JP2000194546A - Computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To modify data from the outside by specifying the name of the data even if the address of the data is unknown by performing retrieval from a storage means with a name and reading the address of the data out by implementing a function for retrieval when a program is initialized. SOLUTION: When a program is read out, a data management part 23 reads the address 1003H of a 1st memory 12 where data on a variable having a name ABC out by, for example, an address readout function α=func get ('ABC') and stores the address in its 2nd memory in response to an initialization part 21. Then the program enters an execution part 22 and the data management part 23 accesses the 1st memory 12 by using the address 1003H in response to a pointer variable and returns a data value 12 stored in the address to the execution part (A). Here, data, e.g. a label ABC and the data value 12 are stored in the address 1003H of the 1st memory 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a computer
The present invention relates to a system, and more particularly, to a computer system suitable for frequently changing data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a general computer, data is stored in an external storage device such as a hard disk storage device or a floppy disk or a nonvolatile memory at an address assigned by a memory controller. The data is designated and read out, and is processed by the CPU.

[0003] In an ECU of a car, a computer for managing a production process, and the like, it is often necessary to change data serving as a base of calculation. For example, the ECU that controls the engine of the automobile is based on data for calculating the fuel injection amount, data on which the air-fuel ratio is controlled,
A large amount of data, such as base data for controlling the throttle opening, is stored in a non-volatile memory, and the control value to be sent to the actuator of each part of the engine in response to a parameter input from a sensor of each part of the vehicle is the above data. Is calculated based on During the development phase, these data are frequently rewritten based on experiments.

In this case, generally, a method is employed in which an address of an area storing data defined in a program is accessed, and the data at that address is rewritten.

[0005]

In such a general method, in order to change data from the outside, it is necessary to know the memory address of the data, so that there is a problem that it takes time to change the data. Also, if you upgrade the program and try to continue using the old data in the new program, the new program must use the address of the old data. Caused the problem.

[0006] The present invention seeks to solve these problems.

[0007]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer system for storing data in combination of a name and one or a plurality of data, and the storage by name. A memory means for storing a computer-executable program including a function for searching means, and at the time of initialization of the program, executing the function to search the storage means by the name and execute the function. The configuration is such that data addresses are read.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the data stored in the storage means is stored in combination with the name and searched by the name, it is possible to specify the name of the data without knowing the address of the data. Can change data from outside. Also, it is not necessary to pay attention to the address of the data when upgrading or changing the version of the program, and the old data can be used continuously by programming using the name of the old data.

Further, a program module which is a partial program constituting a part of a program such as a subroutine of a certain program can be ported to another program without changing its description. In this case, the variables used by the program module include data read from the storage unit using a function for searching the storage unit by name, which is defined in association with the variable in the initialization unit of the ported program. Assigned.

The term "data" as used in this specification refers to a code which can be stored and read by a computer system in a memory. When a program code is to be stored in a memory and read or transferred by the computer, Included in the data. The data name refers to an identifier for identifying the data, such as a name, a name tag, or a label attached to the data.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the computer system, the address is stored in a temporary storage area of the computer system, and when a program is executed, an operation relating to a variable that calls the function performs the address associated with the variable. It is configured to be executed by accessing the storage means by using this.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, at the time of executing the program, the address of the data is read into the temporary storage area, and the storage means is accessed using this address. The invention of Item 1 can be carried out.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in response to the fact that a combination of a name and one or more data is supplied from the outside, the computer system searches the storage means by the name and finds a matching name. Is rewritten with the supplied data.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, data can be externally changed using the name of the data without knowing the address of the data in the storage device.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer system comprising: an external storage means for storing a combination of a name and one or more data; and a function for searching the external storage means by a name. Memory means for storing a program, and first storage means for storing data read out by searching the external storage means by the name by executing the function upon initialization of the program, When the program is executed, the operation related to the variable that calls the function is that the first storage unit is accessed using the address of the first storage unit related to the variable, and the data related to the variable is read and executed. Take the configuration.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the program is initialized, data relating to variables used by the program is read from the external storage means into the first storage means by retrieving its name, and the program is executed. Sometimes data is read by the address of the first storage means, so that it is not necessary to pay attention to the data address when upgrading or changing the program, and the old data is continued by programming using the name of the old data. Can be used. Also, without knowing the address of the data, the data can be externally changed by specifying the name of the data.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the computer system according to the fourth aspect, when the external storage means is not connected, the first program is associated with the variable when the program is initialized. The address of the data stored in the storage means is set in the variable.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the external storage device is made detachable, the external storage device is connected when the program is installed, and the data is read into the first storage means.
After that, it becomes possible to use the computer system by removing the external storage device. In addition, the data can be changed by rewriting the external storage device using another computer and reconnecting the external storage device and reading the external storage device into the first storage means of the computer system or by connecting the newly created external storage device to the first storage device. By reading the data into the storage means.

A recording medium according to a sixth aspect of the present invention includes a function for retrieving the data by name from a storage device storing the data in combination with a name and one or more data. And executing a computer-executable program for performing a process of searching the storage device by the name and setting the address of the data to a variable for calling the function.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, a function for retrieving data by its name is included, and the address of the data is read by executing this function at the time of initialization, so that the data can be read without requiring knowledge about the address of the data. It can be changed.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention using an EC
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of one embodiment used for U.

Electronic control unit (ECU) for engine control
10 is a ROM which is a memory means storing a program
(Read only memory, ROM: Read Only Memory) 1
1, and a first memory 12 as rewritable first storage means for storing data necessary for controlling the engine, such as data for air-fuel ratio control and data for throttle opening control. As the first memory 12, it is preferable to use a rewritable nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM, but other memories may be used as long as they have a function of backing up when the power is turned off. Although the program is stored in the ROM 11 here, the program may be stored in a non-volatile memory similar to the first memory 12, and in this case, both the program and the data are stored in the integrated non-volatile memory. May be stored.

The ECU 10 executes a CP for executing a program.
U14 and a random access memory (RA) for temporarily storing various variables during the execution of the program and providing a working memory area (temporary storage area) for the operation by the CPU 14.
M). Also, ECU
Reference numeral 10 includes a communication port 13 for communicating with an external device 18 such as a personal computer, so that data can be written from the data file of the external device to the first memory 12 or the data in the first memory can be changed. ing.

The I / O unit 16 provided in the ECU 10 includes:
An interface unit that captures sensing data from a sensor provided in each part of the vehicle and sends a control signal based on a calculation result in the ECU 10 to an actuator of each part of the vehicle. A typical example of the sensor is an air-fuel ratio sensor that is provided in an exhaust system and senses an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas, and a typical example of an actuator is an air-fuel ratio sensor of an injector that injects fuel into an intake system of an engine or an engine cylinder. It is a solenoid that controls the injection valve.

In another embodiment of the present invention, EC
U can be connected to the external storage device 17 and reads data from the external storage device into the first memory 12 for use. The external storage device 17 is a memory card, a floppy disk, a hard disk device or the like typically used in the field of personal computers. When the external storage device 17 is connected, the CPU 14 reads necessary data from the external storage device 17 according to the program stored in the ROM 11 and stores the data in the first memory 12.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram showing the relationship between a program and the first memory 12 in one embodiment of the present invention. The operation program unit 20 is divided into an initialization unit 21 and an execution unit 22. . The data management unit 23 controls reading and temporary storage of data necessary for executing the program. The first memory 12, which is a nonvolatile memory, includes:
As an example, data 12 having the name ABC (name, name tag, label), data 22 having the name BBC, and data 23 having the name CCC are stored in combination with the name.

The embodiment of FIG. 2 will be described by taking the following program written in C language as an example.

[0028]

[Table 1]

In Table 1, γ = func_get ("CC
Until C "), the initialization section of the program declares variables used in this program. SHORT indicates the data type, and declares that the variable α is a 16-bit short integer. Declaration of data type Include CHAR indicating a character type, FLOAT indicating a real type, and DOUBLE indicating a double-length real type. Assigned.
* Α, * β and * with * before variables α, β and γ
γ is a memory of data corresponding to the variables α, β and γ.
This is a pointer variable that declares a storage area for storing an address. γ [10] indicates that the number of sequences of the variable γ is 10.

Α = func_get (“ABC”) is a function for reading the address where the data of the variable α is stored from the first memory 12 which is the data memory using the data name ABC as a search key. Similarly, β = func_get ("BBC") is the data name
A function for reading an address where the data of the variable β is stored from the first memory using the BBC as a search key, and γ = fun
c_get ("CCC") is the first using data name CCC as a search key.
This function reads the address of the data of the first element number in which the data array of the variable γ is stored from the memory.

Now, when the program shown in Table 1 is read, the second memory 1 of the data management unit is responded to the initialization unit.
5, a memory area for storing the addresses of the variables α, β, and γ is allocated, and the address reading function is executed to store the addresses of the variables α, β, and γ in the first memory in the second memory 15 of the data management unit 23. Is done. In FIG. 2, an address read function α = func_get (“ABC”) reads an address 1003H of the first memory 12 in which data of a variable having a name ABC is stored, and reads the address 1003H.
3 are shown.

Subsequently, the program enters the execution section, and executes if (*
In response to the description of α> 10), the data management unit accesses the first memory using the memory address 1003H in response to the pointer variable * α, and programs the data value 12 stored at that address. Return to execution unit 22. Now, the variable α
The processing A is executed because the data value of is larger than 10 at 12. Process A is a program written in C language,
Here, for the sake of simplicity, it is simply indicated by processing A. In general, an actual program is described over several lines to several tens of lines, and the program execution unit extracts data of other variables from the first memory and executes the program, like the variable α.

FIG. 2B schematically shows the manner in which the data is stored in the first memory 12, and the names (labels) are shown.
Following ABC, data value 12 is at address 1003H, name BBC
Then, the data value 22 is stored at the address 1008H, the data of the first element number of the array of 10 values is stored at the address 100AH following the name CCC, and the next data is stored at the next address, respectively. Is shown.
It is preferable to use a name or an abbreviation thereof that is actually used as a data name by the development engineer as the data name.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the above-mentioned operation of the variable α. The pointer variable α is defined (101), and the label “ABC” is searched from the first memory 12 (10).
2) When a matching label is found (103), the address 1003H where the data of the label "ABC" is stored from the first memory 12 is put into the pointer α (104). This process is executed for all the defined pointer variables, and then the program is executed.

FIG. 4A shows a mode in which data is changed. For example, when the data of the name ABC used by the engine control ECU 10 is to be changed, the EC
An external device 18 such as a personal computer is connected to the communication port 13 of the U10.
And sends a data setting function func_set ("ABC", 33) to the ECU 10 to set the data of the name ABC to 33. EC
In response to this, the data management unit 23 of U10 has the name "ABC".
Is used as a search key to search the first memory 12, and 33 is written to the storage area associated with the matching name "ABC". Thus, the data used by the ECU 10 is stored in the ECU 10
Can be changed externally without changing the execution program of the program and regardless of what variables define the data in the program. FIG. 4 (B)
Indicates that the data value 12 stored in the address 1003H in combination with the name ABC is converted to the data setting function func_set ("ABC",
33 schematically shows a mode changed to 33 by 33).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of a data change process.
When the label “ABC” and the data 33 are transmitted to U (20
1), the label "ABC" is searched in the first memory 12 (20)
2) If there is a matching label (203), 33 is overwritten in the data storage area of the label "ABC" in the data area (20).
Four).

As described above, according to the present invention, a program module which is a partial program constituting a part of a program such as a subroutine of a certain program is ported to another program without changing its description. be able to. In this case, the data used by the program module is assigned data read from the storage means using an address read function defined in association with the variable in the initialization section of the ported program. This will be described with reference to Tables 2 and 3 below.

[0038]

[Table 2]

Table 2 shows a description of module 3 of a given program 100. In this module, the data name CC
A process of reading the data of C, multiplying the value by 1/2, and putting it back into the storage device is performed. Now, in order to port this module 3 to another program 200, as shown in Table 3 below, copy the module 3 as it is to the program 200, and change the name BBC of the data to be used to func_get
Set to function. The ported module 3 executes processing on the data of the name BBC read from the storage means in accordance with the func_get function defined in the initialization unit of the portee program.

[0040]

[Table 3]

As described above, according to the present invention, the variable is not directly indicated by the data or the storage location of the data, but is associated with the data through the address read function for searching the storage means using the data name as a key. The program module can be copied to another program and used without worrying about the storage location. If the initialization section and the execution section of a program module are stored in separate files, only the execution section can be ported to another program, and the execution section can run according to the settings of the initialization section of the destination program. it can.

FIG. 6A is a functional block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. Elements common to FIGS. 1 and 2A are denoted by the same reference numerals. The difference from the embodiment of FIG. 2A in hardware is that an external storage device 17 is connected. The external storage device 17
A hard disk device, a floppy disk, a memory card, or the like that can be detachably connected to the ECU 10 is preferable. Need not always be removable, and may remain connected at all times.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6A, data is stored in the external storage device 17 in combination with its name. If the program shown in Table 1 is used as an example, FIG.
As in the case of the embodiment (A), the read function func_g is read for each variable in the program initialization process.
et is executed. Now, taking the function func_get ("ABC") as an example, the data management unit 23 searches the storage area of the external storage device 17 using the data name ABC as a search key in response to this function, and corresponds to the name ABC. The value 33 of the data to be read out is stored in the first memory 12 in the ECU 10, the address 1000H of the storage location is stored in the second memory which is the temporary storage memory of the data management unit, and the pointer variable α is stored in the operation program unit. Return as address. When the value of the variable α is required during the execution of the program, the program execution unit 22 determines the address of the first memory indicated by the pointer variable.
By accessing 1000H, the data value 33 is read and assigned to the variable α.

FIG. 6B shows a data storage form in the first memory 12, and the data values 33, 22 and 23 stored in the external storage device 17 are stored in the first memory at addresses 1000H, 1001H and 1002H. Respectively. In this case, the name (label) of the data stored in the external storage device is not stored in the first memory.

After the initialization of the program is completed and the data corresponding to the variables defined by the program are stored in the first memory, there is no need to access the external storage device 17, and the high-speed first memory is pointed to. Since the program is executed while accessing with the address indicated by the variable, the program can be executed at high speed while using a large-capacity external storage device. After the initialization of the program is completed, the program can be executed even if the external storage device 17 is removed. In this embodiment, after the external storage device 17 is connected to an external personal computer and data is rewritten, the external storage device 17 is connected to the ECU 1.
By connecting to 0 and executing the initialization of the program, the data to be used can be changed.

Further, the ECU 10 can be used in a form in which the external storage device 17 is connected at the time of development, and can be used in a form in which the external storage device 17 is removed in a mass production stage of the product.
Further, it is also possible to take in data from communication means instead of the external storage device 17.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the process flow of the embodiment of FIG. Program initialization part 2
In * 1, * α and other pointer variables are defined (30
1), data management unit 2 according to the defined data type
A storage area for storing variables is allocated to the first memory 15 of the third memory. Next, the read function func_get ("ABC") defined in relation to the variable α is executed, and the data name A
The external storage device 17 is searched using the BC as a key (30
2). If there is a matching label (303), the external storage device 1
7, the data 33 corresponding to the label ABC is read (3
04), is stored in the first memory 12 (305), and the address 1000H of the storage location is returned to the data management unit 23 (30).
6). Thus, the address of the first memory for storing the data of the variable α is set in the pointer variable α.

When the same processing is completed for all variables used in a given program, the program completes initialization and moves to the execution unit 22. At this stage, data corresponding to all variables is stored in the first memory, and the address of the first memory is set in the pointer variable. Therefore, the program execution unit 22 accesses the first memory using the address and executes the program, so that the program can be executed at high speed.

FIG. 8 shows a state in which the external storage device 17 has been removed from the embodiment of FIG. Once the initialization of the program is completed, data of variables used by the program is stored in the first memory. EE as the first memory
Using a non-volatile memory such as a PROM or a memory with a backup function, the correspondence between the pointer variable stored in the memory of the data management unit and the address of the storage location of the data in the first memory is also stored in the first memory as a backup. If the power is turned off and the power is turned on again, the program can be started only by the ECU 10 without using the external storage device 17.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of such a process, in which pointer variables are defined in the initialization section of the program (401). It is checked whether a flag indicating that this ECU 10 is in the development stage is set (406). If the flag is set, the process proceeds to a decision block 402, and if not set, that is, it is determined that the ECU 10 is for mass production. If so, the process proceeds to block 403.

In block 402, it is checked whether or not the external storage device 17 is connected. If not, the storage address of the data copied to the first memory 12 is set in a pointer variable (403). After performing the same processing for all variables, the program execution unit 22
Move on to

In block 402, the external storage device 17
Is detected to be connected to the external storage device 1
7 is compared with the number of data at the time of the previous activation (404), and if they are the same, it is determined that the data has not changed, and the process proceeds to step 403 without reading the data again. Move on. If the number of data increases or decreases, it means that the data has changed.
Data is read from the external storage device 17 to the first memory 12 in the form described with reference to FIG. 6 (405).

[0053]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the data stored in the storage means is stored in combination with the name, searched by the name, and its address is returned to the program. The data can be externally changed by designating the name of the data.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when executing the program, the address of the data is read into the temporary storage area, and the storage means is accessed using this address. The invention of Item 1 can be carried out.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, data can be externally changed using the name of the data without knowing the address of the data in the storage device.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the program is initialized, data relating to variables used by the program is read from the external storage means into the first storage means by retrieving its name, and the program is executed. In some cases, data is read by the address of the first storage means, so that it is not necessary to pay attention to the address of the data when upgrading or changing the version of the program, and to name the data without knowing the address of the data. Data can be changed externally by specifying.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the external storage device is made detachable, the external storage device is connected when the program is installed, and the data is read into the first storage means.
After that, it becomes possible to use the computer system by removing the external storage device.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since a variable for calling a function for retrieving data by its name is included, and the address of the data is read by executing this function at the time of initialization, knowledge of the address of the data is required. It is possible to change data without any change.

Although the present invention has been described by taking the ECU of an automobile as an example, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and can be widely used in the field of computers.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an electronic control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram showing a functional cooperation in one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a diagram showing a data storage form in a storage device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process flow in the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4A is a block diagram showing a mode of changing data in a storage device in the embodiment of FIG. 2, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a mode in which data is changed in a storage device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process flow in the embodiment of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6A is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6B is a diagram showing a data storage mode in a first memory.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process flow in the embodiment of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an exemplary block diagram showing a form in which the external storage device is removed from the embodiment of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process flow in the embodiment of FIG. 8;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ROM (memory means) 12 1st memory (storage means, 1st storage means) 15 2nd memory (temporary storage area) 17 external storage device 21 initialization part 22 execution part 23 data management part

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A storage means for storing data as a combination of a name and one or more data, a memory means for storing a computer-executable program including a function for searching the storage means by a name, A computer system that, when initializing the program, executes the function to search the storage unit by the name and read the address of the data. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the address is stored in a temporary storage area of the computer system, and when a program is executed, an operation relating to a variable that calls the function accesses the storage unit using the address associated with the variable. The computer system of claim 1 executed by: 3. In response to a combination of a name and one or more data being supplied from outside, the storage means is searched by the name, and data relating to a matching name is supplied. 2. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the computer system is rewritten with data. 4. An external storage means for storing data as a combination of a name and one or more data, and a function for searching the external storage means by a name.
A memory unit for storing a computer-executable program; and a first storage unit for storing data read out by searching the external storage unit by the name by executing the function when the program is initialized. During execution of the program, an operation on a variable that calls the function accesses the first storage unit using an address of the first storage unit associated with the variable, and stores data associated with the variable. A computer system that is read and executed. 5. When the external storage means is not connected, at the time of initialization of the program, an address of data stored in the first storage means in association with the variable is
5. The computer system according to claim 4, wherein said variable is set. 6. A function for retrieving data by name from a storage device storing data in combination with a name and one or a plurality of data, and executing the function at initialization to execute the function by the name. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-executable program for performing a process of searching the storage device and setting an address of the data to a variable that calls the function.