JPH02148162A - Method for loading program to slave processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make program change of a slave processor easy by constituting so that a master processor can operate a program of the slave processor as a file. CONSTITUTION:A program executed by a slave processor is stored in advance as a program file in an auxiliary storage device, so that it can be replaced freely by a storage medium in the same way as a program of a master processor. That is, in the same way as a single processor system, an I/O control means program executed by the slave processor can be changed by a user, and also, an entirely different program can be generated newly. In such a way, the program of the slave processor can be changed easily, and the maintenability and the reliability can be enhanced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a method of loading a program to a slave processor in a multiprocessor system.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, in a microcomputer system with a multiprocessor configuration, a slave processor executes, for example, one
10 control procedure programs are conventionally written in ROM (read only memory).

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In this way, in conventional multiprocessor systems, the program to be executed by the slave processor is written in the ROM, so when changing the program of the slave processor, the ROM must be rewritten. Although it is difficult, in reality there are many requests to change slave processor programs, including communication procedure programs that require consistency with the specifications of the other party.

Therefore, the present invention facilitates changing the program of a slave processor, that is, maintainability.

The purpose is to increase trust and relationships.

(Means for Solving the Problem) A program to be executed by a slave processor is stored in an auxiliary storage device in advance, and the program file of the slave processor is read from the auxiliary storage device as an IPL procedure of the master processor. Transfer to memory.

[Function] The program executed by the slave processor is stored as a program file in the auxiliary storage device, and can be freely replaced using a storage medium (such as a flexible disk) in the same way as the program of the master processor.

In other words, in the conventional ROM writing method, only the program manufacturer (equipment manufacturer) can change the program, but by doing the above, the user can control the I10 executed by the slave processor, similar to a single processor system. You can change the procedure program or create a completely different program.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the slave processor, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the master processor.

As shown in FIG. 1(A), after the slave processor is powered on, it is placed in a wait state by the hardware circuit (see ■). On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the master processor reads out its own operating system from the auxiliary storage device using the boot program stored in the ROM (see (2)). After that, search the program file of the slave processor from the auxiliary storage device (see ■), and check whether the corresponding slave processor exists (see ■
(see), transfer it to the main memory of the slave processor (see ■), verify and confirm (see ■), and then release the wait state of the slave processor. When the slave processor is started by the master processor,
In order to prevent its own program from being destroyed due to a programming error in the master processor, the hardware must be manipulated to prevent the program storage area from being accessed by the master processor (see ■ in Figure 1 (b)). After that, a predetermined program is executed (see ①).

By following the steps described above, the slave processor can operate as if it had the program as a ROM.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to this invention, the program of the slave processor can be operated by the master processor as a file. Therefore, if applied to a personal computer system, for example, the master processor can operate the program of the slave processor using the console and auxiliary storage device under the control of the master processor. It is possible to create standalone (independent) programs.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the slave processor, and FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the IPL procedure of the master processor. (B) (B) S 1 Prisoner's representative Patent attorney Akio Namiki

Claims (1)

[Claims] A program to be executed by slave processors constituting a multiprocessor system is stored in advance in an auxiliary storage device, and the program is read by the master processor at the time of initial program loading and transferred to the main storage device of the slave processor. How to load a program to a slave processor.