JP2005339274A - Software installation method and information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and rapidly install desired language software with an inexpensive structure. <P>SOLUTION: Recovery images of a plurality of languages are preliminarily stored, and lock information unique to language selected in ST3 is registered. When it is determined that the selected language is not a first language in ST5, the image of the first language preliminarily stored in an area PTa is updated to the recovery image of the selected language stored in an area PTc in ST6. The recovery image of the language not selected is deleted in ST7. When the selected language is not the first language, the software of the selected language is installed to an area PTb by use of the recovery image of the selected language in ST11. When the lock information is registered, the following recovery processing is performed by the selected language. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a software installation method and an information processing apparatus. Specifically, a plurality of language recovery images are stored in advance in the storage means of the information processing apparatus, and software is installed using the recovery images of the selected languages.

  In an information processing apparatus that executes various kinds of processing by executing conventional software, an operating system (OS) image or a reduced OS image is stored in a computer such as a CD-ROM, as disclosed in Patent Document 1. An operating system or the like is installed by using an OS image or a reduced OS image recorded in a readable medium and recorded in the computer readable medium.

JP 2003-99268 A

  By the way, when providing an information processing apparatus in an area where a plurality of languages are used, if a language used in the information processing apparatus is set to a specific language, a user who uses another language The information processing apparatus cannot be easily operated. For this reason, an information processing apparatus is desired by attaching a computer-readable medium recording OS images in a plurality of languages to the information processing apparatus and performing an installation process using an OS image in a language desired by the user. It has been made to work in any language.

  However, if a computer-readable medium on which an OS image or the like is recorded is attached to the information processing apparatus so as to be compatible with a plurality of languages, the cost increases. In particular, when the amount of data such as an OS image is large, a computer-readable medium must be prepared for each language, which further increases the cost.

  Further, when the installation process is performed using a computer-readable medium, it takes time for the process because an OS image or the like must be read from the computer-readable medium.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a software installation method and an information processing apparatus that can easily and quickly install software of a desired language with an inexpensive configuration.

  The software installation method according to the present invention includes a language selection step of selecting any language from a plurality of language recovery images stored in advance in the storage means of the information processing device, and a language selected in the language selection step. And an installation process for installing software using the recovery image.

  The information processing apparatus according to the present invention is stored in advance in a storage unit that stores a recovery image and software, an operation unit that generates an operation signal corresponding to a language selection operation, and a storage unit based on the operation signal. Control means for installing software in the storage means using the recovery image of the language selected by the operation means by the language selection operation from the multiple language recovery images.

  In the present invention, the recovery image of a plurality of languages is stored in advance in the storage means of the information processing apparatus. When any language is selected, software installation is performed using the recovery image of the selected language. Done. For example, the software is installed in the first area of the storage unit using the recovery image of the selected language. The recovery image of the selected language is stored in the second area of the storage means. In addition, recovery images of different languages are stored in advance in the third area of the storage means, the language is selected, and the recovery image of the selected language is stored in the second area. Sometimes the recovery image in the third area is deleted.

  Further, when the language is selected, the lock information specific to the selected language is registered in the information processing apparatus using the lock information setting tool stored in advance in the storage means, and the registered lock Installation of software using a recovery image in a language different from the language indicated by the information is prohibited. Further, the lock information setting tool is deleted after the lock information is registered.

  According to the present invention, any language is selected from a plurality of language recovery images stored in advance in the storage means of the information processing apparatus, and software is installed using the selected language recovery image. Is called. For this reason, it is possible to install software in a desired language without attaching a computer-readable medium recording a recovery image in a plurality of languages to the information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus can be provided at low cost. In addition, since it is not necessary to read the recovery image from the computer-readable medium, the time required for software installation can be shortened.

  Also, software is installed in the first area different from the area where the recovery image of the storage means is stored, using the recovery image of the selected language. Since the areas are divided in this way, the recovery process can be easily performed in units of areas when the installed software is recovered after the software is installed.

  In addition, since the recovery image of the selected language is stored in a second area different from the first area, for example, by setting the second area as a hidden area, recovery processing of installed software is performed. It is possible to protect the recovery image used when performing the process. Further, since the multiple language recovery images are stored in advance in a third area different from the first and second areas of the storage means, an area in which the multiple language recovery images are stored after the language is selected. By simply initializing, recovery images in other languages that are no longer needed can be easily deleted.

  The first area stores software of the first language in advance, and the second area stores a recovery image of the first language in advance. Here, only when the selected language is not the first language, the recovery image of the first language stored in the second area is recovered to the selected language stored in the third area.・ Updated to image. Software is installed in the first area by using the recovery image stored in the updated second area. For this reason, if the most frequently used language is set to the first language, the chances of installing software using a recovery image of another language can be reduced.

  Further, when any language is selected, the recovery image of the language not selected is deleted from the storage unit, so that the storage unit can be used effectively.

  When any language is selected, software installation using a recovery image of another language is prohibited thereafter. For example, using the lock information setting tool stored in advance in the storage means, the lock information specific to the selected language is registered in the information processing apparatus, and a language different from the language indicated by the registered lock information is registered. Software installation using the recovery image is prohibited. For this reason, for example, when use is permitted only in a selected language by a license agreement such as an operating system, the contents of the contract can be reliably observed.

  Furthermore, since the lock information setting tool is deleted from the storage means after registering the lock information, it is possible to increase the difficulty of rewriting the lock information, and further ensure that the software recovery process is performed in a different language. Can be prevented.

  Further, after the software is installed using the recovery image of the selected language, the first area where the software is installed is set as a bootable area, so that the information processing apparatus is automatically set in the desired language. Can be operated.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information processing apparatus. A memory unit 12, a hard disk drive (HDD) 13, a display unit 14, an input / output interface 15, an operation unit 16, and a control unit 17 are connected to the bus 11 of the information processing apparatus 10.

  The memory unit 12 is a BIOS (Basic Program) which is a control program for setting and controlling operations of the hard disk drive 13, the display unit 14, an external device connected via the input / output interface 15, and the operation unit 16. (Input / Output System) is memorized. The memory unit 12 is used as a work area for performing various processes.

  The hard disk drive 13 stores, for example, an operating system, various application programs, data used when executing the application programs, various tools, and the like as software. Further, the hard disk drive 13 stores in advance a recovery image used for software installation in a plurality of languages.

  The display unit 14 is configured using a liquid crystal display element, an organic EL (electroluminescence) element, a plasma display, a cathode ray tube, a field emission display, and the like, and displays according to executed software and operation setting display of the information processing apparatus. Etc.

  The input / output interface 15 is an interface for connecting a device that performs recording and reproduction to an external device such as an optical disk or a memory card, and controls the operation of the external device by a control unit 17 described later. It is possible to read a signal recorded on a computer readable medium and write a signal to a computer readable medium.

  The operation unit 16 is configured by a user interface such as a keyboard or a pointing device, for example, and generates an operation signal corresponding to the user operation and supplies the operation signal to the control unit 17.

  The control unit 17 is configured using a CPU (Central Processing Unit), reads the BIOS stored in the memory unit 12, and starts control of each unit. Further, the operating system is read from the hard disk drive 13 so that various application programs can be used. Furthermore, a desired application program is started based on an operation signal from the operation unit 16 to perform various signal processing and the like. In addition, signals are written to and read from the computer-readable medium.

  Here, when the control unit 17 determines that an operation for installing software of a desired language has been performed based on an operation signal from the operation unit 16, the control unit 17 reads and executes the installation language selection tool from the hard disk drive 13. Install the software.

  FIG. 2 illustrates the data storage state of the hard disk drive 13. The partition area PTa, which is the second area, stores a start program PGS and an install language selection tool TLa read by the start program PGS. Further, for example, a recovery image DIM-1 in the first language is stored. The activation program PGS is a program for starting software installation. The installation language selection tool TLa is a program for installing software in the language selected by the user. The first language recovery image DIM-1 is a recovery image generated based on the basic program, common application, patch, tool, etc. of the first language operating system. The partition area PTb, which is the first area, stores software SF-1 installed using the recovery image DIM-1 in the first language. Further, the partition area PTc, which is the third area, stores recovery images in a language different from the first language, for example, recovery images DIM-2 and DIM-3 in the second language and the third language. Has been. The partition area PTc stores a common tool group TLM independent of language, and the common tool group TLM is provided with a lock information setting tool TLk. The lock information setting tool TLk is a program for registering in the information processing apparatus 10 lock information specific to the language used to fix the language used in the information processing apparatus 10.

  Next, the operation of the information processing apparatus will be described. In the information processing apparatus 10, the partition area PTa of the hard disk drive 13 is first set as an active area that can be activated, and the control unit 17 reads the activation program PGS stored in the partition area PTa. Are executed, the installation language selection tool TLa can be used, and software installation processing is performed using the installation language selection tool TLa.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a software installation operation. In step ST1, the control unit 17 determines whether or not the language of the information processing apparatus 10 has been selected. Whether or not the language has been selected is determined based on, for example, whether or not language-specific lock information is registered in the information processing apparatus 10. That is, as will be described later, when language selection is performed based on an operation signal from the operation unit 16, information specific to the selected language is stored in, for example, a nonvolatile memory of the memory unit 12, and Lock information is obtained by prohibiting a user's rewrite operation. Here, when the lock information is not stored, the process proceeds to step ST2 because it is in the language selection mode, and when the lock information is stored, the process proceeds to step ST9 because it is in the normal recovery mode.

  In step ST <b> 2, the control unit 17 displays a language selection menu display on the display unit 14 for allowing the user to select which language to use from a plurality of languages of the recovery image stored in advance in the hard disk drive 13. The display proceeds to step ST3.

  In step ST3, when a language operation for selecting one of a plurality of displayed languages is performed by the operation unit 16, the control unit 17 selects the language selected based on the operation signal from the operation unit 16 in step ST4. And the selected language-specific information is registered in the information processing apparatus 10 as lock information. In the registration of the lock information, by using the lock information setting tool TLk, for example, information specific to the selected language is stored in the non-volatile memory of the memory unit 12, and the user's rewriting operation on this information is prohibited. The selected language-specific information may be stored in the hard disk drive 13 so as not to be rewritten by the user.

  In step ST5, the control unit 17 determines whether or not the language selected in step ST3 is a first language in which software is installed in advance. If the selected language is not equal to the first language, the process proceeds to step ST6. If the selected language is equal, the process proceeds to step ST7.

  In step ST6, the control unit 17 updates the recovery image stored in the partition area PTa to the recovery image of the selected language, and proceeds to step ST7. That is, the recovery image of the first language stored in the partition area PTa is replaced with the recovery image of the selected language stored in the partition area PTc, and the recovery image of the selected language is partitioned. It is stored in the area PTa.

  In step ST7, the control unit 17 initializes the partition area PTc in which the recovery image of the language not selected is recorded. By performing the initialization in this way, the storage area of the recovery image that is no longer used is released to the user, and the area of the hard disk drive 13 can be used effectively. In addition, when software is installed using a recovery image, even if data to be written to the partition area PTc is included, the data can be correctly written to the partition area PTc. Further, since the lock information setting tool TLk is also deleted, it is difficult to rewrite the lock information, and it is possible to more reliably prevent the lock information from being rewritten by the user and performing software recovery processing in a different language. .

  In step ST8, the control unit 17 determines whether or not the selected language is the first language. If the selected language is not the first language, the process proceeds to step ST11. If the selected language is the selected language, the process proceeds to step ST12.

  Further, when the lock information is registered by the operation in the language selection mode, the registration of the lock information determines that the normal recovery mode is thereafter performed in step ST1, and the process proceeds to step ST9. In step ST9, the control unit 17 causes the display unit 14 to display a recovery menu display for allowing the user to select what kind of recovery processing is to be performed in the selected language, and then proceeds to step ST10. For example, a recovery mode for recovering only the partition area PTb, a recovery mode for recovering the partition areas PTb and PTc by changing the area size of the partition areas PTb and PTc, and returning the area sizes of the partition areas PTb and PTc to the initial state It is displayed that either of the recovery modes for recovering the partition areas PTb and PTc can be selected, and the process proceeds to step ST10.

  In step ST10, when a recovery mode selection operation for selecting one of the recovery modes from the displayed recovery menu display is performed by the operation unit 16, the control unit 17 performs the recovery process in the set recovery mode in step ST11. The software is installed in the partition area PTb or the partition area PTb and the partition area PTc using the recovery image stored in the partition area PTa. For example, when the partition area PTa is not set as the active area, the partition area PTa is set as the active area, the information processing apparatus 10 is restarted, the recovery image stored in the partition area PTa is read, and the software is installed. I do. When a change in the area size of the partition areas PTb and PTc is requested, the software is installed after the area size is changed.

  Further, when the process proceeds from step ST8 to step ST11, the recovery process is performed in the same manner, and using the recovery image of the selected language stored in the partition area PTa, the partition area PTb or the partition area PTb and the partition area Install software on PTc.

  In step ST12, since the software of the desired language is installed in the partition area PTb, the control unit 17 switches the bootable partition area and changes the active area from the partition area PTa to the partition area PTb. Change to As described above, by setting the partition area PTb where the software is installed as an active area, the information processing apparatus 10 can be automatically operated in a desired language after the information processing apparatus 10 is restarted. In addition, the control unit 17 stores the installation language selection tool TLa and the recovery image of the selected language so that the installation language selection tool TLa and the recovery image of the selected language are not deleted or rewritten. The partition area PTa is set as a hidden area, and the process proceeds to step ST13.

  In step ST <b> 13, the control unit 17 restarts the information processing apparatus 10 to execute software installed in the partition area PTb that is an active area, and starts various processes.

  In the above-described embodiment, the recovery image DIM-1 in the first language is stored in the partition area PTa, and the software SF-1 in the first language is preinstalled in the partition area PTb. Therefore, if the frequently used language is the first language, the chances of installing software using a recovery image of another language can be reduced.

  Further, a recovery image of each language is stored in the partition area PTc, and when a language is selected, the recovery image of the selected language is copied to the partition area PTa, and the recovery of the selected language is performed. -It is good also as what installs software in partition area | region PTb using an image. In this case, it is not necessary to install in advance the first software in the partition area PTb that becomes unnecessary when a language different from the first language is selected.

  As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to install software in a desired language without attaching a computer-readable medium in which a recovery image of a plurality of languages is recorded to the information processing apparatus. An information processing apparatus can be provided at a low cost. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to read the recovery image from the computer readable medium, the time required for installing the software can be shortened as compared with the case where the computer readable medium is used.

  If any language is selected, then installation of software using a recovery image of another language is prohibited using the lock information specific to the selected language. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the software recovery process from being performed in a different language. For example, when use is permitted only in a selected language by a license agreement such as an operating system, A system that can comply with the contract contents can be constructed.

  In addition, since the area where the recovery image of the selected language is stored and the area where the software is installed are separated, the recovery process is performed when the installed software is recovered after the software is installed. Since the recovery process can be performed by reading the recovery image from the partition area PTa in which the image is stored and developing it in the partition area PTb where the software is installed, the recovery process is facilitated. Furthermore, the recovery image can be easily protected simply by making the area where the recovery image is stored a hidden area.

  In addition, the area where recovery images for different languages are stored is also divided, so simply by initializing the area where the recovery images for multiple languages are stored, recovery images for other languages that are no longer needed can be stored. Can be easily deleted.

  As described above, the present invention is useful when operating an information processing apparatus in a desired language, and is applied to installation of software commonly used in information processing apparatuses such as an operating system and a common application.

It is a figure which shows the structure of information processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the data storage state of a hard disk drive. It is a flowchart which shows the installation operation | movement of software.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Information processing apparatus, 11 ... Bus, 12 ... Memory part, 13 ... Hard disk drive (HDD), 14 ... Display part, 15 ... Input / output interface, 16 ... Operation part, 17 ... Control part

Claims (20)

A language selection step of selecting any language from a plurality of language recovery images stored in advance in the storage means of the information processing apparatus;
A software installation method comprising: an installation step of installing software using a recovery image of the language selected in the language selection step. In the installation step, software is installed in the first area different from the area where the recovery image of the storage means is stored, using the recovery image of the selected language. The software installation method according to claim 1. 3. The software installation method according to claim 2, wherein in the installation step, the recovery image of the language selected in the language selection step is stored in a second area different from the first area. 4. The software installation method according to claim 3, wherein the multiple language recovery images are stored in advance in a third area different from the first and second areas of the storage means. In the first area, software in the first language is stored in advance, and in the second area, a recovery image in the first language is stored in advance.
In the installation step, only when the language selected in the language selection step is not the first language, the recovery image of the first language stored in the second region is stored in the third region. Updating the stored recovery image of the selected language, and installing software in the first area using the updated recovery image stored in the second area The software installation method according to claim 4. The installation step includes a recovery image deletion step of deleting a recovery image of an unselected language from the storage unit when any language is selected in the language selection step. The software installation method according to 1. The installation step includes a language fixing step of prohibiting software installation using the recovery image in another language after any language is selected in the language selection step. Item 2. The software installation method according to Item 1. The language fixing step uses the lock information setting tool stored in advance in the storage unit to register the lock information specific to the selected language in the information processing apparatus, thereby using the registered lock information. 8. The software installation method according to claim 7, wherein installation of software using the recovery image in a language different from the displayed language is prohibited. 9. The software installation method according to claim 8, wherein in the language fixing step, the lock information setting tool is deleted from the storage means after the lock information is registered. 3. The software installation method according to claim 2, wherein, in the installation step, after the software is installed using the recovery image of the selected language, the first area is set as a bootable area. Storage means for storing recovery images and software;
An operation means for generating an operation signal corresponding to the language selection operation;
Based on the operation signal, software is installed in the storage unit using a recovery image in a language selected by the operation unit by the language selection operation from a plurality of language recovery images stored in the storage unit in advance. And an information processing apparatus. The control means installs software using the recovery image of the selected language in a first area different from the area where the recovery image of the storage means is stored. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the control unit stores a recovery image of a language selected by the language selection operation in a second area different from the first area. 14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the storage unit stores the multiple language recovery images in a third area different from the first and second areas. The storage means stores software in a first language in the first area in advance, and stores a recovery image in the first language in the second area in advance,
The control means stores the recovery image of the first language stored in the second area in the third area only when the language selected by the language selection operation is not the first language. Updating the stored recovery image of the selected language, and installing software in the first area using the updated recovery image stored in the second area The information processing apparatus according to claim 14. 12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein when one of the languages is selected by the language selection operation, the control unit deletes a recovery image of an unselected language from the storage unit. 12. The information according to claim 11, wherein when one of the languages is selected by the language selection operation, the control unit prohibits installation of software using the recovery image of another language after that. Processing equipment. The control means uses the lock information setting tool stored in the storage means in advance to register the selected language-specific lock information in the information processing apparatus, thereby indicating the registered lock information. 18. The information processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein installation of software using the recovery image in a language different from a language to be used is prohibited. 19. The information processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the control unit deletes the lock information setting tool from the storage unit after the lock information is registered. 13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the control unit sets the first area as a bootable area after software installation using the recovery image of the selected language.

Images