JP2010277432A - Communication system, transmission device, reception device, firmware updating method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely update firmware of a wireless terminal. <P>SOLUTION: A communication system includes: a management device which manages a communication device operating by the execution of firmware and informs a communication device of update time information for specifying an update time at which update processing of the firmware should be performed, before the update time; and the communication device which receives the update time information informed by the management device and performs the update processing at the update time specified by the update time information, after being restored from a power saving state for reducing the power consumption if the power saving state is set. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for updating firmware of a communication device in a communication system.

  Some firmware incorporated in the communication device can be updated. In recent years, as the configuration of communication devices has become complicated, firmware has been frequently updated for the purpose of correcting bugs and adding functions.

  When the communication apparatus updates firmware by downloading firmware update data from a server or the like, a time to be updated may be determined in advance. For example, when there are a large number of communication devices whose firmware is to be updated and it is desired to distribute the communication load, each communication device receives and updates data in distributed time zones. In addition, since the communication device changes the communication protocol in synchronization with the communication target device, the firmware may be updated at a certain time.

  In the communication system described in Patent Document 1, concentration of communication load is prevented by distributing firmware update timings. Specifically, the server creates a reservation table so as to distribute the load of the server itself and the load of the transmission path. In this reservation table, candidates for time zones for updating firmware are described for each communication device. Each communication device selects one of the time zones from these time zone candidates in accordance with a user operation, and registers it in the server. The server transmits firmware update data to the corresponding communication device during the registered time zone.

JP 2004-185114 A

  However, in the system described in Patent Document 1, the firmware may not be properly updated in the communication device.

  In order to reduce battery consumption, the communication device may shift to a power saving mode such as a sleep mode if it is not operated for a certain period of time. Further, the user may consciously set the communication device in the power saving mode. In this power saving mode, the communication function of the communication device is limited, and the communication device cannot download data for firmware update.

  For this reason, when the communication device is in the power saving mode in the reserved time zone, there is a problem that the firmware is not updated in the communication device.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for reliably updating firmware of a communication device.

  In order to achieve the above object, a communication system of the present invention is a management device that manages a communication device that operates by executing firmware, and specifies an update time that is a time at which the firmware should be updated. A management device for notifying the communication device of update time information for the update time, and receiving the update time information notified by the management device, at the update time specified by the update time information. A communication device that returns from the power saving state and performs the updating process if the power saving state is to suppress power consumption.

  The communication device according to the present invention stores a reception unit that receives update time information for specifying an update time that is a time at which the firmware of the communication device should be updated, and stores the update time information received by the reception unit. If the power saving state for suppressing power consumption when the update time specified by the update time information stored in the storage means and the update time information stored in the storage means is restored, Updating means for performing the updating process.

  According to the firmware update method of the present invention, the communication device receives update time information for specifying an update time, which is a time at which the firmware of the communication device should be updated, and stores the update time information in a storage unit. When the update time specified by the update time information stored in the storage means is reached, if the power saving state is for suppressing power consumption, the update processing is resumed from the power saving state. Is the way to do.

  The program of the present invention includes a reception procedure for receiving update time information for specifying an update time, which is a time at which the firmware of the communication device should be updated, and the update time information received in the reception procedure. If the power saving state is to suppress power consumption when the update time specified by the update time information stored in the storage means and the update time information stored in the storage means is reached, the power saving state is An update procedure for returning and executing the update process.

  According to the present invention, in the communication system, the reception device receives update time information for specifying the update time from the transmission device, and if the reception device is in a power saving state at the update time, the firmware is restored and firmware is restored. Since the process for updating is started, the firmware can be reliably updated.

1 is an overall view showing a configuration example of a wireless system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows one structural example of PC of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of the radio | wireless terminal of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of the radio | wireless terminal of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of PC of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the firm update process of the radio | wireless terminal of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows an example of operation | movement of the radio | wireless system of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows an example of operation | movement of the radio | wireless system of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a whole view which shows the example of 1 structure of the radio | wireless system of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the update table of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a wireless system 1 according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1, the wireless system 1 includes a PC (Personal Computer) 10 and a wireless terminal 40.

  The PC 10 is an information processing apparatus connected to the exchange 20 and the base station apparatus 30. The exchange 20 accommodates a base station device 30, and the base station device 30 accommodates a wireless terminal 40. The PC 10 transmits / receives data to / from the wireless terminal 40 through the exchange 20 and the base station device 30.

  The PC 10 transmits setting information to the wireless terminal 40. This setting information is information for setting the wireless terminal 40 with a time at which the firmware of the wireless terminal 40 should be updated (hereinafter referred to as “reserved time”).

  Here, the firmware update process refers to a series of processes for updating the firmware. The update process includes a process of receiving data for updating the firmware (hereinafter referred to as “update information”) and a process of updating the firmware based on the data.

  The time at which reception of update information is started may be set as the reservation time, and when update information is transmitted in advance, the update start time of firmware based on update information may be set as the reservation time. Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, the time at which reception of update information starts is referred to as a reserved time.

  Specifically, the setting information includes information indicating a time (setting time) from the current time to the reservation time, and a signal for requesting to start a timer that sets the setting time.

  Further, the PC 10 transmits the update information to the wireless terminal 40 when the set time has elapsed and the reservation time is reached.

  The wireless terminal 40 is a terminal that transmits / receives data to / from the PC 10 via the exchange 20 and the base station device 30. The wireless terminal 40 is, for example, a terminal in a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) system. The wireless terminal 40 includes PDC (Personal Digital Cellular), WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), CDMA-2000, W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), GPRM, DECT (Digital It may be a mobile communication device adopting Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications, or a terminal in PHS (Personal Handy-phone System) or PACS (Personal Access Communication Systems).

  The wireless terminal 40 determines whether it is in a power saving state. The power saving state is a state in which power consumption is suppressed. In this power saving state, the communication function and firmware update function of the wireless terminal 40 are limited. What is the above-described timer and the function that the wireless terminal 40 returns from the power saving mode when the timer times out? It is working. By returning from the power saving state, the wireless terminal 40 can communicate with other devices and update the firmware.

  The power saving state includes, for example, a sleep mode in which incoming calls can be made but communication with the PC 10 and calls with other terminals cannot be made. When the user does not operate the wireless terminal 40 for a predetermined time or more, or when the user performs a predetermined operation, the wireless terminal 40 shifts to the sleep mode.

  While the wireless terminal 40 can communicate with the PC 10, the wireless terminal 40 receives the setting information from the PC 10, and sets the setting time indicated by the setting information in the timer. When the time set in the timer elapses, if the wireless terminal 40 is in a power saving state, the wireless terminal 40 returns from that state and can receive update information from the PC 10. If the update information is received from the PC 10, the wireless terminal 40 updates the firmware based on the received update information.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the PC 10. Referring to FIG. 1, a PC 10 is a communication device having a NIC (Network Interface Card) 101, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 102, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 103.

  The NIC 101 is an expansion card that provides the PC 10 with a communication function with the wireless terminal 40.

  The HDD 102 is a storage device that stores a firmware update application 1021 and an OS (Operation System) 1022. The firmware update application 1021 is an application that provides the PC 10 with a function of causing the wireless terminal 40 to update firmware. The OS 1022 is basic software that provides the firmware update application 1021 with a communication interface that abstracts the NIC 101.

  By executing the firmware update application 1021, the CPU 103 controls the NIC 101 and transmits setting information to the wireless terminal 40 while the PC 10 can communicate with the wireless terminal 40. When the reservation time comes, the CPU 103 controls the NIC 101 to transmit update information to the wireless terminal 40.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the wireless terminal 40. Referring to the figure, the wireless terminal 40 includes a wireless unit 401, a storage unit 402, and a control unit 403.

  The wireless terminal 40 shifts to the sleep mode when the operation by the user is not performed for a certain time.

  The sleep mode will be briefly described. The base station apparatus 30 periodically transmits a beacon signal for notifying whether there is an incoming call, but the wireless terminal 40 intermittently receives this beacon signal in the sleep mode. In this sleep mode, the wireless terminal 40 cannot perform communication with the PC 10, communication with other terminals, or communication except for intermittent reception. For this reason, in the sleep mode, the wireless communication terminal cannot receive the update information, and as a result, cannot update the firmware.

  The wireless unit 401 provides the wireless terminal 40 with a wireless communication function with the PC 10. In the sleep mode, the wireless communication function of the wireless unit 401 is limited except for intermittent reception.

  The storage unit 402 stores setting information and update information received by the wireless unit 401. If the control unit 403 can communicate with the PC 10, the control unit 403 receives the setting information via the wireless unit 401 and stores the setting information in the storage unit 402. Next, the control unit 403 determines whether or not the wireless terminal 40 is in the sleep mode when the setting time indicated by the setting information has elapsed. If in the sleep mode, the control unit 403 returns the wireless terminal 40 from the sleep mode, and accepts reception of update information from the PC 10 via the wireless unit 401. Then, when receiving the update information, the control unit 403 updates the firmware based on the update information.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a specific configuration for realizing each function of the wireless terminal 40 shown in FIG. Referring to the figure, the wireless terminal 40 includes a wireless unit 411, a PMU (Power Management Unit) 412, a CPU 413, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 414, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 415. The ROM 414 stores a control program 4141. The RAM 415 is provided with an activation flag 4151 and a timer 4152.

  The wireless unit 411 has the same configuration as the wireless unit 401 in FIG. The PMU 412 controls the power supply of the wireless unit 411 according to the control of the CPU 413. In the sleep mode, the PMU 412 turns on / off the power of the wireless unit 411 at a constant cycle as described above.

  The CPU 413 executes the control program 4141. The control program 4141 is a program for causing the CPU 413 to execute firmware update processing.

  The firmware update process will be described. In the firmware update process, first, if the PC 10 and the wireless terminal 40 can communicate, the CPU 413 controls the wireless unit 401 to receive setting information from the PC 10.

  Next, in response to receiving the setting information, the CPU 413 turns on the activation flag 4151. The activation flag 4151 is a flag that is set to ON when it is necessary to return the wireless terminal 40 from the sleep mode after the set time has elapsed, and is set to OFF when it is not. In the initial state, the activation flag 4151 is off.

  The CPU 413 turns on the activation flag 4151 and simultaneously sets the time indicated by the setting information in the timer to activate the timer 4152. In the present embodiment, the timer 4152 is an on timer that is turned on when a set time has elapsed.

  When the wireless terminal 40 is in the sleep mode when the timer 4152 times out and is turned on, the CPU 413 returns from the sleep mode. Then, the CPU 413 turns off the activation flag 4151 and clears the time set in the timer 4152. Next, the CPU 413 receives update information from the PC 10 via the wireless unit 411 and updates the firmware of the wireless terminal 40 based on the update information.

  The wireless unit 401 in FIG. 3 corresponds to the wireless unit 411 in FIG. 4, and the storage unit 402 in FIG. 3 corresponds to the RAM 415 in FIG. The control unit 403 in FIG. 3 corresponds to the PMU 412, the CPU 413, and the control program 4141 in FIG. 4.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the PC 10. This operation starts when the firmware update application 1021 is executed. Referring to the figure, the PC 10 controls the NIC 101 to determine whether or not communication with the wireless terminal 40 is possible (step S1). If communication is not possible (step S1: NO), after a predetermined time has elapsed, the PC 10 returns to step S1. The retry interval can be set arbitrarily.

  If communication is possible (step S1: YES), the PC 10 transmits setting information for requesting that the activation flag is turned on and a set time is set in the timer to the wireless terminal 40 (step S3).

  Next, the PC 10 determines whether or not a set time has elapsed since the setting information was transmitted (step S5). If the set time has not elapsed (step S5: NO), the PC 10 returns to step S3.

  If the set time has elapsed (step S5: YES), the PC 10 transmits update information to the wireless terminal 40 to request a firmware update (step S7). After step S7, the PC 10 ends the operation.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the firmware update process of the wireless terminal 40. This firmware update process starts when the control program 4141 is executed. Referring to the figure, wireless terminal 40 determines whether or not communication with PC 10 is possible (step T1).

  If communication with the PC 10 is possible (step T1: YES), the wireless terminal 40 receives the setting information from the PC 10, and based on the setting information, turns on the activation flag 4151 and sets the setting time in the timer 4152 ( Step T3). The wireless terminal 40 starts the timer 4152 that has set the set time (step T5).

  The wireless terminal 40 determines whether or not the timer 4152 has timed out (step T7). If the timer 4152 has not timed out (step T7: NO), the wireless terminal 40 returns to step T7.

  If the timer 4152 times out (step T7: YES), the wireless terminal 40 determines whether or not the terminal itself is in the sleep mode (step 9). If in the sleep mode (step T9: YES), the wireless terminal 40 returns from the sleep mode by the operation of the PMU 412 (step T11).

  When not in the sleep mode (step T9: NO) or after step T6, the wireless terminal 40 turns off the activation flag 4151 and clears the timer 4152 (step T13). Then, the wireless terminal 40 accepts reception of update information from the PC 10. If the update information is received from the PC 10, the wireless terminal 40 starts updating the firmware based on the update information (step T15).

  FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the entire wireless system 1. Referring to the figure, if communication is possible (step S1: YES), the PC 10 transmits setting information to the wireless terminal 40 (step S3). On the other hand, if communication is possible (step T1: YES), the wireless terminal 40 receives setting information from the PC 10, turns on the activation flag 4151, and sets the timer 4152 (step T3).

  If the set time has elapsed (step S5: YES), the PC 10 transmits update information to the wireless terminal 40 and requests a firmware update (step S7).

  On the other hand, when the wireless terminal 40 times out (step T7: YES), the wireless terminal 40 returns from the sleep mode (step T11) even in the sleep mode (step T9: YES). For this reason, at the time when the PC 10 transmits update information (step S7), the wireless terminal 40 is in a communicable state. After returning, the wireless terminal 40 receives the update information from the PC 10 and updates the firmware (step T15).

  In the present embodiment, the PC 10 is configured to instruct the wireless terminal 40 to set the set time from the current time to the reservation time in the timer. However, the PC 10 instructs the wireless terminal 40 about the reservation time itself. May be.

  In the present embodiment, the firmware of the wireless terminal is updated. However, if the communication device can update the firmware and can take a power saving state, a device other than the wireless terminal updates the firmware. It is good also as a structure.

  The flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are realized by executing a program. However, all or a part of these flowcharts can also be realized by hardware such as an electronic circuit.

  The PC 10 in this embodiment corresponds to the management device of the present invention, and the wireless terminal 40 corresponds to the communication device of the present invention. The reservation time corresponds to the update time of the present invention, and the setting information corresponds to the update time information of the present invention. The control unit 403 corresponds to the updating unit of the present invention.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the communication system, the reception device receives update time information for specifying the update time from the transmission device, and the reception device is in the power saving state at the update time. In this case, the firmware is updated and the firmware update is started, so that the firmware can be reliably updated.

(Second Embodiment)
The second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The configuration of the communication system of the present embodiment is the same as the configuration of the first communication system except that update information is transmitted and received in advance before the update time.

  Specifically, if the PC 10 can communicate with the wireless terminal 40, the PC 10 transmits the setting information after transmitting the update information. With respect to the reservation time in the setting information, in this embodiment, the time at which the wireless terminal 40 should start updating the firmware based on the update information is set as the reservation time.

  On the other hand, the wireless terminal 40 stores the received update information, and starts updating the firmware based on the update information when the reservation time comes.

  FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the communication system according to the present embodiment. Referring to the figure, the operation of the communication system of the present embodiment is that the PC 10 executes step S2 instead of steps 5 and 7, and the wireless terminal 40 executes steps T2 and T15a instead of step S15. Is the same as the operation of the communication system of the first embodiment.

  Referring to the figure, if communication is possible (step S1: YES), the PC 10 transmits update information to the wireless terminal 40 (step S2) and transmits setting information (step S3). On the other hand, if communication is possible (step T1: YES), the wireless terminal 40 receives update information from the PC 10 (step T2), and receives setting information (step T3).

  Then, the wireless terminal 40 turns off the activation flag, clears the timer, and then starts updating the firmware based on the received update information (step T15a).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the wireless terminal 40 receives update information in advance, the transmission / reception time of update information and the update time of firmware can be made different. For this reason, it is possible to update the firmware simultaneously on a plurality of terminals at a certain time while avoiding concentration of communication load.

(Third embodiment)
The second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. The configuration of the communication system 1b of the present embodiment is the same as the configuration of the first communication system except that a plurality of wireless terminals are provided and a plurality of update times are set.

  FIG. 9 is an overall view showing the configuration of the communication system 1b of the present embodiment. Referring to the figure, the communication system 1b is different from the communication system 1 of the first embodiment in that it includes a plurality of wireless terminals such as wireless terminals 40 and 41. The configuration of the wireless terminal 41 is the same as the configuration of the wireless terminal 40.

  The PC 10 describes the reservation time corresponding to each wireless terminal in the update table so that the communication load is distributed or the load is not concentrated on the PC 10.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the description content of the update table set by the PC 10. Referring to the figure, the update table describes the reservation time for each wireless terminal. These reservation times are set so that the communication load and the load on the PC 10 are not concentrated at a certain time. Each reservation time may be different from each other, or a plurality of the same times may be present.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since a plurality of reserved times are set for each wireless terminal, the load on the transmission device and the communication load can be distributed.

1, 1b wireless system 10 PC
20 exchange 30 base station device 40, 41 wireless terminal 101 NIC
102 HDD
103 CPU
401, 411 Wireless unit 402 Storage unit 403 Control unit 412 PMU
413 CPU
414 ROM
RAM 415
1021 Firmware update application 1022 OS
4141 Control program 4151 Start flag 4152 Timer S1-S7, T1-T15 Step

Claims (12)

A management device that manages a communication device that operates by executing firmware, wherein update time information for specifying an update time, which is a time at which the firmware should be updated, is transmitted before the update time. A management device to notify the device;
When the update time information notified by the management device is received and the update time specified by the update time information is reached, if the power saving state is to suppress power consumption, the power saving state is restored. A communication device for performing the update process;
A communication system. The management device manages the update time of the communication device, and when the update time is reached, transmits update information that is information for updating the firmware to the reception device,
When the update time is reached, the reception device returns from the power saving state and can receive the update information from the management device. When the update information is sent from the transmission device, the update device The communication system according to claim 1, receiving information. The management device further transmits update information, which is information for updating the firmware, to the receiving device before the update time,
The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication device stores the received update information, and updates the firmware based on the update information when the update time comes.   The update time information is information indicating a time from a current time to the update time, and the communication device acquires the update time by using a timer that measures a set time. 4. The communication system according to any one of 3.   5. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device recovers from the power saving state if the power saving state occurs when a predetermined time before the update time specified by the update time information is reached. The communication system according to 1. The communication system is:
A plurality of the communication devices;
The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a plurality of update times corresponding to the respective communication devices are determined in the communication system.   The wireless system according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is a mobile communication terminal. First transmission means for transmitting, to the communication device, update time information for specifying an update time that is a time at which the firmware of the communication device should be updated;
When the update time comes, second transmission means for transmitting update information that is information for updating the firmware to the receiving device;
A management device. Receiving means for receiving update time information for specifying an update time, which is a time at which the firmware of the communication device should be updated;
Storage means for storing the update time information received by the receiving means;
When the update time specified by the update time information stored in the storage means is reached, if it is a power saving state for suppressing power consumption, it returns from the power saving state and performs the update process. Update means;
A communication device. The communication device receives update time information for specifying an update time that is a time at which the firmware of the communication device should be updated,
Storing the update time information in a storage means;
When the update time specified by the update time information stored in the storage means is reached, if the power saving state is for suppressing power consumption, the power saving state is restored and the update process is performed. , How to update firmware. On the computer,
A first transmission procedure for transmitting update time information for specifying an update time, which is a time for updating the firmware of the communication device, to the communication device; and, when the update time is reached, for updating the firmware A second transmission procedure for transmitting update information, which is information, to the receiving device;
A program for running On the computer,
A reception procedure for receiving update time information for specifying an update time that is a time at which the firmware of the communication device should be updated;
A procedure for storing the update time information received in the reception procedure in a storage unit, and for suppressing power consumption when the update time specified by the update time information stored in the storage unit is reached. If the power saving state, an update procedure for returning from the power saving state and performing the update process;
A program for running

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