JP2000339151A - Method for installing developing system for handy terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent illegal use by permitting a host computer to execute an install program incorporated in a handy terminal and executing the developing system of the host computer. SOLUTION: A handy terminal 1 transmits an install program, which is previously stored in a non-volatile memory and operates in a host computer 25, to the host computer 25. The host computer 25 receives and stores the install program transmitted from the handy terminal 1 to/in the file of the host computer 25, which is previously set. Then, the file is executed. A user having the handy terminal 1 obtains the install program for developing system, which operates by the host computer 25, with a series of processings, executes it and sets a developing system in an operation state. An irregular user who does not have the handy terminal 1 cannot obtain the install program.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a handy terminal development system for collecting inventory management data in a warehouse and merchandise data in a store, and more particularly to a program for operating a handy terminal. How to install the development system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A handy terminal has a daily work program (hereinafter abbreviated as "application program") mounted in a nonvolatile memory (flash ROM or the like). This handita
While operating Minal in daily work, program errors (program bugs) may be found or program specifications may be changed. In such a case, it is necessary to rewrite the running application program of the handy terminal, and use a development system running on a host computer (mainly a personal computer) to convert the source program of the application program into an executable format. Then, the execution program is rewritten by downloading it to the handy terminal. The development system used at this time includes a program group (hereinafter abbreviated as "compiler") that translates the source program of the application program into an executable form, and a program that transfers the translated executable application program to the handy terminal (hereinafter "the compiler"). Downloader ”).

A compiler included in a development system is generally an expensive program (development requires a large number of steps). A compiler is a program that generates a machine language that runs on a target CPU (a central processing unit mounted on a handy terminal whose program can be rewritten by the development system). The compiler is also used for developing other devices using the same CPU. Available. Therefore, when supplying a compiler for developing a handy terminal to a user, it was necessary to take measures to prevent use outside of the handy terminal development application. In other words, in order to prevent the compiler provided for the application program development of the Handy Terminal from being illegally used for other system development,
It is conceivable that the number of sales of the development system, which spent a large amount of money on the development due to illegal use of the compiler, decreased, and that the development cost could not be recovered.

In order to prevent unauthorized use, a special format is applied to a supply medium (for example, a floppy disk) to make it impossible to use a copying command of an operating system, or to provide an individual password (a password different for each medium) in advance. Or a method that will not be activated unless the code is entered with the keyboard,
2. Description of the Related Art There is known a computer in which an adapter for generating a password is connected to a specific input / output port (for example, a printer port) of a computer to perform user authentication.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, the existing measures for preventing unauthorized use hinder the backup function of the medium, take time and effort in password management,
There were problems such as an expensive adapter. Note that the legal use requested here means that the supplied development system is used only for the development of the handy terminal. Operation of the development system is not inconvenient (copying of the development system for backup is possible), user management is easy (no need to write individual passwords on the medium, etc.), and extra installation such as installing a password generation adapter There is a need for a method that does not require a great deal of expense or effort.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is used for developing an application program for a handy terminal to be executed between a handy terminal and a host computer. (Installation) method for enabling a development system to be executed, in which an installation program is incorporated in a handy terminal, the installation program is supplied from the handy terminal to the host computer, and the installation program is executed by the host computer. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for installing a development system for a handy terminal, which makes a development system of a host computer executable.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In developing a handy terminal application program, a handy terminal and a host computer are connected by using a serial line, and an executable program generated by a compiler for a CPU equipped with a handy terminal is converted into a data transmission program. And the data is transmitted to the handy terminal to rewrite the nonvolatile memory (flash ROM or the like). In other words, a handy terminal is always prepared when developing a handy terminal application program. Therefore, processing for uploading the installation program between the handy terminal and the host computer is added.

First, a host computer upload program (a program for receiving handy terminal data in a file of the host computer) included in the development system before installation is started.

[0009] Specifically, the handy terminal is an upload program for transmitting data recorded in the handy terminal to the host computer when the power is turned on while a specific key is pressed (a program for transmitting handy terminal data to the host computer). ).

[0010]

The handy terminal transmits to the host computer an installation program running on the host computer which is stored in a non-volatile memory (flash ROM or the like) in advance.

The host computer receives and stores the installation program transmitted from the handy terminal in a preset file of the host computer.
Then, execute the file.

Through these series of processes, the handy terminal-owning user obtains a development system installation program that runs on the host computer, and executes the installation program to bring the development system into an operating state. Unauthorized users who do not have a handy terminal cannot obtain the installation program for the development system and cannot operate it.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a handy terminal 1 of the present invention. Reference numeral 2 denotes an LCD display unit for displaying collected data and a message from the main body of the handy terminal 1 to an operator (not shown). Reference numeral 3 denotes a key input unit including ten keys and function keys. Reference numeral 4 denotes a communication port, which is a serial communication cable 26 for communicating with the host computer 25.
Connect.

FIG. 2 is an electrical block diagram of the handy terminal 1. As shown in FIG. Reference numeral 5 denotes a central processing unit which is a control means of the handy terminal 1, and executes processing according to the present invention in accordance with a program stored in a rewritable flash ROM 6. By operating the key input unit 3 described above, L
The input data is displayed on the CD display unit 2. When transmitting the collected data to the externally provided host computer 25, the serial communication cable 26 is connected to the communication port 4 via the communication interface circuit 16.
Is connected, the data is transmitted according to a command from the CPU 5. Reference numeral 14 denotes a calendar circuit, which is provided to generate year, month, day, hour, minute, second information. The year, month, day, hour, minute, second information is protected by backup lithium (not shown). Buzzer drive circuit 10 and LED drive circuit 1
5 also perform a predetermined operation according to a command from the CPU 5. Reference numeral 9 denotes a printer, which performs a predetermined operation according to a command from the CPU 5.

FIG. 3 shows an arrangement of data stored in the flash ROM 6 and the RAM 12 provided in the main body of the handy terminal 1. As shown in FIG. Reference numeral 17 denotes an upload program executed by a handy terminal which connects the host computer 25 and the handy terminal 1 and transfers data via the communication interface circuit 16. Reference numeral 18 is a basic program for causing the handy terminal to perform various operations. The daily work program 19 is a normal handy terminal daily work program. The main tasks of the handy terminal, such as inputting a bar code, displaying the code on a screen, temporarily storing additional information such as the quantity using the work area 21, and storing the information in the collected data 22 are described. ing. The daily work program 19 is also a program that can be rewritten using the development system. The installation program 20 has a file length of 4 bytes and executable program data operable on the host computer 25.

FIG. 4 shows files stored in a development system (supplied by a floppy or a CD-ROM) operated by the host computer 25. The development system stores two files, one is the upload program 23 ("UPLOAD.EXE"), and the other is the development system data 24 ("DEVELOP.DAT"). In addition,
The upload program 23 is a host computer 25
Is a program that runs on the
Reference numeral 4 denotes a file that cannot be operated on the host computer 25 as it is.

The installation program converts the development system data 24 and stores it in a specific area (an area for storing a group of executable programs) of the host computer 25. To obtain the program, the development system shown in FIG. The upload program 23 recorded above is activated on the host computer 25. The upload program 23 receives data transmitted from the handy terminal 1 with a file name of “INSTALL.EXE” and receives the data in a specific area (an area for storing a group of executable programs: for example, wi
ndows \ system). The host computer 25 starts the upload program 23.

Next, the transmission program of the handy terminal 1 is started. The power is turned on while pressing the key '1' of the keyboard 3 of the handy terminal 1. When the key "1" is pressed when the power is turned on, the basic program 18 of the handy terminal 1 activates the upload program 17 instead of the normal daily work program 19. The upload program 17 transmits the installation program 20 recorded on the handy terminal 1 to the host computer 25 via the communication interface circuit 16.

FIG. 5 shows an operation flow of the upload program 23 ("UPLOAD.EXE") that operates on the host computer 25. Hereinafter, description will be given along the flow.
The upload program 23 opens "INSTALL.EXE" (S1). Next, the length of the transmission data (the number of data bytes to be received: expressed by 4 bytes) is received from the handy terminal 1 (S2). The process is repeated for the data length (S3). The received data is stored in a file (S4). After finishing the repetition process,
Close the "INSTALL.EXE" file (S5). As described above, the host computer (not shown) changes the installation program transmitted from the handy terminal 1 to “INSTA”.
LL.EXE ".

The received installation program converts the development system data 24 and stores it in a specific area of the host computer 25 (an area for storing executable programs: windows \ system, for example).

Next, "I" received by the host computer 25
Execute "NSTALL.EXE". Fig. 6 shows the received "INSTALL.EXE".
Therefore, description will be made along the flow.
First, the file "DEVELOP.DAT" of the development system data 24 is opened (S6). At the beginning of the file, the length of the compiler (4 bytes) and the length of the downloader (4 bytes)
Is described. "INSTALL.EXE" reads the compiler length and downloader length described at the beginning of "DEVELOP.DAT" (S7, S8). Next, "COMPILER.EXE" is opened (S9). It repeats for the length of the compiler read in (S7) (S10). The compiler body data of "DEVELOP.DAT" is written to a "COMPILER.EXE" file (S11). "COMPILER.EXE" when you finish the repetition
Close. Similarly, "DOWNLOAD.EXE" is opened (S13). It repeats for the downloader length read in step 8 (S8) (S14). The downloader body data of "DEVELOP.DAT" is written to a "DOWNLOAD.EXE" file (S15). "DOWNLOAD.EXE" after writing all
The file is closed (S16). Finally, "DEVEL
The "OP.EXE" file is closed (S17), and the currently running program "INSTALL.EXE" is deleted (S19).

From the above, "DEVELOP.DAT" to "COMPILER.EX"
"E" and "DOWNLOAD.EXE" were cut out and stored in a specific area (an area for storing a group of executable programs: for example, windows \ system) of a host computer (not shown).

The user can compile by activating "COMPILER.EXE". By executing “DOWNLOAD.EXE”, the compiled object program is transmitted to the handy terminal 1 and the daily work program 19 can be rewritten.

[0024]

As described above, when the user of the handy terminal development system is a legitimate handy terminal user, an upload program is used to obtain an installation program embedded in the handy terminal and execute the program. Alternatively, two development system programs can be cut out from the development system data, stored in a predetermined executable area, and made executable. As a result, even if an unauthorized user copies the development system medium, it cannot be used as it is. In addition, since the "INSTALL.EXE" program that converts to an executable file is deleted at the end of processing, the software cannot be copied. As described above, only the authorized user having the handy terminal can operate the development system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a handy terminal to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an electrical block diagram of the handy terminal

FIG. 3 shows an arrangement of data in a storage device.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a storage file of the development system.

FIG. 5 is a processing flow of an upload program of a host computer.

FIG. 6 is a processing flow of an installation program of a host computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Handy terminal 2 LCD display part 3 Key input part 4 Communication port 5 CPU 6 Flash ROM 7 Key input part 8 External interface 9 Printer 10 Buzzer drive circuit 11 Power supply circuit 12 RAM 13 LCD display part 14 Calendar circuit 15 LED drive circuit 16 Communication Interface circuit 17 Upload program 18 Basic program 19 Daily work program 20 Installation program 21 Work area 22 Collected data 23 Upload program (UPLOAD.EX)
E) 24 Development system data (DEVELOP.DAT) 25 Host computer 26 Serial communication cable

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A handy terminal and a host computer
A method of installing (executing) a development system used for developing an application program for a handy terminal, which is performed between the portable terminal and a handy terminal. Is provided from the handy terminal to the host computer, the installation program is executed by the host computer, and the development system of the host computer is made executable.