Peripheral device using two microprocessors and two buses for automatically updating program after judging that update data is stored in a portable recording medium

Claim 1

A peripheral device adapted to receive a plurality of types of portable recording media, wherein one of said plurality of types of portable recording media is a recording medium for storing user data and another one of said plurality of types of portable recording media is a recording medium bearing update data for automatically updating a program of the peripheral device, comprising: a first microprocessor; a first rewritable program memory connected to said first microprocessor for storing a program to be executed by said first microprocessor; a medium loader for loading a portable recording medium; means for reading data from said portable recording medium loaded in said medium loader; a data memory for storing data read from said portable recording medium loaded in said medium loader; a first bus connected to said first microprocessor, said first program memory, said data reading means, and said data memory, said first microprocessor controlling said medium loader via said first bus; a second microprocessor; a second program memory connected to said second microprocessor for storing a program to be executed by said second microprocessor; and a second bus connected to said second microprocessor, said second program memory, and said data memory, wherein: when said first microprocessor detects that said portable recording medium has been loaded in said medium loader, said first microprocessor judges whether said portable recording medium is a recording medium bearing update data for updating said program; if said portable recording medium is a recording medium bearing update data for updating said program, said first microprocessor reads the update data from said portable recording medium, stores the read update data in said data memory, and thereafter releases said first bus; said second microprocessor updates said program stored in said first program memory via said first and second buses, in accordance with said update data stored in said data memory, and thereafter terminates the release of said first bus.