JP2000181718A - Firmware upgrade method and system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To make it possible to easily upgrade firmware of various devices connected to the Internet / intranet via this network. [Structure and operation] A browser executed on a computer on a network accesses a predetermined Web site on the network and downloads a firmware download applet from the Web site. The applet searches for a device on the network to be updated, and lists the firmware images stored on the website for the device. From there, the appropriate image is actually downloaded, thereby updating the firmware in the device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to firmware technology, and more specifically to a web site
ite), a system and method for upgrading firmware from a so-called homepage.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Most devices connected to a network are controlled by a microprocessor executing firmware stored in non-volatile memory. The development of this firmware is continually being pursued to add new features to new devices and to eliminate defects. So in order to take advantage of new features,
Also, it is often desirable to update the firmware in existing equipment to remove defects.

[0003] In many network devices, firmware in the device can be replaced via a network. Computers that communicate with the network
A download tool for downloading a new firmware image to the network device is executed.

[0004] A network administrator must obtain a download tool and install it on a computer. In addition, the administrator must determine which firmware images are needed to support the set of devices to be updated and obtain those images. New firmware images are often available from websites on the Internet. After you get the images, you must install them in the download tool. This allows the image to be downloaded to the device and replaces the existing firmware with a new firmware image.

[0005] The administrator is also responsible for maintaining a set of downloadable images. As new firmware images become available, administrators must obtain those new images and install them into the tool.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the principles of the present invention, there is provided a system and method for upgrading a firmware image in a device to a firmware image stored on a website. Browsers are used to browse websites. The browser automatically downloads the applet code. Either the applet code or the user selects the device to be updated. The applet code determines the model and firmware version number of the selected device. The applet code is
A list of available firmware images for the selected device is created from the firmware images stored on the website. Either the applet or the user selects a firmware image from the firmware image list for the selected device. The applet code retrieves the selected firmware image and stores it nearby. The applet code then replaces the current firmware image on the selected device with the selected firmware image.

[0007] Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

[0008]

FIG. 1 shows a typical intranet system 2. FIG. The computer 4 is connected to the intranet connection 1
4 communicates with the intranet server 6 and the network devices 8, 10, 12. Network device 8,
10 and 12 may be any network devices capable of communicating via a network connection. For example, the network device 8 is a printer, 10 is a scanner,
And 12 may be another printer.

[0009] The computer 4 may also communicate with an Internet server 16 via an Internet connection 18. It is desirable, but not necessary, that at least one of the computer 4 and the intranet server 6 be in communication with the Internet server 16.

[0010] The firmware image is stored in either the intranet server 6 or the Internet server 16. If the firmware image is stored on the intranet server 16, the firmware image has previously been stored on the Internet server 1.
6 via the Internet connection 18.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart describing the method of the present invention. The operation of each block in this flowchart is as follows. 20: Browse web site 22: Download and execute applet code 24: Select device 26: Find firmware version number for selected device 28: Build up firmware image list 30: Firmware image 32: Retrieve the firmware image 34: Download the firmware image to the device 36: Provide the user with the outline The administrator or the user operates the browser on the computer 4 and the firmware image exists. Search the web site (block 20). For simplicity, both network administrators and users are referred to as users. If this website is on the Internet server 16, the user can connect to the Internet server 16 via the computer 4 or the intranet server 6.

[0012] Any conventional browser can be used to browse the web site as long as it supports applet code. For simplicity, applet code refers to any code that allows the web site to have some control over the computer.

[0013] The browser downloads the firmware download applet and then executes the firmware download applet (block 22).
The firmware download applet may operate so that the browser first permits the browser to access the local network and then performs the subsequent processing. If not, the applet terminates.
If permission is granted, the applet performs the following processing.

A device for updating the firmware is selected (block 24). This device may be any network device, such as printer 8, scanner 10, or printer 12. Either the user or the applet code can select this device. When the user selects a device, the user enters the name or address of the device or selects a device from a list. If the applet code selects a device, the applet code may perform a search in the intranet system 2 to find network devices 8, 10, 12 that have firmware that can be updated by the web site. . Optionally, the applet code may communicate with all network devices 8, 10, 12 to discover which are candidates for updating. The applet code uses SNMP (Simple
A network management protocol such as Network Management Protocol) can be used.

When a device is selected, the applet code communicates with the selected device to find, or verify, the model and firmware version number of the device (block 26). The applet code uses the model and firmware version number to create a list of available firmware images to upgrade the selected device (block 28). Next, either the user or the applet code selects a firmware image to use to upgrade the selected device (block 30). The applet code selects the best firmware image for upgrading the selected device. Optionally, the applet code may cause the user to select from a list of firmware images. Thereby, the user selects the firmware image from the image list or approves the selected firmware image by the applet code.

Next, the applet code retrieves the selected firmware image from the website (block 32). It is desirable that the applet code is thereafter temporarily stored in the computer 4. After retrieving the selected firmware image (block 32), the applet code downloads the selected firmware image to the selected device (block 34).
Optionally, the applet code may present a summary to the user (block 36).

In one embodiment of the present invention, the applet code downloads the firmware image to one device at a time. Printer 8 and Printer 1
If multiple network devices are the same, such as 2 being the same model, the applet code will instead download the firmware image to those same devices simultaneously.

The system and method of the present invention enable the firmware of a network device to be easily upgraded using a web browser. Except for standard web browsers, no special software is required to install the firmware. In addition, there is no need for the user to store and manage the images to retrieve them from the website. Since the firmware image is available via the Internet, the firmware image can be updated immediately after the manufacturer's announcement.

The above description is merely illustrative of the invention. Various alterations and modifications are possible by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Therefore, the present invention
It is intended to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a typical network connection to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the method of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4: Computer 6: Intranet server 8, 12: Network device (printer) 10: Network device (scanner) 14: Internet connection 16: Internet server 18: Internet connection

Claims (10)

[Claims] A method for upgrading a firmware image in an apparatus with a firmware image stored on a web site by providing the following steps (a) to (f): (a) browsing the web site using a browser (B) the browser downloads the applet code; (c) the browser executes the applet code; (d) selects a device to upgrade the firmware image to; (e) stores it on the website (F) the applet code replaces the current firmware image of the selected device with the selected firmware image. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of confirming a version number of a current firmware image of the selected device before the step (e).
The method described in. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (e) includes the step of said applet code selecting a best firmware image for said selected device.
The method described in. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step (e) includes the following steps (e-1) and (e-2): (e-1) said applet code is Creating a list of images available for the selected device from the firmware images stored on the website; (e-2) a user selecting one firmware image from the list of firmware images . 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step (f) includes the following steps (f-1) and (f-2): (f-1) said applet code is: Retrieving the selected firmware image from the website; (f-2) The applet code downloads the selected firmware image to the selected device. 6. A system for upgrading a firmware image in an apparatus with a firmware image stored on a web site by providing the following (a) to (f): (a) Browser for browsing the web site Means; (b) browser means for downloading the applet code; (c) means for executing the applet code; (d) means for selecting a device having a firmware image to be upgraded; (e) stored on the website. Means for selecting a firmware image from the selected firmware images; (f) applet code means for replacing the current firmware image of the selected device with the selected firmware image. 7. The system of claim 6, further comprising means for verifying a version number of a current firmware image of the selected device. 8. The system according to claim 6, wherein said means (e) includes applet code means for selecting the best firmware image for said selected device. 9. The system according to claim 6, wherein said means (e) includes the following (e-1) and (e-2): (a) said firmware stored on said website Applet code means for creating a list of images available on the selected device from the firmware image; (b) means for a user to select a firmware image from the firmware image list. 10. The system according to claim 6, wherein said means (f) includes the following (f-1) and (f-2): (f-1) said selected means from said website. (F-2) applet code means for downloading the selected firmware image to the selected device.