completed at the set update time,

wherein the information processing apparatus changes to the update state from the normal state in a case where it is determined that the development of the obtained update firmware has been completed, and

wherein the information processing apparatus cancels the obtained update firmware that has been developed to the predetermined area and changes to the update state from the normal state after cancelling the obtained update firmware that has been developed to the predetermined area in a case where it is determined that the development of the obtained update firmware has not been completed.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a control program causing a computer to execute a control method for an information processing apparatus that is operable in a normal state and an update state, the control method comprising:

setting an obtaining time at which an update firmware for updating firmware of the information processing apparatus is obtained and an update time at which the firmware of the information processing apparatus is updated;

obtaining the update firmware from an external apparatus at the set obtaining time;

developing the obtained update firmware to a predetermined area; and

determining whether the development of the obtained update firmware has been completed at the set update time,

wherein the information processing apparatus changes to the update state from the normal state in a case where it is determined that the development of the obtained update firmware has been completed, and

wherein the information processing apparatus cancels the obtained update firmware that has been developed to the predetermined area and changes to the update state from the normal state after cancelling the obtained update firmware that has been developed to the predetermined area in a case where it is determined that the development of the obtained update firmware has not been completed.

15. A control method for an information processing apparatus that is operable in a normal state and an update state, the control method comprising:

setting an obtaining time at which an update firmware for updating firmware of the information processing apparatus is obtained and an update time at which the firmware of the information processing apparatus is updated;

obtaining the update firmware from an external apparatus at the set obtaining time;

developing the obtained update firmware to a predetermined area; and

determining whether the development of the obtained update firmware has been completed at the set update time,

wherein the information processing apparatus changes to the update state from the normal state in a case where it is determined that the development of the obtained update firmware has been completed, and

wherein the information processing apparatus continues the development of the obtained update firmware and changes to the update state from the normal state after the development of the obtained update firmware is completed in a case where it is determined that the development of the obtained update firmware has not been completed.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a control program causing a computer to execute a control method for an information processing apparatus that is operable in a normal state and an update state, the control method comprising:

setting an obtaining time at which an update firmware for updating firmware of the information processing apparatus is obtained and an update time at which the firmware of the information processing apparatus is updated;

obtaining the update firmware from an external apparatus at the set obtaining time;

developing the obtained update firmware to a predetermined area; and

determining whether the development of the obtained update firmware has been completed at the set update time,

wherein the information processing apparatus changes to the update state from the normal state in a case where it is determined that the development of the obtained update firmware has been completed, and

wherein the information processing apparatus continues the development of the obtained update firmware and changes to the update state from the normal state after the development of the obtained update firmware is completed in a case where it is determined that the development of the obtained update firmware has not been completed.

17. A control method for an information processing apparatus that is operable in a normal state and an update state, the control method comprising:

setting an obtaining time at which an update firmware for updating firmware of the information processing apparatus is obtained and an update time at which the firmware of the information processing apparatus is updated;

obtaining the update firmware from an external apparatus at the set obtaining time;

developing the obtained update firmware to a predetermined area; and

determining whether the development of the obtained update firmware has been completed at the set update time,

wherein the information processing apparatus changes to the update state from the normal state in a case where it is determined that the development of the obtained update firmware has been completed, and

wherein the information processing apparatus stops the development of the obtained update firmware, changes to the update state from the normal state, and resumes the development of the obtained update firmware after changing to the update state in a case where it is determined that the development of the obtained update firmware has not been completed.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a control program causing a computer to execute a control method for an information processing apparatus that is operable in a normal state and an update state, the control method comprising:

setting an obtaining time at which an update firmware for updating firmware of the information processing apparatus is obtained and an update time at which the firmware of the information processing apparatus is updated;

obtaining the update firmware from an external apparatus at the set obtaining time;

developing the obtained update firmware to a predetermined area; and

determining whether the development of the obtained update firmware has been completed at the set update time,

wherein the information processing apparatus changes to the update state from the normal state in a case where it is determined that the development of the obtained update firmware has been completed, and

wherein the information processing apparatus stops the development of the obtained update firmware, changes to the update state from the normal state, and resumes the development of the obtained update firmware after changing to the update state in a case where it is determined that the development of the obtained update firmware has not been completed.