JP2001142686A - Installing device of software - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an installing device of software capable of installing application whose place to be corrected is corrected without newly manufacturing a medium in which application to be attached to a computer is stored when the place to be corrected of application to be previously installed in the computer is generated. SOLUTION: This installing device of software installs the application AP2 of the computer 10 to be shipped in a state in which the application AP2 is previously installed by updating the AP2 and is provided with an application correction module MD to update the software, an information file IF to store information regarding the application AP2 and the application correction module MD and an installer 14 to update the software by applying the correction module MD to the application AP2 based on the information file IF.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a software installation device, and more particularly, to a software installation device used to add or enhance a function of a program installed in a computer by performing version upgrade or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a computer generally used at present, all or all programs (word processors, spreadsheet programs, etc .; these programs are hereinafter referred to as applications) stored in an external storage device such as a hard disk are required. Part of RAM (Random A
An application program is executed by reading the program into a main storage device such as a ccess memory) and executing the read program by a CPU (central control unit).

That is, a general computer is a general-purpose computer, and can realize the functions of a word processor according to a program incorporated in the computer. When a spreadsheet program is executed, the functions of the spreadsheet are implemented. It can be achieved. In such a computer, in order to execute an application provided on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, it is necessary to perform an operation of registering a program in the computer (hereinafter, referred to as installation). A conventional installation apparatus is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-198569 (a paper by Ricoh Co., Ltd., entitled "Software Installation Method and Software Installation Recording Medium" published in the Japanese Patent Office published in 1998. )It is described in.

[0004]

In recent years, in order to improve the convenience of general users, computers provided by computer manufacturers are often shipped with applications installed in advance. Such a computer is referred to as a pre-installed model computer. In the pre-installed computer, the installed applications can be used from the time when the user first turns on the computer. Therefore, when the computer is used for the first time, the user is required to install the application. It is convenient in that there is no need to perform.

[0005] In addition, a medium (for example, a CD-ROM) storing applications installed in advance is attached to the computer of the preinstalled model. This is useful when the user wants to restore the contents of the external storage device to the initial state in order to organize the contents of the external storage device such as a hard disk provided in the computer, or when the operation of the application for any reason causes a problem. Must be reinstalled.

As described above, the preinstalled model computer is highly convenient in that the user does not need to perform an installation operation when purchasing the computer, but before the computer is shipped, or the user operates the computer. Applications installed after purchase may be enhanced. For example, in an application for retrieving train operation, when a new line is operated, operation data of the new line is added, and for a conventional line, data related to a diagram or fare is frequently updated.

When a computer user uses this kind of application, it is used on the assumption that a train operation can be searched based on the latest data, and a search result based on conventional data is useless. It will be. Further, if a defect (bug) is found in a part of the application to be installed before the computer is shipped, it is preferable that the application in which the bug is corrected is installed in the computer.

An application in which the above-mentioned data and bugs are corrected has only a small change in the entire application, and if a new medium such as a CD-ROM storing the changed application is manufactured, the cost is high. turn into.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in a case where an application to be installed in a computer is modified in advance, without newly manufacturing a medium storing the application attached to the computer. A software installation device that can install an application with a corrected location and that can install an application with a corrected location even after the user has purchased the computer. Aim.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a software that installs the software by updating the software in a computer shipped with the software installed in advance. An installation device, a correction module for updating the software, an information file storing information about the software and the correction module, based on the information file,
Updating means for updating the application by applying the correction module to the software. Further, the present invention is characterized in that the information file includes a storage location of the software and a storage location of the correction module. Further, the present invention is characterized in that the updating means compares the time stamp of the software with the time stamp of the correction module to determine whether or not to update. Further, the present invention is characterized in that it comprises reading means for downloading the correction module and the information file from a server connected via a network.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a software installation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a software installation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a computer, and reference numeral 20 denotes a CD-ROM attached to the computer 10 and shipped. The computer 10 includes an input device 1 such as a keyboard.
2, an installer 14 for installing an application, and a hard disk 16.

An application AP1 is recorded on the CD-ROM 20. Installer 14 is on CD-
The application AP1 recorded in the ROM 20 is read, and the application AP2 is stored on the hard disk 16.
Install as Further, in the hard disk 16, an application modification module MD for the application AP1 is recorded, and in the hard disk, a location where the application AP2 is stored, a location where the application modification module MD is recorded, and a modification of the application AP2. An information file IF that stores a location and the like is recorded.

[0013] Application A from CD-ROM 20
The work of installing P1 as the application AP2 is performed before the shipment of the computer 10 or when the user
-Application AP1 recorded in ROM 20
Will be done if you reinstall. In addition, the application modification module MD and the information file IF
Before the shipment of the computer 10, the application AP2 is recorded on the hard disk 16 when the application AP2 is installed, and the installer 14 applies the application modification module MD to the application AP2 using the recorded information file IF to install the application AP2. Install by updating.
Further, in the present specification, a symbol “￥” is used as a symbol for separating the directory or folder hierarchy, and a backslash symbol is used in the drawings, but each symbol is a symbol for separating the directory or folder hierarchy. And is synonymous.

Next, the operation of the software installation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the software installation device according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, a case will be described in which an application is installed using the information file shown in FIG. 3 as the information file IF shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the information file IF. In the following description, the operation of the software installation apparatus before the computer 10 is shipped is described in the operating system Windows provided by Microsoft Corporation.
The following describes an example of installation on s (registered trademark).

First, when performing installation, an operator specifies an application to be installed from the input device 12 (step S1). Here, CD-RO
It is assumed that the application AP1 recorded in M20 is specified by the operator. Specifically, a program for installing an application is specified here.
For example, it is assumed that the worker has specified an application named “sample1”. Once specified,
The installer 14 uses the application “sample”
In order to check the installation program of “1”, a line starting with the character string “SETUPEXE =” in the information file IF is checked.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, the character string "SETUPE
The line starting with “XE =” includes “$ sample1 @ SE
TUP. EXE ”is specified.
Is the program "@sampl" specified in this line.
e1 @ SETUP. EXE ”and execute CD-ROM2
The application AP1 recorded at 0 is installed on the hard disk 16 as the application AP2 (step S2). Next, the installer 14 refers to the information in the information file IF to
The application AP2 is updated using the application modification module MD recorded in the application. When performing the update, the installer 14 first checks the information file IF for a line starting with the character string “UPDCHFILE1 =” and a line starting with the character string “UPDDIRDST1 =”. The string “UPDCHKFILE1 =”
This is a character string that specifies the file name of the file to be updated, and the character string “UPDIRDIRST1 =” is a file that specifies the name of the folder that stores the file to be updated, that is, the file with the older version.

The installer 14 executes the file “C: \ ProgramFiles \ sam" specified by these two lines.
ple1 @ sample1. exe ”(step S3). Next, the installer 14 checks the information file IF for the character string“ UPDCHKF ”.
Line starting with "ILE1 =" and the character string "UPDDIRS
Examine the line starting with "RC1 =". The string "UPDC
“HKFILE1 =” is a character string that specifies the file name of the file to be updated, and the character string “UPDDIRSR”
C1 = "is a file to be updated, that is, a file with a new version (application modification module MD)
Is a file that specifies the name of the folder in which is stored. The installer 14 creates the file “C: \ Update \ sample1Bin \ sam specified by these two lines.
ple1 @ sample1. exe "is checked (step S4).

Next, the installer 14 installs the file “C: \ Update \ sample1Bin \ sam
ple1 @ sample1. exe ”and the file“ C: \ Program Files \ s
sample1 @ sample1. exe ", and determines whether these time stamps are the same (step S5).

In step S5, the file "C: \
Update \ sample1Bin \ sample1
¥ sample1. exe ”and the file“ C: \ Program Files \ sample ”
e1 @ sample1. exe ”, that is, when the determination result is“ NO ”, the folder“ C: {Program Files} ”in the files constituting the application AP2
Since it is necessary to apply the application modification module MD to a file existing in “sample1”, the character string “UPDDIRSRC” is included in the information file IF.
Folder “C: \ Upd” specified on the line beginning with “1 =”
ate \ sample1Bin \ sample1 "is stored in a folder" C: \ Program Files \ s "specified by a line starting with the character string" UPDIRDIRST1 = "in the information file IF.
Overwrite in "sample1" (step S6).

On the other hand, in step S5, the file "C: \ Update \ sample1Bin \ sam
ple1 @ sample1. exe ”and the file“ C: \ Program Files \ s
sample1 @ sample1. If the time stamp of “exe” is determined to be the same, that is, if the determination result is “YES”, the folder “C: \ Program” in the files constituting the application AP2
Since it is not necessary to apply the application modification module MD to the files existing in "Files @ sample1", the process of step S6 is not performed, and the process proceeds to the next process.

Next, it is determined whether or not there is a remaining process item (step S7). In the information file IF, whether or not there is a remaining process item is determined by the character string “UPDDIR”.
Line starting with “SRCn =”, character string “UPDDIRRSRC”
n = ”and the string“ UPDCHKFILE ”
It is determined whether or not a row starting with “n =” remains. Here, n is a natural number. For example, in the information file IF illustrated in FIG. 3, a line starting with the character string “UPDDIRSRC2 =”, a line starting with the character string “UPDDIRSRC2 =”, and a line starting with the character string “UPDCHKFILE2 =” remain. Is "YE
S ", and the process returns to step S3.

When the process returns to step S3, the installer 14 checks the character string "UP" in the information file IF.
DCHKFILE2 = ”and the string“ UP
Look for a line starting with DDIRDST2 = ". The installer 14 uses the file “C: \” specified by these two lines.
Windows \ sample1 \ sample1. s
The time stamp of “ys” is checked (step S3).
A line starting with the character string “UPDCHKFILE2 =” and a line starting with the character string “UPDDIRSRC2 =” are checked. The installer 14 specifies the file “C: \ Update \ sample1Bin \ W
Windows @ sample1. The time stamp of "sys" is checked (step S4).

Next, the installer 14 installs the file "C: \ Update \ sample1Bin \ Win"
dows @ sample1. sys "and the file" C: \ Windows \ sample "
1. sys "", and determines whether these time stamps are the same (step S5).

In step S5, the file "C: \
Update \ sample1Bin \ Windows
¥ sample1. sys "and a file" C: \ Windows \ sample1. sy
If it is determined that the time stamp is different from the time stamp of “s”, that is, if the determination result is “NO”, the folder “C: \ Wi” in the files configuring the application AP2
Since it is necessary to apply the application modification module MD to a file existing in “nds”, the character string “UPDDIRRSRC2” is included in the information file IF.
"C: \ Upda" specified in the line beginning with "="
The file stored in te \ sample1Bin \ Windows is overwritten in the folder "C: \ Windows" specified by the line starting with the character string "UPDIRDIRST2 =" in the information file IF (step S6).

On the other hand, in step S5, the file "C: \ Update \ sample1Bin \ Win"
dows @ sample1. sys "and the file" C: \ Windows \ sample "
1. If the time stamp of “sys” is determined to be the same, that is, if the determination result is “YES”, the files existing in the folder “C: \ Windows” among the files configuring the application AP2 are Since there is no need to apply the application modification module MD, the process of step S6 is not performed, and the process proceeds to the next process.

Next, it is determined whether or not there is a remaining process item (step S7). In the example shown in FIG. 3, the line starting with the character string “UPDDIRSRCn =” and the character string “UP
DDIRRSRCn = ”and the character string“ UPD
Since there is no line starting with “CHKFILEn =”, the determination result in step S7 is “NO”, and the process ends.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a method of obtaining the application modification module MD when the application AP1 recorded on the CD-ROM 20 is upgraded after the CD-ROM 20 is attached to the computer 10 and shipped. FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the computer 10 is connected to a network N such as the Internet, and further stores an application correction module and an information file for upgrading the application AP1 to the latest version. The server 30 is connected.

In order for the user to obtain the application modification module of the application AP1, first,
It accesses the server 30 via the network N and downloads the application modification module and the information file stored in the server (this is the operation of the reading means). The operation of updating the application AP2 after downloading is the same procedure as the procedure described above.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the case where an application to be installed in the computer is modified in advance, a medium storing the application attached to the computer is not newly manufactured without the need to manufacture the medium. In this way, an application with the corrected location can be installed, and even after the user has purchased the computer, the application with the corrected location can be installed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a software installation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the software installation device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an information file IF.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method of obtaining an application modification module MD when the application AP1 recorded on the CD-ROM 20 is upgraded after the CD-ROM 20 is attached to the computer 10 and shipped. .

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 computer 14 installer (update means) AP1, AP2 application (software) MD application modification module (modification module) IF information file N network 30 server

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A software installation device for installing a software by updating the software of a computer shipped in a state where the software is installed in advance, wherein a correction module for updating the software is provided. And an information file storing information on the software and the correction module; and updating means for updating the application by applying the correction module to the software based on the information file. Software installation device to be installed. 2. The software installation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information file includes a storage location of the software and a storage location of the correction module. 3. The update unit according to claim 1, wherein a time stamp of the software is compared with a time stamp of the correction module to determine whether or not to perform the update. Software installation device as described. 4. The software installation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reading unit that downloads the correction module and the information file from a server connected via a network.