US 7,480,905 B2
Interface device, and method and computer readable product for updating firmware in the interface device
Naoyuki Nagao, Shinagawa (Japan)
Assigned to Fujitsu Component Limited, Tokyo (Japan)
Filed on Jan. 03, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/335,862.
Claims priority of application No. 2002-156522 (JP), filed on May 29, 2002.
Prior Publication US 2003/0226137 A1, Dec. 04, 2003
Int. Cl. G06F 9/44 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 717—171  [717/169; 710/62; 710/73] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
12. A method of updating firmware in an interface device communicably connected to devices, the method comprising:
storing one or more firmware for emulating peripheral devices;
connecting a peripheral device control microcontroller to the peripheral devices;
providing external interfaces to which the devices are connectable:
providing emulation microcontroller units (MCUs) respectively connectable to the devices via the external interfaces and each executing the firmware emulating the peripheral devices for the devices;
recognizing one of devices connected to one of the external interfaces;
comparing version information of the stored firmware corresponding to the recognized device with version information of the firmware installed in a corresponding emulation MCU; and
automatically updating the firmware installed in the corresponding emulation MCU, upon connecting the device to said corresponding emulation MCU via a corresponding external interface, with the stored firmware, when the version of the firmware installed in the corresponding emulation MCU is older than the version of the stored firmware.