JP2000181719A - Method for down loading program to communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To flexibly update the program of a communication equipment. SOLUTION: The firmware program of an incorporated communication system 1 is stored in a flash memory 3. At the time of updating the firmware pogrom, down loading data 11 is transferred from a common storage device through a data bus 8, a common line controller 7, a commination line 6, a network 5 and a communication line 4 as down loading data 11, Program data 12 for updating the firmware program and an update processing program 13 for rewriting the firmware program agasint the flash memory 3 are contained in the down loading data 11. Since the update processing program 13 is contained in down loading data 11, flexible correspondence can be executed even if the transfer data system of program data 12 is changed or the type of the flash memory 3 is changed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for downloading a program, particularly a firmware program, to a communication device such as a portable telephone or a facsimile machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Prior art relating to downloading a program to a communication device having a flash memory or the like for storing a firmware program is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-64796. The transferred firmware program is stored in a common storage medium in the host device. After the firmware program is transferred as data, a fixed update processing program stored in advance in a mask ROM or the like built in the communication device is rewritten based on the transferred firmware program data. Update the program to the memory. A rewritable nonvolatile memory such as a mask ROM or a flash memory has a nonvolatile property that data stored once can be retained even after power supply is stopped. Furthermore, a certain sequence is required for writing, and data cannot be stored only by writing data such as a simple RAM. In particular, when updating data, it is necessary to erase new data and then write new data. In addition, data must be erased for each block in units of a certain number of bits. Even if the updated portion of the program is smaller than the minimum erase block size, data is erased once for the entire minimum block size. Thereafter, it is necessary to newly write the entire block including the updated portion.

[0003]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-64796
In the case of changing the type of rewritable non-volatile memory for the purpose of cost reduction, for example, in the download method disclosed in Since the erasable block size and the time constant specific to the rewritable nonvolatile memory are used, the memory cannot be operated as it is. In such a case, it is necessary to change the update processing program itself stored in the mask ROM. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare a new mask ROM, and a mask cost for a new program for updating the mask ROM is newly generated. For this reason, even if the type of the rewritable nonvolatile memory is changed, there is a problem that the total cost increases and a situation contrary to the original cost reduction purpose is caused.

In some cases, it is necessary to change the data format at the time of transfer for some reason.
There is also a problem that it is impossible to make the fixed update processing program built in M correspond to the new data format at the time of transfer.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method of downloading a program to a communication device, which can flexibly update a program, not fixedly.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a communication device having a rewritable memory for storing a program.
A communication device for transferring data for program update via a communication function of the communication device together with an updated processing program, and after the transfer, the communication device executes the transferred update program. How to download a program to

[0007] According to the present invention, the update processing program after the transfer is downloaded together with the program update data for updating the program of the communication device. Therefore, even when the type of rewritable memory is changed, the data is updated. ,
Since the program data is stored in the memory, the sequence can be flexibly changed, and the program can be updated in a procedure according to the type of the changed memory. Also, even if the format of the transfer data is changed for some reason, the update processing program can be changed so that the update program data can be handled in accordance with the changed data format. It can also improve the format and shorten the download time.

The present invention also provides an update control means for controlling the communication device to download program update data and an updated update processing program via a communication network, and to transmit data on a data bus to the network. It is characterized by being connected to common line control means for performing transmission control.

According to the present invention, update control means for controlling download of program change data and transferred update processing program via a communication network, and common control for controlling transmission of data on a data bus to the network. Since it is connected to the line control means, data on the data bus can be downloaded to the communication device.

The present invention is also characterized in that the network is provided with a system control console operated when downloading the data for updating the program and the update processing program after the transfer.

According to the present invention, since the network is provided with a system control console operated when downloading data for updating the program and the update processing program after the transfer, the system control console is operated to operate the communication equipment. The update processing program after the transfer can be downloaded together with the data for updating the program for causing the update.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the communication device and the network are connected wirelessly.

According to the invention, the communication network is:
Since the connection is established via wireless communication, a program of a communication device using wireless communication such as a mobile phone can be easily updated.

Further, the present invention divides the storage location of the program update data and the transferred update processing program into two non-contiguous storage areas when downloading the program update data and the transferred update processing program. And stored individually.

According to the present invention, the data for updating the program and the update processing program after the transfer are divided into two non-contiguous storage areas and stored separately, so that the management of the storage areas is performed in the update processing after the download. Can be easily performed.

Further, according to the present invention, the program stored in the rewritable memory is, after the program is updated by the downloaded update processing program, according to information in a storage area of the update processing program itself provided by the update processing program. After the update, the update processing program is deleted.

According to the present invention, after updating the program with the downloaded update processing program, the update program is updated with the updated program according to the information of the storage area of the update processing program provided by the update processing program. Since the erasure is performed, the storage area for storing the update processing program is released, and the memory can be efficiently used.

Further, according to the present invention, the program update data transferred together with the update processing program includes:
The data is transferred in a compressed data format, and the update processing program is decompressed and expanded in a storage area.

According to the present invention, since the update data of the program is transferred in a compressed data format, the time required for the transfer can be reduced. The update processing program decompresses the compressed data format and expands it in the storage area, so that it can be used as data for updating the program. When the program is stored in a rewritable nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory, the size of a storage area required for updating the program can be reduced by decompressing the program for each unique erase block size. Further, since the data decompression process is performed by the update control program, the decompression process can be changed at the same time even when the data compression process is improved, and the transfer time can be further reduced. it can.

[0020] In the present invention, the transferred update processing program may be updated once or plural times for each erase block size unit unique to a nonvolatile memory mounted on the communication device as the rewritable memory. Is repeatedly performed.

According to the present invention, the transferred update processing program repeats the update processing once or plural times for each erase block size unit unique to the rewritable nonvolatile memory mounted on the communication device. Therefore, it is possible to easily perform the update process over a plurality of erase block units.

[0022]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which a configuration for downloading for updating a program is shown. The built-in communication system 1 is built in, for example, a telephone, a facsimile machine, a video phone, and the like, and provides a data communication function. The embedded communication system 1 includes a processor 2 as a control device, and a flash memory 3 as a rewritable nonvolatile memory for storing a firmware program for the processor 2 to perform an operation required as the embedded communication system 1. included.

The embedded communication system 1 can be connected to a network 5 via a communication path 4. Network 5
Is, for example, a public telephone line network, and the communication path 4 is its subscriber line. When connecting to a public telephone network, a so-called PPP connection is performed. The network 5 may be a dedicated line. A common line signal control device 7 is connected to the network 5 via a communication path 6. The common line signal control device 7 is connected to the central processing unit 9 via the data bus 8.
It is connected to the common storage device 10 and the like. Central processing unit 9
Reads the firmware program via the data bus 8 from the common storage device 10 storing the firmware program to be downloaded to the embedded communication system 1 as the update control means, and reads the firmware from the common line signal control device 7 to the communication path 6 and the network 5 And the data can be transferred to the embedded communication system 1 via the communication path 4. For this transfer, the embedded communication system 1 requests the central processing unit 9 to transfer the firmware program.

The download data 11 transferred from the common storage device 10 to the embedded communication system 1 comprises program data 12 and an update processing program 13. In the present embodiment, when the firmware program stored in the flash memory 3 is updated, the program data 12
At the same time, the update processing program 13 is also transferred as the download data 11, so that even in the case of replacement of the flash memory 3, the update processing program 13 can be changed to the update processing program 13 according to the flash 3 to be replaced, so that it can be flexibly handled Can be. Further, the data format of the program data 12 at the time of transfer is set independently of the firmware of the embedded communication system 1, and the update processing program 1
In step 3, the program can be updated according to the data format.

Further, a system control console 14 can be connected to the data bus 8. The system control console 14 can also perform an operation of transferring the firmware program stored in the common storage device 10 by specifying the embedded communication system 1 along with its transfer path.
Operations performed on the system control console 14 are transferred to the central processing unit 9 via the data bus 8, and the central processing unit 9 reads out a firmware program in the form of download data 11 from the common storage device 10 to read the embedded communication system. 1 can be controlled. The embedded communication system 1 also includes a RAM 15 for temporarily storing downloaded data and programs.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention, a configuration for downloading a firmware program to a portable telephone terminal 21 which is a communication device. In the present embodiment, a plurality of mobile phone terminals 21 can be connected to form an exchange system. Each mobile phone terminal 21 includes a processor operated by a firmware program and a flash memory 23 for storing the firmware program. Each mobile phone terminal 21 is connected to a network 25 such as a public telephone network via a wireless communication path 24. The network 25 includes a communication path 26
Is connected to a dial-up router 27 having a switching function. The dial-up router 27 is connected to a central processing unit 29 via a local area network (hereinafter abbreviated as “LAN”) 28 such as a product name “Ethernet”.
And the common storage device 30.

In the common storage device 30, download data 31 is stored.
Includes program data 32 for updating a firmware program stored in the flash memory 23 of the mobile phone terminal 21 and an update processing program 33. L
The AN 28 is also connected to a personal computer 34 that is operated when downloading the download data 31 to the mobile phone terminal 21.

In the portable telephone terminal 21, the processor 22 detects the unwritten state of the flash memory 23 or the abnormality of the written contents as part of the firmware program. When an unwritten state or an abnormal content is detected, the mobile phone terminal 21
Then, a request for a download service is automatically made to the central processing unit 29. The user of the mobile phone terminal 21 can request a download service.
Further, a request for a download service can be made from the personal computer 34 by specifying a specific mobile phone terminal 21.

The central processing unit 29 can also propose a download service to the mobile phone terminal 21 when a program update is ready.
The mobile phone terminal 21 can also make a request for a download service in response to a proposal for the download service from the central processing unit 29. When the mobile phone terminal 21 requests a download, a predetermined write request order including the identification number of the mobile phone terminal 21 is sent to the wireless communication path 24, the network 25, the communication path 26, and the dial-up router 2.
7 and to the central processing unit 29 via the LAN 28.

Upon receiving the write request order, the central processing unit 29 analyzes the identification number and the data in the order, and stores the download data 31 including the program data 32 to be downloaded and the update processing program 33 in the common storage device. Read from 30. In the download data 31 read from the common storage device 30, an identification signal for writing only into the flash memory 23 of the mobile phone terminal 21 is added, for example, to the head of the download data 31, and the LAN 28, the dial-up router 27, the communication path 26, the network 25, The data is transmitted to the mobile phone terminal 21 via the wireless communication path 24. In the mobile phone terminal 21 that has received the download data 31 stored in the RAM 35, the processor 22 determines whether to write the program data 32 to the flash memory 23 based on the identification number added to the head. When it is determined to write, the update processing program 33 transferred as the download data 31 is executed, and processing for writing the program data 32 to the flash memory 23 is performed. Here, the control of the processor 22 is transferred to the update processing program 33 after the download and the update processing is performed. The exchange of signals between the mobile phone terminal 21 and the central processing unit 29 at the time of downloading can be displayed on the personal computer 34 via the LAN 28 and monitored. It is also possible to specify the mobile phone terminal 21 by operating the personal computer 34 and to download the firmware program to the flash memory 23 thereof. In this case, by operating the personal computer 34, it is possible to specify only the identification number relating to the model of the mobile phone terminal 21 and to download the firmware program collectively to all the mobile phone terminals 21 of the specified model. is there. Note that the mobile phone terminal 2
1 can be applied to a so-called mobile phone, a simplified PHS, or the like.

The embedded communication system 1 and the portable telephone terminal 21 of each embodiment described above
RAMs 15 and 35 for temporarily storing data 1 and 31 are provided. The program data 12 and 32 and the update processing programs 13 and 33 can be stored separately in such discontinuous storage areas of the RAMs 15 and 35. If you manage the data area and the program area separately,
This is because the storage areas of the RAMs 15 and 35 can be easily managed. Also, flash memories 3 and 2 are used to store programs.
When 3 is used, it is necessary to update the storage content for each unique erase block size unit, and a constant time constant is required in the writing sequence. If the types of the flash memories 3 and 23 are changed, it is necessary to change the time constant and the unique erase block size to perform the writing process. According to the present invention, the update processing programs 13 and 33 are included in a part of the download data 11 and 31 and transferred, and can be flexibly handled. When the data size of the transferred program data 12 and 32 is larger than the erase block size of the flash memories 3 and 23, the update process of the erase block size unit is repeated a plurality of times for each block size, so that efficient update is performed. Processing can be performed.

Since the download data 11 and 31 include the update processing programs 13 and 33, the program data 12 and 32 are compressed and updated.
Decompression processing such as decompression of the data compressed by 3, 33 may be performed. Program data 12,
32 is compressed and transferred, so that the time required for downloading can be reduced. The data size of the expanded program data 12, 32 is matched with the erase block size of the flash memories 3, 23, and when the size of the program data 12, 32 becomes larger than the erase block size as a whole, a plurality of decompression processes are performed. By doing so, the storage area of the RAMs 15 and 35 used for the decompression processing can be minimized.

Further, version management and the like are performed by the update processing programs 13 and 33, and if the version does not change, the update processing program stored in the flash memories 3 and 23 is read out to the RAMs 15 and 35 and the like. Processors 2 and 22 of mobile phone terminal 21
Performs the update of the firmware program based on the program data 12 and 32 included in the download data 11 and 31, and the download data 11 and 31 only when the update processing programs 13 and 33 have a version upgrade.
Can also be included in the transfer. Further, not only the flash memories 3 and 23 but also another EEPROM or the like can be used as the nonvolatile rewritable memory.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the update processing program is also downloaded to the communication device together with the program update data required for rewriting the program, the communication device stores the update processing program in advance. No need. Even if the type of the memory for storing the program is changed or the transfer format of the data for changing the program is changed, the update processing program transferred together with the data can be flexibly dealt with.

According to the present invention, program update data and an update processing program existing on a network such as a LAN can be downloaded to a communication device via a network connected to a data bus and used. .

According to the present invention, when downloading data for program change and an update processing program via a network, the system control console is operated to
Transfer processing to the communication device can be easily performed.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to connect a communication device to a network wirelessly and easily download program update data and an update processing program.

According to the present invention, the program change data and the change processing program to be downloaded to the communication device are separately stored in two non-contiguous storage areas. At the time of processing, storage area management can be performed easily.

Further, according to the present invention, the update processing program downloaded together with the program update data erases the updated program in accordance with the information in the storage area provided by the update processing program itself. The storage area of the memory can be released, and the memory can be efficiently used.

Further, according to the present invention, the data for updating the program of the communication device is compressed and transferred, so that the transfer time can be reduced. At the time of decompression processing of compressed data by the update processing program, if a nonvolatile memory capable of rewriting the storage content for each unique erase block size is used for storing the program, the decompression processing is performed for each unique erase block size. In addition, the size of the work area of the memory required for the program update processing can be reduced.

According to the present invention, the program of the communication device is stored in a nonvolatile memory capable of rewriting the storage content for each unique erase block size, and the update program is executed once for each unique erase block size unit. Alternatively, since the updating process is repeatedly performed a plurality of times, the updating process of the program over a plurality of erase block units can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration for downloading a program according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration for downloading a program according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Embedded communication system 2,22 Processor 3,23 Flash memory 4,6,26 Communication path 5,25 Network 7 Common line signal controller 9,29 Central processing unit 10,30 Common storage device 11,31 Download data 12,31 32 program data 13,33 update processing program 14 system control console 24 wireless communication path 34 personal computer

Claims (8)

[Claims] An update processing program after transferring data for updating a program is transferred to a communication device having a rewritable memory for storing a program via a communication function of the communication device. A method of downloading a program to a communication device, wherein the communication device executes the transferred update processing program. 2. An update control means for controlling the communication device to download program update data and a transferred update processing program via a communication network,
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the program is connected to common line control means for controlling transmission of data on a data bus to the network. 3. The program for a communication device according to claim 2, wherein the network is provided with a system control console operated when downloading the data for updating the program and the update processing program after the transfer. How to download. 4. The method for downloading a program to a communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device and the network are connected wirelessly. 5. When the data for program update and the update processing program after transfer are downloaded, the storage location of the data for program update and the update processing program after transfer is divided into two non-contiguous storage areas and individually stored. The method for downloading a program to a communication device according to claim 1, wherein the program is stored. 6. The program stored in the rewritable memory, after updating the program by the downloaded update processing program, according to information in a storage area of the update processing program itself provided by the update processing program, The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the update processing program is deleted. 7. The program update data transferred together with the update processing program is transferred in a compressed data format, and the update processing program decompresses and expands the data in a storage area. Item 7. A method for downloading a program to a communication device according to any one of Items 1 to 6. 8. The update processing program to be transferred,
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the update processing is repeated once or plural times for each erase block size unit unique to the nonvolatile memory mounted as the rewritable memory in the communication device. How to download programs to communication devices described in