JPH11203141A - Data storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (Modifications) [Problem] To perform a download process on a rewritable nonvolatile storage device, externally notify a load process status to an operator to accurately grasp the download process status. The present invention provides a data storage device capable of performing the following. SOLUTION: Under a control of a boot loader program stored in a boot loader storage area of a flash memory, a load processing step (S4) from the start of download of a main program to the end of download.
20, S470, S530, S550, S570, S5
80, S870), by combining the pitch and length of the sound in accordance with the load processing status, the download status of the main program is notified to the outside via the buzzer unit and the speaker in different sound modes. Constitute.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rewritable nonvolatile memory device such as a flash memory, which is used when various kinds of information for controlling the operation of electronic equipment and control data such as programs are initially loaded or updated. The present invention relates to a data storage device configured to notify a load processing status to the outside in a different manner corresponding to the load processing status at a load processing stage from the start to the end of the download when the download process is performed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in electronic devices exported to countries around the world, the specifications are often changed for each country. Also, even for products exported to the same country, specifications are changed due to differences in models. For electronic devices with these many specifications, the control board is
If a method is adopted in which production is performed exclusively for each country, the number of parts that must be prepared by the manufacturer increases.

Recently, in manufacturing such a control board, a method has been adopted in which a flash memory is used as a device for storing a program, and a versatile control board is used to change only a program downloaded to the control board. It is becoming like. More specifically, a common boot loader is stored in advance in the flash memory regardless of differences in specifications such as countries and models, and a main program created for each country / model is stored using this boot loader. A method of downloading to individual flash memories is being adopted.

In some cases, the main program is updated after the main program is downloaded to a flash memory and shipped. As a method of updating the main program, for example, due to the recent spread of the Internet, it is possible to easily distribute the update program through the Internet to overseas, so in the future, the manufacturer's website will be updated according to the country and model. A link to a plurality of update programs is provided, and the user downloads the update program corresponding to the device owned by the user to his / her personal computer from the plurality of links, and downloads the update program to the electronic device. The method of downloading is influential. The update processing of the main program is included in the download processing in that the update program is downloaded as described above.

[0005]

When a main program is downloaded or updated using a versatile boot loader as described above, a plurality of blocks (sectors) provided in a flash memory are erased. / Writing has been performed. As described above, when erasing / writing to a plurality of blocks, the erasing time, the writing time, the data transfer time, and the like are required. Therefore, the main program is downloaded or updated to the flash memory. Generally takes several minutes.

However, conventionally, there is no means for notifying the operator of the processing status of the download or update while the download or update of the main program is being performed. Therefore, there is a problem that the operator cannot grasp whether or not the processing is normally performed while the download or the update is being performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and various kinds of information and programs for controlling the operation of an electronic device in a rewritable nonvolatile storage device such as a flash memory. When downloading control data such as at the time of initial loading or updating, at the loading process stage from the start to the end of the download, by notifying the loading process status to the outside in a different manner corresponding to the loading process status It is another object of the present invention to provide a data storage device that allows an operator to accurately grasp the status of a download process.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a data storage device according to the present invention comprises a rewritable nonvolatile storage for storing control data such as various information and programs for controlling the operation of electronic equipment. Storage means, download means for downloading control data to the storage means, and a load processing state at a load processing stage from the start of the download of the control data via the download means to the end of the download. And a notifying means for notifying the load processing status to the outside in a different mode corresponding to the above.

In the data storage device, when the control data is initially loaded or updated, the control data is downloaded to the storage means via the download means. At this time, at the load processing stage from the start of the download of the control data via the download means to the end of the download, the notification means notifies the load processing status to the outside in a different manner corresponding to the load processing status. You. As a result, the operator can grasp the status of the control data download processing according to the processing status.

Here, the notifying means may be constituted by various means, for example, a buzzer for notifying the operator with a sound, although it may be configured to sequentially display the status of the download processing on a display device. It is desirable.

In the case where the notification means is constituted by a buzzer device, it is desirable to notify the load processing status in a different manner corresponding to the load processing status by combining the pitch and the length of the sound. Like the pitch of the sound,
When notifying the download processing status by the combination of the lengths, it is possible to grasp the download processing status even when the operator is performing another operation at a place slightly away from the data storage device.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a data storage device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. This embodiment has a facsimile function,
This relates to a case where an operation program is downloaded to a multi-function device having a printer function, a copying function, and the like. A multi-function device 10 described as an embodiment includes a CPU 11, a flash memory 12, a RAM 13,
EEPROM 14, buzzer unit 15, parallel I /
An F unit 16, an encoder / decoder 17, a printer unit 18, a modem 19, a scanner unit 20, a network control unit (NCU) 21, and an operation panel 22 are provided.

This multi-function device 10
Operates the main program stored in the flash memory 12 in accordance with the result of the function selection by the operation panel 22.
When executed by the PU 11, it can function not only as a facsimile but also as a printer, a copier, a scanner, or the like.

The flash memory 12 comprises a boot loader area 30 and a main program area 40, as shown in FIG. In the boot loader area 30, in addition to a boot loader program storage area 31 for storing a boot loader program, a boot loader creation time storage area 32 for storing "creation time data" indicating the creation time of the boot loader program,
A boot loader checksum storage area 33 for storing “checksum data” for the boot loader area is set. In the main program area 40, in addition to the main program storage area 41 for storing the main program, a password storage area 42 for storing a "model / country identification password", and a "load completed" indicating completion of loading of the main program. A mark storage area 43 for storing a “mark”, a main program creation time storage area 44 for storing “creation time data” indicating a creation time of a main program, and “checksum data” for the main program area 40. Main program checksum storage area 4 for storage
5 is set.

The EEPROM 14 is for storing information such as a one-touch dial which can be set by a user's panel operation. Also, the buzzer unit 15
Is for outputting the notification sound from the speaker 23 in a different manner by appropriately combining the pitch and length of the sound in accordance with each scene such as when the download of the program is completed or when an error occurs. Parallel I / F unit 1
Reference numeral 6 is provided for exchanging data with a personal computer via the parallel port 24. The main program is downloaded from a personal computer via the parallel I / F unit 16 as described later. Further, the multi-function device 10 according to the present embodiment has the parallel I / F
When print data is received from a personal computer via the unit 16, it functions as a printer.

When functioning as a facsimile, the encoder / decoder 17 encodes the data read from the original by the scanner unit 20 into data for facsimile transmission, and converts the facsimile data received from the outside into the printer unit 18. To decode the print data into print data that can be printed out. The facsimile data encoded by the encoder / decoder 17 is transmitted via the modem 19 and the NCU 21 via the general telephone line 25. Also, via the modem 19 and the NCU 21,
The facsimile data received from the general telephone line 25 is
The data is decoded by the encoder / decoder 17 and is
And printed on recording paper.

The operation panel 22 includes a ten key for inputting a telephone number, a start key, a stop key, a function selection key, and the like. By selecting a function using the operation panel 22, the apparatus 10 can function as a facsimile, a printer, a copying machine, or the like. Further, the operation panel 22 is provided with a liquid crystal display for displaying input values and various messages by ten keys and the like.

Next, the procedure for downloading the main program, including the method of manufacturing the apparatus 10 thus configured, will be described.

First, as shown in FIG. 3, a work station W
A flash memory programmer 50 is connected to S, and a master chip 51 storing a boot loader program is manufactured. Subsequently, the master chip 51 is set in the flash memory programmer 52, and the copy chip 5 is set.
3, 53, ... are manufactured. And this copy chip 5
3 is mounted on a substrate 54 for the present apparatus 10, and this is assembled to the present apparatus 10.

Next, the main program created by the workstation WS is uploaded to the database 56. Then, a personal computer PC is connected to the database 56, and the main program is downloaded to the personal computer PC. After the main program is downloaded to the personal computer PC, the PC is connected to the apparatus 10 via the printer cable 57, and the apparatus 10 is turned on. Then, as described later, the boot loader program is started, and the initial loading of the main program is executed.

Also, when updating the program after supplying the device 10 thus manufactured to the user, the personal computer PC can be used as shown in FIG. The manufacturer displays information on the homepage of the manufacturer regarding when and how to provide the update program. The user who sees this display downloads the update program into his / her personal computer PC via the Internet. Then, the personal computer PC and the device 10 are connected by the printer cable 57, and the download is executed. Alternatively, as another method, the manufacturer stores the update program in a portable storage medium 58 such as a floppy disk or CDROM and supplies the update program to each user. Each user has access to this storage medium 5
8 is set in its own personal computer PC, and thereafter, the update program is downloaded to the apparatus 10 via the printer cable 57 in the same manner as via the Internet.

The multifunction device 10 has a plurality of models, and a main program is different for each model. In addition, for each model, a different main program is created for each destination country. However, any of these main programs can be downloaded using the above-described boot loader program. As a result, in the present embodiment, a common copy chip 53 is mounted on the substrate 54 to be mounted on the product.

Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the main program created by the workstation WS includes a PJL command, a fixed character string, a model
Country identification password, start record, data record,
Consists of the last record.

The PJL command indicates that the data following the command is not a print data but a program.
This is a command for making U11 recognize. The following fixed character string is data for identifying a program for the device 10.

Further, the model / country identification password that follows is a password for identifying the model and the country for which model in the apparatus 10 the program stored as the data record is. . The start record and the last record are for identifying the start and end of the data record area.

The data record is composed of an attribute field, an address field, a data field, and a checksum field. The attribute field stores data indicating a data record and data for determining the number of data in the data field.
The address field stores data related to the storage address of the data in the data field on the flash memory. The checksum field stores data indicating a total value obtained by adding data of the attribute field, the address field, and the data field.

The data field stores a program, a model / country identification password, a main program load completion mark, main program creation time data, and checksum data of the main program area. These are arranged in order from the start record side to the last record side.
The order is: country identification password, main program loading completion mark, main program creation time data, and checksum data in the main program area.

Next, the contents of the control processing of the apparatus 10 including the initial loading of the main program will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the power of the apparatus 10 is turned on, the processing shown in FIG. 6 is started, and first, the initialization of the I / O port is executed (S10). Next, a sum check is performed on the boot loader area 30 of the flash memory 12 (S20). Then, in the boot loader area 30,
If the total sum of all data in the areas except the checksum data storage area 33 and the checksum match, it is determined that the data is normal (S30: YES), and then the RAM 13
It is checked whether or not can operate normally as a device (S40). When the inspection of the RAM 13 is normal (S50: YES), a main program area check process described later is executed (S100).

When the result of the main program area check processing is normal (S60: YES), a main program execution routine described later is started. on the other hand,
When the result of the check on the main program area 40 is abnormal (S60: NO), the process shifts to a download process described later (S200). If the sum check result of the boot loader area 30 is abnormal (S
30: NO), and when the inspection result in the RAM 13 is abnormal (S50: NO), the apparatus abnormality processing routine is started. This device abnormality processing routine instructs replacement of a device and the like, and predetermined processing such as sounding of a buzzer, display display of an error message or printout is executed.

The check processing for the main program area is executed according to the procedure shown in FIG. First, it is checked whether a load completion mark is stored in the load completion mark storage area 43 in the flash memory 12 (S1).
10). As a result of this inspection, when the load completion mark is normally stored (S120: YES), a sum check is performed on the main program area 40 (S120).
130). Then, in the main program area 40,
If the sum of all the data in the areas except the checksum data storage area 45 is equal to the checksum stored in the checksum storage area 45 (S14).
0: YES), the inspection result is set normally, and the routine exits (S150). On the other hand, when it is determined that the load completion mark is not stored correctly (S120: N
O) and when it is determined that the result of the sum check for the main program area 40 is abnormal (S14)
0: NO), the inspection result is set to abnormal, and the routine exits (S160). In the process of S60 described above, it is determined which of the main program execution routine and the download process should be activated based on the inspection results set in S150 and S160.

When the download processing routine is started, first, as shown in FIG. 8, it is determined whether the download should be executed as an initial load or the download should be executed as an update ( S210). If the determination in S60 is NO, it means that the initial load has failed, and this S21
After the determination of 0, the process proceeds to S220.

When it is determined in step S210 that the load is the initial load, the operation mode is first set to "0" in order to specify that the load is the initial load.
The erase flag for determining that none of the sectors 2 has been erased is set to "0" (S220).
Thereafter, the data waiting counter is set to “0” (S230), and the condition for password verification is set to “not verified” (S240).

First, a device check is performed to determine whether the read / write operation can be normally performed on the flash memory 12 (S250). If the result of the device check is normal (S260: YES), a download execution processing routine described later is started (S40).
0). Then, when the download execution processing routine is completed normally (S270: YES), the above-described check processing for the main program area 40 is executed (S100), and when the result is normal (S28).
0: YES), returning to the power-on / reset processing routine to start the main program execution routine. On the other hand, if the result of the device check in S260 is abnormal (S260: NO), the speaker 23 is sounded via the buzzer unit 15 in order to notify the operator that the device is defective (S34).
0). At this time, as the sound emitted from the speaker 23, a sound in which the pitch and length of the sound are appropriately combined is generated. In any case, it suffices if the operator can be notified that a device failure has occurred. Subsequently, the reception of the parallel port 24 is prepared (S350), and the data waiting counter is set to “4” (S360).
Then, as described later, data reception is performed via the parallel port 24 (S800). Since this data reception process is performed in the case of a device failure (S260: NO), the data is read and discarded until the received data is discontinued.

If it is determined in step S270 that the download execution processing routine has not been completed normally (S27).
0: NO) and when the result of the check processing for the main program area 40 is abnormal (S280: N)
O), the speaker 23 is sounded by the buzzer unit 15 to notify a download abnormality (S290).
At this time, as the sound generated from the speaker 23, a sound in which the pitch and length of the sound are appropriately combined is generated as described above, and the operator is notified that a download error has occurred. Then, the process jumps to S220 or S310 according to the set operation mode.

Here, the processing of S310 to S330 executed when the judgment in S210 is an update is a step executed when the main program is downloaded as an update, not an initial load. When the main program is downloaded as an update, the operation mode is set to "1" to distinguish it from the initial load, and an erase flag for discriminating that none of the sectors of the flash memory 12 has been erased. Is set to “0” (S3
10). Thereafter, the data waiting counter is set to “0” (S320), and the condition for password verification is set to “verify” (S330).

Next, the download execution routine will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this routine, first, a preparation is made so that program data can be received from the parallel port 24 (S410). Subsequently, the speaker 23 is sounded to notify the start of the download (S420), and waits for the reception of the fixed character string (S4).
30). Here, similarly to the above, the speaker 23 is sounded with a sound in which the pitch and length of the sound are appropriately combined, and the operator is notified that the download has started. When the fixed character string is received (S430: YES), it is determined whether or not a mode for executing password verification is set (S440). As described above, the password collation mode is set to “do not collate” in the case of the initial load (S240), and “verify” is set in the case of the update (S330).

Accordingly, only in the case of updating, the reception of the model / country identification password is executed, and the password is compared with the password stored in the corresponding area 42 of the main program area 40 (S450). If the passwords do not match as a result of the comparison (S460: N
O), the fact that the type of the main program selected for the update is incorrect is notified via the speaker 23 (S470), and a process of reading and discarding the received data is executed (S480). The sound of the speaker 23 at this time is performed by a sound in which the pitch and length of the sound are appropriately combined, and the operator is notified that the passwords do not match.

On the other hand, if the passwords match as a result of the collation (S460: YES), a character string having a content different from that of the load completion mark is written in the area 43 storing the load completion mark. A process for destroying the data of No. 43 is executed (S490). Then, after waiting for the reception of the start record (S500), data for one sector is received (S510), and the data in the area of one sector where this data is to be written is erased (S52).
0), the erase flag is set to “1” and the speaker 23 is sounded in the same manner as described above (S530). Then, the one-sector data received in S510 is written into the previously erased sector (S540), and the speaker 23 is sounded in the same manner as described above to notify that the writing has been completed (S550). Until the last record is received (S560: NO), the above-described processing of S510 and thereafter is repeatedly executed.

When the processing of steps S510 to S560 is repeated and the last record is received (S560: YE
S), every time an unerased sector in the main program area 40 is erased by one sector, all the sectors are erased while sounding the speaker 23 (S570), and the speaker 23 is set in the same manner as described above to notify the completion of the download. The sound is sounded and the routine exits (S580). At this time, the process ends normally. Therefore, S270 is determined as YES, the main program area check process is executed (S100),
The process proceeds to a process of determining whether data has been correctly downloaded.

Next, the process of receiving data from the parallel port 24 performed in S800 will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this reception processing, first, a data waiting timer is set to a predetermined time, for example, 12 seconds.
Seconds are set (S810), and it is determined whether or not there is received data (S820). If there is received data (S820: YES), the processing is terminated after receiving the received data from the parallel port 24 (S830). If it is determined in S820 that there is no received data (S820: NO), it is determined whether the data waiting timer set in S810 has expired (S840), and the data waiting timer expires. Until (S840: NO), it waits for received data.

If the data waiting timer has expired (S840: YES), the data waiting counter is incremented by 1 (S850), and it is determined whether the value of the data waiting counter has reached "5" (S860). When the value of the data waiting counter is not equal to "5" (S8
At 60: # 5), after the speaker 23 is sounded in the same manner as described above (S870), the post-processing is ended. On the other hand, when the value of the data waiting counter becomes equal to “5” (S86
At 0: = 5), the setting value of the erasure flag is determined assuming that the number of times of data waiting has exceeded (S880). If “1” is set in the erase flag based on the fact that one of the sectors in the flash memory 12 has been erased (S880: 1), the download execution process is terminated abnormally, and the process returns to S220. Return. Since this is an abnormal end in the middle of downloading, especially in the case of updating, a part of the main program is in a destroyed state, and when the state is restored to the state immediately after power-on, the device 1
This is to restart the download processing routine in order to download the main program promptly since there is a possibility that the program 0 may not operate normally. If no sector has been erased in the flash memory 12 and the erase flag is set to “0” (S880: 0), the process returns to the power-on / reset routine. This is because if the sector has not been erased yet, it is the same as not starting the download at all, and it is sufficient to restart the process from the beginning.

Next, the main program execution routine will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this routine, it is determined whether or not a PJL command has been received from the outside (S610). If a PJL command has been received (S610: YES), the above-described download processing routine is started (S200). This is the state of the update, and S210 of the download processing routine
Is determined to be an update, and the processes of S310 and thereafter are executed.

On the other hand, when print data is received (S6
20: YES), the printer unit 18 is controlled based on the received print data to execute a printing process (S67).
0). When facsimile data is received via the NCU 21 and the modem 19 (S630: YES),
After the facsimile data is input to the encoder / decoder 17 and decoded, the printer unit 18 is controlled to execute facsimile reception processing of printing the received information on recording paper and outputting the information (S680). Operation panel 2
When the facsimile function is selected in Step 2 (S640: YES), data is read from the original placed in the scanner unit 20, and this is read by the encoder / decoder 1.
7 to encode, and furthermore, the modem 19 and the NCU
Then, a process of transmitting facsimile data by controlling the FAX 21 is executed (S690). When another function, for example, a copy function or the like is selected (S650), the scanner unit 20 or the printer unit 18 is controlled in accordance with the selected function, and processing according to the selected function is performed. Execute (S700). In the above processing, the power supply is turned off.
F or until reset is performed (S6
60).

As described above, in the present embodiment, the main program is stored in the main program storage area 41 under the control of the boot loader program stored in the boot loader storage area 31 of the flash memory 12.
At the time of initial loading, or when updating the main program stored in the main program storage area 41, a load processing step from the start of the download of the main program to the end of the download (S29)
0, S340, S420, S470, S530, S55
0, S570, S580, S870), the buzzer unit 1 has different sound modes by combining the pitch and length of the sound in accordance with the load processing status.
5. Since the download status of the main program is notified to the outside through the speaker 23, the download processing status can be notified to the operator according to the processing status. Thus, the operator can accurately grasp the processing status of the download of the main program.

Further, since the download processing status is notified based on the combination of the pitch and the length of the sound, even if the operator is performing other work at a place slightly away from the data storage device, the download processing is performed. You can grasp the situation.

The present embodiment does not limit the present invention, and it goes without saying that various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, when notifying the processing status of the download process by combining the pitch and length of the sound with the buzzer unit 15 and the speaker 23, when the load process is performed normally and when the load process is abnormal, If the pitch of the sound, the interval between sounds, and the like are made different, the operator can download the main program normally, or
It is possible to immediately determine whether an error has occurred in the download.

Further, in the present embodiment, the model / country identification password as specification specifying data is downloaded as both reference data attached immediately before the program data and write data included immediately after the program data. Although the data to be received is configured, it may be configured to include only the data for writing without accompanying the data for reference. However,
When password verification is performed after once reading program data, it is necessary to temporarily hold the read program data in a buffer or the like. Therefore, the above-described embodiment can be said to be more practically advantageous in that it is not necessary to particularly provide such a buffer by enabling password collation before reading program data. In other words, a method in which the specification data is added as reference data before the control data for update can be said to be practically advantageous in that unnecessary storage capacity is not required.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention, various kinds of information for controlling the operation of electronic equipment and control data such as programs can be stored in a rewritable nonvolatile storage device such as a flash memory at the time of initial loading. When performing download processing at the time of update, during the load processing stage from the start to the end of the download, the load processing status is notified to the outside in different forms according to the load processing status, so that the operator can accurately determine the status of the download processing. Can be grasped.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a multifunction device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a flash memory.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a method of downloading a program at the time of manufacturing a product.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a method of downloading a program at the time of updating.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a data structure of a main program.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a control process executed by the multifunction device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a control process executed by the multifunction device.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a control process executed by the multifunction device.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a control process executed by the multifunction device.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a control process executed by the multifunction device.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a control process executed by the multifunction device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Multi-function device 11 CPU 12 Flash memory 13 RAM 14 EEPROM 15 Buzzer unit 16 Parallel I / F unit 17 Encoder / decoder 18 Printer unit 19 Modem 20 Scanner unit 21 NCU 22 Operation panel 23 Speaker 24 Parallel port 25 General telephone line Reference Signs List 30 boot loader area 31 boot loader program storage area 32 boot loader creation time storage area 33 boot loader checksum storage area 40 main program area 41 main program storage area 42 password storage area 43 load completion mark storage area 44 main program creation time storage area 45 Main program checksum storage area 51 Master chip 52 Flash memory programmer 53 copy chip 54 substrate 56 program storage device 57 printer cable 58 portable storage medium PC personal computer WS workstation

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A rewritable nonvolatile storage unit for storing control data such as various information and a program for controlling the operation of an electronic device; a download unit for downloading control data to the storage unit; At the load processing stage from the start of the download of the control data via the download means to the end of the download, a notifying means for notifying the load processing status to the outside in a different mode corresponding to the load processing status at the load processing stage. A data storage device. 2. The data storage device according to claim 1, wherein said notification means comprises a buzzer device. 3. The data storage device according to claim 2, wherein the buzzer device notifies the load processing status in a different manner corresponding to the load processing status by combining a pitch and a length of a sound.