Patent ID: 7876469

Claim:
A multifunctional image forming apparatus comprising: a memory configured to store firmware; an interface configured to be connected to an external terminal apparatus via a network; and a controller configured to receive, from the external terminal apparatus, an instruction for updating the firmware stored in the memory, to receive a plurality of specified updating firmware corresponding to the firmware stored in the memory, and to store the plurality of specified updating firmware in the memory, the controller, when the plurality of the specified updating firmware are received, being further configured to store each of the plurality of the specified updating firmware in the memory without rebooting the multifunctional image forming apparatus each time one of the plurality of the specified updating firmware is stored in the memory, and to automatically reboot the multifunctional image forming apparatus, when the controller receives, from the external terminal computer, an ending file that informs the image forming apparatus of the completion of transferring all specified updating firmware, and the controller, during the receiving of the specified updating firmware, determining if a reception error has occurred indicating a communication failure with the external terminal apparatus, and determining if a time out has occurred indicating that the reception of the specified updating firmware is incomplete over a predetermined time period, the controller displaying an error message on a display of the multifunctional image forming apparatus when at least one of a reception error and a time out has occurred; wherein the specified updating firmware includes standard firmware and optional firmware, the optional firmware extending functions of the multifunctional image forming apparatus, and wherein the instruction for updating the specified firmware includes specific instructional information designating which standard firmware and which optional firmware of the plurality of specified updating firmware are to be executed .