Device with machine type identifying function, machine type identifying method and storage medium

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

The present invention relates to a device with a model identification function, a model identification method, and a storage medium. More specifically, in a product in which a plurality of units are electrically connected to form one device, the hardware is particularly changed when the software is changed. The present invention relates to a device with a model identification function, a model identification method, and a storage medium suitable for application to a product having the same performance but whose performance changes significantly, or a product in which the performance of the entire device changes significantly when a part of hardware is converted.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, for example, in a copier, it is common practice to manufacture three types of products such as 30 CPM, 40 CPM, and 50 CPM by changing the copying speed by changing the software even if the hardware is exactly the same. In such products, it is common to change the copying speed by changing the software by exchanging ROM etc., which is easy as a work, but on the contrary, it is also possible to change the product illegally. It also has the disadvantage of being easy to do.

【0003】

Therefore, in order to prevent the copying speed from being changed even if the ROM is replaced, different terminations are performed for each model on parts of the product that are difficult to replace, for example, part of the bundled wires that connect various units. There is also a technology that prevents the product itself from starting up when software is installed that recognizes the terminal information by the CPU in the device and changes it to a copying machine with a speed different from that of the recognized model.

【0004】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, the above-mentioned conventional technique has the following problems. That is, in a copying machine having a structure in which the copying speed simply changes when the software is changed by exchanging ROM or the like, there is a problem that illegal modification is relatively easily realized. In addition, it means that it is difficult to change a part of the main body, for example, a part that is difficult to modify with a copying machine that changes the part that is difficult to modify for each model with a different copying speed. There was a problem that the total cost increased compared to the method of changing the software and changing the model.

【0005】

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and is a device with a model identification function that prevents the performance of a device such as a copier from being illegally improved by software replacement or predetermined unit replacement without increasing the cost. , A model identification method and a storage medium.

【0006】

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 1 is a device with a model identification function composed of a plurality of interconnected units, which are provided in each of the plurality of units to provide model identification information. It identifies whether or not the storage means for storing and the model identification information of some of the plurality of units are different, and if the model identification information is different, it is controlled so that the device is not used as it is. It is characterized by having a control means.

【0007】

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention according to claim 2, the control means identifies whether or not the model identification information of some of the plurality of units is different, and the model identification information is used. If they are different, a warning is issued or the device is inoperable.

【0008】

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the storage means is a backup memory for storing storage information even when the power of the device is turned off.

【0009】

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention according to claim 4, the plurality of units are composed of a main unit and a plurality of subunits, and the control means is provided in the main unit. The control means identifies whether or not the model identification information of some of the plurality of units is different based on a predetermined algorithm, and if the model identification information is different, issues a warning or the device cannot operate. It is characterized by.

【0010】

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention according to claim 5, the control means of the main unit may write the same model identification information as the main unit to the storage means of the plurality of subunits. It is characterized by being possible.

【0011】

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 6 determines whether or not the main unit or the software of the main unit has been replaced by the algorithm executed by the control means of the main unit. It is characterized by an algorithm that issues a warning or disables the device when it is determined that the device has been replaced.

【0012】

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention according to claim 7, the algorithm executed by the control means of the main unit first determines whether or not all the model identification information of the plurality of subunits match. If all the model identification information of the plurality of subunits match, it is determined whether or not the model identification information of the plurality of subunits matches the model identification information of the main unit. If the model identification information of the plurality of subunits matches the model identification information of the main unit, the device can be operated normally, and if they do not match, a warning is issued or the device cannot be operated, and the plurality of subunits are disabled. If all the model identification information of is not the same, it is determined whether there is one or more different subunits, and if there is one different subunit, the model identification information of the main unit and the model identification information of the other subunits are If they match, the correct model identification information is written to the different subunits and the device can operate normally. If they do not match, a warning is issued or the device cannot operate. If there are multiple different subunits, the main It is characterized in that history information is left in the storage means of the unit, correct model identification information is written in all subunits different from the model identification information of the main unit, and the device can be operated normally.

【0013】

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that it can be applied to a device such as a copier composed of a plurality of interconnected units.

【0014】

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 9 is a model identification method applied to a device having a model identification function composed of a plurality of interconnected units, and is applied to the plurality of units. The storage step for storing the model identification information provided for each is used to identify whether or not the model identification information of some of the plurality of units is different, and if the model identification information is different, the device is used as it is. It is characterized by having a control step for controlling so as not to be performed.

【0015】

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 10 identifies whether or not the model identification information of some of the plurality of units is different in the control step, and the model identification information is used. If they are different, a warning is issued or the device is inoperable.

【0016】

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 11 is characterized in that the storage means used in the storage step is a backup memory for storing storage information even when the power of the device is turned off.

【0017】

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention according to claim 12, the plurality of units are composed of a main unit and a plurality of subunits, and the control step is provided in the main unit. In the control step, it is identified whether or not the model identification information of some of the plurality of units is different based on a predetermined algorithm, and if the model identification information is different, a warning is issued or the device cannot be operated. It is characterized by.

【0018】

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention according to claim 13, in the control step of the main unit, the same model identification information as that of the main unit can be written to the storage step of the plurality of subunits. It is characterized by being possible.

【0019】

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 14 determines whether or not the main unit or the software of the main unit has been replaced by the algorithm executed in the control step of the main unit. It is characterized by an algorithm that issues a warning or disables the device when it is determined that the device has been replaced.

【0020】

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention according to claim 15, the algorithm executed in the control step of the main unit first determines whether or not all the model identification information of the plurality of subunits match. If all the model identification information of the plurality of subunits match, it is determined whether or not the model identification information of the plurality of subunits matches the model identification information of the main unit. If the model identification information of the plurality of subunits matches the model identification information of the main unit, the device can be operated normally, and if they do not match, a warning is issued or the device cannot be operated, and the plurality of subunits are disabled. If all the model identification information of is not the same, it is determined whether there is one or more different subunits, and if there is one different subunit, the model identification information of the main unit and the model identification information of the other subunits are If they match, the correct model identification information is written to the different subunits and the device can operate normally. If they do not match, a warning is issued or the device cannot operate. If there are multiple different subunits, the main It is characterized in that history information is left in the unit, correct model identification information is written in all subunits different from the model identification information of the main unit, and the device can be operated normally.

【0021】

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 16 is characterized in that it can be applied to an apparatus such as a copier composed of a plurality of interconnected units.

【0022】

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 17 is performed by a computer that stores a program that executes a model identification method applied to a device with a model identification function composed of a plurality of interconnected units. It is a readable storage medium, and the model identification method differs from the storage step of storing the model identification information provided in each of the plurality of units and the model identification information of some of the plurality of units. It is characterized by having a control step for identifying whether or not the device is used and controlling the device so that the device is not used as it is when the model identification information is different.

【0023】

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

【0024】

[First Embodiment] The device with a model identification function according to the first embodiment of the present invention has common hardware, and changing the software changes the performance of the device such as copying speed. However, it is characterized by issuing a warning or preventing the device from operating when the software or a certain unit is illegally changed. In the first embodiment of the present invention, a case where a device with a model identification function is applied to a copying machine will be described in detail by taking as an example.

【0025】

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the copying machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The copier according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a sorter unit 301, an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as DF (document feeder)) 302, a document illumination unit 303, an imaging unit 304, a cassette 305, and a cassette 306. It includes a registration roller 307, a process unit 308, and a laser unit 309.

【0026】

To elaborate on the above configuration, the sorter section 301 discharges the copied copy paper. The DF302 automatically feeds the original to be copied to the scanning position. The cassette 305 and cassette 306 store copy paper. The resist roller 307 stops and resumes the transfer of the fed copy paper. The document lighting unit 303 illuminates the document. The image pickup unit 304 photoelectrically converts the reflected light from the document illuminated by the document illumination unit 303 to read the document image and perform imaging. The laser unit 309 irradiates the photosensitive drum of the process unit 308 with a laser beam to form a latent image at the time of image formation when copying by an electrophotographic method according to the document information read by the imaging unit 304. The process unit 308 copies an image on copying paper through each process such as charging, developing, and transferring.

【0027】

Next, a method of changing the copying speed in the copying machine having the above configuration will be described. The timing for copying the image read from the original by aligning it with the copy paper is usually taken as follows. When the copy start key of the operation unit (not shown) is pressed, the copy paper is fed from the cassette 305 and the document is illuminated at a timing considering the time of the paper pass to the transfer unit of the process unit 308. Document scanning by the unit 303 and the imaging unit 304 starts. The copying paper is temporarily stopped at the location where the resist roller 307 is arranged, and waits for the transfer timing. The resist roller 307 is restarted at the timing when the image information read from the original passes through the latent image / development / transfer processes executed by the various image processing units of the process unit 308.

【0028】

Since it is necessary to change the configuration significantly in order to change the transport speed of the copying paper and the reading speed of the original, it is generally realized by changing the space between the copying papers in order to easily change the copying speed. That is, it is realized by controlling the timing of the document illumination unit 303 and the resist roller 307. This method can be easily realized by changing a part of the software.

【0029】

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of each unit of the copying machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. The copying machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention is roughly composed of an automatic document feeder (DF) 27, a sorter 28, a copying machine main body 29, and a cassette pedestal 30. Further, the DF27 is equipped with a DF controller 21, the sorter 28 is equipped with a sorter controller 26, the copying machine main body 29 is provided with a main controller 22, a printer controller 23, and a device controller 24, and the cassette pedestal 30 is a cassette pedestal controller 25. It has.

【0030】

To elaborate on the above configuration, the DF controller 21 controls the automatic document feeding operation in the DF27. The sorter controller 26 controls the ejecting operation of the copied copy paper in the sorter 28. The cassette pedestal controller 25 controls the copying paper feeding operation and the like in the cassette pedestal 30 that stores the copying paper. The main controller 22 performs image processing and sequence control of the entire copying machine. The printer controller 23 controls the printing operation by communicating with, for example, a personal computer (PC) connected to the copying machine. The device controller 24 controls various loads while timing according to the instructions of the main controller 22. In the configuration of FIG. 2, the main controller 22 which is the main unit and other units communicate with each other to realize a series of copying and printing operations.

【0031】

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of each controller of the copying machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. That is, FIG. 1 is a hardware configuration that realizes the present invention. The copying machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention is roughly composed of a main controller 11, a device controller 12, and a printer controller 13. Further, the main controller 11 includes a CPU 111, a communication unit 112, a program storage ROM 113, a work RAM 114, and a backup memory 115, and the device controller 12 includes a CPU 121, a communication unit 122, a program storage ROM 123, a work RAM 124, and a backup memory 125. The printer controller 13 includes a CPU 131, a communication unit 132, a program storage ROM 133, a work RAM 134, and a backup memory 135.

【0032】

In this example, unnecessary parts of the main controller 11, the device controller 12, and the printer controller 13 are omitted, and the communication part and the part for storing the model identification information will be mainly described. For example, the main controller 11 omits the image processing part, the device controller 12 omits the part that controls the device, and the printer controller 13 omits the interface with the PC, the expansion part, and the like.

【0033】

To elaborate on the above configuration, in the main controller 11, the CPU 111 is a central processing unit that controls each part of the main controller 11, the device controller 12, and the printer controller 13, and is described in the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 to 5 described later based on the program. Execute the indicated process. The communication unit 112 communicates with the CPU 121 via the communication unit 122 of the device controller 12, and communicates with the CPU 131 via the communication unit 132 of the printer controller 13. The program storage ROM 113 is a read-only memory that stores a program to be executed by the CPU 111. A socket is mounted on the board and is configured so that it can be easily replaced. The work RAM 114 is an occasional write / read memory that serves as a work area when the CPU 111 executes a program. In addition to normal data, model identification information is also stored in the backup memory 115.

【0034】

The blocks of CPU 121 to backup memory 125 in the device controller 12 and the blocks of CPU 131 to backup memory 135 in the printer controller 13 are functionally the same as the blocks of CPU 111 to backup memory 115 in the main controller 11 described above. , The description shall be omitted.

【0035】

Since the backup method for the above backup memories 115, 125, 135 is a known technique, detailed description thereof will be omitted in this example, but SRAM is backed up with a battery, or a non-volatile rewritable EEPROM, FLASH ROM, etc. There is. Further, the communication method in the above communication units 112, 122, 132 is not limited.

【0036】

In the configuration of FIG. 1, the main controller 11, the device controller 12, and the printer controller 13 store model identification information inside the backup memories 115, 125, and 135, respectively. The CPU 111 of the main controller 11 monitors the information of the device controller 12 and the printer controller 13 at the time of normal power-on, and backs up the same model identification information as itself for each controller of the device controller 12 or the printer controller 13 as needed. Notify via the communication unit 112 to write to 125 and 135. Along with this, the CPU 121 of the device controller 12 and the CPU 131 of the printer controller 13 rewrite the model identification information stored in their own backup memories 125 and 135 in response to the above instructions. In addition, as a result of the above monitoring, the CPU 111 of the main controller 11 displays a warning to that effect on the display unit of the operation unit (not shown) equipped in the copier, or disables the copier as necessary. Control to do.

【0037】

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a conceptual example in which the program of the present invention and related data are supplied from the storage medium to the device. The program and related data of the present invention are supplied by inserting a storage medium 81 such as a floppy disk or a CD-ROM into a storage medium drive insertion slot 83 provided in the device 82. After that, the program and related data of the present invention can be installed from the storage medium 81 on the hard disk and loaded from the hard disk to RAM, or the program and related data of the present invention can be loaded directly into RAM without being installed on the hard disk. Can be executed.

【0038】

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of the storage contents of the storage medium in which the program of the present invention and related data are stored. The storage medium of the present invention is composed of storage contents such as volume information 71, directory information 72, program execution file 73, and program-related data file 74. The program of the present invention is program-coded based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 to 5 described later.

【0039】

The correspondence between each constituent requirement in the claims of the present invention and each part of the copying machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention and the second embodiment described later is as follows. The storage means corresponds to backup memories 115, 125, 135, 615, 621, 631, the control means corresponds to CPU 111, the main unit corresponds to main controllers 11 and 61, and the subunits correspond to device controllers 12, 62 and printer. Corresponds to controller 13 and laser driver 63.

【0040】

Next, in the copier according to the first embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, the device controller 12 and the printer controller 13 identify the model in the backup memories 125 and 135 according to the instruction based on the monitoring result of the main controller 11. A warning that the information has been rewritten or an algorithm for disabling the copying machine will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 5.

【0041】

When the power of the copier is turned on (step S401), the CPU 111 of the main unit, that is, the main controller 11 is stored in the model identification information held in the program storage ROM 113 and the backup memory 115 in the initial check sequence at the time of powering on. It is compared with the model identification information provided, and it is determined whether or not both model identification information match (step S402). If the model identification information of the program storage ROM 113 and the model identification information of the backup memory 115 do not match, the CPU 111 of the main controller 11 determines that an illegal ROM exchange has been performed, and issues a warning or puts the copier in an inoperable state. (Step S407).

【0042】

If the model identification information of the program storage ROM 113 and the model identification information of the backup memory 115 match in step S402, the CPU 111 of the main controller 11 communicates with other units (device controller 12 and printer controller 13). The model identification information held by the other units is monitored (step S403), and all the other controllers acquired based on the communication between the model identification information held by the main controller 11 and the device controller 12 and the printer controller 13. Compare with the model identification information of.

【0043】

The CPU 111 of the main controller 11 compares the model identification information of all the other units (other controllers) other than the main controller (step S404), and if the model identification information of all the other units matches, they match. It is compared whether or not the model identification information of all the other units is the same as the model identification information held by the main controller 11 (step S405). If the identification information of all the other units of the CPU 111 of the main controller 11 is the same as the model identification information held by the main controller 11, the model identification information of all the units will match. Is controlled so that it operates normally as it is (step S406).

【0044】

If the identification information of all the other units (other controllers) is different from the model identification information held by the main controller 11, the CPU 111 of the main controller 11 is replaced by the main unit (main controller 11). It may have been done, so either issue a warning or render the copier inoperable (step S408).

【0045】

If the model identification information of other units (other controllers) other than the main does not match in step S404 above, the CPU 111 of the main controller 11 determines whether there is one or more units (controllers) with different model identification information. (Step S409). Since the CPU 111 of the main controller 11 has one unit having different model identification information, for example, assuming that there are four units other than the main controller 11, there is one unit having different model identification information as described above. , It is determined whether or not the model identification information of the units whose model identification information does not differ, that is, the model identification information of the remaining three units matches the model identification information of the main controller 11 (step S410).

【0046】

If the model identification information of the remaining three units (controllers) matches the model identification information of the main controller 11, the CPU 111 of the main controller 11 determines that the units other than the main have been replaced due to a failure or the like, and determines that the main controller 11 has been replaced. Control is performed so that the same model identification information as oneself is written in the above-mentioned one unit different from the model identification information of the controller 11, and the copying machine is controlled to perform normal operation (step S411).

【0047】

If the model identification information of the unit (controller) that does not differ in step S410 above does not match the model identification information of the main controller 11, the CPU 111 of the main controller 11 warns that the main controller 11 is likely to have been replaced. Emit or render the copier inoperable (step S413).

【0048】

If the CPU 111 of the main controller 11 does not have one unit (controller) with different model identification information in step S409, that is, if there are multiple units (controllers) with different model identification information, some trouble occurs and the model is identified. Since there is a high possibility that the information is confused, history information indicating that fact is left in the backup memory 115 so that the model identification information of the unit other than the main unit matches the main model identification information if there are no other problems. The model identification information is controlled to be written, and the copying machine is controlled to operate normally (step S412).

【0049】

The reason why the sub unit (controller) is not inoperable here is that various exchanges and reuses are permitted for the sub unit (controller), and in this embodiment, it is inoperable when it is determined that only the main controller 11 has been exchanged. Is.

【0050】

As described above, according to the copying machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the main controller 11 includes a backup memory 115 for storing model identification information and some of a plurality of controllers (units). The device controller 12 and the printer controller 13 have a CPU 111 that identifies whether or not the model identification information of the controller (unit) of the device is different and issues a warning or disables the device operation if the model identification information is different. Since it has backup memories 125 and 135 for storing identification information, respectively, it has the following actions and effects.

【0051】

In the above configuration, the copying machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention has common hardware, and the performance of the device such as copying speed can be changed by changing the software. Illegal changes in software or units will warn you or prevent the device from working.

【0052】

In the device, the unit on which the software that changes the copying speed etc. is installed is positioned as the main, and if this unit or the software is changed, the performance of the device will change. For example, in a copier, the correct model identification information is written in the system expansion part such as a printer or fax machine, or in the non-volatile memory part (backup memory) of another unit part in the copier body, and the main unit is the main unit when the power is turned on. Recognize the model identification information of.

【0053】

If it is determined that illegal work has been performed according to the recognition result of the model identification information, a warning is issued or the copier is disabled. If it is determined that the reason is justified, the copying machine is operated. Further, for example, when it is determined that a certain subunit has been replaced with a unit containing another model identification information due to a problem such as a failure, the operation of writing the correct model identification information to the subunit is performed.

【0054】

In general, there are a plurality of units having a non-volatile memory (backup memory) in one system for another reason, and by utilizing the unit, the configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention can be taken. , It is possible to realize without cost increase.

【0055】

Therefore, in the first embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the performance of a device such as a copying machine from being illegally improved by software replacement or predetermined unit replacement without increasing the cost.

【0056】

[Second Embodiment] The device with a model identification function according to the second embodiment of the present invention has common hardware and changes software, as in the first embodiment. Although the configuration can change the performance of the device such as copying speed, it is characterized by issuing a warning or preventing the device from operating when the software or a certain unit is illegally changed. In the second embodiment of the present invention, a case where a device with a model identification function is applied to a copying machine will be described in detail by taking as an example.

【0057】

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of each controller of the copying machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The copying machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention is roughly composed of a main controller 61, a device controller 62, and a laser driver 63. Further, the main controller 61 includes a CPU 611, a communication unit 612, a program storage ROM 613, a work RAM 614, and a backup memory 615, the device controller 62 includes a backup memory 621, and the laser driver 63 includes a backup memory 631.

【0058】

To elaborate on the above configuration, in the main controller 61, the CPU 611 is a central processing unit and controls each part of the main controller 61, the device controller 62, and the laser driver 63. The communication unit 112 communicates with the communication unit 621 of the device controller 62, and communicates with the communication unit 631 of the laser driver 63. The program storage ROM 613 is a read-only memory that stores a program to be executed by the CPU 611. A socket is mounted on the board and is configured so that it can be easily replaced. The work RAM 614 is an occasional write / read memory that serves as a work area when the CPU 611 executes a program. In addition to normal data, model identification information is also stored in the backup memory 615.

【0059】

The device controller 62 does not have a CPU or the like, and has a backup memory 621. Similarly, the laser driver 63 does not have a CPU or the like, but has a backup memory 631. The model identification information of the sub controller, that is, the device controller 62 and the laser driver 63 is stored in the backup memories 621 and 631.

【0060】

The main controller 61 directly controls the device controller 62 and the laser driver 63, and directly writes / reads the backup memory 621 of the device controller 62 and the backup memory 631 of the laser driver 63. Similar to the first embodiment, the CPU 611 of the main controller 61 issues a warning or disables the copying machine when it determines that the main controller 61 has been replaced based on a predetermined algorithm.

【0061】

Since the above backup method is a known technique, detailed description thereof will be omitted in this example, but there are EEPROM, FLASH ROM, etc. that can back up SRAM with a battery or are non-volatile and rewritable. Further, the communication method in the above-mentioned communication units 612, 621 and 631 is not limited.

【0062】

As described above, according to the copying machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the main controller 61 includes a backup memory 615 for storing model identification information and some of a plurality of controllers (units). The device controller 62 and the laser driver 63 have a CPU 611 that identifies whether or not the model identification information of the controller (unit) is different and issues a warning or disables the device operation if the model identification information is different. Since it has backup memories 621 and 631 for storing identification information, respectively, it has the following actions and effects.

【0063】

In the above configuration, the copying machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention has the same hardware as the first embodiment, and if the software is changed, the copying speed and the like can be changed. Although the configuration can change the performance, it issues a warning or prevents the device from operating when the software or a certain unit is changed illegally.

【0064】

In the device, the unit on which the software that changes the copying speed etc. is installed is positioned as the main, and if this unit or the software is changed, the performance of the device will change. For example, in a copier, the correct model identification information is written in the system expansion part such as a printer or fax machine, or in the non-volatile memory part (backup memory) of another unit part in the copier body, and the main unit is the main unit when the power is turned on. Recognize the model identification information of.

【0065】

If it is determined that illegal work has been performed according to the recognition result of the model identification information, a warning is issued or the copier is disabled. If it is determined that the reason is justified, the copying machine is operated. Further, for example, when it is determined that a certain subunit has been replaced with a unit containing another model identification information due to a problem such as a failure, the operation of writing the correct model identification information to the subunit is performed.

【0066】

In general, there are a plurality of units having a non-volatile memory (backup memory) in one system for another reason, and by utilizing the unit, the configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention can be taken. , It is possible to realize without cost increase.

【0067】

Therefore, also in the second embodiment of the present invention, similarly to the first embodiment described above, the performance of a device such as a copying machine can be illegally improved by exchanging software or a predetermined unit without increasing the cost. It has the effect of preventing it from being raised.

【0068】

In the first embodiment and the second embodiment of the present invention described above, the case of a copying machine as an apparatus with a model identification function has been described as an example, but the application of the present invention is limited to the copying machine. It is not a device, and can be applied to devices other than copiers in which a plurality of units are connected to each other.

【0069】

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or a device composed of one device. A storage medium that stores the program code of the software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment is supplied to the system or device, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or device stores the program code in the storage medium. Needless to say, it can be achieved by reading and executing.

【0070】

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

【0071】

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

【0072】

Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the function of the above-described embodiment is realized, but also the OS running on the computer or the like is actually processed based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, there are cases where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by performing a part or all of the processing.

【0073】

Further, the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted in the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, and then the function is expanded based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, there are cases where the CPU provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs a part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment.

【0074】

[Effect of the invention]

As described above, according to the device with the model identification function according to claims 1 to 8, the device has a configuration in which the performance of the device such as copying speed can be changed by changing the software and having common hardware. However, if the software or a unit is changed illegally, a warning will be issued or the device will not operate.

【0075】

In the device, the unit on which the software that changes the copying speed etc. is installed is positioned as the main, and if this unit or software is changed, the performance of the device will change, so other units, such as copiers, have printers and fax machines. The correct model identification information is written in the non-volatile memory part (backup memory) of the system expansion part such as, or the other unit part in the copier main body, and the main recognizes the model identification information of the sub unit when the power is turned on.

【0076】

If it is determined that illegal work has been performed according to the recognition result of the model identification information, a warning is issued or the device is disabled. If it is determined that the reason is justified, the device is operated. Further, for example, when it is determined that a certain subunit has been replaced with a unit containing another model identification information due to a problem such as a failure, the operation of writing the correct model identification information to the subunit is performed.

【0077】

In general, there are multiple units having non-volatile memory (backup memory) in one system for another reason, and if the configuration of the present invention is adopted by using it, it can be realized without cost increase. It is possible to do.

【0078】

Therefore, according to the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to prevent illegally improving the performance of a device such as a copying machine by exchanging software or a predetermined unit without increasing the cost.

【0079】

Further, according to the model identification method according to claims 9 to 16, by applying the model identification method to a device such as a copier, software replacement or a predetermined unit replacement can be performed without increasing the cost as described above. This has the effect of preventing the performance of devices such as copiers from being illegally improved.

【0080】

Further, according to the storage medium according to claim 17, by reading the model identification method from the storage medium and executing it in a device such as a copier, software replacement or a predetermined method can be performed without increasing the cost as described above. It has the effect of preventing the performance of devices such as copiers from being illegally improved by exchanging units.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of each controller of the copying machine which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention.

[Figure 2]

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of each unit of the copying machine which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 3]

It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the copying machine which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 4]

It is a flowchart which shows one determination algorithm in the copying machine which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 5]

It is a flowchart which shows one determination algorithm in the copying machine which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 6]

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of each controller of the copying machine which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 7]

It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the storage contents of the storage medium which stored the program and related data of this invention.

[Fig. 8]

It is explanatory drawing which shows the conceptual example which the program of this invention and related data are supplied to the apparatus from a storage medium.

[Explanation of symbols]

11, 61 main controller 12, 62 device controller 13 Printer controller 63 Laser driver 111, 121, 131, 611 CPU 112, 122, 132, 612 Communication section 113, 123, 133, 613 Program storage ROM 114, 124, 134, 614 Work RAM 115, 125, 135, 615, 621, 631 backup memory