JP3107042B2 - Method and apparatus for downloading operation program of mobile communication station - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for downloading an operation program of a mobile communication station, and more particularly to a method of downloading a program in a mobile satellite communication network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a mobile satellite communication network including one communication satellite, one network control station, a plurality of fixed communication stations, and a plurality of mobile communication stations, each mobile communication is generally performed. The station has a CPU and a program storage memory, and the mobile communication station performs a predetermined operation by an operation program stored in the program storage memory. Conventionally, as this program storage memory, a PROM (Programmable Read Only) in which an operation program is written using a ROM writer or the like is conventionally used.
Memory), UV-EPROM (Ultraviolet-Erasab)
le Programmable Read Only Memory).

[0003] Therefore, when a new service or function is added to the mobile communication network, the newly added service or function is installed in the mobile communication station so that the newly added service or function can be used in the mobile communication station. It was necessary to replace the program storage memory with a program storage memory in which a new operation program was written. When a PROM or UV-EPROM is used as a program storage memory, there is a problem that the mobile communication station takes a lot of trouble and time to change an operation program due to the memory exchange.

To solve this problem, PROM, UV
-Instead of EPROM, use EEPROM (Electrically E
Mobile communication stations using rasable programmable read only memory (rasable programmable read only memory) as a program storage memory have also been put to practical use. Using EEPROM,
Since the operation program can be changed while the program storage memory is mounted, the PROM or UV-EP
The labor and time required for changing the operation program can be reduced as compared with the case where a ROM is used. To change the operation program while the program storage memory is mounted, for example, in a offline state where the mobile communication station is not used in the network, connect a data terminal such as a personal computer to the mobile communication station, There is a method of transferring a new operation program through a serial communication port or the like. However, in this method, when a new operation program is loaded in the mobile communication station, it is necessary to bring the mobile communication station to a fixed communication station equipped with a data terminal such as a personal computer, an agency, or the like. There is a problem that a burden is imposed on the owner of the communication station.

In order to solve such a problem, a mobile communication station is connected to an automatic download device, and the automatic download device is connected to the central office via a communication line.
The latest version (version) from the central office to the mobile communication station
(For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 7-271692, "Automatic download device for control software of portable data communication terminal") has been proposed. According to the method of downloading an operation program via a communication line by using this automatic download device, the owner of the mobile communication station can change the operation program to the latest version without going to an agency or the like. Can be. However, in this method, the owner of the mobile communication station has to purchase the automatic download device, so that the financial burden is large and the owner of the mobile communication station actively operates the download operation. There is a problem that must be performed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 9 (1999) discloses a method of reducing the economic burden on the owner of the mobile communication station and downloading the latest version of the operation program without any special operation by the owner of the mobile communication station. This is disclosed in a document “Method of downloading a program to a mobile terminal” (hereinafter referred to as a prior document) published in Japanese Patent No. −282573. In the method of the prior art document, the latest version of the operation program is divided into a plurality of parts and broadcasted cyclically repeatedly via a newly provided maintenance channel from the network control station. This is a method of receiving the maintenance channel and updating the operation program when the own station is in a standby state in which communication is not performed.

[0007]

The method of this prior art is effective when all mobile communication stations in the same network are constituted by the same hardware. However, usually, mobile communication stations are often manufactured and supplied by a plurality of manufacturers, and therefore, even if the functions and services realized by the mobile communication stations are the same, the hardware that constitutes them is configured. And the operation programs are often different, it is necessary to provide a dedicated maintenance channel for each mobile communication station manufactured by each manufacturer in the method of the prior literature, and there is a problem in the effective use of frequency resources. is there.

An object of the present invention is to download the latest version of the operation program without placing an economic burden on the owner of the mobile communication station and without any special operation by the owner of the mobile communication station. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for efficiently downloading the latest version of the operation program to all the mobile communication stations of each manufacturer existing in the mobile communication network.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a network control station comprising: a manufacturer code of a manufacturer which manufactures and supplies all mobile communication stations in the network; and a mobile communication station manufactured by each manufacturer. The latest version number of the operation program that realizes the above operation is constantly broadcast using the control channel, and at the same time, the latest version of the operation program for the mobile communication station made by each manufacturer is divided into multiple parts Then, the respective parts are attached with the manufacturer code of the manufacturer, and all the manufacturers are cyclically and repeatedly broadcast using the maintenance channel.

[0010] Each mobile communication station receives a control channel when communication of the mobile station is not hindered, and the version number of the operation program broadcasted along with the manufacturer code of the manufacturer that manufactured the mobile station. Only when the version number of the operation program currently used in the own station is different, prepare to receive the maintenance channel. The receiving of the maintenance channel is performed only when the communication of the own station is not hindered, and only a part of the manufacturer code of the manufacturer of the own station is received and written in the program update memory. The operation program corresponding to each manufacturer is partially divided and broadcast repeatedly and cyclically, and the state that does not hinder the communication of the local station is often interrupted, so the content of the program update memory increases. Becomes gradual. When the latest version of the operation program has been written into the program update memory, the contents are loaded into the program storage memory.

[0011] The method for downloading an operation program of a mobile communication station according to the present invention is, specifically, a method for downloading an operation program in a network including a communication satellite, a network control station, a plurality of fixed communication stations, and a plurality of mobile communication stations. A mobile communication station operation program download method for downloading the latest version (version: version) of an operation program for controlling the operation of each mobile communication station of a plurality of mobile communication stations to the mobile communication station, A frame number portion in which the frame number of the frame is stored in each frame of the control channel by relaying from the network control station by the communication satellite, and manufacturing in which each mobile communication station in the network is manufactured and supplied. The manufacturer code section in which the manufacturer name is stored, and the operation program corresponding to the manufacturer indicated by the manufacturer name stored in the manufacturer code section. A frame version of the version number by inserting the version number section to be stored,
A first step of broadcasting cyclically and repeatedly for each manufacturer name, and simultaneously with this first step, relaying from the network control station via the communication satellite, and in each frame of the maintenance channel, A frame number portion in which a frame number is stored, a manufacturer code portion in which the name of a manufacturer manufactured and supplied by each mobile communication station in the network is stored, and a manufacturer name stored in the manufacturer code portion is stored. A version number portion storing the version number of the latest version of the operation program corresponding to the manufacturer, a packet number portion storing the packet number of the latest version of the operation program constituting the data portion of the frame,
A frame in which the total number of packets in which the total number of packets of the operation program is stored is inserted, and the area of the operation program of the packet of the number described in the packet number portion is stored in the data portion, And the second step of cyclically and repeatedly broadcasting each packet, in each mobile communication station, receiving the control channel, and making the manufacturer name of the manufacturer code portion the same as the manufacturer name of the own station. Only when they match and the version number of the version number part is different from the version number of the operation program currently used in the own station,
A third step of receiving a packet of the latest version of the operation program broadcasted on the maintenance channel and storing the packet in the program update memory during a time period in which the calling and incoming calls of the own station are not disturbed; and When all the packets of the operation program are stored in the program update memory, a fourth step of copying the contents of the program update memory to the program storage memory is provided.

In the third step, when there is a call request from the own station, switching to reception of a control channel to perform a call process, and whether there is a possibility that the own station may receive a call. Whether or not the number of the frame number part of the maintenance channel is associated with the number of the frame number part of the control channel so that it can be inferred from the frame number stored in the frame number part of the maintenance channel. Switching the mobile communication station to the control channel and checking for an incoming call only when the frame number of the maintenance channel indicates to the local station that there is a possibility of an incoming call. I do.

In the fourth step, when all the packets of the latest version of the operation program are stored in the program update memory, the operation of the mobile communication station is controlled up to that point. Jump from a program in the program storage memory to a specific address of the program update memory, copy the contents of the program update memory to the program storage memory by an instruction read from that address, and save the new version number. It is characterized by the following.

The operation program download apparatus for a mobile communication station according to the present invention is, specifically, a communication satellite, a network control station, a plurality of fixed communication stations, and a plurality of mobile communication stations in a network. An operation program download device for a mobile communication station that downloads the latest version of an operation program for controlling the operation of each mobile communication station of the plurality of mobile communication stations to the mobile communication station, wherein the network control station Has a packet generator for each manufacturer of each communication station of the mobile communication stations in the network, each packet generator has a manufacturer code register for storing the manufacturer code of the manufacturer, A version number register that stores the version number of the latest version of the corresponding operation program. A total packet number register for storing the total number of packets transmitted and transmitted, a memory for storing the operation program of the version number stored in the version number register in a plurality of areas, and a control channel. Signal selection circuit for selecting the signal of
A signal selection circuit for selecting a signal for configuring the maintenance channel; a frame number portion for storing a frame number of the frame in each frame of the control channel; and a manufacturer code of the manufacturer code register. Manufacturer code part, means for inserting a version number part for storing the version number of the version number register, means for cyclically repeating generation for each manufacturer name, and in each frame of the maintenance channel, A frame number part storing a frame number of the frame, a manufacturer code part storing a manufacturer code of the manufacturer code register, a version number part storing a version number of the version number register, and a total of the total packet number register; Insert the total packet count part to store the packet count and read from the memory The frame packet operation programs stored in the data unit, characterized by comprising a means for generating repeated cyclically for each and every packet for each manufacturer name.

Further, each register provided in the network control station is constituted by a nonvolatile memory.

Further, each of the plurality of mobile communication stations includes a reception demodulation section for switching a reception frequency to a communication channel, the control channel, and the maintenance channel, A ROM that stores a mobile number, a ROM that stores a manufacturer code of a manufacturer that manufactures and supplies the mobile communication station, a program update memory, and a program storage memory It is characterized by.

Further, the program update memory;
The program storage memory is configured by a writable nonvolatile memory.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a mobile satellite communication network to which the present invention is applied. This network includes a communication satellite (satellite relay station) 1, a network control station 2, a plurality of fixed communication stations 3, and a plurality of mobile units. And a communication station 4. This mobile satellite communication network has a maintenance channel 7 in addition to a control channel 5 and a communication channel 6 normally provided in this type of network. The control channel 5 is a channel for transmitting control information and network information necessary for call processing, and is broadcast from the network control station 2 to the entire network via the communication satellite 1. The communication channel 6 is a channel used for communication between the fixed communication station 3 and the mobile communication station 4. The maintenance channel 7 is a channel used to download the latest version of the operation program, and is broadcast from the network control station 2 to the entire network via the communication satellite 1.

FIG. 2 shows the network control station 2 shown in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a portion related to a download process of the operation program of FIG. It comprises a computer 21, a recording medium 22, a control channel modulator 33, a maintenance channel modulator 34, and a transmitter 35.
The computer 21 includes a packet generator 32 for the manufacturer A.
A, a packet generator 32B for manufacturer B, a control channel information processor 29, and signal selection circuits 30 and 31.

Since the packet generator 32A for manufacturer A and the packet generator 32B for manufacturer B have the same configuration, only a part of 32B is shown. Further, when there are a manufacturer C, a manufacturer D, and the like in addition to the manufacturer A and the manufacturer B, it goes without saying that a packet generation unit for these manufacturers is provided. Packet generator 32 for each manufacturer
A and 32B are memories 23A and 23B, packet generation circuits 24A and 24B (24B is not shown), counters 25A and 25B, and registers 26A, 27A and 2B, respectively.
8A, 26B, 27B, 28B (26B, 27B, 28
B is not shown). The recording medium 22 connected to the computer 21 includes a disk, a semiconductor memory,
Other recording media. The recording medium 22 stores a network control program. The program is read by the computer 21 and controls the operation of the computer 21 so that the packet generation unit 32A for the manufacturer A Packet generator 32B for user B, control channel information transmission processor 2
9. Implement the signal selection circuits 30 and 31. Counters 25A, 2 in the packet generators 32A, 32B for each manufacturer
5B is a modulo (N) counter. The count value is incremented by one at regular intervals, and the count value changes from the initial value of 0 to N types of N-1, and when the count value becomes N, This is a circulation type counter that returns the count value to the initial value 0.

In the memories 23A and 23B, each unit (program division) when the latest version of the operation program for causing the mobile communication station 4 to perform a predetermined operation is divided into N (# 0 to # N-1). Part) P0 to PN-1 are stored in continuous areas # 0 to # N-1 as shown in FIG. The memories 23A and 23B store the counter 25
When the count values of A and 25B are i (0 ≦ i ≦ N−1), the counter 25 outputs the program division portion Pi stored in the area #i of the memories 23A and 23B.
Memory 23A, 23B according to the count value of A, 25B
The program divided portions P0 to PN-1 stored in the respective areas # 0 to # N-1 are cyclically output.

In the registers 27A and 27B, the version numbers of the latest operation programs (in this embodiment, A
v, Bv,...) are stored in the register 28
A and 28B store the total numbers AN and BN of the packets required to transfer the operation programs stored in the memories 23A and 23B. Register 26A, 26
B stores manufacturer codes A and B of each manufacturer.

FIG. 4 shows a control channel information transmission processor 29.
FIG. 6 is a format diagram showing an example of control channel information edited in the above.
1, a manufacturer code section 52, a version number section 53, a control message section 54, and a frame number section 51.
Contains a frame number of 0 ≦ j ≦ M−1 (however, it is modulo M and is repeated as M = 0), and the manufacturer code section 52 stores the manufacturer code A stored in the registers 26A and 26B. , B are written, the version numbers Av and Bv stored in the registers 27A and 27B are written in the version number section 53, and a control message is written in the control message section 54. These writings are performed by the control channel information transmission processing unit 29.

FIG. 5 shows a packet generator 32A for the manufacturer.
32 is a format diagram illustrating an example of a frame of a load program broadcast packet edited by the 32G packet generation circuits 24A and 24B, where one frame includes a frame number section 70, a manufacturer code section 71, and a version number section 7.
2, a packet number section 73, a total packet number section 74, a data section 75, and an error detection code section 76. The frame number section 70 has 0 ≦ k ≦ K-1 (where K is a modulo K and
= 0 is repeated), the manufacturer codes A and B stored in the registers 26A and 26B are written in the manufacturer code section 71, and the registers 27A and 27A are stored in the version number section 53. The version numbers Av and Bv stored in 27B are written, and the count value i (packet number) of the counters 25A and 25B is written in the packet number section 73. In the total packet number section 74, the total packet numbers AN and BN stored in the registers 28A and 28B are written. The operation program divided portion Pi read from the memories 23A and 23B is written in the data section 75. Further, an error detection code is written in the error detection code section 76. A predetermined relationship (for example, j = k) is maintained between the frame number j of the control channel information in FIG. 4 and the frame number k of the load program broadcast packet in FIG. In order to maintain this relationship, the signal selection circuit 31 and the counters 25A, 25
Operates in synchronization with the control information transmission processing unit 29 and the signal selection circuit 30.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a part related to the download processing of the operation program of the mobile communication station 4 shown in FIG. 1, and from the rewritable nonvolatile memory for storing the operation program. Program storage memory 42 and program storage memory 42
CPU 41 that executes the operation program stored in
A program update memory 43 composed of a rewritable memory for temporarily storing an operation program being downloaded; a ROM 44 storing a mobile number (telephone number or the like) of a mobile communication station; Demodulation unit 45
And a reception data processing unit 46, and an RO in which a manufacturer code of a manufacturer that manufactures and supplies the mobile communication station is stored.
M47 is provided. The program storage memory 42
Is read by the CPU 41, and by controlling the operation of the CPU 41,
It causes the PU 41 to execute the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.

Next, the operation of downloading the operation program in this embodiment will be described. The control channel information processing unit 29 in the network control station 2 generates and outputs the control channel information shown in FIG. As described above, the version numbers Av and Bv of the latest version of the operation program corresponding to the manufacturer described in the manufacturer code section 52 are stored in the version number section 53 of FIG.
The data is written from the registers 27A and 27B. The control channel information is broadcast to the entire network by the control channel 5 via the control channel modulator 33, the transmitter 35, and the communication satellite 1.

The packet generation circuits 24A and 24B in the network control station 2 store the count values of the counters 25A and 25B in the packet number section 73 (see FIG. 5) every time the program division portion Pi is read from the memories 23A and 23B. i (packet number) is written, the total number of packets AN and BN stored in the registers 28A and 28B are written into the total packet number part 74, and the version number Av stored in the registers 27A and 27B is written into the version number part 72. Bv is written and the data 23 is stored in the memory 23
A, 23B, write the program division portion Pi, write the error detection code to the error detection code section 76 to generate the packet shown in FIG. 5, and transmit the packet through the maintenance channel modulation section 34, the transmission section 35, and the communication satellite 1. Broadcast on the maintenance channel 7 to the entire network.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow relating to a program download process in the mobile communication station 4.
1 outputs a control signal to the reception demodulation unit 45 and sets the reception channel to the control channel 5 (step S1). The reception demodulation unit 45 receives and demodulates the signal of the control channel 5, and outputs the signal to the reception data processing unit 46. The reception data processing unit 46 performs descrambling (de-scramble) processing, error correction processing, and the like on the signal transmitted from the reception demodulation unit 45, and outputs the result as control channel information. When the control channel information is output from the reception data processing section 46, the CPU 41 outputs the manufacturer code of the manufacturer code section 52 (FIG. 4) and the manufacturer code stored in the ROM 47 (manufacturing the mobile communication station). Compare with the supplied manufacturer code (step S2). If the manufacturer codes do not match, the control channel information is information irrelevant to the own station. Therefore, the mobile communication station 4 shifts to a normal standby process and sets up a call such as an outgoing call or an incoming call. Wait for the procedure to start (step S4). If the manufacturer codes match, the version number in the version number portion 43 (FIG. 4) of the frame is compared with the version number stored in a predetermined area of the program storage memory 42 (step S3).

If the version numbers match, it means that the operation program currently being broadcast from the communication satellite has already been loaded into the program storage memory 42, so there is no need to download the program, and the mobile communication is not required. The station 4 shifts to a normal waiting process and waits for the start of a call setting procedure such as calling and receiving (step S4).

If the version numbers do not match, a program download process is performed. The CPU 41 determines whether there is an outgoing call request and whether there is an incoming call to the own station. If there is no outgoing call request or incoming call (both steps S5 and S8 are N),
A control signal is issued to the reception demodulation unit 45, and the reception channel is switched from the control channel 5 to the maintenance channel 7. The reception demodulation unit 45 receives and demodulates the packet shown in FIG. 5 broadcasted on the maintenance channel 7 (step S11). The reception data processing unit 46 performs processing such as descrambling and error correction on the received packet. Sent to CPU
41 compares the manufacturer code stored in the manufacturer code section 71 of this packet with the manufacturer code stored in the ROM 47 (step S12). If the manufacturer codes do not match, it is not an operation program for the own station, so the flow returns to step S5, where the CPU 41 determines whether or not there is a call request and whether or not there is an incoming call to the own station. Only when there is not (N in both steps S5 and S8), the maintenance channel 7 is received and the determination in step S12 is performed. This is to minimize interruptions to the calling process and the incoming call process by the program download process.

If the manufacturer codes match, it is determined whether or not the part of the program contained in the packet has already been taken into the program update memory 43. This determination is made in step S13 from the contents of the packet number portion 73 and the contents of the program update memory 42 in the packet. If the portion has not been loaded into the program update memory, it is loaded (step S
14) If the packet has already been captured, step S
The process proceeds to step S15, where it is determined whether or not the capture of all packets has been completed. If not, the process returns to step S5.

If it is determined that all parts of the new operation program have been written to the program update memory (Y in step S15), the program update memory 43
Is copied to the program storage memory 42, and the program download operation ends.

In FIG. 7, when the determination results in steps S12 and S15 are N, the process returns to step S5 in order to prevent the calling process and the incoming process from being interrupted by the program download process. It is. The determination in step S5 is only required to monitor a call request from a handset, a facsimile device, or a data terminal (not shown) connected to the mobile communication station. It can be carried out. If step S8 is Y, it is necessary to stop receiving the maintenance channel 7 and switch to reception of the control channel 5 to detect an incoming message contained in the control channel. Usually, an incoming message to a certain mobile communication station uses a network feature of being notified only by a frame having a predetermined frame number, and uses a reception channel only when the frame is being broadcast. Switch to control channel 5. The frame number of a frame in which the mobile communication station may receive an incoming call message can be obtained based on the mobile number of the mobile communication station stored in the ROM 44. Further, as described above, whether or not it is the reception timing of a frame in which the mobile communication station may receive an incoming call message is determined by the frame number stored in the frame number unit 70 (FIG. 5) and the frame number. Since the frame number stored in the number section 51 (FIG. 4) has a predetermined relationship, the determination can be made based on the frame number stored in the frame number section 70. In this way, only at the reception timing of a frame that may receive an incoming call message for the mobile communication station,
By switching the receiving channel to the control channel 5 and determining whether there is an incoming call to the own station, the operation program can be downloaded quickly.

If there is a call request in step S5, the CPU 41 switches the receiving channel to the control channel 5 (step S6) and performs normal call processing (step S7). When it is determined in step S8 that there is an incoming call, the receiving channel is switched to the control channel 5 (step S9), and normal incoming call processing is performed (step S10). If it is determined in step S15 that the writing of all packets has been completed, the CPU 41 copies the latest version of the operation program written in the program update memory 43 to the program storage memory 42 and simultaneously stores the latest version number in the program storage. (Step S16,
S17). The processing in steps S16 and S17 is performed by a copy program stored in a specific area of the program update memory 43. That is, if the determination in step S15 of the program in the program storage memory 42 is Y, the program in the program storage memory stores an instruction to jump to the beginning of the above-described copy program, and the copy program thereafter executes Steps S16 and S17 are executed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
The owner of the mobile communication station can download the latest version of the operation program without having to prepare a special device or perform a special operation. Further, the network control station 2 cyclically and repeatedly transmits a plurality of packets, and assigns the total number of packets AN, B to each packet.
Since N and the packet numbers An and Bn are stored, the mobile communication station 4 may start the operation program fetching process at an arbitrary timing, and even if the packet fetching fails due to a data error. It can be taken in the next cycle. Also, the program update memory 4
If 3 is composed of a rewritable nonvolatile memory,
Even when the power of the mobile communication station 4 is turned off during the packet capturing process, there is no concern that the captured data is volatilized.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to keep the mobile communication station owner up-to-date even if the mobile communication station owner does not perform any special operation without putting an economic burden on the owner. A version of the operation program can be downloaded. The reason is that the network control station 2 broadcasts the version number of the latest operation program using the control channel 5 via the communication satellite, and uses the newly prepared maintenance channel to update the latest version of the operation program. Broadcast in a packet format, and when each mobile communication station has a different version number sent by the control channel and the version number of the operation program currently used by the mobile station, the mobile communication station sends the packet in the packet format by the maintenance channel. This is because the latest version of the program being broadcast can be once taken into the program update memory, and then copied to the program storage memory.

Further, even when mobile communication stations manufactured and supplied by a plurality of manufacturers coexist in a mobile communication network, the latest version of the operation program can be efficiently downloaded by efficiently using the frequency resources. Can be. The reason is that the latest version of the operation program for the mobile communication station manufactured and supplied by each manufacturer is broadcast on the same maintenance channel in a time division manner.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic form of a mobile satellite communication network to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a network control station in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a format diagram showing a configuration of a memory 23A in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a format diagram showing a configuration example of a control channel of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a format diagram showing a configuration example of a maintenance channel in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a portion related to the present invention of the mobile communication station of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the device of FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 communication satellite 2 network control station 3 fixed communication station 4 mobile communication station 41 CPU (for mobile communication station) 41 program storage memory 42 program update memory 45 reception demodulation unit 46 reception data processing unit 51 frame number unit (control 52) Manufacturer code section (in the control channel) 53 Version number section (in the control channel) 70 Frame number section (in the maintenance channel) 71 Manufacturer code section (in the maintenance channel) 72 Version number section (In the maintenance channel)

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04B ^7/ 24-7/26 102 H04Q ^7/ 00-7/38 H04B ^7/ 14-7/22 G06F 9/445 G06F 13/00 351

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] An operation of each of the plurality of mobile communication stations in a network including a communication satellite, a network control station, a plurality of fixed communication stations, and a plurality of mobile communication stations is controlled. The latest version of the running program (ve
rsion: version) to the mobile communication station, the mobile communication station operating program download method, wherein the network control station relays the communication satellite,
In each frame of the control channel, a frame number portion storing a frame number of the frame, a manufacturer code portion storing a name of a manufacturer manufactured and supplied by each mobile communication station in the network, Frame in which the version number of the latest version of the operation program corresponding to the manufacturer indicated by the manufacturer name stored in the manufacturer code section is inserted, and the frame is cyclically repeated for each manufacturer name A frame number portion in which a frame number of the frame is stored in each frame of the maintenance channel by relaying from the network control station by the communication satellite at the same time as the first step; Each mobile communication station in the network is manufactured and
A manufacturer code section in which the supplied manufacturer name is stored, and a version number in which the version number of the latest version of the operation program corresponding to the manufacturer indicated by the manufacturer name stored in the manufacturer code section is stored. Part, a packet number part storing the packet number of the latest version of the operation program constituting the data part of the frame, and a total packet number part storing the total number of packets of the operation program are inserted into the packet number part. A second step of cyclically and repeatedly broadcasting a frame in which the area of the operation program of the described packet number is stored in the data section for each manufacturer name and for each packet; Receiving the control channel, the manufacturer name of the manufacturer code portion matches the manufacturer name of its own station,
Only when the version number of the version number part is different from the version number of the operation program currently used in the own station, the latest broadcast broadcast on the maintenance channel in a time zone in which calling and incoming calls of the own station are not disturbed. A third step of receiving a packet of the version of the operation program and storing it in the program update memory; and, when all the packets of the latest version of the operation program have been stored in the program update memory, the program update memory A fourth step of copying the contents of the operation program to the program storage memory. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the third step comprises: when receiving a call request from the own station, switching to reception of a control channel for calling processing. And the possibility of receiving a call at the own station, so that the number of the frame number part of the maintenance channel can be inferred from the frame number stored in the frame number part of the maintenance channel. And the number of the frame number part of the control channel, and the mobile communication station can control the control channel only when the frame number of the maintenance channel indicates that there is a possibility of receiving a call to the mobile station. A mobile communication station operation program download method, comprising the steps of: 3. The method for downloading an operation program of a mobile communication station according to claim 1, wherein said fourth step comprises: when all packets of the latest version of the operation program are stored in said program update memory; Up to that point, the program in the memory for storing the program, which controlled the operation of the mobile communication station, jumps to a specific address of the memory for updating the program, and the instruction read from that address causes the program in the memory for updating the program to be updated. A method for downloading an operation program of a mobile communication station, wherein contents are copied to a memory for storing a program and a new version number is stored. 4. Controlling the operation of each of the plurality of mobile communication stations in a network including a communication satellite, a network control station, a plurality of fixed communication stations, and a plurality of mobile communication stations. A mobile communication station operation program download device for downloading the latest version of the operation program to the mobile communication station, wherein the network control station is a manufacturer of each communication station of the mobile communication stations in the network. A packet generator for each manufacturer, each packet generator for a manufacturer code register for storing the manufacturer code of the manufacturer, a version number register for storing the version number of the latest version of the operation program corresponding to the manufacturer, A total packet number register for storing the total number of packets when this operation program is disassembled into packets and transmitted. Memory for storing the operation program of the version number stored in the version number register in a plurality of areas, a signal selection circuit for selecting a signal for configuring a control channel, and a signal for configuring a maintenance channel A frame number portion for storing a frame number of the frame, a manufacturer code portion for storing a manufacturer code of the manufacturer code register, and the version number in each frame of the control channel. Means for cyclically and repeatedly generating a frame in which the version number portion storing the register version number is inserted for each manufacturer name, and a frame storing the frame number of the frame in each frame of the maintenance channel Number part, a manufacturer code part storing a manufacturer code of the manufacturer code register, The version number part storing the version number of the version number register and the total packet number part storing the total packet number of the total packet number register are inserted, and the packet of the operation program read from the memory is inserted into the data part. Means for cyclically and repeatedly generating the stored frames for each manufacturer name and for each packet, and an operation program download apparatus for a mobile communication station, comprising: 5. The mobile communication station operation program download apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each register provided in said network control station is constituted by a nonvolatile memory. apparatus. 6. The mobile communication station operation program download apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of mobile communication stations has a reception frequency of a communication channel, a control channel, and a maintenance frequency. And a ROM storing a mobile number of the mobile communication station, and a ROM storing a manufacturer code of a manufacturer that manufactures and supplies the mobile communication station. An operation program download device for a mobile communication station, comprising: a program update memory; and a program storage memory. 7. The operation program download device for a mobile communication station according to claim 6, wherein the program update memory and the program storage memory are composed of writable nonvolatile memories. A mobile communication station operation program download device.