Information processing apparatus capable of updating firmware thereof and control method and storage medium therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9244675-B2
Application number	US-201213454129-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 24, 2012
Priority date	Apr 25, 2011
Publication date	Jan 26, 2016
Grant date	Jan 26, 2016

Abstract

An information processing apparatus capable updating firmware thereof, while reducing power consumption. In a case where an image forming apparatus as an information processing apparatus is in a power switch off mode in which a power switch operable by a user is kept turned off and where a setting to permit execution of firmware update has been set by the user, the image forming apparatus stops power supply for execution of processing other than processing performed by a network I/F. When a firmware update request is received by the network I/F, the image forming apparatus restores power supply for execution of firmware update.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus capable of executing printing, comprising:
a processor; and
a storage device, the processor configured to execute computer executable instructions recorded on the storage device, the computer executable instructions including instructions, that when executed, cause the image forming apparatus to:
execute update processing for updating firmware of the image forming apparatus;
display a setting screen through which a user sets an update schedule of executing the update processing for updating the firmware of the image forming apparatus;
accept a transition instruction for transitioning a state of the image forming apparatus;
determine, in a case where the transition instruction is accepted, whether or not the update schedule is set by the user; and
transition the state of the image forming apparatus to a power OFF state, in a case where the update schedule is determined not to be set by the user, and to transition the state of the image forming apparatus to a power saving state which is different from the power OFF state in a case where the update schedule is determined to be set by the user.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the computer executable instructions further include instructions, that when executed, cause the image forming apparatus to:
execute the update processing based on the latest firmware acquired from an external apparatus on a network connected to a communication device of the image forming apparatus,
in the power saving state, supply power to the communication device, and
in the power OFF state, not supply the power to the communication device.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the computer executable instructions further include instructions, that when executed, cause the image forming apparatus to, in a case where the update schedule is determined to be set by the user, transfer, using the communication device, a packet accepted from a specific device to a controller of the image forming apparatus and to discard a packet other than the packet accepted from the specific device.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the computer executable instructions further include instructions, that when executed, cause the image forming apparatus to receive, from the specific device, an execution request for executing the update processing.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the computer executable instructions further include instructions, that when executed, cause the image forming apparatus to execute the update processing in accordance with the update schedule, after the state of the image forming apparatus transitions to the power saving state.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the computer executable instructions further include instructions, that when executed, cause the image forming apparatus to, in a case where the update processing is executed in accordance with the update schedule after the state of the image forming apparatus transitions to the power saving state, transition the state of the image forming apparatus to the power OFF state.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a power switch operable by the user to input the transition instruction.

8. A method, comprising:
executing update processing for updating firmware of an image forming apparatus;
displaying a setting screen through which a user sets an update schedule of executing the update processing for updating the firmware of the image forming apparatus;
accepting a transition instruction for transitioning a state of the image forming apparatus;
determining, in a case where the transition instruction is accepted, whether or not the update schedule is set by the user; and
transitioning the state of the image forming apparatus to a power OFF state, in a case where it is determined that the update schedule is not set by the user, and transitioning the state of the image forming apparatus to a power saving state different from the power OFF state in a case where it is determined that the update schedule is set by the user.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a method, the method comprising:
executing update processing for updating firmware of an image forming apparatus;
displaying a setting screen through which a user sets an update schedule of executing the update processing for updating the firmware of the image forming apparatus;
accepting a transition instruction for transitioning a state of the image forming apparatus;
determining, in a case where the transition instruction is accepted, whether or not the update schedule is set by the user; and
transitioning the state of the image forming apparatus to a power OFF state, in a case where it is determined that the update schedule is not set by the user, and transitioning the state of the image forming apparatus to a power saving state different from the power OFF state in a case where it is determined that the update schedule is set by the user.

Assignees

• Tsuji Hiroyuki
• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Tsuji Hiroyuki

Classifications

• G06F8/665 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06F1/3284

  Power saving in printer · CPC title

• Y02B60/183

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• Y02B60/1267

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• G06F9/06

  using stored programs, i.e. using an internal store of processing equipment to receive or retain programs · CPC title