Electronic Apparatus Partition Management for Firmware Updates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for updating firmware in electronic apparatuses, such as printers, often require secure backup areas, which can lead to inefficient use of storage space and complications in data restoration.

Innovation Solution

A method where setting data from a second partition is temporarily stored in a first partition, allowing the second partition to be reconfigured as a third partition, and then the setting data is moved to the third partition, while general-purpose data is stored in the first partition, enabling efficient use of storage space without the need for a dedicated backup area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a dedicated backup area is secured in advance for firmware updates, then firmware update reliability is improved, but storage space efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefirmware update reliabilityVSAvoidstorage space efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The storage medium is divided into multiple partitions (first partition for general-purpose data, second partition for setting data, third partition for backup data). This segmentation allows each partition to serve specific functions, enabling the system to achieve reliable firmware updates through the third partition without requiring excessive dedicated backup space, thus improving storage efficiency while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by storing setting data from the second partition to the first partition before firmware updates. This preliminary data migration ensures that the first partition contains necessary data before the third partition is activated for backup purposes, enabling reliable updates without requiring a permanently secured dedicated backup area, thereby improving storage space utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of repair

If setting data is stored in the first partition during firmware update, then data restoration capability is improved, but storage space availability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata restoration capabilityVSAvoidstorage space availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically manages partition usage during firmware updates. The first partition is temporarily used to store setting data from the second partition before the third partition is activated. This dynamic switching allows the system to maintain data restoration capability while minimizing the impact on storage space availability, as the first partition is only occupied during the update process rather than permanently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The first partition acts as an intermediary storage area during firmware updates. Setting data is temporarily stored in the first partition before being moved to the third partition. This intermediary role enables safe data restoration and firmware updates without requiring the first partition to permanently hold all setting data, thus improving storage space availability while maintaining restoration capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If the second partition is reconfigured as a third partition during firmware update, then storage space utilization is improved, but operational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage space utilizationVSAvoidpartition reconfiguration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by storing setting data from the second partition to the first partition before reconfiguring the second partition as the third partition. This preliminary data migration simplifies the subsequent partition reconfiguration process, as the data is already safely stored in the first partition. This approach improves storage space utilization while reducing the operational complexity of partition reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The first partition serves as an intermediary during the partition reconfiguration process. By using the first partition to temporarily hold setting data, the system simplifies the reconfiguration of the second partition into the third partition. This intermediary approach reduces operational complexity by providing a stable intermediate state, while still achieving improved storage space utilization through the creation of the third partition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250077822A1Method of producing electronic apparatus and printing apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.03.06 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

In place of first data stored in a first partition of a storage medium, setting data stored in a second partition of the storage medium is stored in the first partition, the second partition is changed to a partition containing a third partition, the setting data stored in the first partition is stored in the third partition, the first data acquired via an interface is stored in the first partition in place of the setting data stored in the first partition, and producing an electronic apparatus having the third partition. The first data is general-purpose data used in a plurality of electronic apparatuses, but not used for production of the electronic apparatus.