Program operating apparatus and program write control apparatus and method

Abstract

A program operating apparatus is provided, which is capable of rewriting control programs for a plurality of CPUs without using any exclusive external apparatuses, thereby achieving a simplified and efficient rewrite operation. A control program stored in a ROM of a master CPU that controls the basic operation of the entire apparatus is transferred to a slave CPU and then written to an internal ROM of the slave CPU which controls the operations of functional units of the apparatus. The transfer of the control program is carried out when the mode of the apparatus is switched to a write control mode.

1 . A program operating apparatus comprising: 
 a first CPU;    a second CPU;    first storage unit removable from the program operating apparatus;    second storage unit; and    selecting unit that selects a control mode of the apparatus,    wherein said first storage unit stores a first control program for controlling operation of said first CPU, a second control program for controlling operation of said second CPU, and a write control program for causing said second CPU to write the second control program to said second storage unit,    wherein said second storage unit is capable of storing the second control program for causing said second CPU to operate, and    wherein said first CPU operates in any of a normal mode in which said first CPU operates the first control program, and a write control mode of causing said second CPU to rewrite the second control program stored in said first storage unit, according to the write control program.    
   
   
       2 . A program operating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said second storage unit comprises a rewritable non-volatile storage medium.  
   
   
       3 . A program operating apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said second storage unit comprises a rewritable non-volatile storage medium provided in said second CPU.  
   
   
       4 . A program operating apparatus according to  claim 2 , which is applicable to an image forming apparatus for forming images on sheets.  
   
   
       5 . A program operating apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said image forming apparatus comprises a main body, and at least one functional unit, and wherein said first CPU controls basic operation of said main body of said image forming apparatus, and said second CPU controls operations of said at least one functional unit.  
   
   
       6 . A program operating apparatus according to  claim 2 , which is applicable to a finisher for executing post-processing on sheets having images formed thereon.  
   
   
       7 . A program operating apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said finisher comprises a main body, and at least one functional unit, and wherein said first CPU controls basic operation of said main body of said finisher, and said second CPU controls operations of said at least one functional unit.  
   
   
       8 . A program operating method executed by a program operating apparatus comprising a first CPU that has operation thereof controlled by a first control program, a second CPU that has operation thereof controlled by a second control program, first storage unit that is removable from the program operating apparatus, and stores the first control program, the second control program, and a write control program, and second storage unit capable of storing the second control program, the method comprising the steps of: 
 controlling the operation of said first CPU by the first control program stored in said first storage unit in a normal mode; and    executing write control causing said second CPU to rewrite the second control program stored in said first storage unit when a mode of the apparatus is switched to a write control mode.    
   
   
       9 . A program operating method according to  claim 8 , which is executed by an image forming apparatus for forming images on sheets.  
   
   
       10 . A program operating method according to  claim 8 , which is executed by a finisher for executing post-processing on sheets having images formed thereon.  
   
   
       11 . A program operating method according to  claim 9 , said image forming apparatus comprises a main body, and at least one functional unit, and wherein said first CPU controls basic operation of said main body of said image forming apparatus, and said second CPU controls operations of said at least one functional unit.  
   
   
       12 . A program operating method according to  claim 10 , said finisher comprises a main body, and at least one functional unit, and wherein said first CPU controls basic operation of said main body of said finisher, and said second CPU controls operations of said at least one functional unit.