JP2002307718A - Peripheral and its controlling method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily obtain firmwares of peripherals and easily update its program. SOLUTION: A cartridge 2 comprises an EEPROM 25 having a firmware 23 and a driver program 24 recorded therein, and an interface 26 which can supply the programs 23 and 24 recorded in the EEPROM 25 to a printer 1. The printer 1 updates the firmware 22 of an EEPROM 13 by downloading a program 37 for setting up each program 23, 24. A program, e.g. a firmware, is available readily and the program can be updated easily.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a peripheral device such as a printing device capable of replacing an ink cartridge and a toner cartridge, a host device of the peripheral device, and a cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Personal computers (PCs) include:
One system is formed by connecting peripheral devices (peripheral processing devices) such as a printer and a scanner. These peripheral devices use a PC as a host device, and are controlled from the PC side through a driver program installed in the PC. Each of the peripheral devices has a program (firmware) for controlling a mechanism of the peripheral device itself, and these are stored in the ROM of the peripheral device. In recent years, for example, there is a peripheral device in which firmware is recorded in a rewritable ROM such as an EEPROM and the firmware can be updated.

[0003] These driver programs and firmware are distributed from respective manufacturers together with peripheral devices in a state recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or FD. Alternatively, it is supplied in a downloadable state from an FTP server on the Internet. Therefore, the driver program and firmware can be updated personally by the user of the peripheral device.

[0004]

However, the installation or set-up operation for downloading the driver program to the host device or updating the driver program and the firmware is all performed by the user independently. Therefore, every time the software is installed, the user needs to operate the PC as the host device in a predetermined procedure. When updating, it is necessary to obtain software for updating by some means. Further, the user needs to obtain information that the software needs to be updated by some means.

[0005] For example, in order to obtain a driver program, it is necessary to order a recording medium such as a CD-ROM in which the program is recorded from a manufacturer of a peripheral device or a support center. When downloading a program via the Internet, the program itself can be obtained in a short time, but from information published on the Web,
It is necessary to find a program that matches the peripheral device, for example, the model number of the printer or the operating system (OS) of the host device.

[0006] On the other hand, there is no guarantee that the manufacturer of a peripheral device will update the driver program or firmware even if the driver program or firmware needs to be distributed to users of the peripheral device free of charge. Therefore,
Unless software with a high degree of perfection is installed from the initial shipment of peripheral devices or not enclosed, enormous amounts of time and money will be spent on subsequent support, resulting in a large economic burden.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a system that can automatically execute a task of updating firmware and / or a driver program of a peripheral device such as a printer without a user voluntarily. I have. And without burdening the user,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a peripheral device that can update a firmware or a driver program and can always use a new firmware or a driver program.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides a cartridge capable of supplying a material consumed in a peripheral device.
A recording medium such as an OM is mounted, and a driver program or the like is recorded and supplied to the recording medium. That is, according to the present invention, a cartridge mounted on a peripheral device and capable of supplying a material consumed by the peripheral device, the recording medium storing a program for the peripheral device and / or a host device of the peripheral device is provided. The present invention also provides a cartridge having an interface capable of supplying a program from a recording medium to a peripheral device. For example, if the peripheral device (peripheral processing device) is a printing device such as a printer, there are consumable materials such as printing paper, toner and ink,
These, especially toners and inks, are supplied in suitable forms of packages or cartridges. The printer will not function unless these consumable cartridges are mounted in the printer, and the stored consumables must be replaced because they are consumed when the printer is used. Therefore, by providing the cartridge with software for the peripheral device and / or the host device provided therein, it is possible to install the software in the peripheral device and / or the host device only by installing the cartridge in the peripheral device. The software for the peripheral device and / or the host device can be updated when the cartridge is replaced.

For this reason, by adopting the cartridge of the present invention, it is possible to construct a system in which the software is automatically updated without the user voluntarily requesting the software. Therefore, the time and effort previously spent by the user updating the program relating to the peripheral device can be significantly reduced. In addition, by installing the updated software in the cartridge in the manufacturer, the program for the peripheral device or the host device can be updated without burdening the user. Furthermore, it is also possible to include an advertisement for a new product or the like in a recording medium mounted on the cartridge, and to install a program and output contents such as an advertisement from a PC or a peripheral device.

The interface for supplying the program from the cartridge to the peripheral device may be wired or wireless. For example, in the case of a serial printer in which an ink cartridge is mounted on a print head and moves, a flexible cable for supplying print data to the print head is used as a means for transmitting a program to a printer or a PC as a host device. be able to. Also,
In a laser printer, a toner and a photoconductor are supplied in a package in which the toner and the photoconductor are integrated. However, an interface for transmitting data for forming an image on the photoconductor can be used to provide a program. It is also possible to use a Bluetooth or infrared interface.

In the peripheral device or the host device, means for installing the program recorded on the recording medium of the cartridge into an appropriate recording medium of the peripheral device or the host device, that is, for the peripheral device and / or the peripheral device. It is necessary to provide means for installing the program for the host device from the recording medium of the cartridge to the peripheral device and / or the host device. This function can be realized by providing hardware corresponding to the interface as described above in the peripheral device or the host device and preparing software for realizing the function. The software may be prepared as a part of firmware or a driver program of a peripheral device or a host device, or may be prepared as a setup program. Further, a program for the peripheral device and / or a host device for the peripheral device is
Peripheral device or host device capable of recording and providing a setup program capable of executing processing for installing the program from the recording medium of the cartridge to the peripheral device and / or the host device, respectively, by downloading the setup program to the recording device of the cartridge It is also possible to provide

By providing the function of installing the program recorded on the recording medium of the cartridge in the peripheral device, the process of installing the program can be completed only inside the peripheral device, so that the host device is not required. Therefore, software provided by a consumable cartridge can be installed even in a peripheral device such as a network printer, a facsimile, a copying machine, a camera, or the like, which does not necessarily have a host device.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a printer and a cartridge according to the present invention. The printer 1 of the present embodiment is a serial type printer including a carriage 3 that reciprocates in a direction perpendicular to the paper feeding direction, and further includes a control device (controller) that controls the entire printer including the operation of the carriage 3. 4) a flexible cable or printed cable 1 for electrically transmitting and receiving data by electrically connecting the carriage 3 and the control device 4
7 are provided. An ink jet print head 5 is mounted on the carriage 3, and a cartridge 2 filled with ink can be mounted. The ink of the cartridge 2 is ejected from a plurality of nozzles of the print head 5 onto print paper. To print an image on paper. The printer 1 is a peripheral processing device that functions with the PC 9 as a host device, and is capable of communicating with the host device 9 via an interface cable 8 such as a USB. Accordingly, the print data transmitted from the host device 9 via the cable 8 is processed by the controller 4 and further supplied to the print head 5 via the cable 17 to perform printing.

The control device 4 of the printer 1 includes a CPU 11
And an RO in which programs and data that are not rewritten such as error processing and basic fonts are recorded.
M12, rewritable ROM (EEPROM) 13 in which firmware 22 is recorded, and RAM 14. This RAM 14 is ROM 12 or 1
3 is a storage area or a recording medium for copying and executing the program recorded in the storage medium 3, and for temporarily storing print data. Further, the control device 4 includes an interface 15 for transmitting and receiving data to and from the host device 9 via the interface cable 8, and a flexible cable 17.
And an interface 16 for transmitting and receiving data to and from the carriage 3 via the. The carriage 3 includes, in addition to the ink jet head 5, a head control circuit 29 for controlling the movement of the head 5, an interface 30 for the cartridge 2, and a connection destination of the cable 17 for the head control circuit 29 and the interface 30. And a selector 28 for switching to.

The cartridge 2 of the present embodiment has a firmware 2 for the printer 1 in addition to a main body 2a containing ink.
An EEPROM 25 in which a driver program 24 for the 3 and the host 9 is recorded, and an interface 26 capable of supplying the printer 1 with the programs 23 and 24 recorded in the EEPROM 25. This interface 26 is the interface 3 of the carriage 3
0, corresponding to electrode type, plug type, USB, IEEE1394, BLUET
OOTH and infrared interface. Therefore, the cartridge 2 of this example is mounted on the carriage 3 and
When the selector 28 is switched to connect the interface 30 and the interface 16 via the cable 17, the controller 25, that is, the CPU 11 can access the EEPROM 25 of the cartridge 2.

Instead of switching and using the cable 17 by the selector 28, a bus or cable for connecting the cartridge 2 and the control device 4 can be provided. However, in the printer 1 of the present embodiment, the process of accessing the ROM 25 of the cartridge 2 by the controller 4 and the process of supplying print data to the print head 5 rarely occur at the same time.
7 can avoid an increase in hardware. However, the signal φ1 for controlling the selection destination of the selector 28 is supplied from the controller 4, and it is necessary to provide a wiring for this signal.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic function of the printer 1. The function of the printer 1 of this example is RO
CP based on programs recorded in M12 and M13
This is realized by U11 executing the processing. The control device 4 of the present embodiment has a function 31 of performing a process of printing an image on a sheet based on print data supplied from the host 9 (print process) and a function of performing a process of initializing the control device 4 (initial process). 32. The initial processing function 32 switches the selector 28 so that the EEPROM 25 of the cartridge 2 can be accessed, and accesses the EEPROM 25 of the cartridge 2 to determine the recording content. If the driver program 24 of the host 9 has been recorded in the ROM 25, the first installation unit 34 that installs the driver program 24 in the EEPROM 13 of the printer 1. And a second installation unit 35 that installs the software on the second installation unit 10.

When the power of the printer 1 is turned on, the recording information obtaining section 33 obtains an outline of data recorded in the EEPROM 25 of the cartridge 2, for example, program name and version information, and stores the program information in the programs. Whether there is a program related to the printer 1 or not.
Check if it is installed in. Further, when those programs are installed in the printer 1 or the host 9, the program is compared with the version information of the installed programs. If those programs are not installed in the printer 1 or the host 9 or a program newer than the installed program version is recorded in the ROM 25 of the cartridge 2, preparation for downloading the recorded program is made. I do.

The first installation section 34 for installing firmware is provided with the firmware 2 recorded in the ROM 25 of the cartridge 2 by the information acquisition section 33.
Activates when it is necessary to install 3 This function may be realized by the recording information acquisition unit 33 downloading the setup program 37 recorded in the ROM 25 of the cartridge 2 as necessary, or the printer 1 may be realized by the setup program 37 recorded in the ROM 25. May be realized by operating the CPU 11. Also, the RO of the printer 1
The firmware 22 recorded in M13 is RAM1
4 (shadow RAM), and when executed by the CPU 11, it is possible to include a function of installing and updating firmware in the firmware 22.

As a function of the first installation unit 34, a message for updating the firmware before executing the processing for updating the firmware 22 in the ROM 14 of the printer 1 with the firmware 23 recorded in the ROM 25 of the cartridge 2. From the printer 1 or to the PC 9 as the host to request the user's confirmation. Alternatively, such a message may be automatically installed without being output and updated. Further, when a new program that has not been installed is recorded in the ROM 25 of the cartridge 2, it may be possible to confirm with the user in advance whether or not to install the new program. Further, when the printer manufacturer wants to forcibly update the firmware, a method or function that does not require the user to confirm in advance can be adopted.

Further, if the firmware 23 recorded in the ROM 25 of the cartridge 2 is compressed,
The function of decompressing or decompressing it can be included in the first installation unit 34. These functions as the installation unit 34 are not performed by the CPU 11 of the printer 1 but by the
It is also possible to use the hardware and software resources of the host 9, and in that case, the setup program 37 may be downloaded to the host 9 and executed. This is effective when the hardware resources of the printer 1 are insufficient for executing processes such as decompression or decompression of data. On the other hand, by performing a series of processes for installing and updating the firmware using the hardware resources of the printer 1,
There is a merit that the firmware can be installed without connecting the printer 1 to the host device 9. In addition, matching of the interface connecting the printer 1 and the host device 9 and rewriting errors due to communication errors can be easily prevented.

In particular, when the function as the installation unit 34 is realized by the firmware 22 installed in the printer 1, if the installation is abnormally terminated, the printer 1 may not be able to start up again. Therefore, when there is an abnormality in the firmware installed in the ROM 13, it is desirable to take measures such as preparing a backup program in the ROM 12 that can execute the minimum function of downloading the firmware from the cartridge 2.

A second installation section 35 for installing the driver program 21 in the host 9 operates when the information acquisition section 33 needs to install the driver program 24 recorded in the ROM 25 of the cartridge 2. The function of the second installation unit 35 is basically the same as the function of the first installation unit 34 described above, except that the program 9 is installed on the host 9. Further, similarly to the first installation unit 34, the function of the second installation unit 35 can be realized using the hardware and software resources of the host 9. In the case of realizing using the resources of the host 9, except that the supply source of the application program is the recording medium of the cartridge 2 of the printer, the processing can be performed in the same manner as the case of installing the normal application. It is also possible to use the function of.

Further, it is also possible to provide the host 9 with a function equivalent to the function of installing the firmware and driver program of the initial processing function 32. The host device 9 of this example includes an operating system (OS) 46 for controlling a system constituted by the host device 9 and the printer 1, a driver program 21 for controlling the printer 1 from the host device 9, a word processor and a spreadsheet. And various other application software 47. Therefore, the driver program 2
1 is an information acquisition unit 42 that acquires information such as programs recorded in the ROM 25 of the cartridge 2, a first installation unit 43 that downloads the firmware 23 and installs it in the printer 1, and downloads a driver program 24. It is possible to execute processing as the second installation unit 44 to be installed on the host 9.

Further, when the ROM 25 of the cartridge 2 stores a setup program 37 capable of executing processing as the first installation section 43, the second installation section 44, and the information acquisition section 42, it is downloaded. Alternatively, a program or the like may be downloaded from the ROM 25 of the cartridge 2 in an environment different from the driver program 21. The host device 9 may prepare a program that can set the download source of the installer 41 prepared as an existing resource in the ROM 25 of the cartridge 2. Host 9
Prepares only a program that can execute processing for handling the driver program 24 to be installed on the host, and installs the firmware 23 on the printer 1
May be performed on the side.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process of updating the firmware in the printer 1 of the present embodiment. First, when the power of the printer 1 is turned on in step 51, the recording information acquisition unit 33 of the initial processing function 32 causes the EEPROM 25 of the cartridge 2 in step 52.
Confirm that the firmware 23 is recorded in the. If the firmware 23 is recorded, the version of the firmware 23 is further obtained in step 53, and is compared with the version of the firmware 23 in step 54. If the version of the firmware 23 recorded in the ROM 25 of the cartridge 2 is newer than that of the firmware 22 of the printer 1, the firmware 23 is downloaded by the function of the first At step 56, the firmware 22 is updated to the new firmware 23 by a method such as automatic restart. Download new firmware 23 and
The process may be performed until the printer 1 is installed in the OM 13, and the process may be executed by the new firmware when the power of the printer 1 is turned on next time. Further, in order to realize the function of the first installation unit 34, the setup program 37 may be downloaded before downloading the firmware 23.

Thus, the EEPROM 2 of the cartridge 2
When the existing firmware 22 of the printer 1 is updated with the firmware 23 recorded in the OM 25, the process shifts to a process of performing printing using data from the host 9 in step 57. If the cartridge 2 does not have the EEPROM 25, the EEPROM 25 does not have the firmware, or the firmware version recorded in the EEPROM 25 is the same or older, the EEPROM 25
The printing process is started in step 57 without performing the process of downloading the firmware from M25. Also, when a program other than the firmware of the printer 1 and other contents are recorded in the EEPROM 25 of the cartridge 2, the installation or the download target is not the firmware, and the installation destination is the host 9 except for the host 9. The same processing is performed. Therefore, by this processing, it is possible to install the driver program 24 of the host 9 and other programs or contents such as a new font, an advertisement, a sample program of a new application for outputting an image to the printer 1, and the like.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process of updating the driver program on the host device 9 side.
First, in step 61, when the host device 9 recognizes the printer 1 at the time of startup, when the printer 1 is turned on, or when the printer 1 is connected to the host 9, the printer 1 proceeds to step 62. It is confirmed whether or not the driver program 24 is recorded in the ROM 25 of the first cartridge 2. Step 6
3 obtains the version of the driver program 24, compares the version information at step 64, and if the version is newer than the version of the driver program 21 already installed in the host device 9, at step 65, The driver program 24 is downloaded from the ROM 25 to the host device 9. Then, in step 66, the function of the driver program is updated from the existing driver program 21 to the new driver program 24 by a method such as restarting the driver program. Thereafter, the process proceeds to a printing process in which print data is created in step 67 and provided to the printer 1.

As described above, the cartridge 2 of this embodiment has
An EPROM 25 is mounted, and a printer firmware 23 and a host driver program 24 are recorded. Therefore, when the user purchases the cartridge 2, in addition to the ink that is a consumable item of the printer 1, the user can obtain software that can improve the function of the printer 1. Then, just by mounting the cartridge 2 in the printer 1, the software can be installed in the printer 1 or the PC 9 as its host device. For this reason, when updating the firmware or the driver program, a medium in which the firmware or the driver program is recorded may be obtained each time,
The work of updating the program, such as downloading an appropriate program from the Internet, becomes unnecessary. By simply purchasing the cartridge shipped from the store, these programs can be obtained together with the consumables of the printer 1.
The user can obtain and update the above programs without being particularly conscious of updating or obtaining the programs. Therefore, by using the cartridge 2, the printer 1, and the host device 9 of the present embodiment, it is possible to build an environment in which the version of the driver program and the firmware can be easily upgraded.

On the other hand, when these programs are updated on the printer maker side, they can be provided to the user via the consumable cartridge 2 and can be updated without burdening the user. Can be. Therefore, updating of the firmware and the driver program of the printer 1 becomes very easy, software for preventing the occurrence of a problem and improving the performance of the printer 1 is easily distributed, and the software is reliably transferred to the printer 1. And can be installed on the host 9. Furthermore, it is also possible to distribute software with new specifications via the cartridge 2. As described above, according to the present invention, the cartridge 2 is used as a new means for distributing software and contents from a printer maker to a user.
It is possible to build a system that uses.

If the cartridge 2 can be mounted on a plurality of types of printers, the cartridge ROM 25
Can record firmware and driver programs for multiple types of printers, as well as driver programs for different operating systems, and select and install appropriate firmware and driver programs from among them. It is. For example, printer 1
The information for identifying the type of the printer or the like is recorded in the ROM 12 and the appropriate firmware can be selected with reference to the information.

In the above description, an ink jet type printer in which a cartridge capable of supplying ink is mounted and used as an example of a peripheral processing device has been described. ROM in which the program is recorded can be mounted on the computer. Further, the present invention can be applied to a network printer, a facsimile, and a copier, which are peripheral devices that function even if a host device is not specified. Furthermore, consumables are not limited to toner and ink.
Other consumable materials, for example, printing paper, photographic paper, film and the like may be used, and the present invention can be applied by providing a recording medium in which a program is recorded in a cartridge containing these.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, a recording medium on which a program such as firmware is recorded in a cartridge for providing consumables such as ink,
An interface capable of supplying a program stored in the recording medium to a peripheral device is provided, and a system capable of providing a user with software together with consumables can be constructed. Therefore, the user can update the new firmware or the like only by replacing the consumable cartridge without intervening other operations. Also,
The manufacturer that provides the peripheral device can also update the software via a cartridge that is distributed in the market, so that the software related to the peripheral device can be reliably updated without burdening the user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a cartridge and a printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic function of the printer shown in FIG. 1 and a schematic function of a host device connected to the printer.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of updating firmware in a printer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of updating a driver program in a host device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 2 Cartridge 3 Carriage 4 Control device 9 Host device 10 Hard disk 13, 25 EEPROM 17 Flexible cable 21, 24 Driver program 22, 23 Firmware 26 Interface 28 Selector 31 Print processing function 32 Initial processing function 33, 42 Recording information acquisition part 34 , 43 First installation unit 35, 44 Second installation unit 37 Setup program 41 Installer

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat II (Reference) G06F 3/12 B41J 3/04 102Z F-term (Reference) 2C056 EB59 KC01 KC30 2C061 AP01 AP03 AP04 AQ05 AQ06 HJ10 HX10 2H027 DD00 DD02 EE10 EJ08 EJ13 EJ15 HB01 HB13 HB15 HB17 2H077 AA02 AA35 DA15 DA32 DB22 GA04 5B021 AA01 CC05 CC06

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A cartridge mounted on a peripheral device and capable of supplying a material consumed by the peripheral device, the recording medium recording a program for the peripheral device and / or a host device of the peripheral device. A cartridge capable of supplying the program from the recording medium to the peripheral device. 2. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein:
A cartridge in which a setup program capable of executing processing for installing the program for the peripheral device and / or the host device of the peripheral device from the recording medium of the cartridge to the peripheral device and / or the host device is recorded. . 3. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral device is a printing device, and the cartridge stores ink or toner consumed by the printing device. 4. A peripheral device to which a cartridge capable of supplying a consumable material can be mounted, wherein a program for the peripheral device and / or a host device of the peripheral device is stored in the peripheral device from a recording medium of the cartridge. A peripheral device having means for installing on the device and / or the host device, respectively. 5. A peripheral device to which a cartridge capable of supplying a consumable material can be mounted, wherein a program for the peripheral device and / or a host device of the peripheral device is stored in the peripheral device from a recording medium of the cartridge. A peripheral device having means for installing a setup program capable of executing processing to be installed in a device and / or the host device from a recording medium of the cartridge to the peripheral device, and executing the setup program. 6. The peripheral device according to claim 4, wherein the peripheral device is a printing device, and the consumable material is ink or toner. 7. A host device connectable to a peripheral device for mounting a cartridge capable of supplying a consumable material, wherein a program for the peripheral device and / or a program for the host device is read from a recording medium of the cartridge. A host device having means for installing the peripheral device and / or the host device respectively; 8. A host device connectable to a peripheral device for mounting a cartridge capable of supplying a consumable material, wherein a program for the peripheral device and / or a program for the host device is stored in a storage medium of the cartridge. A host device having means for installing a setup program capable of executing processing to be installed in the peripheral device and / or the host device from the recording medium of the cartridge to the host device, and executing the setup program. 9. A method for controlling a peripheral device to which a cartridge capable of supplying a consumable material can be mounted, wherein a program for the peripheral device and / or a host device of the peripheral device is stored in a recording medium of the cartridge. A method of controlling a peripheral device, the method including: installing the device on the peripheral device and / or the host device. 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the peripheral device is a printing device. 11. A program for controlling a peripheral device to which a cartridge capable of supplying a consumable material can be mounted, the program for the peripheral device and / or a host device of the peripheral device being recorded on the cartridge. A program that enables processing to be installed on the peripheral device and / or the host device from a medium. 12. A program according to claim 11, wherein said program controls a printing apparatus.