TWI855881B - Method of mutually updating bootloader and main programs - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of mutually updating bootloader and main programs is provided. The method includes steps of: receiving an updating signal that is generated by an external device from an external communication interface, through a communication interface; determining, by a processor, whether or not to update one or both of the bootloader and main programs according to the updating signal, in response to determining not to update one or both of the bootloader and main programs according to the updating signal, continually performing this original process and waiting for receiving a next updating signal, and in response to determining to update one or both of the bootloader and main programs according to the updating signal, performing one of the bootloader and main programs for updating the other of the bootloader and main programs.

Description

How to update the boot program and main program

The present invention relates to a program updating method, and in particular to a method for mutually updating a boot program and a main program.

Many electronic products can update the program (firmware) of the product through the existing external communication interface of the product without changing the hardware to achieve the purpose of functional upgrade or correction of program problems. To achieve this goal, the product program needs to have two independently operating programs, the boot program and the main program. The boot program is responsible for receiving instructions and program codes through the existing external communication interface of the product to update the main program. The main program is responsible for completing the functions of the electronic product. Usually, the boot program is the first code executed by the embedded system after power-on. It determines whether to stay in the boot program and wait for instructions to update the main program, or jump to the address where the main program is located to start running. Boot programs designed by the industry are usually designed and will not be changed once they are completed. If they need to be updated, it is usually necessary to remove the product casing and connect a burner to achieve the purpose of updating the boot program.

The present invention aims at the inadequacies of the prior art and provides a mutual updating method of a boot program and a main program, comprising the following steps: receiving an update signal outputted by an external device from an external communication interface through a communication interface; a processor, according to the update signal, determining whether to update a boot program, a main program or both, if not, continuing the original process and waiting to receive the next update signal from the external device through the communication interface, if yes, executing the next step; and the processor, according to the update signal, executing either the boot program or the main program to update the other of the boot program and the main program.

As described above, the present invention provides a method for updating a boot program and a main program mutually. In the method for updating a boot program and a main program mutually, an update command is received through an existing communication interface, and the boot program and the main program are updated mutually, or either of the boot program and the main program is updated according to the received update command without using a burner.

To further understand the features and technical contents of the present invention, please refer to the following detailed description and drawings of the present invention. However, the drawings provided are only used for reference and description and are not used to limit the present invention.

The following is an explanation of the implementation of the present invention through specific concrete embodiments. Those skilled in the art can understand the advantages and effects of the present invention from the contents disclosed in this specification. The present invention can be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments. The details in this specification can also be modified and changed in various ways based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the concept of the present invention. In addition, the drawings of the present invention are only for simple schematic illustrations and are not depicted according to actual sizes. Please note in advance. The following implementation will further explain the relevant technical contents of the present invention in detail, but the disclosed contents are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. In addition, the term "or" used in this article may include any one or more combinations of the related listed items depending on the actual situation.

Please refer to Figures 1 to 5, wherein Figures 1 to 4 are flow charts of the steps of the mutual updating method of the boot program and the main program of the embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 5 is a block diagram of the updating system of the boot program and the main program of the embodiment of the present invention.

The boot program and main program mutual updating method of the present invention can be executed by a boot program and main program mutual updating system 100 (including a processor 10 and a communication interface 20 connected to the processor 10) as shown in FIG. 5 .

The processor 10 receives an update signal output by an external device 92 from an external communication interface 91 through a communication interface 20, and determines whether to update the boot program, the main program, or both based on the received update signal, and executes either the boot program or the main program to update the other of the boot program and the main program.

In detail, the mutual updating method of the boot program and the main program of the present invention may include steps S101-S109 as shown in FIG. 1, S201-S207 as shown in FIG. 2, S301-S305 as shown in FIG. 3 and/or S401-S403 as shown in FIG. 4, as described in detail below.

Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 , wherein FIG. 1 is a flow chart of the steps of first updating the main program and then updating the boot program included in the mutual updating method of the boot program and the main program of the embodiment of the present invention.

If the main program is updated first and then the boot program is updated, steps S101 to S109 as shown in FIG. 1 may be executed.

First, the processor 10 jumps from the address where the main program is executed to the address where the boot program is stored according to a main program update command output by the external device 92 received from the external communication interface 91 through the communication interface 20 (in step S101 as shown in FIG. 1 ).

Next, the processor 10 executes the boot program according to a main program update command received from the external device 92, and updates the main program using a main program update data output by the external device 92 received from the external communication interface 91 through the communication interface 20 (in step S103 as shown in FIG. 1).

Next, jump from the address where the boot program is running to the address where the main program is stored (in step S105 as shown in FIG. 1 ).

Next, the main program is executed, and the processor 10 can update the boot program according to a boot program update command output by the external device 92 received from the external communication interface 91 through the communication interface 20, using a boot program update data output by the external device 92 received from the external communication interface 91 through the communication interface 20 (in step S107 as shown in Figure 1).

Finally, the processor 10 executes the updated main program and the boot program (in step S109 as shown in FIG. 1 ).

Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 5 , wherein FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the steps of first updating the boot program and then updating the main program included in the mutual updating method of the boot program and the main program of the embodiment of the present invention.

If the boot program is updated first and then the main program is updated, steps S201 to S207 as shown in FIG. 2 may be executed.

The processor 10 executes the main program according to a boot program update command output by the external device 92 received from the external communication interface 91 through the communication interface 20, and uses a boot program update data output by the external device 92 received from the external communication interface 91 through the communication interface 20 to update the boot program (in step S201 as shown in Figure 2).

Next, the processor 10 jumps back from the address where the main program is stored to the address where the boot program is stored according to a main program update command outputted by the external device 92 and received from the external communication interface 91 via the communication interface 20 (in step S203 as shown in FIG. 2 ).

Next, the boot program is executed to update the main program using a main program update data outputted from the external device 92 received from the external communication interface 91 via the communication interface 20 (in step S205 as shown in FIG. 2 ).

Next, the processor 10 executes the updated main program and the boot program (in step S207 as shown in FIG. 2 ).

Please refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 , wherein FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the steps of updating only the main program included in the mutual updating method of the boot program and the main program of the embodiment of the present invention.

If only the main program is updated, S301 to S305 as shown in FIG. 3 may be executed.

The processor 10 jumps from the address where the main program is executed to the address where the boot program is stored according to a main program update command outputted by the external device 92 and received from the external communication interface 91 via the communication interface 20 (in step S301 as shown in FIG. 3 ).

Next, the processor 10 executes the boot program according to the main program update instruction, and updates the main program using a main program update data output by the external device 92 received from the external communication interface 91 through the communication interface 20 (in step S303 as shown in FIG. 3 ).

Next, the processor 10 executes the updated main program (in step S305 as shown in FIG. 3 ).

Please refer to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 , wherein FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the step of updating only the boot program in the method for mutually updating the boot program and the main program according to the embodiment of the present invention.

If you only want to update the boot program, you can execute S401~S403 as shown in Figure 4.

To execute the main program, the processor 10 updates the boot program according to a boot program update command output by the external device 92 received from the external communication interface 91 through the communication interface 20, using a boot program update data output by the external device 92 received from the external communication interface 91 through the communication interface 20 (in step S401 as shown in FIG. 4 ).

Next, the processor 10 executes the updated boot program (in step S403 as shown in FIG. 4 ).

In summary, the present invention provides a method for updating a boot program and a main program mutually. In the method for updating a boot program and a main program mutually, an update command is received through an existing communication interface, and the boot program and the main program are updated mutually, or either of the boot program and the main program is updated according to the received update command without using a burner.

The contents disclosed above are only preferred feasible embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the patent application of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent technical changes made using the contents of the specification and drawings of the present invention are included in the scope of the patent application of the present invention.

S101~S109, S201~S207, S301~S305, S401~S403: Steps

100: Mutual update system

10: Processor

20: Communication interface

91: External communication interface

92: External device

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of the steps of first updating the main program and then updating the boot program included in the mutual updating method of the boot program and the main program according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the steps of first updating the boot program and then updating the main program included in the method for mutually updating the boot program and the main program of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the steps of updating only the main program included in the mutual updating method of the boot program and the main program of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the method for mutually updating the boot program and the main program according to the embodiment of the present invention, including the step of updating only the boot program.

FIG5 is a block diagram of the boot program and the main program update system of an embodiment of the present invention.

S101~S109: Steps

Claims (2)

A method for updating a boot program and a main program mutually comprises the following steps: a processor executes a main program, and according to a boot program update instruction outputted by an external device received from an external communication interface through a communication interface, updates a boot program using a boot program update data outputted by the external device received from the external communication interface through the communication interface; the processor executes a main program according to a boot program update instruction outputted by an external device received from the external communication interface through the communication interface; A main program update command outputted by the external device is received, and the address where the main program is stored is jumped back to the address where the boot program is stored; the processor executes the boot program according to the main program update command, and updates the main program using a main program update data outputted by the external device received from the external communication interface through the communication interface; and the processor executes the updated main program and the boot program. The mutual updating method of the boot program and the main program as described in claim 1 further comprises the following steps: after the processor updates the main program, the address where the boot program is running is jumped to the address where the main program is stored, and the processor executes the main program according to the boot program update instruction, and uses the boot program update data to update the boot program.

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