Patent ID: 7107482

Claim:
A program update apparatus for updating an operation program on which an application program is executed, comprising: storage means for separately storing at least two operation programs; activating means for selecting and activating one of the operation programs, wherein the selected operation program configures a setting required for execution of the application program; first failure detecting means for detecting a failure in activation of the selected operation program; second failure detecting means for detecting a failure in activation of the application program executed on the selected operation program, wherein the application program requires the setting configured by the selected operation program for the execution thereof; a recovering application which resets the setting configured by the selected operation program; and informing means which gives information to an external device outside the program upgrade apparatus, wherein, in the case when the first failure detecting means detects any failure in the activation of the selected operation program, the activating means selects another operation program to switch over from the selected operation program, and in the case when the second failure detecting means detects any failure in the activation of the application program, the recovering application resets the setting configured by the selected operation program, and wherein, in the case when the updating process of the operation program is not carried out correctly, by the informing means, the information indicating the incorrect updating process is given to an external device outside the program upgrade apparatus.