CN116781978A - Intelligent set top box, display equipment and firmware data updating method - Google Patents

Abstract

Some embodiments of the present application provide an intelligent set top box, a display device, and a firmware data updating method, where the method may receive a firmware update file sent by the display device in response to an upgrade instruction. The firmware update file comprises a virtual memory disk file system, wherein the virtual memory disk file system comprises a real-time operating system and a root file system. Loading the boot program in the firmware update file and running the boot program. And starting the virtual memory disk file system according to the bootstrap program, and updating firmware data of the module processor through the virtual memory disk file system to finish upgrading of the equipment module. The method can interact with the module processor through the virtual memory disk file system when the equipment module of the intelligent set top box is upgraded, the whole system of the intelligent set top box is not required to be upgraded, and the upgrading efficiency of the equipment module can be improved.

Description

Intelligent set top box, display equipment and firmware data updating method

Technical Field

The application relates to the technical field of display equipment, in particular to an intelligent set top box, display equipment and a firmware data updating method.

Background

The display device is a terminal device capable of outputting a specific display screen, and may be a terminal device such as an interactive Internet television (Internet ProtocolTelevision, IPTV), a communication terminal, a smart advertisement screen, or a projector. Taking the interactive network television as an example, the interactive network television is a television product based on the broadband network technology and integrating functions of the internet, multimedia, communication and the like, and can provide various interactive services including digital televisions.

The display device can complete the functions of receiving program data on demand, video broadcasting, surfing the web and the like by connecting the intelligent set top box. Among them, a smart Set Top Box (STB) is an information device for enhancing or expanding functions of a display device, also called a set top box, which can support various broadcasting and interactive multimedia applications. In order to implement an IPTV service through the smart set-top box, IPTV software and a plurality of firmware device modules, such as bluetooth, WIFI, EMMC (Embedded MultiMediaCard ), etc., are built in the smart set-top box. In order to improve the use experience of the intelligent set top box, the firmware equipment module needs to be updated, namely, firmware data in the firmware equipment module is updated.

However, when updating the firmware data, the intelligent set top box needs to upgrade the IPTV software first, and then interacts with the firmware equipment through the upgraded IPTV software to complete the upgrade and update of the firmware equipment. Because the memory volume occupied by the IPTV software is relatively large, a relatively large amount of time is required for upgrading the IPTV software, so that the upgrading time of the firmware equipment is prolonged, and the upgrading efficiency of the firmware equipment is reduced.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides an intelligent set top box, display equipment and a firmware data updating method, which are used for solving the problem of low firmware equipment upgrading efficiency in the intelligent set top box.

In a first aspect, some embodiments of the present application provide an intelligent set-top box, including a device module, an external interface, and a controller. The device module comprises a module processor, wherein firmware data are arranged in the module processor; the external interface is configured to establish a communication connection with a display device, the display device is operated with an upgrade application, and the upgrade application is used for sending a firmware update file; the controller is configured to perform the following program steps:

receiving a firmware update file sent by a display device in response to an upgrade instruction, wherein the firmware update file comprises a virtual memory disk file system, and the virtual memory disk file system comprises a real-time operating system and a root file system;

Loading a bootstrap program in the firmware update file and running the bootstrap program;

starting the virtual memory disk file system according to the bootstrap program;

and updating the firmware data of the module processor through the virtual memory disk file system.

In a second aspect, some embodiments of the present application further provide a display device including a display, a communicator, and a processor; wherein the communicator is configured to connect to the intelligent set top box of the first aspect; the processor is configured to perform the following program steps:

responding to the upgrade instruction, and running an upgrade application;

based on the upgrading application, sending a firmware update file to the intelligent set top box so that the intelligent set top box loads a bootstrap program in the firmware update file and runs the bootstrap program; starting a virtual memory disk file system according to the bootstrap program; and updating firmware data of the module processor through the virtual memory disk file system, wherein the firmware update file comprises a virtual memory disk file system, and the virtual memory disk file system comprises a real-time operating system and a root file system.

In a third aspect, some embodiments of the present application further provide a method for updating firmware data, including:

Receiving a firmware update file sent by a display device in response to an upgrade instruction, wherein the firmware update file comprises a virtual memory disk file system, and the virtual memory disk file system comprises a real-time operating system and a root file system;

loading a bootstrap program in the firmware update file and running the bootstrap program;

starting the virtual memory disk file system according to the bootstrap program;

and updating firmware data of the module processor through the virtual memory disk file system.

According to the technical scheme, the intelligent set top box, the display device and the firmware data updating method provided by some embodiments of the application can respond to the updating instruction to receive the firmware updating file sent by the display device. The firmware update file comprises a virtual memory disk file system, wherein the virtual memory disk file system comprises a real-time operating system and a root file system. Loading the boot program in the firmware update file and running the boot program. And starting the virtual memory disk file system according to the bootstrap program, and updating firmware data of the module processor through the virtual memory disk file system to finish upgrading of the equipment module. The method can interact with the module processor through the virtual memory disk file system when the equipment module of the intelligent set top box is upgraded, the whole system of the intelligent set top box is not required to be upgraded, and the upgrading efficiency of the equipment module can be improved.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings that are required in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly described, it being obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the application, and that other drawings may be obtained according to these drawings without inventive effort for a person skilled in the art.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an operation scenario between a display device and a control apparatus according to some embodiments of the present application;

fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a hardware configuration of a display device according to some embodiments of the present application;

fig. 3 is a schematic hardware configuration diagram of a control device according to some embodiments of the present application;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a software configuration of a display device according to some embodiments of the present application;

fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of an intelligent set-top box according to some embodiments of the present application for providing IPTV services to a display device;

fig. 6 is a schematic hardware configuration diagram of an intelligent set-top box according to some embodiments of the present application;

fig. 7 is a schematic software configuration diagram of an intelligent set-top box according to some embodiments of the present application;

fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of an update flow of firmware data in an equipment module according to some embodiments of the present application;

Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of an interaction flow of an upgrade apparatus module of an intelligent set top box according to some embodiments of the present application;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a firmware data update method according to some embodiments of the present application;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating an upgrade process of an equipment module according to some embodiments of the present application;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating a partition structure within a firmware upgrade file according to some embodiments of the present application;

fig. 13 is a schematic flow chart of interaction between a display device and an intelligent set-top box according to some embodiments of the present application.

Detailed Description

For the purpose of making the objects, technical solutions and advantages of exemplary embodiments of the present application more apparent, the technical solutions of exemplary embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the exemplary embodiments of the present application, and it is apparent that the described exemplary embodiments are only some embodiments of the present application, not all embodiments.

All other embodiments, which can be made by a person skilled in the art without inventive effort, based on the exemplary embodiments shown in the present application are intended to fall within the scope of the present application. Furthermore, while the present disclosure has been described in terms of an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it should be understood that each aspect of the disclosure may be separately implemented as a complete solution.

It should be understood that the terms "first," "second," "third," and the like in the description and in the claims and in the above-described figures are used for distinguishing between similar objects and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the data so used may be interchanged where appropriate, such as where appropriate, for example, implementations other than those illustrated or described in connection with the embodiments of the application.

Furthermore, the terms "comprise" and "have," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a product or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements expressly listed, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such product or apparatus.

The display device provided by the embodiment of the application can have various implementation forms, for example, a television, an intelligent television, a laser projection device, a display (monitor), an electronic whiteboard (electronic bulletin board), an electronic desktop (electronic real), a personal computer (personal computer) and the like. Fig. 1 and 2 are specific embodiments of a display device of the present application.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an operation scenario between a display device and a control apparatus according to an embodiment. As shown in fig. 1, a user may operate the display device 200 through the smart device 300 or the control apparatus 100.

In some embodiments, the control apparatus 100 may be a remote controller, and the communication between the remote controller and the display device includes infrared protocol communication or bluetooth protocol communication, and other short-range communication modes, and the display device 200 is controlled by a wireless or wired mode. The user may control the display device 200 by inputting user instructions through keys on a remote control, voice input, control panel input, etc.

In some embodiments, a smart device 300 (e.g., mobile terminal, tablet, computer, notebook, etc.) may also be used to control the display device 200. For example, the display device 200 is controlled using an application running on the smart device 300.

In some embodiments, the display device may receive instructions not using the smart device or control device described above, but rather receive control of the user by touch or gesture, or the like.

In some embodiments, the display device 200 may also perform control in a manner other than the control apparatus 100 and the smart device 300, for example, the voice command control of the user may be directly received through a module configured inside the display device 200 device for acquiring voice commands, or the voice command control of the user may be received through a voice control apparatus configured outside the display device 200 device.

In some embodiments, the display device 200 is also in data communication with a server 400. The display device 200 may be permitted to make communication connections via a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and other networks. The server 400 may provide various contents and interactions to the display device 200. The server 400 may be a cluster, or may be multiple clusters, and may include one or more types of servers.

Fig. 2 exemplarily shows a block diagram of a configuration of the control apparatus 100 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. As shown in fig. 2, the control device 100 includes a device controller 110, a communication interface 130, a user input/output interface 140, a memory, and a power supply. The control apparatus 100 may receive an input operation instruction of a user and convert the operation instruction into an instruction recognizable and responsive to the display device 200, and function as an interaction between the user and the display device 200.

As shown in fig. 3, the display apparatus 200 includes at least one of a modem 210, a communicator 220, a detector 230, an external device interface 240, a processor 250, a display 260, an audio output interface 270, a memory, a power supply, and a user interface.

In some embodiments, the device controller 110 includes a processor, a video processor, an audio processor, a graphics processor, RAM, ROM, and first to nth interfaces for input/output.

The display 260 includes a display screen component for presenting a picture, and a driving component for driving an image display, a component for receiving an image signal from the controller output, displaying video content, image content, and a menu manipulation interface, and a user manipulation UI interface.

The display 260 may be a liquid crystal display, an OLED display, a projection device, or a projection screen.

The communicator 220 is a component for communicating with external devices or servers according to various communication protocol types. For example: the communicator may include at least one of a Wifi module, a bluetooth module, a wired ethernet module, or other network communication protocol chip or a near field communication protocol chip, and an infrared receiver. The display apparatus 200 may establish transmission and reception of control signals and data signals with the control device 100 or the server 400 through the communicator 220.

A user interface, which may be used to receive control signals from the control device 100 (e.g., an infrared remote control, etc.).

The detector 230 is used to collect signals of the external environment or interaction with the outside. For example, detector 230 includes a light receiver, a sensor for capturing the intensity of ambient light; alternatively, the detector 230 includes an image collector such as a camera, which may be used to collect external environmental scenes, user attributes, or user interaction gestures, or alternatively, the detector 230 includes a sound collector such as a microphone, or the like, which is used to receive external sounds.

The external device interface 240 may include, but is not limited to, the following: high Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), analog or data high definition component input interface (component), composite video input interface (CVBS), USB input interface (USB), RGB port, etc. The input/output interface may be a composite input/output interface formed by a plurality of interfaces.

The modem 210 receives broadcast television signals through a wired or wireless reception manner, and demodulates audio and video signals, such as EPG data signals, from a plurality of wireless or wired broadcast television signals.

In some embodiments, the processor 250 and the modem 210 may be located in separate devices, i.e., the modem 210 may also be located in an external device to the host device in which the processor 250 is located, such as an external smart set-top box 500, etc.

The processor 250 controls the operation of the display device and responds to the user's operations by various software control programs stored on the memory. The processor 250 controls the overall operation of the display device 200. For example: in response to receiving a user command to select to display a UI object on the display 260, the processor 250 may perform operations related to the object selected by the user command.

In some embodiments, processor 250 includes at least one of a central processor (CentralProcessingUnit, CPU), a video processor, an audio processor, a graphics processor (GraphicsProcessingUnit, GPU), RAM (RandomAcces sMemory, RAM), ROM (Read-only memory, ROM), first to nth interfaces for input/output, a communication Bus (Bus), and the like.

The user may input a user command through a Graphical User Interface (GUI) displayed on the display 260, and the user input interface receives the user input command through the Graphical User Interface (GUI). Alternatively, the user may input the user command by inputting a specific sound or gesture, and the user input interface recognizes the sound or gesture through the sensor to receive the user input command.

A "user interface" is a media interface for interaction and exchange of information between an application or operating system and a user, which enables conversion between an internal form of information and a user-acceptable form. A commonly used presentation form for user interfaces is a graphical user interface (GraphicUserInterface, GUI), which refers to a graphically displayed user interface associated with computer operations. It may be an interface element such as an icon, a window, a control, etc. displayed in a display screen of the electronic device, where the control may include a visual interface element such as an icon, a button, a menu, a tab, a text box, a dialog box, a status bar, a navigation bar, a Widget, etc.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 4, the system is divided into four layers, from top to bottom, an application layer (abbreviated as "application layer"), an application framework layer (abbreviated as "framework layer"), a An Zhuoyun row (Android run) and a system library layer (abbreviated as "system runtime layer"), and a kernel layer.

In some embodiments, at least one application program is running in the application program layer, and these application programs may be a Window (Window) program of an operating system, a system setting program, a clock program, or the like; or may be an application developed by a third party developer. In particular implementations, the application packages in the application layer are not limited to the above examples.

The framework layer provides an Application Programming Interface (API) and programming framework for the application. The application framework layer includes a number of predefined functions. The application framework layer corresponds to a processing center that decides to let the applications in the application layer act. Through the API interface, the application program can access the resources in the system and acquire the services of the system in the execution.

As shown in fig. 4, the application framework layer in the embodiment of the present application includes a manager (manager), a content provider (ContentProvider), and the like, wherein the manager includes at least one of the following modules: an activity manager (actigamag) is used to interact with all the activities that are running in the system; a location manager (LocationManager) for providing access to system services or applications for system location services; a package manager (PackageManager) for retrieving various information about an application package currently installed on the device; a notification manager (notifinmanager) for controlling display and clearing of notification messages; a window manager (WindowManager) is used to manage bracketing icons, windows, toolbars, wallpaper, and desktop components on the user interface.

In some embodiments, the activity manager is used to manage the lifecycle of the individual applications as well as the usual navigation rollback functions, such as controlling the exit, opening, fallback, etc. of the applications. The window manager is used for managing all window programs, such as obtaining the size of the display screen, judging whether a status bar exists or not, locking the screen, intercepting the screen, controlling the change of the display window (for example, reducing the display window to display, dithering display, distorting display, etc.), etc.

In some embodiments, the system runtime layer provides support for the upper layer, the framework layer, and when the framework layer is in use, the android operating system runs the C/C++ libraries contained in the system runtime layer to implement the functions to be implemented by the framework layer.

In some embodiments, the kernel layer is a layer between hardware and software. As shown in fig. 4, the kernel layer contains at least one of the following drivers: audio drive, display drive, bluetooth drive, camera drive, WIFI drive, USB drive, HDMI drive, sensor drive (e.g., fingerprint sensor, temperature sensor, pressure sensor, etc.), and power supply drive, etc.

The display device 200 may perform different functions based on applications built into the display device 200. Thus, in some embodiments, the application layer of the display device 200 includes at least one application, such as: different types of applications, such as live television applications, video on demand applications, media center applications, application centers, and gaming applications.

In some embodiments, the live television application may provide live television, broadcast television, through different signal sources. For example, a live television application may provide television signals using inputs from cable television, radio broadcast, satellite services, or other types of live television services. And, the live television application may display media data of the live television signal on the display device 200.

In some embodiments, the video on demand application may provide video from different storage sources. Unlike live television applications, video-on-demand provides media asset data from some storage sources. For example, video-on-demand may come from a server side of cloud storage or from a local hard disk storage containing stored video programs, etc.

In some embodiments, the media center application may provide various multimedia content playing applications. For example, a media center may be a different service than live television or video on demand, and a user may access various images or audio through a media center application.

In some embodiments, an application center may be provided to store various applications. The application may be a game, an application, or some other application associated with a computer system or other device but which may be run in a smart television. The application center may obtain these applications from different sources, store them in local storage, and then run on display device 200.

Accordingly, the display apparatus 200 may access different signal sources through the application program and receive a data stream of media data based on the current signal source. And then performs decoding display on the data stream to present the corresponding media play picture in the display device 200. The media data may include two types of data, audio data and video data.

To allow the display device 200 to access a signal source, in some embodiments, the display device 200 also establishes a communication connection with the intelligent set-top box 500 through the communicator 220. Among them, a smart Set Top Box (STB) is an information device for enhancing or expanding functions of a display device, also called a set top box, which can support various broadcasting and interactive multimedia applications. The display device 200 may extract the channel encoded signal from the transport layer through the smart set-top box 500, perform channel demodulation, and restore the compressed source encoded signal to restore the original media data stream. Meanwhile, the intelligent set top box 500 is also used for receiving or analyzing data services and various application programs.

As shown in fig. 5, the intelligent set-top box 500 is a media decoding terminal, a signal input end of the intelligent set-top box 500 is connected to an IPTV (InternetProtocolT elevision) service line through a DSL (digital subscriber line) or ethernet mode, and a signal output end of the intelligent set-top box 500 converts information such as a media stream transmitted through an IPTV network into audio and video, and outputs the audio and video to the display device 200, so as to implement different types of functions such as video on demand, web browsing, and game of the display device 200. The intelligent set-top box 500 has functions of data exchange and the like, and can interact with the intelligent set-top box 500 by adopting the control device 100 such as the intelligent terminal 300 or a remote controller. The IPTV provides media services in an on-demand or multicast mode in an IP-based network, and relates to technologies of a support layer, a service layer, a bearer layer and an access layer, and technologies of audio/video encoding and decoding, streaming, content distribution, multicast, DRM and the like.

In some embodiments, the intelligent set-top box 500 is made up of two parts, set-top box software and hardware. The hardware portion may include a controller 530, a memory, a modem, a backhaul channel, a CA (conditional access) interface, an external storage controller, and an audio/video output, etc. The system of the intelligent set top box comprises an application layer, an intermediate interpretation layer and a driving layer, wherein each layer comprises a certain number of programs or interfaces and the like.

In order to improve the scalability of the smart set-top box 500, in some embodiments, the smart set-top box 500 is further provided with different types of external interfaces, such as a USB (universal serial bus) interface, an IDE (integrated drive Electronics) interface, a PCMCIA (personal computer memory card international association) interface, and an ethernet interface.

In some embodiments, the interface of the intelligent set top box 500 with the IPTV network includes an authentication interface, a payment interface, and a service usage interface. The authentication interface comprises network layer authentication and application layer authentication, namely a process that an internet user accesses the internet. For example, the network layer access authentication mode may be PPPoE, dhcp+ WeB, and the like. The application layer authentication is an authentication process of the intelligent set top box 500 in the IPTV, and the user authenticated by the application layer can use the service provided by the IPTV.

The intelligent set-top box 500 may have various implementation manners according to different hardware or software, for example, a software system of the intelligent set-top box 500 may be a Linux system or an android system. Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a smart set top box 500 according to the present application.

As shown in fig. 6, in some embodiments, the motherboard of the smart set-top box 500 includes a device module 510, an external interface 520, a controller 530, and a DDR (double data rate), double rate synchronous dynamic random access memory. The device module 510 may be a BlueTooth (BlueTooth) device module, a WIFI device module, an EMMC (EmbeddedMultiMe diaCard ) device module, or the like. The device module 510 is provided with an independent SOC (system on chip), that is, a module processor 511. The firmware data of the device module 510 may be stored in its corresponding module processor 511, or may be stored in a separate storage area of the EMMC. The smart set top box 500 also includes a set top box software system, such as IPTV software. Wherein, the data of the set-top box software system is also stored inside the embedded multimedia card. And, after the intelligent set top box 500 is started, the intelligent set top box 500 can load data of part of the set top box software system into the double rate synchronous dynamic random memory DDR to run.

As shown in fig. 7, in some embodiments, the set-top box software system includes a plurality of software modules, which are boot, kernel, root file system boot, system process system, and data, respectively. The boot program boot is a starting module of the intelligent set top box 500 software, and has the capability of driving a basic module. The software modules are stored in different areas of the embedded multimedia card in partitions. Thus, when a separate software module of the set-top box software system has an update requirement, the software system of the entire intelligent set-top box may not be updated.

In order to improve the use experience of the intelligent set-top box 500, the set-top box software system and the device module 510 of the intelligent set-top box 500 are updated. Since the device module 510 is a firmware driver, the process of upgrading the device module 510 is to update the firmware data in the module processor 511 corresponding to the device module 510.

However, because the smart set-top box 500 has no capability and authority to connect to external devices, in some embodiments, the module processor 511 in the smart set-top box 500 pre-agrees with the set-top box software system for communication and firmware data update protocols. The set-top box software system is updated as the device module 510 is upgraded to store firmware update data for use in upgrading the module processor 510 to the updated set-top box software system. And then, according to the agreed communication protocol, the updated firmware update data of the device module 510 is transmitted through the updated set top box software system and module processor 511, so as to realize the upgrade of the device module 510.

For example: when the version of the wifi device module in the intelligent set top box 500 is updated from x to y, the set top box software system needs to be updated from the original software version a to version b. The version of the set top box software system contains firmware update data y. And when the version of the set top box software system is started, detecting the version of the wifi equipment module, and when the wifi equipment module is x, interacting with the SOC of the wifi equipment module through the set top box software system to transmit firmware update data y to the wifi equipment module.

To implement the upgrade process of the device module 510 described above, in some embodiments, the intelligent set-top box 500 may establish a communication connection with the display device 200 through the external interface 520. The display device 200 is running an upgrade application, where the upgrade application includes a burning tool. The display device 200 imports the firmware update data of the device module 510 through the burning tool and transmits the firmware update data to the smart set top box 500. After the intelligent set top box 500 is started, firmware update data sent by the burning tool is received through the external interface 520, an upgrade register is set, a boot program boot of the firmware update data is loaded, and the boot program boot is run. After the boot program boot runs in the intelligent set-top box 500, the firmware update data sent by the display device 200 is received by detecting the setting of the upgrade register. And then the firmware update data is programmed into a storage area corresponding to the embedded multimedia card so as to update the version of the set top box software system.

In some embodiments, the firmware update data is a data file in a particular format, e.g., the firmware update data is an IMG file. The IMG is a file compression format (archive), which can be used to create an image file (disimage) of a floppy disk, and the IMG format can shrink the content of the entire floppy disk or the entire optical disk.

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of a firmware data update process in an equipment module according to some embodiments of the present application, as shown in fig. 8. In fig. 8, the controller 530 is a set top box SOC, the wifi module is a device module 510, the SOC of the wifi device module is a module processor 511, and the external interface 520 is a USB interface; the display device 200 communicatively coupled to the intelligent set-top box 500 is a PC.

When the version of the wifi device module is upgraded from x to y, the set top box software needs to be upgraded from the original software version a to version b. As shown in fig. 8, after the intelligent set-top box 500 is started, a communication connection is established between the PC and the intelligent set-top box 500 through a USB interface, and a version IMG file is sent to the set-top box SOC through a burning tool. And setting an upgrade register by the SOC of the set top box, loading a boot program boot in the IMG through the DDR and running the boot program boot. After the boot program boot runs in the double-rate synchronous dynamic random access memory DDR, an IMG file sent by the PC is received according to the upgrade register, and data of a corresponding storage area in the embedded multimedia card is updated according to the data in the IMG, so that the set top box software data of the embedded multimedia card is updated, and the update of the set top box software is completed. After the set-top box software update is completed, the intelligent set-top box 500 is restarted, and the version of the set-top box software is reloaded and the version of the set-top box software is run. The version of the set top box software is provided with the version y of firmware data y, and the version y of the set top box software interacts with the SOC of the wifi equipment module through the version of the set top box software to send the data y to the SOC of the wifi equipment module, so that the upgrade from x to y of the wifi equipment module is completed.

Therefore, in order to implement the upgrade process of the device module 510, the intelligent set top box 500 needs to update the version of the set top box software system, so that the updated set top box software system has the function of upgrading the device module 510, and then the upgrade of the device module 510 is performed through the updated set top box software system.

It is apparent that the set-top box software system itself does not have an update requirement when upgrading the device module 510, and the update of the set-top box software system is only for the purpose of upgrading the device module 510. However, since the memory occupied by the set-top box software system is larger, the update process of the set-top box software system needs to consume more time, so that the upgrade time of the device module 510 is prolonged. In addition, version updating of the set top box software system has a certain version updating risk, and version testing and release processes are required, so that the upgrading efficiency of the device module 510 is reduced.

Based on the above application scenario, in order to improve the problem of low upgrade efficiency of firmware devices in the intelligent set-top box 500, some embodiments of the present application provide an intelligent set-top box 500, as shown in fig. 9, including a device module 510, an external interface 520, and a controller 530. The device module 510 includes a module processor 511, where the module processor 511 has firmware data built therein. External interface 520 is configured to establish a communication connection with display device 200. The display device 200 runs an upgrade application, which is used to send firmware update files. As shown in fig. 10, the controller 530 is configured to perform the following program steps:

S100: and responding to the upgrade instruction, and receiving a firmware update file sent by the display equipment.

When the device module 510 of the intelligent set-top box 500 is updated, a communication connection is established with the display device 200 running the upgrade application through the external interface 520 of the intelligent set-top box 500. The upgrade application is configured to send a firmware update file to the intelligent set top box 500, and after the intelligent set top box 500 establishes a communication connection with the display device 200, the upgrade application of the display device 200 sends the firmware update file to the controller 530 of the intelligent set top box 500 through the external interface 520.

After receiving the upgrade instruction, the controller 530 of the intelligent set-top box 500 receives the firmware update file sent by the display device 200 in response to the upgrade instruction. The firmware update file comprises a virtual memory disk file system, wherein the virtual memory disk file system comprises a real-time operating system and a root file system.

That is, the intelligent set top box 500 provided by the embodiment of the application can reform the real-time operating system kernel and the root file system rootfs of the firmware update file. The Kernel (real-time operating system) is a core part of the operating system, i.e. a system Kernel. rootfs (RootFilesystem) is the root directory file system, which is the first file system to mount after kernel startup. Wherein, the rootfs is separated from the kernel, but the kernel alone cannot normally operate without the rootfs. Since the smallest unit of operation in the operating system of the intelligent set-top box 500 is the kernel/rootfs, the virtual disk file system can be directly operated in memory by combining the kernel and rootfs into a virtual disk (ramdisk) file system. Thus, the device module 510 may be upgraded by running a virtual disk file system in the intelligent set-top box 500, via the virtual disk file system.

Also, the controller 530 of the intelligent set-top box 500 may also set register storage data upon receiving the firmware update file transmitted by the display device 200. That is, in some embodiments, the upgrade registers are set according to the upgrade instructions and the firmware update file is stored into the upgrade registers. The register is a memory unit, is a high-speed memory unit with limited memory capacity, and can be used for temporarily storing instructions, data, addresses and the like.

In some embodiments, to enable the intelligent set top box 500 to update the firmware data of the device module 510 through the virtual disk file system, the intelligent set top box 500 may save the file commands required for the upgrade to the binary directory of the root file system. I.e., the intelligent set-top box 500 detects the file commands in the firmware update file and screens the target file commands among the file commands. Wherein the target file command is a file command used in upgrading firmware data in the module processor 511. And storing the target file command into a binary directory of the root file system.

That is, the commands to be used by the upgrade apparatus module 510 are placed under the/bin directory in the rootfs. Wherein the bin directory is cached for the default program set. Wherein bin is binary. bin directory can store exe, dll and other format files. The bin directory is located under the root directory or virtual root directory, and is invalidated if it is located under other directories.

Also, in some embodiments, the intelligent set-top box 500 also detects firmware update data of the firmware update file. Then, the target update data is selected among the firmware update data. The target update data is firmware update data used when firmware data is built in the upgrade module processor 511, that is, firmware data to be stored in the upgrade module processor 511 of the device module 510. And then storing the firmware update data to a root directory of the root file system.

For example: taking a process of upgrading the version of the wifi equipment module from x to y as an example, before the wifi equipment module is upgraded, firmware data stored in a module processor of the wifi equipment module is x; after the wifi equipment module is upgraded, firmware data stored in a module processor of the wifi equipment module is y. When the wifi equipment module is updated, the firmware data y is put into the root directory of the rootfs.

S200: loading the boot program in the firmware update file and running the boot program.

The boot program boot is a program that can guide a user to enter the system in advance, can obtain control right of the system, and can import all operating system programs. When the system is started, the related information of the boot needs to be read first. Therefore, after receiving the firmware update file sent by the display device 200, the intelligent set-top box 500 loads a boot program boot in the firmware update file and runs the boot program boot to obtain data contained in the firmware update file.

In some embodiments, the process of the smart set top box 500 loading the boot program of the firmware update file, and running the boot program, may be performed in double rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (double datasynchronization ousDynamicRandomAccessMemory, DDR) of the smart set top box 500. I.e., the intelligent set-top box 500 loads the boot program of the firmware update file and, when the boot program is run, the DDR in the intelligent set-top box 500 is run. And loading the bootstrap program through the DDR, and running the bootstrap program in the DDR.

S300: and starting the virtual memory disk file system according to the bootstrap program.

Because the virtual memory disk file system can be directly operated in the memory, after the intelligent set top box 500 operates the boot program boot, the virtual memory disk file system is started according to the boot program, so that the virtual memory disk file system operates in the memory of the intelligent set top box. That is, after the boot program boot is run, only the virtual disk file system combined by kernel/rootfs is loaded, and the loaded virtual disk file system is run.

Thus, in some embodiments, the intelligent set top box 500 skips the complete set burning procedure of the firmware update file when starting the virtual disk storage system according to the boot program. And loading a virtual memory disk file system in the firmware update file in the DDR, and operating the virtual memory disk file system. When the boot program boot is started, the upgrade register is not checked, and only the virtual memory disk file system of the kern el/roots combination is loaded and operated. Thus, the virtual disk file system running in the DDR may interact with the device module 510 to complete the upgrade of the device module 510 through the virtual disk file system.

S400: firmware data of the module processor is updated through the virtual memory disk file system.

After the virtual disk file system is started, the intelligent set-top box 500 interacts with the device module 510 with upgrade requirements through the virtual disk file system to update the firmware data in the module processor 511 through firmware update data. In this way, the intelligent set top box 500 can upgrade the device module 510 without updating the set top box software system, so that the update time of the device module 510 can be shortened, and the update efficiency of the device module 510 can be improved.

For example: as shown in fig. 11, fig. 11 is a schematic diagram of an upgrade process of an equipment module 510 according to some embodiments of the present application, in fig. 11, a controller 530 is a set top box SOC, a wifi module is the equipment module 510, the SOC of the wifi equipment module is a module processor 511, and an external interface 520 is a USB interface.

When the version of the wifi device module is upgraded from x to y, as shown in fig. 11, after the intelligent set top box 500 is started, the intelligent set top box 500 may establish a communication connection with the display device 200 through a USB interface, and the display device 200 sends a firmware update file to the intelligent set top box 500 through a built-in upgrade application, that is, the display device 200 sends the firmware update file to the set top box SOC. The set top box SOC responds to the upgrade instruction, sets an upgrade register, loads a boot program boot of a firmware update file through the double rate synchronous dynamic random access memory DDR, and runs the boot program boot in the double rate synchronous dynamic random access memory DDR. After the boot program boot runs in the double rate synchronous dynamic random access memory DDR, starting a virtual memory disk file system of a firmware update file, and running the virtual memory disk file system. After the virtual memory disk running system is operated in the double-rate synchronous dynamic random access memory DDR, the virtual memory disk running system interacts with the SOC of the wifi equipment module to update the firmware data stored in the SOC of the wifi equipment module, and the upgrading process of the wifi equipment module from the version x to the version y is completed.

Obviously, as can be seen from fig. 11 and fig. 8, the intelligent set top box 500 provided by the embodiment of the application can reduce the upgrade process of the set top box software system data stored in the embedded multimedia card, and shorten the upgrade time of the device module 510. In addition, the upgrading process of the equipment module 510 is carried out in the double-rate synchronous dynamic random access memory DDR, the version of the set top box software system is not required to be upgraded, and the upgrading efficiency of the equipment module 510 can be improved.

To implement updating the firmware data of the module processor 511 by the virtual disk file system, in some embodiments, when the intelligent set top box 500 updates the firmware data of the module processor 511 by the virtual disk file system, a package script is further configured according to the virtual disk file system and the boot program, and a firmware upgrade file is generated according to the package script. The firmware upgrade file is then sent to the module processor 511 via the virtual disk file system. That is, the intelligent set-top box 500 also recreates firmware upgrades of the firmware data from the virtual disk file system.

Because the upgrade process of the device module 510 is performed by the virtual disk file system, in some embodiments, the intelligent set top box 500 packages the real-time operating system, the virtual disk file system, and the boot program into a firmware upgrade file when generating the firmware upgrade file according to the package script. The root directory of the virtual disk file system includes binary data of firmware data.

For example: as shown in fig. 12, when a new firmware upgrade file is created, the intelligent set-top box 500 only retains the boot of the firmware upgrade file and the file of the virtual disk file system, and packages the above files into a firmware upgrade file fw_update. As shown in fig. 12, the firmware upgrade file includes boot, kernel and root file system modified in the embodiment of the present application, and the root file system includes binary data required for the device module 510 upgrade.

Based on the above-mentioned intelligent set-top box 500, some embodiments of the present application further provide a display device 200, as shown in fig. 13, including a display 260, a communicator 220 and a processor 250. Wherein the communicator 250 is configured to connect to the intelligent set top box 500 described in the above embodiments; the processor 250 is configured to perform the following program steps:

and responding to the upgrade instruction, and running the upgrade application. The upgrade application is an application program built in the display device 200, and is used for sending a firmware update file to the intelligent set top box 500. After the display device 200 receives the upgrade instruction, an upgrade application is run in the display device 200.

In some embodiments, the upgrade instructions may be triggered to be generated by the control apparatus 100 of the steerable display device 200; for example, a mouse, a keyboard, a remote controller, and the like, the user can input an upgrade instruction to the display device 200 by manipulating the control apparatus 100. After receiving the above instruction, the display device 200 may send the upgrade instruction to the intelligent set-top box 500 having the communication connection relationship established therewith through the communicator 220.

Based on the upgrade application, sending a firmware update file to the intelligent set top box 500, so that the intelligent set top box loads a bootstrap program in the firmware update file and runs the bootstrap program; starting a virtual memory disk file system according to the bootstrap program; and updating firmware data of the module processor through the virtual memory disk file system, wherein the firmware update file comprises a virtual memory disk file system, and the virtual memory disk file system comprises a real-time operating system and a root file system.

After the upgrade application is run, the display device 200 transmits the update data file to the intelligent set top box 500 through the upgrade application, so that the intelligent set top box 500 can load the boot program in the firmware update file and run the boot program. The intelligent set top box 500 then starts the virtual disk file system according to the boot program, thereby updating the firmware data in the device module 510.

Based on the above-mentioned intelligent set top box 500 and the display device 200, some embodiments of the present application further provide a firmware data updating method, as shown in fig. 10, where the method includes the following steps:

s100: receiving a firmware update file sent by a display device in response to an upgrade instruction, wherein the firmware update file comprises a virtual memory disk file system, and the virtual memory disk file system comprises a real-time operating system and a root file system;

S200: loading a bootstrap program in the firmware update file and running the bootstrap program;

s300: starting the virtual memory disk file system according to the bootstrap program;

s400: and updating firmware data of the module processor through the virtual memory disk file system.

As can be seen from the above technical solutions, the method for updating the smart set top box, the display device and the firmware data according to some embodiments of the present application may receive the firmware update file sent by the display device 200 in response to the update instruction. The firmware update file comprises a virtual memory disk file system, wherein the virtual memory disk file system comprises a real-time operating system and a root file system. Loading the boot program in the firmware update file and running the boot program. And starting the virtual memory disk file system according to the bootstrap program, and updating firmware data of the module processor through the virtual memory disk file system to finish upgrading the equipment module 510. The method can interact with the module processor 511 through the virtual memory disk file system when the device module 510 of the intelligent set top box 500 is upgraded, the whole system of the set top box software is not required to be upgraded, and the upgrading efficiency of the device module 510 can be improved.

Finally, it should be noted that: the above embodiments are only for illustrating the technical solution of the present application, and are not limited thereto; although the application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that: the technical scheme described in the foregoing embodiments can be modified or some or all of the technical features thereof can be replaced by equivalents; such modifications and substitutions do not depart from the spirit of the application.

The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, has been presented in conjunction with specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed above. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles and the practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the embodiments and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims (10)

1. An intelligent set top box, comprising:

the device module comprises a module processor, wherein firmware data are built in the module processor;

An external interface configured to establish a communication connection with a display device, the display device running an upgrade application, the upgrade application being configured to send a firmware update file;

a controller configured to:

receiving a firmware update file sent by a display device in response to an upgrade instruction, wherein the firmware update file comprises a virtual memory disk file system, and the virtual memory disk file system comprises a real-time operating system and a root file system;

loading a bootstrap program in the firmware update file and running the bootstrap program;

starting the virtual memory disk file system according to the bootstrap program;

and updating the firmware data of the module processor through the virtual memory disk file system.

2. The intelligent set-top box of claim 1, wherein the controller executing the firmware update file sent by the receiving display device is configured to:

setting an upgrade register according to the upgrade instruction;

and storing the firmware update file into the upgrade register.

3. The intelligent set-top box of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

detecting a file command in the firmware update file;

Screening target file commands from the file commands, wherein the target file commands are file commands used for upgrading firmware data in the module processor;

and storing the target file command to a binary directory of the root file system.

4. The intelligent set-top box of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to:

detecting firmware update data in the firmware update file;

screening target updating data from the firmware updating data, wherein the target updating data is used for updating the firmware data in the module processor;

and storing the firmware update data to a root directory of the root file system.

5. The intelligent set-top box of claim 1, wherein the controller executing a boot program loaded in the firmware update file and running the boot program is configured to:

operating a double rate synchronous dynamic random access memory DDR in the intelligent set top box;

loading the bootstrap program through the DDR;

the boot program is run in the double rate synchronous dynamic random access memory DDR.

6. The intelligent set-top box of claim 5, wherein the controller executing the boot-up of the virtual disk file system according to the boot program is configured to:

skipping the whole burning program of the firmware updating file;

loading a virtual memory disk file system in the firmware update file in the double rate synchronous dynamic random access memory DDR;

and operating the virtual memory disk file system.

7. The intelligent set-top box of claim 1, wherein the controller executing the updating of firmware data of the module processor via the virtual disk file system is configured to:

configuring a package script according to the virtual memory disk file system and the bootstrap program;

generating a firmware upgrade file according to the packaging script;

and sending the firmware upgrading file to the module processor through the virtual memory disk file system.

8. The intelligent set-top box of claim 7, wherein the controller executing the generation of firmware upgrade files from the packaging script is configured to:

packaging the real-time operating system, the virtual memory disk file system and the bootstrap program into a firmware upgrade file; the root directory of the virtual disk file system includes binary data of the firmware data.

9. A display device, characterized by comprising:

a display;

a communicator configured to connect the intelligent set top box of any one of claims 1-8;

a processor configured to:

responding to the upgrade instruction, and running an upgrade application;

based on the upgrading application, sending a firmware update file to the intelligent set top box so that the intelligent set top box loads a bootstrap program in the firmware update file and runs the bootstrap program; starting a virtual memory disk file system according to the bootstrap program; and updating firmware data of the module processor through the virtual memory disk file system, wherein the firmware update file comprises a virtual memory disk file system, and the virtual memory disk file system comprises a real-time operating system and a root file system.

10. A method for updating firmware data, comprising:

receiving a firmware update file sent by a display device in response to an upgrade instruction, wherein the firmware update file comprises a virtual memory disk file system, and the virtual memory disk file system comprises a real-time operating system and a root file system;

loading a bootstrap program in the firmware update file and running the bootstrap program;

Starting the virtual memory disk file system according to the bootstrap program;

and updating firmware data of the module processor through the virtual memory disk file system.