JP2000112723A - Video reproducing device and program updating method to apply to the reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a function capable of updating a control program to a program for version up by simple operation. SOLUTION: In a video reproducing device such as a DVD(digital video disk) player, when DVD 11B recording the program for version up is set to a DVD drive 7, CPU 2 updates the control program stored in flash EEPROM 4 to the program for version up read from the DVD 11B. CPU 2 executes video reproducing processing when DVD 11A recording video data is set.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is applied to a video reproducing apparatus for reproducing video data recorded on a recording medium,
In particular, the present invention relates to a video reproducing apparatus having a function of upgrading a control program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, for example, a DVD (Digital)
Along with the development of a large-capacity recording medium such as a video disc, a video reproducing apparatus using the recording medium has been developed. When a recording medium on which video data (including audio data) is recorded in advance is set, such a video reproducing apparatus reads the video data from the recording medium, performs a reproducing process, and outputs the processed video data to, for example, a television device. There has also been proposed a video reproducing apparatus that stores video data received from the Internet or a digital broadcasting network in a recording medium, reads video data from the recording medium, and performs reproduction processing.

[0003] Each type of video reproducing apparatus is provided with a microprocessor (CPU) for executing a control program to control the apparatus and a drive (for example, a DVD drive) for driving a recording medium. The drive has a function of reading video data from a set recording medium (or including a write function). CPU
Is usually a ROM (Read Only Memory)
By executing the control program stored in y), the video reproduction process is controlled according to a predetermined specification.

[0004]

The above-mentioned video reproducing apparatus has been changed in various specifications like other electronic products.
It is necessary to anticipate what is called a version upgrade. In this case, if the control program of the old version remains, video data cannot be reproduced from the recording medium recorded according to the new specification. Therefore,
A video reproducing apparatus having a function of upgrading the control program of the CPU while maintaining the hardware as it is is desirable.

Normally, when a control program is upgraded, it is necessary to replace the control program with a ROM storing a program for upgrading. However, the user cannot easily exchange the ROM mounted on the board built in the device. For this reason,
It is necessary for the manufacturer to perform operations such as collecting the product, replacing the ROM, and resending the product, but it is practically difficult in view of cost. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to realize a function of updating a control program to a version-up program with a simple operation.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a video reproducing apparatus for reproducing, in particular, video data recorded on a recording medium, wherein a memory means for storing a control program and a video program are executed by executing the control program. Control means for executing a reproduction process for reproducing data; identification means for identifying a version-up program of the control program from data input via a predetermined medium; Updating means for updating the control program of the memory means to the version upgrade program.

When such an apparatus of the present invention is applied to, for example, a DVD player that reproduces video data recorded on a DVD, the DVD stored with the version-up program is stored in the internal memory of the apparatus only by setting the DVD. The updated control program can be updated (upgraded) to the version upgrade program.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of a video reproducing apparatus related to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment. (Configuration of Video Reproducing Apparatus) The present apparatus uses a DVD as a recording medium, and assumes a video reproducing apparatus corresponding to a DVD player for reproducing video data recorded on the DVD. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the present apparatus 1 includes a microprocessor (CPU) 2, a memory group including a ROM 3, a flash EEPROM 4, and a RAM 5, a video / audio output device 6, a DVD drive 7, And an operation panel 8.

The CPU 2 has a nonvolatile and rewritable I
The control program stored in the flash EEPROM 4, which is a C memory, is executed to execute various controls such as a video reproduction process. The ROM 3 is, as shown in FIG.
The file names of a boot program and a control program described later are stored. The boot program functions at the time of initial operation at power-on and at the time of program read operation at the time of updating (upgrading) the control program. RAM (Random Access)
Memory 5 is used as a temporary storage area when the CPU 2 performs an operation such as a video reproduction process.

The video / audio output device 6 converts the video data (including audio data) processed by the CPU 2 into an external output signal and outputs it. In the embodiment, a television device (TV device) 10 is assumed as a reproduction output device. Therefore, the video / audio output device 6 converts the video (including the audio) into a television signal for reproduction,
Output to the V device 10. The DVD drive 7 is a type of optical disk device having a function of reading recorded data from a DVD, which is a recording medium of the embodiment, and a function of inputting and outputting data to and from each device such as the CPU 2 via a bus 9. is there. In the embodiment, the DVD drive 7
May be a read-only device (so-called DVD-ROM) or a recording / playback device (so-called DVD-RAM) capable of recording data on a recording medium. Operation panel 8
Is an input device for the user to input various instructions. (Recording Medium) As described above, this embodiment assumes a DVD, which is a type of optical disk, as a recording medium. When the DVD 11A on which video data (contents) is recorded is set in the DVD drive 7, the apparatus 1 of the embodiment executes a process of reproducing the video data. On the other hand, it is assumed that the DVD 11B records a program for upgrading the control program as data. As described later, the apparatus 1 of the embodiment uses the DVD 11B to update (upgrade) the control program.
Execute

As a recording medium on which the version-up program is recorded, a memory medium other than the DVD 11B, for example, using a flash EEPROM (a replaceable memory medium corresponding to a memory card or an IC card)
It may be 12. However, the device 1 naturally needs an interface function for reading data from the recording medium 12. (Video playback processing and control program update processing)
The operation of the embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2 and FIG.

First, after the power of the apparatus 1 is turned on, when, for example, a play button on the operation panel 8 is operated, an instruction for a reproduction process is given to the CPU 2 (step S1). CPU
2 checks whether a medium (DVD) is set in the DVD drive 7 based on the interface signal from the DVD drive 7 (step S2). When the medium is not set, the CPU 2 outputs the image /
The audio output device 6 is controlled to display a message prompting the user to set a medium, for example, on the screen of the TV device 10 (NO in step S2, S7).

On the other hand, when the medium is set, the CPU 2 starts the video reproduction processing by the data read by the DVD drive 7 (steps S2 and S2).
3, S4, S6). Here, in the embodiment, the CPU 2
Is based on the data recorded at the beginning of the media,
It is checked whether a program for upgrading the control program is recorded on the set medium (step S4). That is, when the medium set in the DVD drive 7 is the DVD 11A on which video data (contents) are recorded, the CPU 2
The video reproduction process is started (NO in step S4, S
6).

On the other hand, when the medium set in the DVD drive 7 is the DVD 11B in which the version upgrade program is recorded as data, the CPU 2 executes the version upgrade process of the control program (YES in step S4, S5). The CPU 2 determines whether or not the program is an upgrade program based on the file name of the program read from the DVD 11B. That is,
If the file name is the same as the file name of the control program previously stored in the flash EEPROM 4, the CPU
2 is determined to be a version upgrade program.

When the CPU 2 determines that the program is an upgrade program, the CPU 2 displays on the screen of the TV device 10 a message indicating that the upgrade process of the control program is to be executed.
Ask for user confirmation. When the user inputs from the operation panel 8 an instruction to give consent, the CPU 2 executes a version upgrade process of the control program, that is, an update process to the version upgrade program. Specifically, ROM
The DVD drive 7 is controlled by the boot program stored in the DVD 3, and a program of a predetermined capacity is read from the DVD 11 B and stored in the RAM 5. Next, CP
U2 erases, for example, one block of the flash EEPROM 4 and writes a part of the program stored in the RAM 5 to the block. By repeating such an operation,
Flash EEPRO program stored in RAM5
Write to M4. Then, a program of a predetermined capacity is read out again from the DVD 11B and stored in the RAM 5, and the transfer of data from the RAM 5 to the flash EEPROM 4 is repeated.

By such a version up process,
The control program stored in the flash EEPROM 4 shown in FIG. 4B is updated to a version upgrade program. After the version upgrade process, when the DVD 11B is rejected from the DVD drive 7 and the DVD 11A on which the video data (contents) is recorded is set, the CPU 2 executes the version upgrade program to start the video playback process ( Step S6).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the DVD 11B on which the version-up program is
By setting the control program in the D drive 7, the control program stored in the flash EEPROM 4 in a nonvolatile and rewritable manner in advance can be automatically updated to the upgrade program. In other words, RO
The user does not need to replace the internal memory such as the M3 or the flash EEPROM 4, and can copy the DVD 11B storing the version-up program to the D11.
The version of the control program of the apparatus 1 can be upgraded only by the operation of setting the control program in the VD drive 7. Therefore, after the user purchases the video reproducing apparatus 1, for example, a recording medium (DVD) on which video contents are recorded according to a new specification corresponding to a new version of the control program, for example.
When the user wants to play back (software), the playback can be performed only by setting the medium (DVD 11B) on which the new version of the control program is recorded. (Modification) FIG. 3 is a flowchart relating to a modification. In the present embodiment, as described above, the CPU 2
It is determined whether or not the data read from the medium set in the D drive 7 is a version upgrade program based on the file name of the program. That is,
If the file name is the same as the control program stored in the flash EEPROM 4 of the device 1, it is determined that the program is an upgrade program corresponding to the control program.

However, in the process of judging only the file name, even if the user erroneously sets the medium on which the old version of the program is recorded, the CPU 2 judges that the program is an upgrade program and replaces the control program with the old version. It may be changed to a program.

Therefore, in this modification, the file name is
A determination method using version number data (N) indicating a version stage is provided. Hereinafter, a specific description will be given with reference to FIGS. Note that the configuration of the device 1 and basic operations other than the determination process are the same as those of the first embodiment (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

First, it is assumed that a DVD 11B in which a version-up program is recorded is set in the DVD drive 7. The CPU 2 controls the DVD drive 7 to read out the file name and version number (VP number) data (N) of the program recorded from the DVD 11B (Steps S10 and S11).

Here, as shown in FIG.
It is assumed that the file name and the VP number data (M) of the control program previously set in the flash EEPROM 4 are stored in the M3 or the flash EEPROM 4. If the file name read from the DVD 11B is the same and the VP number data (N) is a number indicating a version upgrade (that is, N> M), the CPU 2 determines that the program is a version upgrade program (step S12). YES).

If the CPU 2 determines that the program is an upgrade program, the CPU 2 transfers the control program stored in the flash EEPROM 4 to the D
A process for updating the version upgrade program read from the VD 11B is executed (step S5 in FIG. 2).

On the other hand, if the comparison result of the VP number data (N) is not a number indicating the version upgrade (ie, N <M or N = M), the CPU 2 stops the version upgrade process, and That fact is displayed on the screen of the TV device 10 (step S13). Here, when the user replaces the medium on which the version-up program is recorded, the CPU 2 re-executes the above-described determination processing. When the user sets the medium (DVD 11A) on which the video content is recorded, the CPU
No. 2 starts the video reproduction process without executing the version upgrade process.

As described above, according to the present modification, the version-up program can be reliably determined, so that useless processing such as erroneously updating to the old version of the program or re-updating the same version of the program is performed. Can be reduced.

In the embodiment and the modification, the control program version upgrade process is assumed to use a dedicated recording medium on which the version upgrade program is recorded. Alternatively, a recording medium on which both are recorded may be used.

In the embodiment and the modification, a recording medium (DVD 11
Although the method of executing the video reproduction processing from A) has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, assuming a video playback device having a digital broadcast or Internet reception function, video content may be downloaded to a recording medium using these communication media. In this case, the DVD drive 7 corresponds to a DVD-RAM capable of recording and reproducing, as described above.

[0027]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when a control program is upgraded in a video playback apparatus that performs video playback processing based on video data recorded on a recording medium, the version upgrade is performed. The control program can be updated to the version-up program by a simple operation of merely setting the recording medium without the need to replace the ROM with the ROM storing the program. Therefore, the present invention is particularly effective when applied to a video reproducing apparatus for general users who require simple operability and frequent version upgrades.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of a video reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a modification of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a ROM and a flash EEPROM according to the embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the storage contents of M.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Video reproduction device 2 ... Microprocessor (CPU) 3 ... ROM 4 ... Flash EEPROM 45 5 ... RAM 6 ... Video / audio output device 7 ... DVD drive 8 ... Operation panel 10 ... Television device 11A ... Recording which recorded video data Media (DVD) 11B ... Recording media (DVD) on which a program for upgrading is recorded 12 ... Recording media other than DVD

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A memory unit for storing a control program, a control unit for executing a reproduction process for reproducing video data by executing the control program, and a control unit for controlling the data from data input via a predetermined medium. Identification means for identifying a program for upgrading the program, and updating means for updating the control program of the memory means to the version-up program in accordance with the identification result of the identification means. Video playback device. 2. Media drive means for reading recording data from a set medium; memory means for storing a control program; and execution of the control program to control the media drive means to read from the medium. Control means for reproducing and outputting the video data, identification means for identifying a version-up program of the control program from data recorded on the medium, and the memory according to an identification result of the identification means. Updating means for updating the control program of the means to the version-up program. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification unit has a function of identifying file data having the same file name as the control program stored in the memory unit as the version-up program. The video reproduction device according to claim 2. 4. The identification means compares the control program stored in the memory means with a file name and a version number of data obtained from a medium, and uses the same file name and relatively upgrades the file. 3. The video reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a function of identifying the data having a number as the use program. 5. A program updating method applied to a video reproducing apparatus for reproducing video data by executing a control program, wherein a version upgrade program of the control program is identified from data input via a predetermined medium. And a step of updating the control program to the version upgrade program in accordance with the identification result of the identification means. 6. A disk drive means for reading recorded data from a disk recording medium, a memory means for storing a control program, and based on data read from a disk recording medium set in the disk drive means. Identification means for identifying that the type of data recorded on the disk recording medium is the version-up program; and updating the control program to the version-up program in accordance with the identification result of the identification means Updating means, when the type of data recorded on the disk recording medium set in the disk drive means is video data, execution of the control program or the updated version-up program causes the video data to be updated. For executing playback processing for playing back music Video reproducing apparatus characterized by comprising a stage.