Electronic apparatus and method of managing status information of the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10163045-B2
Application number	US-201715439294-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 22, 2017
Priority date	Mar 16, 2016
Publication date	Dec 25, 2018
Grant date	Dec 25, 2018

Abstract

An electronic apparatus to which a removable device can be set is provided. The removable device includes a first memory to store first status information indicating a status of the removable device, first identification information identifying the removable device, and second identification information identifying the electronic apparatus. The electronic apparatus includes a second memory to store second status information indicating a status of the removable device that is set to the electronic apparatus, third identification information identifying the removable device set to the electronic apparatus, and fourth identification information identifying the electronic apparatus, and a processor to determine, when connected to the first memory of the removable device set to the electronic apparatus, whether the first identification information matches the third identification information and the second identification information matches the fourth identification information and update the second status information with the first status information based on a result of the determination.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic apparatus configured to accept a removable device, the removable device including a first memory configured to store first status information indicating a status of the removable device, first identification information identifying the removable device, and second identification information identifying a last electronic apparatus to which the removable device has last been set, the last electronic apparatus being one of the electronic apparatus and another electronic apparatus, the electronic apparatus comprising:
a second memory configured to store second status information indicating the status of the removable device that is set to the electronic apparatus, third identification information identifying the removable device set to the electronic apparatus, and fourth identification information identifying the electronic apparatus; and
a processor configured to,
determine, when connected to the first memory of the removable device set to the electronic apparatus, whether the first identification information matches the third identification information and the second identification information matches the fourth identification information to generate a determination result, and
synchronize the second status information and the first status information by performing, based on the determination result, different ones of (i) updating the first status information based on the second status information, (ii) updating the second status information based on the first status information, and (iii) updating both the first status information and the second status information based on the first status information and the second status information, wherein
the processor is configured to update both the first status information and the second status information when (i) an abnormality occurs in writing data to the first memory of the removable device and (ii) one or more of the first identification information does not match the third identification information or the second identification information does not match the fourth identification information, the processor being configured to update both the first status information and the second status information by,
storing, in the second memory, failed data, the failed data being the data associated with the abnormality, and
updating the first status information and the second status information by overwriting the second status information based on the first status information to generate intermediate status information, updating the intermediate status information by adding the failed data to the intermediate status information to generate final status information, and updating the first status information based on the final status information.

2. The electronic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to update the first status information and the second status information by reflecting the failed data in the first status information.

3. An electronic apparatus configured to accept a removable device, the removable device including first means for storing first status information indicating a status of the removable device, first identification information identifying the removable device, and second identification information identifying a last electronic apparatus to which the removable device has last been set, the last electronic apparatus being one of the electronic apparatus and another electronic apparatus, the electronic apparatus comprising:
second means for storing second status information indicating the status of the removable device that is set to the electronic apparatus, third identification information identifying the removable device set to the electronic apparatus, and fourth identification information identifying the electronic apparatus; and
means for controlling the electronic apparatus by,
determining, when connected to the first means for storing in the removable device set to the electronic apparatus, whether the first identification information matches the third identification information and the second identification information matches the fourth identification information to generate a determination result, and
synchronizing the second status information and the first status information by performing, based on the determination result, different ones of (i) updating the first status information based on the second status information, (ii) updating the second status information based on the first status information, and (iii) updating both the first status information and the second status information based on the first status information and the second status information, wherein
the means for controlling updates both the first status information and the second status information when (i) an abnormality occurs in writing data to the first means for storing of the removable device and (ii) one or more of the first identification information does not match the third identification information or the second identification information does not match the fourth identification information, the means for controlling updating both the first status information and the second status information by,
storing, in the second means for storing, failed data, the failed data being the data associated with the abnormality, and
updating the first status information and the second status information by overwriting the second status information based on the first status information to generate intermediate status information, updating the intermediate status information by adding the failed data to the intermediate status information to generate final status information, and updating the first status information based on the final status information.

4. The electronic apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the means for controlling updates the first status information and the second status information by reflecting the failed data in the first status information.

5. A method of managing status information in an electronic apparatus to which a removable device is set, the removable device including a first memory configured to store first status information indicating a status of the removable device, first identification information identifying the removable device, and second identification information identifying a last electronic apparatus to which the removable device has last been set, the last electronic apparatus being one of the electronic apparatus and another electronic apparatus, the method comprising:
storing, in a second memory of the electronic apparatus, second status information indicating the status of the removable device that is set to the electronic apparatus, third identification information identifying the removable device set to the electronic apparatus, and fourth identification information identifying the electronic apparatus; and
determining, when the removable device is set to the electronic apparatus, whether the first identification information matches the third identification information and the second identification information matches the fourth identification information to generate a determination result; and
synchronizing the second status information and the first status information by performing, based on the determination result, different ones of (i) updating the first status information based on the second status information, (ii) updating the second status information based on the first status information, and (iii) updating both the first status information and the second status information based on the first status information and the second status information, wherein
the synchronizing updates both the first status information and the second status information when (i) an abnormality occurs in writing data to the first memory of the removable device and (ii) one or more of the f

Assignees

• Tanaka Kengo
• Takei Kazushi
• Muraishi Norio
• Inokuchi Sumihiro
• Hommi Masashi
• Kuramoto Atsushi
• Kemmochi Takuya
• Kitahara Yoichi
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Tanaka Kengo
• Takei Kazushi
• Muraishi Norio
• Inokuchi Sumihiro
• Hommi Masashi
• Kuramoto Atsushi
• Kemmochi Takuya
• Kitahara Yoichi

Classifications

• G06K15/14

  by electrographic printing, e.g. xerography; by magnetographic printing {(G06K15/12 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G06K15/408

  Handling exceptions, e.g. faults (computer driven error handling and recovery for a printer G06F3/1234) · CPC title

• G06K15/4075 Primary

  Determining remaining quantities of ink or toner · CPC title