Mobile device and recording medium

• US 9,684,508 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2016
• Issued: 06/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Ishizu, Ryuichi, Nakamura, Takeshi, Minoru, Katsuhiro, Matsumoto, Atsushi, Yoshida, Daisuke, Oku, Toyoaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Dao, Thuy
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRANCO, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US15/006,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20160224333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/70 Software maintenance or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/73 Program documentation

Abstract

A mobile device receives a latest version of firmware with a firmware management system that manages firmware and receives a current version of firmware in an image forming apparatus through close-range communication with the image forming apparatus. The mobile device determines whether or not a later version than the current version of firmware in the image forming apparatus exists based on the latest version of firmware and the current version of firmware that are received.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

an input device;

a CPU; and

a storage that stores therein a firmware management program, wherein

the mobile device is connected to an image forming apparatus through close-range communication,

the image forming apparatus is connected through a network to a firmware management system that manages firmware,

the mobile device is connected through the network to both the firmware management system and a user information management system that manages versions of firmware in users'"'"' image forming apparatus on a user-by-user basis,

the CPU is configured to

execute the firmware management program,

receive a designation of an ID of a user of the image forming apparatus through the input device,

acquire a version of firmware in the image forming apparatus used by the user designated according to the ID from the user information management system,

acquire a latest version of the firmware in the image forming apparatus used by the user designated according to the ID from the firmware management system, and

acquire the firmware in the latest version when the firmware in the latest version is not managed by the CPU in a situation in which the version acquired from the user information management system is different from the latest version acquired from the firmware management system, and

the CPU is further configured, for update of the firmware in the image forming apparatus, to

acquire a current version of the firmware in the image forming apparatus through the close-range communication with the image forming apparatus,

acquire from the firmware management system the latest version of the firmware in the image forming apparatus used by the user designated according to the ID,

determine whether or not a later version than the current version of the firmware in the image forming apparatus exists based on the acquired latest version and the acquired current version,

when the later version than the current version of the firmware in the image forming apparatus is determined to exist, determine whether or not the firmware in the acquired latest version is stored in the storage,

when it is determined that the firmware in the acquired latest version is stored in the storage, update the firmware in the image forming apparatus to the firmware in the latest version stored in the storage,

in a situation in which the mobile device is connected to the firmware management system through Wi-Fi when it is determined that the firmware in the acquired latest version is not stored in the storage, acquire the firmware in the latest version from the firmware management system and update the firmware in the image forming apparatus to the firmware in the latest version, and

in a situation in which the mobile device is not connected to the firmware management system through the Wi-Fi when it is determined that the firmware in the acquired latest version is not stored in the storage, stop acquisition of the firmware in the latest version and provides to the firmware management system an instruction to update the firmware in the image forming apparatus to the firmware in the latest version.

2. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein

the instruction to update the firmware in the image forming apparatus that is provided to the firmware management system includes the acquired latest version and identification information for the target image forming apparatus that is to be updated.

3. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein

the storage stores therein a latest firmware list that lists latest firmware, and

the CPU updates the latest firmware list according to the acquired latest version.