INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS CAPABLE OF UPDATING FIRMWARE, CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR, AND STORAGE MEDIUM STORING CONTROL PROGRAM THEREFOR

• US 20150317150A1
• Filed: 04/28/2015
• Published: 11/05/2015
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 9,348,578 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 operatable in a normal starting state and an update starting state comprising:

a setting unit configured to set 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 configured to obtain the update firmware from an external apparatus at the obtaining time set by said setting unit;

a development unit configured to develop the update firmware that is obtained by said obtaining unit to a predetermined area; and

a determination unit configured to determine whether said development unit has completed development of the update firmware at the update time set by said setting unit,

wherein the information processing apparatus changes to the update starting state from the normal starting state in a case where said determination unit determines that the development of the update firmware has been completed, and

wherein the information processing apparatus cancels the update firmware that has been developed to the predetermined area and changes to the update starting state from the normal starting state after cancelling the update firmware that has been developed to the predetermined area in a case where said determination unit determines that the development of the update firmware has not been completed.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation unit configured to display a setting screen through which a user designates the obtaining time and the update time,

wherein said setting unit sets the obtaining time and the update time according to user'"'"'s designations input through the setting screen.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said obtaining unit downloads 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 operatable in a normal starting state and an update starting state comprising:

a setting unit configured to set 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 configured to obtain the update firmware from an external apparatus at the obtaining time set by said setting unit;

a development unit configured to develop the update firmware that is obtained by said obtaining unit to a predetermined area; and

a determination unit configured to determine whether said development unit has completed development of the update firmware at the update time set by said setting unit,

wherein the information processing apparatus changes to the update starting state from the normal starting state in a case where said determination unit determines that the development of the update firmware has been completed, and

wherein the information processing apparatus continues the development of the update firmware and changes to the update starting state from the normal starting state after the development of the update firmware is completed in a case where said determination unit determines that the development of the update firmware has not been completed.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising an operation unit configured to display a setting screen through which a user designates the obtaining time and the update time,

wherein said setting unit sets the obtaining time and the update time according to user'"'"'s designations input through the setting screen.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said obtaining unit downloads 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 operatable in a normal starting state and an update starting state comprising:

a setting unit configured to set 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 configured to obtain the update firmware from an external apparatus at the obtaining time set by said setting unit;

a development unit configured to develop the update firmware that is obtained by said obtaining unit to a predetermined area; and

a determination unit configured to determine whether said development unit has completed development of the update firmware at the update time set by said setting unit,

wherein the information processing apparatus changes to the update starting state from the normal starting state in a case where said determination unit determines that the development of the update firmware has been completed, and

wherein the information processing apparatus stops the development of the update firmware, changes to the update starting state from the normal starting state, and resumes the development of the update firmware after changing to the update starting state in a case where said determination unit determines that the development of the update firmware has not been completed.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising an operation unit configured to display a setting screen through which a user designates the obtaining time and the update time,

wherein said setting unit sets the obtaining time and the update time according to user'"'"'s designations input through the setting screen.

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said obtaining unit downloads 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 operatable in a normal starting state and an update starting state, the control method comprising:

a setting step of setting 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 step of obtaining the update firmware from an external apparatus at the obtaining time set in said setting step;

a development step of developing the update firmware that is obtained in said obtaining step to a predetermined area; and

a determination step of determining whether the development of the update firmware has been developed in said development step at the update time set in said setting step,

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

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

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 operatable in a normal starting state and an update starting state, the control method comprising:

a setting step of setting 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 step of obtaining the update firmware from an external apparatus at the obtaining time set in said setting step;

a development step of developing the update firmware that is obtained in said obtaining step to a predetermined area; and

a determination step of determining whether the development of the update firmware has been developed in said development step at the update time set in said setting step,

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

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

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

a setting step of setting 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 step of obtaining the update firmware from an external apparatus at the obtaining time set in said setting step;

a development step of developing the update firmware that is obtained in said obtaining step to a predetermined area; and

a determination step of determining whether the development of the update firmware has been developed in said development step at the update time set in said setting step,

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

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

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 operatable in a normal starting state and an update starting state, the control method comprising:

a setting step of setting 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 step of obtaining the update firmware from an external apparatus at the obtaining time set in said setting step;

a development step of developing the update firmware that is obtained in said obtaining step to a predetermined area; and

a determination step of determining whether the development of the update firmware has been developed in said development step at the update time set in said setting step,

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

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

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

a setting step of setting 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 step of obtaining the update firmware from an external apparatus at the obtaining time set in said setting step;

a development step of developing the update firmware that is obtained in said obtaining step to a predetermined area; and

a determination step of determining whether the development of the update firmware has been developed in said development step at the update time set in said setting step,

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

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

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 operatable in a normal starting state and an update starting state, the control method comprising:

a setting step of setting 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 step of obtaining the update firmware from an external apparatus at the obtaining time set in said setting step;

a development step of developing the update firmware that is obtained in said obtaining step to a predetermined area; and

a determination step of determining whether the development of the update firmware has been developed in said development step at the update time set in said setting step,

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

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