RICOH Always Current Technology

Field Service Manual

Initial Release: November, 2019

(c) 2019 Ricoh Co.,Ltd.
Table of Contents
1. RICOH Always Current Technology ................................................................................................... 2
What is “RICOH Always Current Technology (ACT)”? .......................................................................... 2
2. How to Confirm the Machine Version ................................................................................................. 4
3. How to Activate ................................................................................................................................... 6
4. How to Deactivate............................................................................................................................... 7
5. Troubleshooting .................................................................................................................................. 8
6. Detailed Descriptions .......................................................................................................................... 9
7. Appendix ........................................................................................................................................... 11

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1.RICOH Always Current Technology

1. RICOH Always Current Technology

What is “RICOH Always Current Technology (ACT)”?

RICOH Always Current Technology is a method to add the latest functions by upgrading the software
(Firmware/Application) in a MFP, printer, etc.
Until now, if you want to use a function that the current machine does not have, you had to replace it
with a model equipped with that function. However, if the model is equipped with RICOH Always
Current Technology, it is possible to add the latest functions that were not installed at the time of
machine installation. The functions that can be added are updated constantly.

Reference:
https://www.ricoh.com/products/printers-and-copiers/always-current-technology/

After releasing the new functions, machines currently manufactured in the factory will be shipped with
the new functions activated. For the machines already in use, customers can activate the new feature
via Application Site. The concept of ACT is to have the customers, activate it by themselves via
Application Site, so updating the Firmware alone will not activate the new features. Also, it can be
activated using the SP Settings. For further details, please refer to the mechanism section.

Example: Delivery method and the new features

IM C series will come with ACT v1.0 at the time of product launch but package firmware version 2.23
(planned) or later will have the ACT v1.1 functions built-in, and it will be possible to activate ACT v1.1 on
machines with package firmware version v2.23 (planned) or later installed. After activating ACT v1.1,
the ACT version of the device will be v1.1 and it will have the following features:

Function Details
New Settings We have redesigned the Settings screen and integrated the Main Unit settings
screen and the Peripherals settings. By reviewing the category and using the search
function, administrators can set up the machine smoothly.

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 1.RICOH Always Current Technology

Function Details

After activating ACT v1.1, you can switch to the new Settings screen from the
Administrator settings. It will not automatically switch. Machines manufactured
with ACT v1.1 has already been switched to the new Settings screen at the
factory.
Features added On the new copy screen (previously Easy Copy), the following functions are
to the new Copy added that were only available on the Classic Copy screen:Reserved copy, fit to
screen paper, inverted copy, mirrored copy
Choosing save Ability to change the save location for the documents received via Fax to the
location for the HDD.
received Fax
files feature

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2.How to Confirm the Machine Version

2. How to Confirm the Machine Version

The activation status of the ACT can be confirmed by the following 3 different methods.

On IM C2000/C2500/C3000/C3500/C4500/C5500/C6000, this can be displayed only with package

firmware version 2.22.04 or later.
Suffix number may be added to the bottom digit of ACT version (e.g. version 1.1"0") when an
important bug fix is applied. This is in order to prevent activation via Application site without the
important bug fix.

1. The status can be checked on the Status Confirmation screen.

2. It can be checked with an individual firmware named "RicohACT". This is shown on

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 2.How to Confirm the Machine Version

firmware list (e.g. Settings or Self-diagnosis Report (SP5-990-005)).

3. Using the SP5-780-001: Confirm the current version.

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3.How to Activate

3. How to Activate
ACT feature can be activated in two ways.

1. Activate on the Application Site

On the Application Site, refer to the "Install the latest features on the main unit" page, in the User Guide.

－ It cannot be deactivated by the customer.

－ Both on the Application Site and the User Guide, the activation of ACT, referred as “Install”.
－ When there is a newer version on the Application Site, the previous version will no longer visible.

2. Activate using the SP mode

1) Install the package firmware that corresponds to the ACT version you want to activate.
2) Each ACT version can be activated using SP5-781-00X (0: Disable, 1: Enable). After changing the
value, power OFF/ON the machine.

－ Make sure to activate after confirming the version is already published on the Application Site.
－ In order to activate, package firmware what is containing the ACT version must be installed. (e. g.
ACT version 1.1 is contained package firmware version 2.23 or later).

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 4.How to Deactivate

4. How to Deactivate
ACT can be deactivated using the following methods:

Deactivate using the SP mode

1) Each ACT version can be deactivated using SP5-781-00X (0: Disable, 1: Enable). After changing the
value, power cycle the machine.

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5.Troubleshooting

5. Troubleshooting
If the following parts replaced on an ACT compatible models, carry out the following procedures after
replacement to restore the activation status.
For the replacement procedure, refer to the service manual of each model.
Replaced Part Procedure to follow
Controller Board (1) Apply the latest package firmware.
NVRAM (1) Execute SP5-780-201 or SP5-780-202 to restore the activation status from
(on Controller the HDD or the Operation Panel Unit.
Board)
HDD (1) Execute SP5 -780-200 to backup the activation status to the HDD.
Operation Panel (1) Apply the latest package firmware.
Unit (2) Execute SP5 -780-200 to backup the activation status to the Operation Panel
Unit.
FCU (1) Apply the latest package firmware.

Make sure there are no stored fax document before replacing the FCU.

ACT activation status is saved on the NVRAM, its activation status will not be affected with the HDD or
Operation Unit replacement. However, the activation status can be backup to HDD and Operation Panel
Unit by SP5 -780-200 and can be restored to NV-RAM by SP5-780-201 or 202 .
So after replacing the HDD or the Operation Unit, backup the activation status from the NVRAM to the
HDD and the Operation Unit by executing SP5-780-200. In the case of failure of NVRAM and if there is
no backup in HDD or Operation Panel Unit, the ACT version information in use will be lost. In that case
please ask customer which ACT version is used.

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 6.Detailed Descriptions

6. Detailed Descriptions
-ACT functions are included in the standard package firmware, there is no dedicated firmware for ACT.
- "Activation" in ACT means to change the value of SP5-781-00X (saved on the NVRAM).
-The latest ACT version built into the firmware can be confirmed using SP5-780-002.
-Activation status information is saved on the NVRAM and also can be backed up to the HDD or the
Operation Panel Unit. If the NVRAM is replaced, the activation status information can be manually
restored from the HDD or the Operation Panel Unit by executing SP5-780-20X

Step Description
(1) <In the case of Starting from the Application Site icon>
Tap Application Site icon and then the Browser NX is launched and the web page
of Application Site appears. Go to step (5).
(2) <In the case of Starting from the Banner message>
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6.Detailed Descriptions

Step Description
(3) The machine checks the Application Site server daily for new version of ACT on Application
Site. If there is a new version released on Application Site, a banner message is displayed on
top of screen. Go to step (4).
(4) A system message is displayed if the banner notification is tapped. Go to step (6).
(5) When the icon of the version to be activated tapped, the details screen for that version is
displayed. Go to step (7).
(6) If the "Details" button of the System message tapped, Browser NX is launched and the page
for the specified version is displayed. Go to step (7).
(7) Tap the "Install" button and go to step (8).
(8) Check if a firmware update is necessary.
<If not necessary:>
Tap the "Execute" button and then the machine will reboot automatically. Activation will be
completed after the reboot.
<If necessary:>
Tap the “Execute” button to display the firmware update confirmation screen. Then tap the
“Immediate update” to start downloading the firmware files. When the download process and
the firmware update are completed, the machine will reboot automatically. Activation will be
completed after the reboot.

Only effective for v1.1, activation is not performed with the firmware update simultaneously. It
is necessary to start again from the step (6) after package firmware update completion.

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 7.Appendix

7. Appendix
SP Modes List

5780 ACT Version

5-780- Current Version Display Display-only
001 Display the current ACT version of the machine.
5-780- MAX Version Display in ROM Display-only
002 Display the ACT version built-in the firmware. It is possible to activate the displayed
version.
5-780- HDD Version Display Display-only
003 Display the version information of ACT, backed up to the HDD. When SP6-780-201 is
executed, the value is copied to SP6-780-201.

This value is only used when SP5-780-201 executed. The activation status is not backed
up automatically after parts replacement.
5-780- Operation Panel Unit Version Display Display-only
004 Display the ACT version information of ACT, backed up to the Operation Panel Unit. When
SP5-780-202 is executed, the value is copied to SP5-781-001.

This value is only used when SP5-780-202 executed. The activation status is not backed
up automatically after parts replacement.
5-780- Lump Activate Execution Execute
050 Activate the latest ACT version built-in the firmware.
5-780- Auto activation setting [0～1 / 0 / 1]
100 When the firmware is updated, ACT version what is built-in the firmware will be updated to
the latest version automatically.
0：Disabled
1：Enabled

Be sure not to use without special direction. If this is enabled, an unsupported ACT version
might be activated unintentionally without an important bug-fix.
5-780- Restore from NV-RAM Execute
200 The activation status of ACT stored on the NV-RAM (SP5-781-001) is backed up to the
HDD and the Operation Panel Unit.
5-780- Restore from HDD Execute
201 Restore the ACT activation status what is backed up to the HDD (SP5-780-003) to NV-
RAM (SP5-781-001). It is also backed to the Operation Panel Unit (SP5-780-004).
5-780- Restore from Operation Panel Unit Execute

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7.Appendix

202 Restore the ACT activation status what is backed up to the Operation Panel Unit (SP5-780-
004) to NV-RAM (SP5-781-001). It is also backed to the HDD (SP5-780-003).
5-781- ACT v1.1 Setting [0～1 / 0 / 1]
001 Changing the Enable/Disable settings for ACT v1.1.
0: Disabled
1: Enabled

Machines manufactured after ACT v1.1 released on Application Site will be shipped with
the setting 1: Enabled from the factory.
5-781- ACT v1.2 Setting [0～1 / 0 / 1]
002 Changing the Enable/Disable settings for ACT v1.2.
0: Disabled
1: Enabled

Machines manufactured after ACT v1.2 released on Application Site will be shipped with
the setting 1: Enabled from the factory.

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