Abstract: An imaging system including firmware is disclosed. The imaging system includes a communications device adapted and constructed to facilitate communication between the imaging device and a remote source of information. An automatic remote firmware update mechanism is adapted to selectively and automatically retrieve firmware upgrade information from the remote source of information via the communications device. The automatic remote firmware update mechanism can also selectively and automatically install the firmware upgrade information into the firmware of the imaging system. The automatic remote firmware update mechanism can form a part of firmware installed in the imaging system. The communications device can be provided as a modem, or as a network interface card. The imaging system can also include a flag mechanism for storing a value corresponding to an update trigger parameter.