JP2001273128A - System for updating software on line - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a program updating system capable of preparing a new task corresponding to another task performing a connection operation by inheriting connection information between the task and the other task during the time when the task performing the connection operation with the other task operates. SOLUTION: A software update control means 5 transmits information for making a program in the middle of performing an old task 1 that performs a connection operation with the other task 21 on the basis of a program update request from a user and can make the new task 3 continue the connection operation with the other task 21 by allowing the new task 3 to inherit the program of the old task 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an online updating system for updating a program of a task in an operating device without stopping the device.

[0002]

[Prior art]

FIG. 8 shows, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-310274.
Patent Document 1: A running program replacement method and apparatus of a software system for updating a program in an online state described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H10-209,873. In this method and apparatus, the identifier of the replacement program 52 and the identifier of the replacement program 51 are stored in the replacement control information storage means 54, and the replacement control means 53 refers to the replacement control information, and
1 to control the end of the process 1 and the transfer of the processing information from the replaced program 51 to the replacement program 52.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In the above-described method and apparatus for replacing a running program, the replacement control means 53 replaces the replacement program 51 and the replacement program 52 while the replacement program 51 is running. Program 51
When updating the program during the operation of the program, there is a problem that the replacement program 52 cannot take over the cooperation information between the replaced program 51 and another program.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and has another program (task).
While running a program (task) that is cooperating with
Software online update method that can update to a new program (task) that is compatible with other programs (tasks) that are linked by inheriting the link information between this program (task) and other programs (tasks) The purpose is to provide.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first task executing a program, a second task operating in cooperation with the first task, and executing the first task. A third task that takes over the program in progress, and program information for taking over the running program of the first task that is cooperating with the second task based on a program update request from the user. Update control means for transmitting to the third task and causing the third task to take over the program of the first task.

[0008] In a second aspect, the present invention is characterized in that the program information constituted by a program during execution of the first task and inter-task communication information between the first task and the second task is stored. Update control means for transmitting the program information to the third task when a program update request is received from a user.

A third invention comprises a first task having the program information, own program information based on the program information, and new intertask communication information between the second task. The program includes new program information, transmits the new program information to the second task, and includes a third task that operates in cooperation with the second task.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a software online update method (task online update method) according to the first embodiment. In the figure, 1 is an old task to be updated, 2 is a version upgrade function of the old task 1 in which a processing method for updating the old task 1 is described, 3 is an updated new task, and 4 is a new task 3 A version upgrade function 5 of the new task 3 in which a processing method at the time of updating is described is a software update control means 5, which is implemented as a task or a driver. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a process performed by the software update control unit 5. The software update control means 5 acquires the data attribute from the processing performed in the old task 1 and copies or converts the data attribute of the old task 1 to the new task 3.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an update task information management table set in the software update control means 5. From the user to the software update control means 5,
When a request to update the old task 1 to the new task 3 is issued, the software update control means 5 writes the old task identifier 12 and the position where the version upgrade function 2 of the old task 1 is described in the updated task information management table 11. 13, a new task identifier 14, and a position 15 where the version upgrade function 4 of the new task 3 is described. After that, the new task 3 is loaded into the memory, and the update start is notified to the old task 1 by asynchronous communication between tasks. . Here, the position 13 and the position 15 are, for example, the version-up function 2 and the version-up function 4
Indicates the address on the memory where the data exists.

Asynchronous communication between tasks is performed, for example, by UNI.
(Registered trademark) X signal mechanism, CTRON
This corresponds to the issuance of an exception to another task 21 in (registered trademark), and the version upgrade function 2 and the version upgrade function 4 are realized as a signal handler and an exception handler, respectively. By issuing a signal prohibition section or an exception prohibition section for a signal mechanism in UNIX or a task in CTRON to issue an exception, the timing of receiving an update notification can be controlled by the old task 1.

Therefore, when taking over the processing from the old task 1 to the new task 3, if the signal is prohibited or the exception is prohibited up to the point where the old task 1 is well separated, the program can smoothly carry over the processing to the new task 3. The position can be set. In the case where the update to the new task 3 is immediately requested depending on the processing content of the task, the signal prohibition and the exception prohibition section need not be provided.

When the old task 1 receives an update request from the software update control means 5, an upgrade function 2 implemented as a signal handler or an exception handler is executed.
Is called. The version upgrade function 2 describes a processing method for updating a program. Based on the described processing method, a data attribute (address and size of the data area,
Data area notification (using inter-task communication) that the data type, that is, the data structure, etc.) and that the update is ready
Is notified to the software update control means 5.

The software update control means 5 obtains the address of the version upgrade function 4 of the new task 3 from the update task information management table 11, passes the data attribute passed by the data area notification to the version upgrade function 4, Invoke up function 4. Here, the address indicates where the version upgrade function is located. The software update control means 5 acquires the position of the version upgrade function 4 of the new task 3 and passes the data attribute to the version upgrade function 4 at this position.

The version upgrade function 4 of the new task 3 is:
According to the data attribute passed from the old task 1, if necessary, the data necessary for taking over the processing of the old task 1 is copied while being aware of the difference in the data structure (data type).

The version upgrade function 4 of the new task 3 is:
After completing the processing necessary for taking over the process from the old task 1, the software update control unit 5 is notified of the completion of the takeover process by a completion notification. Upon receiving the process completion notification, the software update control unit 5 notifies the version upgrade function 2 of the old task 1 that the transfer of the process to the new task 3 has been completed, and activates the new task 3. In the version upgrade function 2 of the old task 1, the retained resources are released, and the old task 1 ends.

Next, the operation of the new and old tasks and the operation of the software update control means 5 will be described with reference to flowcharts. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the present embodiment. First, in step S101, the user inputs a program (task).
Is notified to the software update control means 5,
In step S102, the update task information management table 21 is set as shown in FIG. Next, in step S103, the software update control means 5 loads the new task 3 into the memory, and notifies the old task 1 of the update start by the inter-task asynchronous communication 6 in step S104.

After leaving the inter-task asynchronous communication prohibited section in step S105, the old task 1 receives the notification and executes the version upgrade function 2. The version upgrade function 2 acquires the data attribute determined in advance for each task to be taken over to the new task 3 in step S106, and
At 107, the software update control means 5 is notified that the data attribute and the task switching preparation are ready. At this time, the version upgrade function 2 sends the data attribute to the software update control means 5.

Next, in step S108, the software update control means 5 updates the version upgrade function 4 of the new task 3.
And passes the data attribute received from the old task 1 to the version upgrade function 4. The new task 3 acquires the data attribute passed from the old task 1 in step S109, copies the data and structure in step S110,
In step S111, the software update control means 5 is notified that the processing has been completed.

Next, in step S112, the software update control means 5 receives the notification, notifies the old task 1 of the end of the process, and activates the new task 3 in step S113.
The old task 1 knows that the software update has been completed in step S114, releases the resources acquired by the old task 1, and ends the task.

According to the present embodiment, the process of the old task 1 is taken over according to the creation and processing of the new and old tasks under task control, and the task program can be updated online.

Embodiment 2 FIG. Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The first embodiment has exemplified the case where the new and old tasks do not operate in cooperation with other tasks. In the second embodiment, a processing takeover method when the new and old tasks are operating in cooperation with a plurality of other tasks will be described. If the old task is working with other tasks,
Usually, the old task exchanges information necessary for cooperative operation with another task by using inter-task communication. When replacing such an old task with a new task, the new task needs to know resources necessary for inter-task communication between the old task and another task (for example, a queue for performing message communication).

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a software online update method (task online update method) according to the second embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes another task operating in cooperation with the old task 1, 22 denotes an upgrade function of the other task 21, and 23, 24, and 25 denote the other tasks 21, the old task 1, and the new task 3, respectively. Owned message queues, which are acquired and managed by these tasks. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an update task information management table installed in the software update control means 5.

In this embodiment, the software update control means 5 manages the resources collectively. The software update control means 5 acquires the inter-task communication resource between the old task 1 and another task 21 by the notification from the old task 1,
As shown in FIG. 6, the inter-task communication resource 31 is registered in the update task information management table 11. When notifying the new task 3 of the data attribute from the old task 1, the old task 1 transfers the inter-task communication resource 31 to the new task 3 together with the data attribute. Resource information necessary for inter-task communication with another operating task 21, that is, inter-task communication resources 31, can be acquired.
In the same manner as described above, the cooperative operation with another task 21 becomes possible.

According to the present embodiment, the software update control means 5 collectively obtains the inter-task communication resources 31 required for inter-task communication with another task 21 which performs processing in cooperation with the old task 1. By performing the management and notifying the new task 3, the new task 3 can continue the cooperative operation with the other tasks 21 in the same manner as the old task 1.

Embodiment 3 Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the second embodiment, an example has been given in which the software update control unit 5 collectively manages inter-task communication resource information with another task 21 cooperating with the old task 1. In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the inter-task communication information is individually managed between tasks to be updated. FIG.
FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram of a software online update method (task online update method) according to the third embodiment. The old task 1, the new task 3, and the other task 21 have inter-task communication resource management tables 41, 42, and 43, respectively.

The old task 1 is an inter-task communication resource management table 42.
And manages inter-task communication resource information for other tasks 21. When the old task 1 is updated to the new task 3, if the version upgrade function 2 of the old task 1 is called by the task asynchronous communication from the software update control means 5, the version upgrade function 2 uses the inter-task resource information management table 42.
To the other tasks 21 managed by the inter-task communication stop request. Upon receiving the notification, the version upgrade function 22 of the other task 21 executes the inter-task communication (m
Stop sending message to bx2).

Thereafter, the old task 1 notifies the new task 3 of the information of the inter-task communication resource management table 42 together with its own data attribute by the data area notification. The version upgrade function 4 of the new task 3 acquires the data attribute and the inter-task communication resource management table 42 from the old task 1, and acquires information of the inter-task communication resources of the message queue 23 of the other task 21 from the contents. At the same time, a new message queue 25 for the new task 3 is newly generated, and the inter-task communication resource management table 4
3 is generated.

The version upgrade function 4 of the new task 3 is:
In response to the completion notification of the processing takeover, the inter-task communication resource management table 43 of the new task 3 is notified to the other task 21 via the software update control means 5, and the other task 2 receiving the notification is notified.
The first version upgrade function 22 changes its own inter-task communication resource management table 41 so as to correspond to the new task 3, and restarts the stopped processing.

According to the present embodiment, each task can individually manage resources required for inter-task communication with another task 21 that performs processing in cooperation with the old task 1, and the new task 3 notifies resource information necessary for inter-task communication to another task 21 that is cooperating with the old task 1 so that the new task 3 can cooperate with the other task 21 in the same manner as the old task 1. It is possible to continue.

【The invention's effect】

The present invention is configured as described above, and has the following effects.

According to the present invention, the third task is made to take over the running program of the first task that is cooperating with the second task based on a program update request from the user. The task can continue to cooperate with the second task.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a task online update method according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a process performed by a software update control unit 5 in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an update task information management table set in software update control means 5 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of a task online update method according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a task online update method according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an update task information management table set in software update control means 5 according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a task online update method according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a conventional program replacement method and apparatus during operation of a software system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Old task, 2 version upgrade function, 3 new task, 4 version upgrade function, 5 software update control means.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A first task executing a program,
A second task cooperating with the first task;
Third to take over the running program of the first task
To the third task, based on the task and the program update request from the user, to take over the running program of the first task that is cooperating with the second task. And an update control means for causing the third task to take over the program of the first task. 2. The program according to claim 1, wherein the update control unit is configured to execute the first task, the first task and the second task.
And the inter-task communication information between the tasks. The program information is composed of the third information when a program update request is received from a user.
2. The software online update method according to claim 1, wherein the software online update method is transmitted to the task. 3. The first task has the program information, and the third task is a new task between its own program information and the second task based on the program information. 3. The software online update according to claim 2, wherein new program information including intercommunication information is created, the new program information is transmitted to the second task, and the second task is operated in cooperation with the second task. method.