JP2005165535A - Software version upgrading method, adapter device, program for realizing software version upgrading method, and recording medium storing the program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically execute a restart accompanying version upgrading of firmware without hindering use of an adapter by a user, in the adapter connectable to a network line, accommodating an input/output terminal, performing operation controlled by software, and used for connecting the input/output terminal to the network line. <P>SOLUTION: This adapter device 1 is provided with: a flag storage part 15 holding a restart possibility decision flag; and a restart control part 16 referring to the restart possibility decision flag to decide whether the restart is possible or not on the basis of a value of the restart possibility decision flag when the restart of the adapter device 1 is required after acquisition of software of a new version, automatically restarting the adapter when it is decided that the restart is possible, detecting operation to the restart possibility decision flag when it is decided that the restart is not possible, and newly deciding whether the restart is possible when the operation is performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an adapter device that can be accommodated in a telephone line, a digital line, etc., and can accommodate a telephone or other terminal, and in particular, software for causing the adapter device to function. The present invention relates to a method of downloading from an external network and automatically upgrading the version, and an adapter device capable of upgrading by such a method.

  As an adapter device that can be accommodated in a network line such as a telephone line or a digital line and is used for connecting a telephone or a PC (personal computer) to the network, for example, a modem for an analog telephone line or an ISDN is used. Examples thereof include a terminal adapter for a line, and a router having a function of connecting to such a network line. Such adapter devices have become widely used as demand for connection to a network such as the Internet increases.

  In the old days, such an adapter device has been realized by the operation of only hardware using a large number of individual electronic components. In recent years, an adapter device has a built-in microprocessor and the like, and its function is determined and controlled by software called so-called firmware and other application software.

  In the following description, a device that can accommodate a network line such as a telephone line or a digital line is referred to as an adapter device. Further, a device having a user interface connected to an adapter device such as a telephone or a personal computer is generally referred to as an input / output terminal, and an interface capable of connecting the input / output terminal in the adapter device is referred to as an input / output terminal connection interface. Software and programs such as firmware and applications built in the adapter device are generally referred to as software, and a user of the adapter device is referred to as a user. In addition, the operation that starts after the device is turned off once, and the operation that starts the software without turning off the device power, temporarily replaces it with another software, and starts the software again are generally restarted. Called.

  As described above, the adapter device is generally one whose functions are defined and controlled by software, but for the purpose of introducing new functions, responding to changes in specifications on the network line side, bug fixes, etc. There is a case where the software version of the apparatus is upgraded. When the adapter device performs software upgrade, there are many examples that require the entire adapter device to be restarted. That is, simply storing the version upgrade data in a nonvolatile memory (storage device) in the adapter device does not mean that the version upgrade is completed, and then restarting the adapter unit and based on the software after the version upgrade. In many cases, the adapter device needs to start a new operation. At this time, if the restart is executed at a timing when the adapter device is not performing any processing or when the user is not using the adapter device, the adapter device can be restarted without any problem. However, although it is possible to determine whether or not the adapter device is being used, if the user tries to start communication and the adapter device is restarted, the user communication may be established. An event that cannot be done occurs.

  Therefore, in the conventional technology, the restart timing is executed by an operation or instruction from the user, or the adapter device is re-executed at a predetermined time such as midnight set in advance. However, the former method requires a user's operation and has a problem that it is not possible to realize a fully automatic software upgrade. In the latter method, for example, the restart time is set assuming the user's life time zone, but the set time is not necessarily a time when the user is likely to start communication using the adapter device. There is a problem that it is not necessarily a belt.

The following prior arts are known as related to restarting applications and systems. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-202861 (Patent Document 1) determines whether or not an abnormal termination has occurred during termination processing at the time of system restart, and controls a flag indicating whether or not there is any problem in starting up the system. In addition, it is disclosed to automatically determine whether or not to restart at power-on. In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-286679 (Patent Document 2), on the premise of a multitasking application, whether or not an abnormal termination occurs by executing the termination and activation of the application and the termination and activation of the entire system in separate processes. It is disclosed that it is possible to smoothly execute the procedure of determining and automatically restarting the system. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-207070 discloses a restart method for starting a system with a power recovery function after a power failure as a trigger.
JP-A-6-202861 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-286679 JP 2000-207080 A

  As described above, there is no method of automatically executing the software upgrade in the adapter device and realizing automatic restart of the adapter device after the upgrade without restricting the use of the adapter device by the user. is the current situation.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a software upgrade method that can upgrade the software of an adapter device without hindering the user from using the adapter device.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a software version upgrade method that enables automatic restart by determining whether or not an adapter device should be restarted without requiring user operation or instructions.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide an adapter device capable of performing software upgrade based on the above-described software upgrade method.

  The software version upgrade method of the present invention is an adapter device that can be connected to a network line and can accommodate an input / output terminal, and whose operation is controlled by software and used to connect the input / output terminal to the network line. A software upgrade method for upgrading software, which is provided in the adapter device when the adapter device acquires a new version of the software and when the adapter device needs to be restarted after the acquisition of the new version of software. A step of determining whether or not restart is possible based on the value of the restart possibility determination flag, and automatically restarting the adapter device when it is determined that restart is possible If it is determined that the reboot Device detects an operation on restartable determination flag, when there is such an operation, again, it has a step of performing the step of determining whether the reboot, the.

  In the present invention, the restartability determination flag is, for example, (1) monitoring presence / absence of connection to the input / output terminal connection interface provided in the adapter device, and based on the monitoring result or (2) adapter Based on an event signal input from the input / output terminal via the input / output terminal connection interface provided in the apparatus, or (3) acquiring the usage history of the adapter device by the input / output terminal, and the adapter device from the usage history The least utilized time zone is selected and operated in the selected time zone.

  In the present invention, a determination flag for restartability is held inside the adapter device, and the adapter device is restarted by operating this flag based on the usage history of the user of the adapter device or the device connection status to the input / output terminal connection interface, etc. Automatic version upgrade is performed, and the influence on the user's use of the device at that time is reduced. In other words, the present invention provides a timing that does not cause as much trouble as possible to the user's system use when it is desired to execute firmware upgrades when adding functions or the like with restart when there is no problem in continuous use as a system. To restart.

  The adapter device of the present invention is an adapter device that can be connected to a network line and can accommodate an input / output terminal, the operation of which is controlled by software and used to connect the input / output terminal to the network line, Input / output terminal connection interface to which the input / output terminal is connected, version upgrade means for acquiring a new version of software and executing software upgrade, flag storage means for holding a restartable determination flag, and new version of software When the adapter device needs to be restarted after obtaining the password, refer to the restart possible determination flag, determine whether restart is possible based on the value of the restart possible determination flag, and if it is determined that restart is possible The adapter device is automatically restarted and can be restarted if it is determined that restart is not possible. Detecting an operation on determination flag, when there is such an operation, again, it has a restart control means for determining whether the reboot, the.

  This adapter device further monitors (1) the presence / absence of connection to the input / output terminal connection interface and operates the restartable determination flag based on the monitoring result, or (2) the input / output terminal connection interface Operating the restartable determination flag based on the event signal input from the input / output terminal via the terminal, or (3) obtaining the usage history of the adapter device by the input / output terminal and using the adapter device most from the usage history There may be further provided flag setting means for selecting a time zone that is not selected and operating a restartable determination flag in the selected time zone.

  The present invention uses a restartable determination flag in version upgrade of software installed in the adapter device, and operates the flag based on various information about the adapter device and its peripheral terminals to restart the software. Accordingly, there is an effect that it is possible to reduce the influence on the use of the adapter device by the user due to the execution of the accompanying automatic software version upgrade.

  Next, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the adapter device, and also shows the relationship between the adapter device and the input / output terminal.

  The adapter device 1 is connected to a network line 2 such as a telephone line network, and includes a plurality of input / output terminal connection interfaces (I / F) 4 and 5 for connecting input / output terminals. In the illustrated example, a telephone 6 is connected to the input / output terminal connection interface 4 as an input / output terminal, and a personal computer (PC) 7 is connected to the input / output terminal connection interface 5 as an input / output terminal. . The telephone 6 is provided with a so-called “answering button” for absence notification. The adapter device 1 is configured to automatically acquire a new version of software such as built-in firmware or application.

  Further, the adapter device 1 includes a control unit 10 that controls the entire adapter device, a storage unit 11 that stores software such as firmware that defines the functions of the adapter device 1 and controls operations, and stores in the storage unit 11. The upgrade unit 12 that upgrades the software to be upgraded, the restart control unit 14 that controls the restart of the adapter device 1 after the upgrade, and the restart control unit 14 that retains a restartable determination flag And a flag setting unit 16 for operating a restartable determination flag. The control unit 10 controls the operation of the adapter device 1 in accordance with software stored in the storage unit 11. The version upgrade unit 12 is configured to obtain version upgrade data from the network line 2 and upgrade the software in the storage unit 11. However, the upgrade data may be given from the personal computer 7 to the upgrade unit 12, for example.

  Hereinafter, the software version upgrade in such an adapter device will be described in more detail.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing in one embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the restart control unit 14 executes the restart operation of the adapter device 1 according to the value of the restart possibility determination flag stored in the flag storage unit 15. That is, the present embodiment relates to a version upgrade method based on a restartability determination using a restartability determination flag, and an immediate version upgrade based on the operation and detection of this flag.

  The restartable determination flag is normally set to “FALSE (false)”, and is operated to “TRUE (true)” by the flag setting unit 16 when each condition described later is satisfied. Is. The restart control unit 14 executes restart processing when the adapter device 1 needs to be restarted and the restart enable determination flag is “TRUE”.

  First, when the acquisition of the new version software by the version upgrade unit 12 and the storage to the storage unit 11 are completed (step 201), the restart control unit 14 requires that the entire adapter device 1 be restarted for the software upgrade. It is determined whether or not to perform (step 202). If it is determined that restart is not necessary, the process proceeds to step 207, and the version upgrade process is terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 202 that the entire restart is necessary, in step 203, the restart control unit 14 checks the value of the restart possible determination flag, which is “TRUE”. If ", restart is executed (step 206), and then the process proceeds to step 207, where the version upgrade process ends. When executing the restart in step 206, it is necessary to confirm that the adapter device 1 to be restarted is in an execution standby state such as an empty line. If the restart possibility determination flag is “FALSE” in step 203, the process proceeds to step 204, and the restart possibility determination flag is monitored. Thereafter, when a change in the flag state is detected (step 205). Then, the process proceeds to step 203 and the flag is checked again. By repeating this operation, it is possible to complete the upgrade by quick restart.

  Hereinafter, the setting conditions of the restartable determination flag will be described.

<< Setting Example 1 >>
Here, the restartability determination flag is set to “TRUE” in accordance with the connection state of the input / output terminal to the input / output terminal connection interfaces 4 and 5 of the adapter device 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flag setting process in setting example 1. That is, in this setting example, the presence / absence of connection of the wiring to the input / output terminal connection interfaces 4 and 5 of the adapter device 1 is monitored, and the restartability determination flag is operated by the information.

  First, when the adapter device 1 is activated in step 301, the flag setting unit 16 confirms the wiring connection state in the input / output terminal connection interfaces 4 and 5 (step 302). It is determined whether or not there is a terminal connected to any one of the plurality of input / output terminal connection interfaces (step 303). If there is such a connection terminal, a restartable determination flag is set to “ If it is set to “FALSE” and no terminal is connected to any input / output terminal connection interface, the restart enable determination flag is set to “TRUE” in step 303. Thereafter, in step 305, the flag setting unit 16 monitors the connection state of the input / output terminal connection interfaces 4 and 5, and if a change is detected in the connection state of the input / output terminal connection interface (step 306), the process returns to step 302. Then, check the wiring connection status again.

  When the restartable determination flag is set in this way, the process is executed by detecting the operation of the restartable determination flag according to the procedure shown in FIG. Version upgrade is realized.

<< Setting example 2 >>
Here, an example in which the restartable determination flag is operated by an event signal from an input / output terminal connected to the input / output terminal connection interfaces 4 and 5 of the adapter device 1 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flag setting process in setting example 2. In other words, in this setting example, the flag setting unit 16 turns on / off information of the answering button installed in the input / output terminal (telephone 6) connected to the input / output terminal connection interface 4 of the adapter device 1. And the restartable determination flag is operated according to the information.

  First, when the adapter device 1 is activated in step 401, the flag setting unit 16 sets a restartable determination flag as “FALSE” as an initial setting value (step 402), and from the input / output terminal connected to the adapter device 1 The input of the event signal is awaited (step 403). Here, for example, when an event signal such as an answering button press from the telephone 6 as an input / output terminal is notified (step 404), the flag setting unit 16 checks the content of the notified event signal in step 405. Then, it is determined whether or not the restartable determination flag is set to “TRUE”. If it is determined that the restartable determination flag may be set to “TRUE”, the restartable determination flag is set to “TRUE” in step 407, and to “TRUE”. If it is determined that the state has changed to a state where it cannot be set, in step 406, the restart enable determination flag is set to “FALSE”. Thereafter, the process returns to step 403 and the above processing is repeated.

  When the restartable determination flag is set in this way, the process is executed by detecting the operation of the restartable determination flag according to the procedure shown in FIG. Version upgrade is realized.

<< Setting example 3 >>
In this example, the usage history of the input / output terminal for the adapter device 1 is monitored to extract a time zone in which the adapter device 1 is less used, and the restartable determination flag is operated based on the extracted time zone data. Will be explained. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flag setting process in setting example 3. In other words, in this setting example, the flag setting unit 16 always refers to the table storing the usage history of the input / output terminal 1 (that is, Table 19), and selects the time zone when the adapter device 1 is least used from the usage history. Then, the restartable determination flag is operated during that time period.

  First, when the adapter device 1 is activated in step 501, the flag setting unit 16 sets a restartable determination flag as “FALSE” as an initial setting value (step 502), and in step 503, the adapter device 1 by an input / output terminal. Is used in the flag setting unit 16. Based on the usage history recorded in step 503, the flag setting unit 16 checks the usage history in step 504. At this time, the flag setting unit 16 extracts combinations of days of the week and time periods that are less used, and holds them in the form shown in Table 19. Thereafter, the flag setting unit 16 enters time monitoring in step 505, and in step 506 checks whether the monitored time corresponds to the time zone held in Table 19. If applicable, the restart enable determination flag is set to “TRUE” in step S508, and if not applicable, the restart enable determination flag is set to “FALSE” in step 507. In this case, the interval at which the flag setting unit 16 performs time monitoring is arbitrary.

  Thereafter, in step 509, the flag setting unit 16 detects whether or not the usage history of the input / output terminal has changed. If there is a change, the flag setting unit 16 executes time zone extraction again in step 510 and updates the table 19 To do. If there is no change, no processing is executed. It should be noted that the processing of steps 510 and 511 can be executed at any timing. Thereafter, the process returns to the time monitoring in step 505, and the above-described processing is repeated.

  When the restartable determination flag is set in this way, the process is executed by detecting the operation of the restartable determination flag according to the procedure shown in FIG. Version upgrade is realized.

  The adapter device 1 described above is generally configured to include a microprocessor as its hardware configuration. The control unit 10, the upgrade unit 12, the restart control unit 14, and the flag setting unit 16 can be realized as software operating on the microprocessor, and the storage unit 11 and the flag storage unit 15 are connected to the microprocessor. It can be realized as a storage area in a storage device or a microprocessor. When the adapter device is configured to have a microprocessor as described above, a program for realizing the above-described software version upgrade method is read into an appropriate storage device in the adapter device, and the program is loaded into the microprocessor. This adapter device 1 can execute the software version upgrade in the above-described procedure. Therefore, as described above, the program itself for executing the software version upgrade can be the target of the version upgrade.

  In any case, the adapter device 1 composed of a microprocessor and a storage device is the same as a general computer in that it is controlled by software. Therefore, a program for executing the software version upgrade method of the present invention is as follows. The data is read into a storage device (or storage area) in the adapter device via a network or a removable storage medium such as an IC card. When the program is executed by the microprocessor, the adapter device 1 performs software upgrade according to the above-described procedure.

  The adapter device software version upgrade method of the present invention is particularly effective in the line connection service industry, the communication service industry, etc. that may frequently update the firmware of the adapter device, and also effective in the adapter device manufacturing industry, etc. It is.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an adapter apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the process until the completion of version upgrade after acquisition of the software of a new version. It is a flowchart explaining operation of the restart possibility determination flag by connection state monitoring of the input / output terminal interface. It is a flowchart explaining operation of the restart possible determination flag by the event signal from an input / output terminal. It is a flowchart explaining operation of the restart possibility determination flag by referring to the usage history of the input / output terminal.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Adapter apparatus 2 Network line 4, 5 Input / output terminal connection interface 6 Telephone 7 Personal computer 10 Control part 11 Storage part 12 Version upgrade part 14 Restart control part 15 Flag storage part 16 Flag setting part 19 Table

Claims (13)

Software that upgrades the software in an adapter device that is connectable to a network line and can accommodate an input / output terminal and whose operation is controlled by software and is used to connect the input / output terminal to the network line Version upgrade method,
The adapter device obtaining a new version of the software;
When the adapter device needs to be restarted after the acquisition of the new version of software, it is restarted based on the value of the restartable determination flag with reference to the restartability determination flag provided in the adapter device. Determining whether or not
Automatically restarting the adapter device when it is determined that restart is possible;
When it is determined that the restart is not possible, the adapter device detects an operation on the restart possible determination flag, and when there is the operation, the step of determining again whether the restart is possible When,
A software version upgrade method.   2. The software according to claim 1, wherein the adapter device monitors presence / absence of connection to an input / output terminal connection interface provided in the adapter device and operates the restartable determination flag based on a result of the monitoring. Version upgrade method.   The software according to claim 1, wherein the adapter device operates the restartable determination flag based on an event signal input from the input / output terminal via an input / output terminal connection interface provided in the adapter device. Version upgrade method.   The adapter device acquires a usage history of the adapter device by the input / output terminal, selects a time zone in which the adapter device is not used most from the usage history, and can restart the selected device in the selected time zone. The software version upgrade method according to claim 1, wherein the determination flag is operated. An adapter device that can be connected to a network line and that can accommodate an input / output terminal and whose operation is controlled by software and used to connect the input / output terminal to the network line,
An input / output terminal connection interface to which the input / output terminal is connected;
An upgrade means for acquiring a new version of software and executing an upgrade of the software;
Flag storage means for holding a restartable determination flag;
When the adapter device needs to be restarted after the acquisition of the new version of software, the restartability determination flag is referred to, whether the restart is possible is determined based on the value of the restartability determination flag, and restarted. When the activation is determined to be possible, the adapter device is automatically restarted, and when it is determined that the restart is not possible, an operation on the restartable determination flag is detected. Restart control means for determining again whether restart is possible,
An adapter device.   6. The adapter device according to claim 5, further comprising flag setting means for monitoring presence / absence of connection to the input / output terminal connection interface and operating the restartable determination flag based on a result of the monitoring.   6. The adapter device according to claim 5, further comprising flag setting means for operating the restartable determination flag based on an event signal input from the input / output terminal via the input / output terminal connection interface.   The usage history of the adapter device by the input / output terminal is acquired, the time zone in which the adapter device is least used is selected from the usage history, and the restartable determination flag is operated in the selected time zone. The adapter device according to claim 5, further comprising a flag setting unit. A computer that can be connected to a network line and can accommodate an input / output terminal, and is used to connect the input / output terminal to the network line.
A version upgrade means for acquiring a new version of software and performing a version upgrade of the software used in the computer;
Flag storage means for holding a restartable determination flag;
When the computer needs to be restarted after obtaining the new version of software, the restartable determination flag is referred to, whether the restart is possible is determined based on the value of the restartable determination flag, and restarted The adapter device is automatically restarted when it is determined that the restart is possible, and when it is determined that the restart is not possible, an operation on the restart enable determination flag is detected. Restart control means for determining whether restart is possible,
Program to function as. Said computer further
The program according to claim 9, wherein the program monitors whether or not a connection to an input / output terminal connection interface provided in the computer is present, and functions as flag setting means for operating the restartable determination flag based on the monitoring result. . Said computer further
The program according to claim 9, wherein the program functions as flag setting means for operating the restartable determination flag based on an event signal input from the input / output terminal via an input / output terminal connection interface provided in the computer. Said computer further
The usage history of the adapter device by the input / output terminal is acquired, the time zone in which the adapter device is least used is selected from the usage history, and the restartable determination flag is operated in the selected time zone. The program according to claim 9, which functions as a flag setting unit.   A computer-readable recording medium that stores the program according to any one of claims 9 to 12.

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