JP2001053891A - Method and apparatus for updating program in portable terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] In a conventional portable terminal device, an updated program is incomplete when a communication line error or a power source error occurs during execution of the update by downloading the program. In order to avoid it, a large capacity memory was required. Therefore, development of a method and apparatus capable of taking measures against abnormalities during program update while suppressing an increase in memory capacity has been an issue. In the present invention, two sets of memories, a first storage area and a second storage area, are mounted as memories of the portable terminal device, and all programs of the portable terminal device are stored in the first storage area. When updating a program, a method is used for selecting whether to use the second storage area for each program.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a method for updating a program of a portable terminal device and a portable terminal device having this function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 12, a program in a portable terminal device is updated by a CPU (central processing unit) 11 which executes the program and controls the entire operation of the portable terminal device 1, and temporarily updates the data. For storing data
And a RAM 12 such as a DRAM, and a storage device 13 such as an F-ROM or an EEPROM for storing programs and tables.
And a communication control device 14 for controlling communication with the host. As a program updating method in the portable terminal device 1, for example, the following three methods are used.

That is, as a first method, a program to be downloaded is updated by directly overwriting a memory in which a program before update is stored.

A second method is an update method in which a program is temporarily downloaded to the RAM 12 and the program is stored in the storage device 13.

[0005] As a third method, a device as shown in FIG. 13, that is, a CPU 11 for executing a program and controlling the entire operation of the portable terminal device 2, an SRAM and a DRAM for temporarily storing data are used. And the like which stores a program, a table, and the like.
-Storage devices 15 and 16 such as ROM and EEPROM
And a portable terminal device 1 including at least a bank switching control device 17 for controlling the switching of the memory banks of the storage devices 15 and 16, two memory regions for the program are prepared, and the banks before switching are updated by bank switching. There is a way to update the program with the new program you downloaded.

However, when downloading via a line such as a wireless line or the like whose line quality fluctuates greatly, or when downloading is interrupted due to a drop or interruption of the power supply voltage of the portable terminal device, the above-mentioned first method requires: The new program is overwritten and updated halfway, and the existing program remains thereafter, resulting in an incomplete program. In order to cope with this, there is a method of excluding a program for performing communication control from being a target of update by download so that at least control of the mobile terminal device 1 is possible. As a countermeasure against software bugs, there is a problem that download cannot be used. In the second method, since the program is stored in the RAM 12, even if the download is stopped halfway, there is no problem that the incomplete program in the first method is recorded. It is necessary to secure a sufficient area for the program size, which greatly hinders miniaturization and weight reduction of the portable terminal device. Further, in the third method, similarly to the second method, the storage device 15
And the storage device 16 need to be duplicated, which greatly hinders the miniaturization and weight reduction of the portable terminal device.

[0007]

As described above, according to the conventional method, when an abnormality occurs in a communication line during a program update, or when an abnormality such as a drop in power supply voltage or a cut-off power supply of a portable terminal device occurs, The update program becomes erroneous data from that point and the program becomes incomplete. Since the control of the mobile terminal device becomes impossible if this state is maintained, a method of recording the program before update in another memory in advance, saving the program, and then performing the original update operation of the program before update is adopted. However, this method requires a memory having a large capacity that is at least twice as large as the entire program can be recorded. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the related art, and to develop a small and lightweight portable terminal device which is less affected by a power failure and uses a relatively small capacity memory. .

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following arrangement.

According to the first aspect, in a portable terminal device having a function of updating a program by downloading the plurality of programs via a communication means, the plurality of programs may be stored in a first storage area. The update process is managed by each item of the download update program, the storage address and the status flag for each included program, and at the same time, as the above program update method,
The old program in the first storage area is updated by using the new program once downloaded to the second storage area having a smaller capacity than the first storage area, or the downloaded new program is directly stored in the second storage area. The update method is to select and set, for each program, whether to overwrite and update one storage area.

According to a second aspect, a first storage means for storing at least one procedure of the management information and the program update method for each of the plurality of programs and storing control information required at the time of download, a program before update , A third storage device different from the second storage device, and a first program directly downloaded to the second storage device in which a program before update is stored. An update method and a method of downloading a program to the third storage means, and when the program is normally downloaded, the third storage means and the second storage means storing the downloaded program store the program. And a second program updating method for updating.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the portable terminal device according to the second aspect, a download program for executing a program download using a communication unit is used as a second program update method, so that the download can be performed normally. If the completion is not completed, the program for executing the download of the second storage means is used to execute the program update process again.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a table showing a management form in the program update according to the present invention. The programs to be downloaded are the program # 1, the program # 2, and the download update for updating the program by downloading the program from the host. There is a program A and a download update program B. Each of these programs indicates a storage address indicating a start address of a storage area for storing the downloaded update program and the downloaded program when the program is downloaded, and indicates a state during download processing or update processing or a state other than that. It is managed by a status flag. Here, the program # 1 has an attribute that makes the portable terminal device inoperable if this program is destroyed. For example, a download update program or a minimum user interface-related program is included in the program # 1. Belong. The program # 2 has an attribute that does not affect the operation of the portable terminal device even if the program is destroyed, and includes a general application program, a protocol processing program not used for downloading, and the like. Note that the download update program A has a function of overwriting and downloading to the first storage area as it is, and the download update program B is a program once downloaded to the second storage area and then stored in the first storage area. Has the function of performing update processing of In these download update programs, it is also possible to change the processing method according to the argument given to the program # 1 or the program # 2, or to change the operation content of the download update program due to external factors. From the above, according to the present invention, the first storage area requires a capacity for storing all programs mounted on the portable terminal device, but the second storage area has at least an independent storage area included in the program # 1. It is possible to save the re-memory capacity, which would be sufficient if the capacity is larger than the program.

Further, among the storage addresses, address #
1, address # 3 and address # 4 are addresses included in a second storage area different from the first storage area in which the program before update is stored, and address # 2 stores the program before update. This is the address of the first storage area that is the same as the area that has been set. By directly downloading to the first storage area, unlike the case where the second storage area is used, a memory temporarily required at the time of downloading is not required, and the program can be downloaded and updated. Further, the address # 1, the address # 3, and the address # 4 may be the same address or may be different addresses. However, in the former case,
It is necessary to secure a maximum area of the size of the program corresponding to the address # 1, the address # 3, and the address # 4 as the size of the second storage area. The address # 1, the address # 3, and the address # 4 may be storage areas that are statically allocated at the time of starting the apparatus, or may be storage areas that are dynamically allocated according to a state during operation after the apparatus is started. It may be. In addition, the second storage area is R
It may be secured in an area in the AM 12 or in the storage device 13. Further, the first storage area and the second storage area do not need to be continuous areas, and the minimum size required for storing the program is secured.
There is no particular limitation as long as the program can be stored at the time of downloading. However, if the area is not a continuous area, it is needless to say that memory control is required.
In this way, the memory required for downloading the program is managed for each program, and the method of downloading and updating the program, such as whether to use the second storage area or not, is used. The memory required for downloading the entire terminal device can be minimized.

As a procedure for downloading and updating the program, when an update of the program is required due to an external factor such as an input from an operator or a request from the host, an update operation is started in the procedure shown in FIG. As a procedure for downloading and updating, a status flag of a program to be downloaded is turned on (step 101), and a download update program corresponding to the program is executed (step 102). Next, as the download update program in the case of the program # 1 and the program # 2, as shown in FIG. 3, a storage address is first specified (step 201). For example, in the case of program # 1, address # 1. Following step 201, the program is downloaded from the host (step 202). Although there is no restriction on the program download processing, data is downloaded from the host in a minimum unit of a certain unit, and whether the downloaded data is correct or not. Judgment (Samchek or CRC (Cyc1ic Redundancy C
It is only necessary to have a function of performing error detection based on heck code). In addition, a process of connecting a communication line with the host is required for downloading, but it is sufficient that the communication line with the host is connected before the start of the download process. Subsequent to step 202, it is determined whether or not the download has been correctly performed (step 2).
03) If the download is executed normally, a program update process (step 204) is performed. Further, the state flag is rewritten to OFF (step 205), and a series of processing is ended. Here, in step 203, if the download has not been executed normally and the reason is that the communication line with the host has been disconnected (step 206), the process is terminated as a download abnormal end. In the above case for other reasons, step 202 is executed again.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the operation of the download update program in the case of the program # 2 is started by specifying a storage address (step 301). For example, in the case of program # 2, address # 2. This address is included in the area where the program before the update is stored. Step 30
After the storage location of the program is determined in step 1, the download of the program from the host is started (step 30).
2). It is determined whether or not the download has been normally performed (step 303). If the download has been normally performed, the status flag is rewritten to OFF (step 304), and the process ends. In step 303,
If the download was not successful, and
If the reason is that the communication line with the host has been disconnected (step 305), the process ends as abnormal download termination. For other reasons, the process returns to step 302 to execute the process again.

The program update process is performed with a system configuration as shown in FIG. That is, in this system, the CPU 11 that executes a program and controls the entire operation of the portable terminal device 3, the RAM 12 that is constituted by an SRAM or a DRAM for temporarily storing data, and the switching of an address bus are controlled. An address bus switching control unit 17 and an F-
Storage device 15, 1 constituted by ROM, EEPROM, etc.
6 and 18 and a communication control device 14 for controlling communication with a host. At the time of updating the program, a request for switching the address bus is output to the address bus switching control device 17 and the address bus is switched, so that the contents of the first storage area and the second storage area are changed as shown in the memory map of FIG. There is a program update method in which the contents of the storage area are replaced and the updated program can be executed.

There is also a program update processing method for preparing a jump table for determining a start address of a program when executing the program and performing an update process by changing a start address of the updated program. . For example, if there is a memory map as shown in FIG. 6 and the table shown in FIG. 7A is a jump table before updating, before updating the program, the program #
When 1 is executed, the program is executed by accessing the jump table and setting the program counter to the address indicated by the program start address shown in this table.
In the example of FIG. 7A, the program counter is set to 0x100
By setting to address 0, the execution of program # 1 is started. Assuming that the program # 1 is downloaded from the host to the second storage area (0x7000 to 0x7FFF), in the program update processing, FIG.
As shown in (b), the program start address of the program # 1 is changed to the address 0x7000. With this change, the next time the program # 1 is executed, the execution of the updated program # 1 can be started by referencing the program start address of the jump table and moving the program counter to the address 0x7000. Become.

As shown in FIG. 8, a program in a first storage area and a second storage area (Ox2000 to Ox2F
There is a program update method for executing the update by exchanging the FF) program. For example, if x is data in the first storage area and y is data in the second storage area, 1) a register in the CPU 11 or a temporary storage area temp
Is written in C language, then temp = x; x = y; y = temp; and 2) a method using only a storage area (where ＾ is an exclusive OR) is also used. When this is described in C language, y = y ＾ x; x = x ＾ y; y = y ＾ x;

By using these methods, a large storage area for storing the entire program at the time of replacement becomes unnecessary. As shown in FIG. 9, there is also a program updating method for updating the contents of the downloaded second storage area by copying the contents of the second storage area as it is to the first storage area.

Next, when the download ends abnormally,
When the download process and the update process are not completed due to the power failure of the mobile terminal device, for example, when the program cannot be normally downloaded, the recovery process procedure is to recover from the operator of the mobile terminal device 1 when the device is started. When there is an input to instruct, or when the wireless line is restored and communication becomes possible and the line with the host becomes connectable, etc., download by confirming the ON / OFF state flag as shown in FIG. A determination process is performed to determine whether there is a program in progress (step 401). If the status flag is ON, the download update program is executed again (step 402), and the program is downloaded from the host. In step 401, the status flag is set to O.
In the case of FF, the process ends.

Next, a description will be given of a procedure of a recovery process when the download process and the update process of the download update program are not normally completed. In this case, since the updates of the download update programs A and B are updated by the download update program A, even if the download update program downloaded in the second storage area is incomplete as shown in FIG. The update program is completely stored in the first storage area. That is, the download update program A
Thus, the program for performing the download and update process of the program can be re-executed until the download update program A is completed. Even in the case where the program download and update processes are incomplete, the download and update process of the program that realizes the minimum functions of the portable terminal device is performed by the download update program A, so that the minimum terminal The operation can be guaranteed, and the program download processing and update processing can be executed again.

[0023]

According to the present invention, a memory required for downloading a program is managed for each program, and a method of downloading and updating the program such as a method of using or not using the second storage area is selected. By doing so, the memory required for downloading the portable terminal device can be minimized. In addition, the program download processing and the update processing may be interrupted due to disconnection of the communication line on a line such as a wireless line where the line quality fluctuates greatly, or the re-download may be interrupted due to a drop in the power supply voltage of the portable terminal device or a power off. Even if the processing has been terminated, the program for realizing the minimum functions of the mobile terminal device is downloaded and updated by the second program updating method using the second storage area,
The operation of the terminal can be guaranteed, and the program download processing and update processing can be executed again.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a table showing an embodiment of a program and management item contents for updating the program according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a program download process and an update process according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a download and update process using a second storage area according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a download and update process using a first storage area according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment using a bank switching method in a program update process according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment using a jump table in a program update process according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a table illustrating the contents of a jump table in a program update process according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a memory configuration diagram showing an embodiment using a replacement process in a program update process according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a memory configuration diagram showing an embodiment using a copy process in a program update process according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a memory configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a storage area in which a program according to the present invention is stored.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a program for determining whether or not downloading is in progress according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a device configuration diagram for explaining a configuration necessary for updating a program of a conventional portable terminal device.

FIG. 13 is a device configuration diagram for explaining a configuration necessary for updating a program by a memory bank of a conventional portable terminal device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: portable terminal device 2: portable terminal device 3: portable terminal device 11: CPU 12: RAM 13: storage device 14: communication control device 15: storage device # 1 16: storage device # 2 17: bank switching control device 18: Storage device # 3

Continuation of the front page F term (reference) 5B027 AA04 BB06 CC03 5B076 BB06 CA04 5K027 AA11 BB04 HH00 5K101 KK20 LL12 MM07 NN21 TT02

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A portable terminal device having a function of updating a program by downloading a plurality of programs via a communication means, wherein an update process is managed for each program included in the plurality of programs. A program updating method for a portable terminal device, wherein the program updating method is selected for each program. 2. A portable terminal device having a function of updating a program by downloading a plurality of programs via communication means, wherein at least one procedure of management information and a program updating method for each of the plurality of programs is stored. A first storage unit for storing control information required at the time of download; a second storage unit for storing a program before update; a third storage unit different from the second storage unit; A first program updating means for directly downloading to the second storage means in which the previous program is stored; and a program for downloading to the third storage means for confirming that the program has been normally downloaded. The contents of the third storage means storing the downloaded program are stored in the second storage means. And a second program updating means for updating the program by transferring the program to the portable terminal device. 3. The portable terminal device according to claim 2, wherein when the download of the program is not normally completed when the program is downloaded using the communication means, the download program is used by the second program update means. Thus, the portable terminal device re-executes the download update process by the program for executing the download in the second storage means.