Method for controlling electronic apparatus, program for controlling electronic apparatus, electronic apparatus, and recording apparatus

Abstract

A method is provided for controlling an electronic apparatus, the electronic apparatus including a USB interface that is used for connecting a USB device of a first device class in a first operation mode controlled by a first control program. The method includes reading, upon connection of a USB device of a second device class different from the first device class to the USB interface, a second control program for controlling a second operation mode from the connected USB device; and starting the second operation mode by storing in a storage unit the second control program and executing the second control program.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a part of an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a memory map showing an example of a program expanded area of a RAM shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control process performed by the inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an electronic apparatus, the electronic apparatus including a USB interface that is used for connecting a USB device of a first device class in a first operation mode controlled by a first control program, the method comprising the steps of: reading, upon connection of a USB device of a second device class different from the first device class to the USB interface, a second control program for controlling a second operation mode from the connected USB device; andstarting the second operation mode by storing in a storage unit the second control program and executing the second control program.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first device class is a still image class and the second device class is a mass storage class.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising steps of: determining whether the second control program, which is stored in the USB device, is a valid control program; andstoring in the storage unit the second control program, which is stored in the USB device, and executing the second control program only in a case where the determining step determines that the second control program is a valid control program.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first operation mode is a user mode to perform an original operation of the electronic apparatus and the second operation mode is a factory mode to support an operator in manufacturing, testing, inspecting, or repairing said electronic apparatus.

5. A computer-executable program stored on a computer-readable medium, the program for controlling an electronic apparatus including control software to execute the method for controlling an electronic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. An electronic apparatus including hardware to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

7. A recording apparatus comprising: a USB interface to which a USB device of a still image class is connected in a first operation mode and to which a USB device of a mass storage class is connected in a second operation mode, the USB interface serving as hardware to execute the method for controlling an electronic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,wherein the recording apparatus records and outputs image data stored in the USB device connected in the first operation mode.