DE10244975B4 - Method for updating the operating software of a device - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for updating the operating software (BS_ALT) of a device (PBX), in which the operating software (BS_ALT) is stored on a first memory card (MMC 1) with a first non-volatile memory and is loaded into a volatile memory (DRAM) for operation,
with the process steps:
- backup of operating data (BD),
- Loading the new operating software (BS_NEU) into the volatile memory (DRAM) and
- Retransmission of the saved operating data (BD) in the volatile memory (DRAM),
characterized,
that the new operating software (BS_NEU) is stored in a non-volatile memory designed as a second memory card (MMC 2),
that the second memory card (MMC 2) is connected to the current device (PBX) for updating,
that the operating data (BD) are additionally backed up in a free memory area of this second memory card (MMC 2),
after that the new operating software (BS_NEU) is loaded into the volatile memory (DRAM) and started by a restart, and
that finally the ...

Description

The The invention relates to a method for updating operating software a device, a memory card with the new operating software is plugged into the device is the operating data of the device be backed up on this memory card and finally the new operating software in the volatile Transfer memory of the device becomes.

information technology equipment need to their operation in addition to the hardware operating software. That is true also for modern communication equipment, which is similar to a computer with Hardware, a microprocessor, volatile memory (RAM = Random Access Memory) and a non-volatile memory are equipped. In the nonvolatile memory, for example a hard disk or flash memory, are the operating software and the operating data stored. The operating data include in Case of the communication system, for example, all user-specific Settings such as the telephone number plan of the communication system, Authorizations, programmed call diversions etc. The operating software consists of the operating system and the control software based on it the communication system.

While the Hardware of a communication system after its delivery to the Customers usually no longer change, can be in regular or irregular intervals Replacement of the operating software may be necessary. This happens, for example for the correction of software errors, for the realization of new functions or to adapt the communication system to new technical standards.

The Updating the operating software can either be through the exchange of the existing non-volatile Memory with the previous operating software through a newly programmed Memory done, or by overwriting the existing nonvolatile Memory of the communication system by importing the new version via a Service interface.

Of the Exchange of a non-volatile Memory of a communication system happens for example by Replacing a so-called flash card by plugging in another flash eprom or by replacing a hard disk. Because in the non-volatile Memory also saved the operating data in customized configuration are, the newly inserted non-volatile memory must be previously with these customer-specific operating data can be programmed. To do this this operating data first from a service technician on one disk and then to program the new non-volatile memory uses. If the memory already pre-programmed in the factory becomes frequent the customer-specific user data in the version of the first Commissioning of the communication system used.

Also when updating the operating software of a communication system by importing the new software version into the existing non-volatile Memory using a service interface performs in the As a rule, the customer-specific operating data stored in this memory Completely or partially lost. One reason for this can be, for example, that the new operating software version has a larger storage volume in the nonvolatile Memory claimed as the old version. That's why it's included this kind of software update necessary, the custom Operating data before importing the new software version a disk to secure. This can for example be the same mobile PC of the service technician which is also used to record the new operating software version becomes.

From the publication WO 00/67132 A1 "Combination ATA / Linear Flash Memory Device" a memory card is known which comprises a combination of two different storage media. On the one hand, a first non-volatile memory (linear flash memory) is used to store, for example, the "firmware" or the operating software of a computer. On the other hand, a second non-volatile memory (Sectored Flash Memory) is provided in the same memory card, which is managed by a special control module (ATA / IDE controller) so that it behaves like a hard disk memory to the computer. Both storage media share a common access (Data Interface) to the computer, accessing this access being done alternately. When the computer is started, the contents of the "Linear Flash Memory" are copied to the volatile memory of the computer and executed there. This method is also known as "ROM shadowing". To update the firmware or operating software, the computer is shut down, the combined memory card is removed, and the first non-volatile linear memory is reprogrammed in an external service computer, while the second nonvolatile memory used to emulate a hard disk is reprogrammed. remains unchanged. After updating the operating software or the firmware, the memory card is plugged back into the original computer, which then copies the now updated software into its volatile memory and executes it brings.

Out the document US 2002/0023530 A1 "Tone generation device to which plug-in board is removably attachable and tone generation method therefor "is a musical instrument known, which has a slot for plugging a module. Such a module comprises a non-volatile memory, in the sound information optionally in the form of parameters (pitch, timbre, etc.) or stored in the form of stored oscillations (so-called "samples"). These sounds and parameters are provided with names that are also in the non-volatile Memory are stored and after plugging the module to the Musical instrument render become. There these names are accessed via a keyboard or similar Input media displayed on a display. The ones stored in the module Sound information can manipulated, deleted or accessed by accessing controls of the musical instrument be recreated. New modules plugged into the musical instrument are recognized automatically, whereby without another user input the available through the module Tones and Sounds up the user interface become accessible to the musical instrument.

The publication US 6,233,681 Kang's "Computer System And A Control Method Of The Same For In-System Reprogramming Of A Fixed Flash Rom When Access To The Fixed Flash Rom Is Not Possible" presents a procedure and arrangement for updating a computer's operating software. The operating software is stored in a permanently installed ("fixed") non-volatile memory module and is copied to the start of the computer in a volatile memory and executed there. To update the operating software, another non-volatile memory module ("backup flash rom") is inserted in a separate slot (socket). By pressing an electrical switch, the permanently installed nonvolatile memory is decoupled from the computer and the inserted nonvolatile memory module is connected to the computer. The computer is then rebooted, and the computer is then "booted" from the newly added non-volatile memory, with the operating software to be updated transferred from that memory device to the volatile memory of the computer. During operation of the computer, the inserted nonvolatile memory is then decoupled from the computer and the fixed nonvolatile memory is reconnected to the computer. The updated operating software stored in the volatile memory of the computer is then transferred to the non-volatile fixed memory.

The publication DE 195 06 957 , Zwack, "Method of Updating and Loading User Programs in a Program Memory of a Microprocessor System" shows a method of updating operating software. In this case, the operating software to be updated is introduced via a system interface into a computer system and stored in a non-volatile memory ("flash"), wherein the previously used operating software is overwritten. The operating data also stored in the nonvolatile memory is also buffered in the flash memory before the updating of the operating software, after the updating of the operating software and after the restart of the computer system memory addresses for this operating data are transferred, whereby this operating data from the updated Operating software can continue to be used.

Finally, the document shows EP 1 003 099 A2 Firooz et al., "A Method Of Updating Firmware Without Affecting Initialization Information" is also a method of updating operating software. Here, important operating data are saved in a separate memory prior to the update of the operating software, and after a "reset" and the associated commissioning of the updated operating software, they are read out of the separate memory and reused.

at the previously used method for updating the operating software of communication equipment has proved to be detrimental to that the updating of the operating software first, the customized Operating data must be saved. In the meantime made changes on the configuration of the communication system, which is for change the operating data have lost during the software update. At a Software update by a service technician with help a service PC directly to the communication system will this Problem though reduced leads but to an increased Staffing by the need to update the software to run locally with the help of a mobile computer have to. An updating of the operating software by the customer himself is often not possible.

Of the The invention is therefore based on the object to propose a method, with the ease of updating the operating software of communication systems possible is, whereby the customer-specific operating data are saved and reduced the business interruption of the communication system becomes.

The solution of this task is through the in the Given claim 1 features.

The solution provides that the new operating software in one as a second memory card trained non-volatiles Memory is stored, that the second memory card to update to the running device is connected, that the operating data additionally in a free memory area This second memory card will be backed up by that restart the new operating software in the volatile Memory is loaded and started and that eventually the saved operating data in the volatile memory. An essential advantage of the method according to the invention is that by storing the customer-specific operating data on the memory card with the updated operating software no Operating data of the communication system will be lost. To update The operating software does not require a PC, so the upgrade the operating software can also be done by the customer himself. The business interruption of the communication system is by the only once required restart the system to a minimum.

advantageous Further developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

If the second memory card is a plug-in card is the connecting and Removing the memory card during operation of the communication system easy to do.

The To run of special operating procedures for updating the operating software can omitted when the backup of the operating data and the transfer the new operating software after connecting the second memory card automatically with new operating software.

To the Operation of the communication system suffices a single slot for memory cards, if you have already connected a second memory card to the device Removed a memory card containing the operating software to be updated and in its place the second memory card with the new operating software is connected. The replaced memory card can after that be reused.

Of the constructive effort for the communication system is reduced by the connected Memory card is the only non-volatile memory for the operating software and the user data of the device is.

at A business interruption will not change the configuration the communication system lost when changes in operating data while of the current operation in each case in the volatile memory of the device and in non-volatile Memory of the connected memory card done.

One embodiment a method according to the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Showing:

1 a communication system during operation with inserted memory card and to be updated operating software

2 the backup of operating data of the communication system on a newly inserted memory card with updated operating software, and

3 the restart of the communication system with the transmission of the updated operating software and the operating data from the inserted memory card in the volatile memory of the communication system.

In 1 there is shown a telecommunications system PBX equipped with a volatile memory DRAM. At the telecommunication PBX, a non-volatile memory MMC 1 is connected via a serial data line DL. The non-volatile memory MMC 1 is a plug-in card (multimedia card), which can be plugged in or removed during operation of the telecommunications system PBX. The nonvolatile memory MMC 1 is designed as a flash Eprom, whereby the information stored in this memory is not lost when removing the plug-in card from the telecommunications system PBX.

In the non-volatile Memory MMC 1 are both the operating software BS_ALT the telecommunications system PBX and the operating data BD of the PBX PBX saved. At system startup of the PBX PBX with the help of a launcher, the so-called boot loader, first the operating software BS_ALT of the non-volatile Memory MMC 1 over the data line DL in the volatile Memory DRAM telecom PBX transferred. The operating software BS_ALT is now started in the telecommunications PBX and the operating data BD are also transferred from the memory card via the Data line DL in the volatile Memory DRAM copied from the telecommunications system.

The not shown here microprocessor of the PBX PBX removes both the program commands during operation as well as the required operating data BD from the volatile memory DRAM, because the capacity and the architecture of the serial data line DL is not dimensioned for direct access in real time. The operating data BD essentially comprise user-specific settings such as telephone numbers, names, authorizations, etc. As soon as a change occurs in the operating data BD stored in the volatile memory DRAM, this change is also made using the data line DL stored in the non-volatile memory MMC 1 operating data BD performed. This ensures that, in the case of a restart of the telecommunications system PBX and the associated reloading of the operating data BD from the nonvolatile memory MMC 1 into the volatile memory DRAM, a current version of the operating data BD is always available.

To troubleshoot or to implement new functions, the PBX can be equipped with a new, updated operating software BS_NEU. This process is described below. The manufacturer of the PBX telecommunications system will supply a new memory card MMC 2, which contains the new version of the operating software BS_NEU and which is electrically and mechanically compatible with the existing nonvolatile memory MMC 1. The replacement of the memory card MMC 2 with the existing nonvolatile memory MMC 1 is in 2 shown. The replacement of the memory card MMC 2 against the existing nonvolatile memory MMC 1 takes place during operation of the telecommunications system PBX, wherein, as described above, in the volatile memory DRAM of the telecommunications PBX both the previous and currently in operation operating software BS_ALT as well as in Use existing operating data BD are stored. Since only the operating software BS_ALT stored in the volatile memory DRAM and the operating data BD stored in the same memory DRAM are accessed during ongoing operation of the telecommunication system PBX, the removal of the nonvolatile memory MMC 1 from the slot of the telecommunication system PBX can take place without interruption of operation. Now, the plug-in card MMC 2 is used in the telecommunications system PBX.

A in the telecommunications system PBX triggered at regular intervals monitoring routine recognizes first removing the non-volatile Memory MMC 1 and prevented from this point write access via the Data line DL, otherwise in case of a random change of operating data BD could be done at this time. The monitoring routine then register the insertion of the new plug-in card MMC 2 with one of the Time active operating software BS_ALT deviating operating software version. This triggers a copy operation, with which the operating data BD from the volatile memory DRAM over the data line DL are transferred to the MMC 2 plug-in card. This is a until then still free memory area of the slot MMC 2 existing flash memory used, so that the new operating software BS_NEU continues to be retained on the MMC 2 card.

After completion of the described copying process are located in the volatile memory DRAM continue the previously used operating software BS_ALT and the current operating data BD and on the plug-in card MMC 2 are at this time the new operating software BS_NEU and a copy of the current operating data BD stored. The PBX telecommunications system now automatically performs a complete restart ("Reset / Re-Load") 3 shown.

in the The reboot is by the load routine ("boot loader") of the PBX PBX first the new operating software BS_NEU from the MMC 2 into the volatile Memory DRAM telecom PBX transferred. The new operating software BS_NEU will now be out of the volatile Memory DRAM started out, creating another copy process is set in motion with the over the data line DL the operating data stored on the board MMC 2 BD into a free memory area of the DRAM volatile memory Telecommunications PBX are copied. This is the update the operating software BS_ALT by a new version of operating software BS_NEU completed. Instead of the original non-volatile Memory MMC 1 remains the slot MMC 2 in the slot Telecommunication PBX. The non-volatile memory MMC 1 can returned to the manufacturer of the PBX PBX be in exchange with new operating software BS_NEU for one other telecommunications system to be programmed.

Claims (7)

Method for updating the operating software (BS_ALT) of a device (PBX), in which the operating software (BS_ALT) is stored on a first memory card (MMC 1) with a first non-volatile memory and is loaded into a volatile memory (DRAM) for operation the process steps: - backup of the operating data (BD), - Loading the new operating software (BS_NEU) in the volatile memory (DRAM) and - retransmission of the secure operating data (BD) in the volatile memory (DRAM), characterized in that the new operating software (BS_NEW) in one is stored as a second memory card (MMC 2) formed nonvolatile memory that the second memory card (MMC 2) is connected to the current device (PBX) for updating, that the operating data (BD) in addition in a free memory area of this second memory card (MMC ), then the new operating software (BS_NEU) is loaded into the volatile memory (DRAM) and started by a restart, and finally the backed up operating data (BD) are transferred back to the volatile memory (DRAM). Method according to claim 1, characterized in that that the device (PBX) is a telecommunications system. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the second memory card (MMC 2) is a plug-in card is. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the backup of the operating data (BD) and the transmission of the new operating software (BS_NEU) after connecting the second memory card (MMC 2) with new operating software (BS_NEU) automatic he follows. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that for connecting the second memory card (MMC 2) one already on the device connected memory card with the operating software to be updated (BS_ALT) and in its place the second memory card (MMC 2) with the new operating software (BS_NEU). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the respectively connected memory card (MMC 1, MMC 2) the only non-volatile Memory for the operating software (BS_ALT, BS_NEU) and the user data (BD) of the device is. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized marked that changes the operating data (BD) during of the current operation in the volatile memory (DRAM) of the device (PBX) and in the non-volatile Memory of the connected memory card (MMC 1, MMC 2).