[background technology]
Along with development in science and technology, the embedded electronic installation of multiple systems is pushed out one after another, for example set-top box (STB), PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) (PDA), palmtop computer (Pocket PC), mobile phone, notebook computer or the like bring all conveniences for people live.Big city is embedded with a reflection (image) in the storage element in the embedded electronic installation of these systems, so that the embedded electronic installation of system does not need can independently carry out required function with other device collocation.For instance, as Fig. 1, the embedded electronic installation of this system is a set-top box 1, and the storage element 11 that set-top box 1 inside is provided with just like flash memory and so on comes storage map file 12, so that TV can be surfed the Net and play originally the signal of video signal that can only play in computing machine.As Fig. 2, reflection 12 may comprise operating system (OS), system database, picture displaying program, network server, assembly driver or the like, directly is embedded in the storage element 11 with the software that set-top box 1 start is required.So, set-top box 1 can be utilized image file 12 to come independently working without leave and not need other system to cooperate, to reach effect easy to use.Moreover, stability in order to ensure system, more can store a standby reflection 13 identical in the storage element 11 with Ying Xiang File 12, with in when the embedded electronic installation 1 of system can't application image file 12 activation systems, for example video and 12 make a mistake, then can directly come activation system, can start at any time to guarantee the embedded electronic installation 1 of system by standby image file 13, and after activating, can utilize standby reflection 13 to reduce and video 12.
In addition, along with factors such as mistake (Bug) in technical progress or the software are found, image file 12 needs to upgrade operation unavoidably.There is multiple update mode at present, wherein a kind of common update mode is that the reflection with new edition is stored in the image server 2, and when the embedded electronic installation 12 of system needs to upgrade reflection, then can carry out image file to the reflection that image server 2 is downloaded new edition and upgrade operation.Specifically, cooperate Fig. 3, at first in step 21, the embedded electronic installation 1 of system can see through the new edition of downloading in the image server 2 such as the mode of remote access service (RAS) and video, and enters step 22 after download is finished.In step 22, the embedded electronic installation 1 of system can make the new edition reflection cover original reflection 12, upgrades image content to utilize new edition to video.Secondly, execution in step 23 after renewal is finished, to utilize image file 12 activation system, the i.e. start again again after upgrading.If activate successfully, then execution in step 24, upgrade standby reflection 13 synchronously, and the reflection 12 after making it and upgrading is identical.On the contrary, if can't be with image file 12 activation systems after upgrading the time, then skip to step 25, after coming activation system with standby image file 13, continue step 26, utilize standby reflection 13 to reduce and upgrade the reflection 12 of failing, and the next image file 12 by reduction of order comes activation system.So, when reflection 12 upgrades failure, still can utilize standby image file 13 to reduce, to guarantee that system's perseverance can be activated, and then repair Ying Xiang File 12 voluntarily, very the person upgrades Ying Xiang File 12 again, and assistance that need not the maintenance personal is to reach maintenance cost that reduces manufacturer and user and the effect of guaranteeing system stability.Yet, present standby reflection 13 is copies fully of image file 12, so the storage area that standby reflection 13 takies is suitable with image file 12, make the embedded electronic installation 1 of system that the storage element 11 that doubles image file 12 capacity need be arranged at least, come for storage map 12 and standby reflection 13.Factors such as volume size, data access speed and data preservation for the embedded electronic installation of taking into account system, storage element 11 in the embedded electronic installation 1 of system mostly is quickflashing (Flash) assembly at present, for example CF (Compact Flash) card, DOM (Disk On Module) card.
Yet this type of storage element 11 other assembly in embedded electronic installation 1 total system of system is to belong to the expensive element of cost, and along with the price of the increase storage element 11 of capacity significantly increases especially.So collocation storage element 11 desired volumes can reduce in the embedded electronic installation 1 of system if can make, then hardware cost just can effectively descend.But standby reflection 13 has it to have necessity, and reflection 12 upgrades failure or the situation of 12 damages of videoing to deal with, so also can't give up standby image file 13, causes the desired volume of storage element 11 effectively to reduce.
Yet, standby reflection 13 is to be used for the moment that back-up system can't activate by image file 12, and system replys or upgrades if can utilize can activate the time external device such as image server 2 to carry out image file 12, so this case inventor thinks and standby image file 13 can only comprise the necessary systems and procedure that allows system activate and link external device, so then can see through external device upgrades or replys image file 12, to keep the stability of system, and because of standby reflection 13 is not that the copy fully of image file 12 only comprises the some of reflection in 12, so the file size of standby reflection 13 can effectively reduce, the cost of storage element 11 also can reduce thereupon, to solve problem in the past.
[description of drawings]
The present invention is described in detail below in conjunction with drawings and Examples, in the accompanying drawing:
Fig. 1 is the synoptic diagram of the embedded electronic installation of a kind of system in the past, and the embedded electronic installation of this system is a set-top box.
Fig. 2 is the synoptic diagram of the image file in the embedded electronic installation of the system of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a kind of method of image update in the past of the embedded electronic installation of Fig. 1 system.
Fig. 4 is the synoptic diagram with embedded electronic installation of system of restoring mapping file function of the present invention, and the embedded electronic installation of this system is that a set-top box also can be through network connections one workbench.
Fig. 5 is the block schematic diagram of the embedded electronic installation of system among Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is the synoptic diagram of core image file one example of the embedded electronic installation of system among Fig. 4.
Fig. 7 is the process flow diagram of an example of the image file update method of the embedded electronic installation of system among Fig. 4.
Fig. 8 is the process flow diagram of another example of the image file update method of the embedded electronic installation of system among Fig. 4.
Fig. 9 is another of the embedded electronic installation of system with restoring mapping file function of the present invention
The synoptic diagram of embodiment.
[embodiment]
The invention is characterized in to make supplies the standby core reflection of reflection only to comprise the necessary systems and procedure that makes the embedded electronic installation of system activate and supply the bridging work platform in the image file, and unlike the copy fully that was image file in the past, and arrange in pairs or groups when reflection damages (promptly can't activation system), the bridging work platform is replied (or renewal) reflection to download updating file, and is different from the mode of in the past being replied by standby reflection.In order to allow the easier quilt of the present invention understand, will illustrate with a embodiment as Fig. 4.The embedded electronic installation 3 of system is set-top box in the present embodiment, and being used for making TV to surf the Net and to play originally can only be in the signal of video signal of computing machine broadcast.
Fig. 5, the embedded electronic installation 3 of this routine system roughly have a microprocessor 31, an internal memory 32, a storage element 33 and a network card 34.Microprocessor 31 is in order to the embedded electronic installation 3 whole starts of control system.Internal memory 32 usefulness can be random access memory RAM for the data in the scratch system running).Storage element 33 is flash component and be used for storing the data of non-temporality, as software, data file case or the like.Network card 34 be a kind of transmission interface and with so that data can be uploaded to other devices or make through the network download data through network to the embedded electronic installation 3 of system.In addition, have the knack of this skill person when knowing, the embedded electronic installation 3 of this routine system more can comprise the transmission interface of other kind, for example IEEE 1,394 35, USB, infrared ray, blue bud or the like, link up with transmission interface and external device that other standard is provided, and the embedded electronic installation 3 of system comprises a display adapter 36 (as VGA), a MPEG I/II code translator/scrambler 37, CD/VCD ROM (ROM (read-only memory)) or the like, should not be subject to the explanation of this example.
It should be noted that as Fig. 4, this routine storage element 33 stores a reflection 331 and one core reflection 332 at least.Similar earlier figures 2, image file 331 comprise operating system (as WinCE, Linux), a plurality of driver (for example display adapter driver, network card driver, 1394 drivers, PS2 driver, USB driver) and a plurality of application program [Microsoft's class library (MFC), browser, image file refresh routine, DirectX, multimedia player].Then, by selecting in the image file 331 that the embedded electronic installation 3 of system is activated and the necessary systems and procedure core that links an extraneous workbench 4, to constitute core reflection 332.In this example, workbench 4 is image server, and the storage one and the 331 corresponding updating files of videoing are because along with mistake in technology evolution and the system is found, so may comprise the file of most versions in the updating file, be to be same as reflection 331 and a version is wherein arranged.Because of workbench 4 is a server, the corresponding transmission interface that uses is network card 34 in the embedded electronic installation 3 of system, for another Fig. 6, the subclass system 38 (Subset OS claims basic model operating system again) that the system of keeping that has core image file 332 activates, network server set 39 (first collection of programs) and an image file refresh routine 40 (i.e. first application program).Network server set 39 is to make the embedded electronic installation 3 of system can link and make both can be through the program of network mutual data transmission with workbench 4, it comprises a driver in order to drive network card 34, with a network server is to make data fit network data transmission standard, for example TCP/IP.Image file refresh routine 40 is application programs of using from workbench 4 down loading updating files.And, the embedded electronic installation 3 priority application reflections 331 decided at the higher level but not officially announced of system come activation system and set core reflection 332 to be next cis-position, so, when the embedded electronic installation 3 of system is started shooting activation systems, can come activation system by first application image file 331, and when can't using, reflection 331 comes activation system by core image file 332 again, and the program that the aforementioned core image file 332 of foundation is comprised, can make the system boot parallel machine to workbench 4, to download and the 331 corresponding updating files (repeating after the appearance) of videoing.In addition, core reflects that to set basically as File 332 be read-only, and promptly the user can't change the content of core reflection 332 voluntarily, and is correct with the data of guaranteeing core image file 332, can support start with perseverance when reflection 331 can't be started shooting.
According to aforesaid member and mutual relationship, cooperate Fig. 7 to illustrate to use a video embodiment of 331 methods of renewal of the present invention.Because reflection 331 is easier to make Ying Xiang File 331 to damage when upgrading, present embodiment is an example to upgrade reflection 331.
At first in step 41, the embedded electronic installation 3 of system is workbenches 4 and select the file download of latest edition in the updating file corresponding with reflection 331 on network connections.Secondly, in step 42, to replace reflection 331 from workbench 4 downloaded files, to upgrade the version of reflection 331.And after renewal is finished and initialization system activate again, so in step 43, judging whether can be by the image file activation system of having upgraded 43, if, mean that downloaded files is correct, then finish image file 331 and upgrade operations.On the contrary, when if system can't activate, then execution in step 44, change by video 332 activation systems and link to go up workbench 4 of core, and then rebound step 42, to obtain the file of latest edition again, so utilize abovementioned steps 41~44, can repeat to upgrade reflection 331 till the image file 331 after the renewal can be used to activation system.So, when reflection 331 upgrades mistake, can utilize core image file 332 to come the activation system newly downloaded file of laying equal stress on to remedy mistake, and 332 in core reflection is for the some of reflection 331 but not 331 the copy of videoing, core reflection 332 (as Fig. 6) with set-top box are example compared to reflection (as Fig. 2), then can reduce about 38%, so the capacity of core image file 332 very less than standby image file in the past, and then can reach the effect of taking into account system stability and dwindling capacity.
Moreover, though previous embodiment is to illustrate to upgrade image mode, yet have the knack of this skill person when knowing, repair function when the present invention also can be provided in to video 331 breaking-ups, promptly when reflection 331 because of other factors for example when machine damages, at this moment because of can't then carrying out abovementioned steps 43,44,41,42 in regular turn with 331 activation systems of videoing, utilize the mode of upgrading reflection 331 to replace the image file 331 of breaking-up, to reach the effect that system repairs voluntarily.
In addition, previous embodiment is set the latest edition of downloading in the workbench 4 in the updating file corresponding with reflection 331 in step 41, yet in fact owing to be stored in the file that updating file in the workbench 4 can comprise a plurality of versions, download for you to choose, wherein a version can be same as the version of reflection 331, and sometimes new edition reflection use uncomfortable, upgrade not smooth or the like factor, the user may want to revert back to original preceding reflection that upgrades, so, disclose another embodiment of update method of the present invention as Fig. 8.
Present embodiment is different with previous embodiment be in, when beginning to upgrade reflection, in step 51, whether the user can select will video and 331 be uploaded to workbench 4 and keep in.If be chosen as and be, then the embedded electronic installation 4 of system can execution in step 52,331 are uploaded to workbench 4 videoing, and promptly Backup Images 331 then continues execution in step 53 in workbench 4.On the contrary, if be chosen as when denying, then skip to step 53.In step 53, the user can by with reflection 331 corresponding updating files in select one in file and the Backup Images of all versions after, execution in step 54, beginning is downloaded from workbench 4 and is selected files, and after download is finished continuation step 55.In step 55, upgrade reflection 331 with downloaded files, and after renewal is finished, execution in step 56 judges with activation system again whether the image file 331 after the renewal can activation system.In step 56, but, then finish to upgrade operation if during the image file activation system after judge upgrading.On the contrary, if step 56 is judged as when denying, then execution in step 57, change by core image file 332 activation systems and bridging work platform 4, then rebound step 53.So, in step 53, the user can select to download the Backup Images of before uploading, the file of other version in step 52, for example with the file or the latest edition file that upgrade preceding reflection identical version originally, more selects so that the user to be provided.Thereby present embodiment more provides the user to select to back up original reflection and the function of selecting to download different editions except having the taking into account system stability and the effect that reduces the storage area of previous embodiment, comes selective to allow the user have more elastic spaces.
Conclude above-mentioned, in the present invention, 332 of core image files that make standby functions are the method for a part of and collocation of reflection 331 by extraneous workbench 4 file in download, make under the prerequisite important document that reflection can effectively upgrade or reply, reduce the core 332 required storage volumes of videoing, cause to reach and take into account system stability and the effect that reduces storage volume, related also can reduce for the video capacity required of expensive storage element 33 of 332 usefulness of storage map 331 and core, thereby can adopt the lower storage element of capacity 33, significantly reducing hardware cost, and then improve product market competitiveness.
It should be noted, though it is example that the embedded electronic installation 3 of the system of previous embodiment is enumerated set-top box, yet have the knack of this skill person when knowing, also can be applicable to the embedded electronic installation of system of other kind, as the PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) among Fig. 96, palmtop computer 7, mobile phone, mobile computer or the like, and the data of 4 of embedded electronic installation 3 of system and workbenches are except seeing through network, also can see through the transmission interface of other kind, for example IEEE 1,394 35, USB, blue bud, infrared ray or the like, and workbench 4 can be the device that differs from server, personal computer or the like for example, thereby should not be subject to this paper for the purpose of illustration and the revealer.