Image Processing Apparatus Firmware Update Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Image processing apparatuses face issues with suspended or delayed processing due to control information updates, especially when updates occur during low usage periods, leading to wasteful power consumption as the controlling unit remains energized.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus includes a controlling unit energization switching unit, version information memory, an updating necessary/unnecessary determining unit, an automatic starting unit, and a control information updating unit, allowing for updates to be performed in a power-saving state without suspending ongoing processes, by switching the controlling unit into an energized state only when necessary.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If control information updating is performed during normal operation, then the controlling unit can be kept energized to handle updates, but processing may be suspended or delayed and power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol information updating reliabilityVSAvoidprocessing continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs version number comparison and determines update necessity while the controlling unit is in power-saving state, before actually energizing it for the update operation. This preliminary assessment allows the system to avoid unnecessary energization and potential processing interruptions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically switches the controlling unit between power-saving and energized states based on real-time conditions. The energization switching unit adjusts the power state of the controlling unit according to whether an update is needed and whether the system is in sleep mode, optimizing both power consumption and operational reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the controlling unit is kept energized to perform updates during low usage periods, then updates can be executed, but power consumption increases wastefully

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupdate execution capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The communication unit, which remains energized during power-saving state, autonomously performs version number comparison with the external device and determines whether update execution is necessary, eliminating the need to energize the controlling unit for assessment purposes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Use of energy by moving object

If the controlling unit is put into power-saving state to reduce power consumption, then energy usage decreases, but the unit cannot perform update operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidupdate execution capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the update assessment function from the update execution function. The communication unit handles version comparison and update necessity determination while in power-saving state, and only energizes the controlling unit when an update is actually required, thus maintaining both power efficiency and update capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Use of energy by moving object

If control information updating is performed when the system is in sleep mode, then power consumption is reduced, but processing may be delayed if requests arrive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidprocessing delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS7872774B2Image processing apparatus having an energization switching unit and control information updating unit

Publication Date: 2011.01.18 SHARP KK

AI summary

An image processing apparatus executes the processing of updating control information kept in the controlling units included in it without suspending an on-going processing and delaying the execution of a new processing request with less power consumption. When the controlling units are in a sleep mode or in non-energized state, NIC determines whether or not updating of firmware kept in each controlling unit is necessary by communicating with the information delivery server. The NIC controls an energization switching circuit to start up exclusively the controlling unit keeping the firmware determined necessary to be updated and replaces the firmware kept in the started controlling unit with the latest version of firmware obtained from the information delivery server.