JP2006059116A - Portable terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively perform processing for starting an electronic apparatus such as a portable terminal before and after the shipment of the apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: A first program for executing functions inevitably required for the starting of the apparatus and management information of the first program are prepared and stored in a non-volatile storage means of the electronic apparatus, the first program is developed in the storage means for executing the starting processing by an instruction based on the management information stored in the non-volatile storage means to start the electronic apparatus in a state that its functions are limited. When a second program for executing functions other than the functions which can be performed by the first program is prepared and stored in the non-volatile storage means, the management information is updated so that the second program also is read out, the first and second programs are developed in the storage means for executing the starting processing on the basis of the updated management information, and the electronic apparatus is set to a startable state so as to start the electronic apparatus in a state that the functions are not limited. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device such as a mobile phone terminal, an activation method using the electronic device, and a program for performing the activation process.

  In an electronic device such as a mobile phone terminal, a startup program is stored in a nonvolatile memory included in the electronic device. Then, when a startup operation is executed by operating the power key or the like of the device, the startup program stored in the non-volatile memory is used for the work configured by the storage means such as SDRAM. Each function of the electronic device is realized by using the program developed in the storage means and developed in the working storage means.

  As a non-volatile memory in which a startup program is stored, a NOR flash memory has been often used in the past, but in recent years, a NAND flash memory tends to be used. The NAND flash memory has a structure suitable for increasing the capacity, and is suitable as a non-volatile memory for an electronic device such as a mobile phone terminal whose program scale tends to increase.

  A startup program stored in a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory is processed to be expanded in a working storage means by using a boot program called a boot loader.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133830 discloses a process for developing a program prepared for activation on a working storage unit using a boot program.
JP 11-219299 A

  By the way, electronic devices such as mobile phone terminals tend to be multifunctional, and the prepared program size tends to increase. Accordingly, there is a tendency that the capacity of the program prepared for activation is also increased, and at the time of activation, the program prepared in the NAND flash memory or the like is expanded in a working storage means such as SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM). There is a problem that is going to take time. In particular, in the case of the above-described NAND flash memory, there is a problem that it takes longer time to transfer data than the NOR flash memory, and there is a waiting time until the device can actually be used after starting the electronic device. There was a problem of prolonged time.

  Such a problem is not a problem for general users, for example, when a relatively small number of startup operations are performed, for example, once a day. For example, when an operation check is performed at the time of shipment of a mobile phone terminal at a factory, there is a problem in that the workability is reduced. For example, if it takes several seconds to start one terminal, it will take several seconds each time the operation of one device is checked, and a long waiting time is required when checking dozens of devices. End up.

  In addition, it is difficult for the terminal to perform other processing when executing a startup operation in which a relatively large-capacity program stored in a storage unit such as a NAND flash memory is expanded in the storage unit for work. For example, it has been difficult to display a startup screen on the display unit of the terminal using a program that is being developed. Therefore, conventionally, in order to display the startup screen on the display unit of the terminal, a dedicated program for displaying the startup screen is required in addition to the startup program being developed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to enable favorable processing for starting an electronic device such as a portable terminal both before and after shipment of the device.

  According to the present invention, a first program that executes a minimum function necessary for starting up an electronic device and management information of the first program are prepared and stored in a nonvolatile storage unit of the electronic device. In response to an instruction based on the management information stored in the storage device, the first program is expanded in the storage device for executing the startup process, and the electronic device is started in a state where the functions are limited, When a second program that executes functions other than those executable by the program is prepared and stored in the non-volatile storage means, the management program is updated so that the second program is also read out. Based on the updated management information, the functions of the electronic device are not limited by developing the first and second programs in the storage means for executing the activation process so that the electronic device can be activated. In it is obtained so as to start-up.

  By doing so, for example, when checking a device before shipment, only the first program and management information are stored in the nonvolatile storage means, and the first program is stored based on the management information. By deploying to the working storage means, the device is activated in a state where only the minimum necessary functions can be executed. Thereafter, when the device is shipped, the second program is stored and the management information is updated, so that all functions can be activated.

  According to the present invention, for example, when checking a device before shipment, only the first program and management information are stored in the nonvolatile storage means, and the first program is used for work based on the management information. By deploying to the storage means, the device is activated in a state where only the minimum necessary functions can be executed. Therefore, when checking the device before shipment, the amount of data to be developed in the working storage means can be reduced, and it is possible to start up quickly. When the device is shipped after the device is checked, the second program is stored and the management information is updated so that all functions can be activated. It can be used in the same way as other devices.

  In this case, the first program is a program that also executes an operation for notifying that the electronic device is being activated, so that the activation is simultaneously performed by developing the first program. , It is possible to announce that it is starting up with a small burden.

  Furthermore, the notification operation that is being activated is a display of the activation screen on the display means provided in the electronic device, so that a good notification using the activation screen can be performed.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In this example, the electronic device is applied to a mobile phone terminal.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the mobile phone terminal of this example. An antenna 11 is connected to a communication circuit 12 that performs wireless communication with a base station for a wireless telephone, etc., receives a signal in a predetermined frequency band received by the communication circuit 12, performs demodulation processing, and obtains a received packet . The obtained received packet is supplied to the audio processing unit 15, and each data in the packet such as an audio signal is extracted, subjected to output processing such as analog conversion and amplification, and output from the connected speaker 16.

  In addition, the audio signal input to the microphone 17 is supplied to the audio processing unit 15 to perform data processing to be converted into a digital signal and a packet for transmission, and the obtained transmission packet is supplied to the communication circuit 12 for transmission. And is frequency-converted to a predetermined transmission frequency and wirelessly transmitted from the connected antenna 11.

  These transmission and reception processes are configured to be executed based on control of the control unit 18 as control means for controlling the telephone function of the wireless telephone terminal. When the operation unit 14 composed of various operation means such as operation keys arranged in the radio telephone terminal is operated, a command based on the operation is supplied to the control unit 18 and the control unit 18 is instructed. To control.

  In the wireless telephone terminal of this example, the display unit 13 is prepared as a display means for displaying information such as a telephone number, a mail text, a web screen, and a communication status. The display on the display unit 13 is executed under the control of the control unit 18. Further, data transfer with the outside via the external interface unit 19 provided in the mobile phone terminal is also executed under the control of the control unit 18.

  In addition, the wireless telephone terminal of this example includes a flash memory 30 which is a non-volatile storage unit, and the flash memory 30 stores a program necessary for starting the wireless telephone terminal. Details of the startup program configuration will be described later. For example, a NAND flash memory is used as the flash memory 30.

  In addition to the flash memory 30, a RAM 20 which is a working storage means is prepared. Here, an SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM) is used as the RAM 20.

  When data is transferred and stored in the flash memory 30 from the outside, for example, the external interface unit 19 of the terminal is connected to a computer device for program correction, and the computer device side is based on an instruction from the computer device. Transfer the prepared program. At the time of transferring this program, for example, it is transferred in a predetermined data format from the computer device side to the RAM 20 in the terminal. Then, under the control of the control unit 18, an operation for converting the format of the data transferred to the RAM 20 into a data format suitable for being written in the flash memory 30 is performed. The flash memory 30 is written under control. At the time of transfer from the outside, for example, a certain voltage value is supplied to a specific line connected by the external interface unit 19 to notify the control unit 18 that data transfer is being performed, or to a specific port, The data indicating that it is writing is sent and written.

  Note that the configuration of FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which data transfer lines that mainly exchange control data are mainly connected, and the flow of signals such as transmission signals and reception signals is shown in detail in FIG. Not. Further, in the configuration shown in FIG. 1, only the basic configuration of the wireless telephone terminal is shown, but other functional units combined with the wireless telephone terminal such as a camera function and an IC card function are provided. It is good also as a structure.

  Next, a program configuration for starting the radiotelephone terminal of this example and an example of a startup process with the program configuration will be described. First, the data structure for activation stored in the flash memory 30 before the wireless telephone terminal of this example is shipped is the structure shown in FIG. That is, only the boot loader program, which is the program that the control unit first reads at startup, the information data that is management information for startup referenced by the boot loader program, and the main functions of the terminal are started. Only the main function loader program to be stored is stored. The main function loader program is a program having a relatively small amount of data. In this state, a considerable part of the data storage area for starting up the flash memory 30 has a free capacity.

  The main function loader program that activates only the main functions of the terminal is, for example, a minimized program that activates only the minimum functions necessary to activate the terminal as a wireless telephone terminal. . The main function loader of this example includes a program for performing an operation of notifying that the terminal is being activated at the time of activation. As an operation for notifying that the terminal is being activated, for example, the display unit 13 of the terminal is used to display “active” as a character, or display that shows the same thing with a graphic. Or you may make it perform various displays, such as a terminal state and an opening screen. Alternatively, the speaker 16 or the like may be notified by outputting a sound indicating that it is being activated.

  In the state where the startup program is prepared as described above, for example, if there is a key operation for turning on the power of the terminal, a startup process using the program stored in the flash memory 30 is performed, and FIG. ), The main function loader program is expanded in the RAM 20 which is a working memory, and a program for operating the main function which is the minimum function of the terminal is prepared in the RAM 20. .

  The flowchart of FIG. 4 shows an example of processing for developing the program having the configuration shown in FIG. 2A, which is a program prepared before the terminal is shipped, into the RAM 20 shown in FIG. 2B. Hereinafter, the process will be described with reference to FIG. 4. The control unit 18 determines whether or not there is an operation for starting the terminal (step S11). If it is determined that there is an operation for starting the terminal, information data, which is management information for startup referred to in the boot loader program, is determined, and an area in which the main function loader program is stored is determined. (Step S12). When the area in which the main function loader program is stored is determined, a process of developing the main function loader program in the RAM 20 is started (step S13).

  At this time, in the main function loader program, a program for displaying that the program is being activated is also set, and based on the program, the display unit 13 displays that the program is being activated. (Step S14). Thereafter, when the loading of the main function loader program into the RAM 20 is completed, this terminal activates only the main functions (the main function here is the minimum necessary function to activate the terminal) (step S15). .

  By starting up in this way, the functions started by the loader program for main functions are limited to the minimum necessary functions for starting the terminal, so that the data amount of the loader program for main functions can be reduced. The number of programs required to activate the function can be significantly reduced, and the time required for expansion into the RAM 20 can be greatly reduced.

  Then, when the check by the start-up before shipment is completed in this way and the wireless telephone terminal is shipped, the terminal is connected to the computer device for program correction, and all the functions prepared in the computer device are used. The program code is stored in the flash memory 30. At this time, as already described, the data is once transferred to the RAM 20 and the data format is converted and stored in the flash memory 30. The program code for all functions is a program code that activates the functions other than those activated by the main function loader program among all the functions of the terminal.

  FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a state in which the program code for all functions is stored in the flash memory 30 in this way. If this program code for all functions is stored, the main function loader program is left as it is, but a part of the information data, which is management information for startup, is updated, and at startup Management information for developing the main function loader program and all function program code is provided.

  In the state where the activation program is prepared in this way, for example, if there is a key operation for turning on the power of the terminal, the activation process using the program stored in the flash memory 30 is performed, and FIG. ), The main function loader program and the full function program code are expanded in the working memory RAM 20, and a program for operating all the functions of the terminal is prepared in the RAM 20. .

  The flowchart in FIG. 5 shows an example of processing for developing the program having the configuration shown in FIG. 3A, which is a program prepared after the terminal is shipped, in the RAM 20 shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the process will be described with reference to FIG. 5. The control unit 18 determines whether or not there is an operation for starting the terminal (step S21). If it is determined that there is an operation to start the terminal, information data that is management information for startup referred to by the boot loader program is determined, and the main function loader program and the program code for all functions are stored. The determined area is determined (step S22). Based on the determination, first, a process of developing the main function loader program in the RAM 20 is started (step S23).

  At this time, in the main function loader program, a program for displaying that the program is being activated is also set, and based on the program, the display unit 13 displays that the program is being activated. (Step S24). Then, when the development of the main function loader program into the RAM 20 is completed, the process of developing the program code for all functions into the RAM 20 is started (step S25). When the development of this program is completed, all the functions of this terminal are activated to be usable (step S26).

  By being activated in this way, all functions of the terminal can be activated. In this way, by changing the program configuration for activation before and after shipment of the terminal, the activation process in each case can be processed satisfactorily. For example, if the amount of program data required to start all functions is about 7 Mbytes, and the minimum amount of program data required to start up the terminal is about 30 kbytes, It took about 2.3 seconds to start up the function, but it started in a short time of less than 1 second, shortening the waiting time required for checking the terminal, and efficiently checking the terminal before shipping. It becomes like this.

  By enabling all functions to be activated at the time of shipment, when the user uses the terminal, there is no function restriction at all, so that the terminal can be used satisfactorily. In this case, when the terminal is activated, the notification process for displaying the activation screen prepared by the loader program for main functions is performed, so that it can be understood that the activation is being performed in any case.

  In the above-described embodiment, the mobile phone terminal has been described as an example. However, the same activation process may be performed by other various electronic devices.

It is the block diagram which showed the example of a structure of the terminal by one embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which showed the data expansion example (example before shipment) of the memory by one embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which showed the data expansion example (example after shipment) of the memory by one embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed the example of starting (example before shipment) by one embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed the example of starting (example after shipment) by one embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Communication circuit, 13 ... Display part, 18 ... Control part, 19 ... External interface part, 20 ... SDRAM, 30 ... Flash memory

Claims (9)

Preparing a first program for executing a minimum necessary function for starting up the electronic device and management information of the first program, and storing it in a nonvolatile storage means of the electronic device;
In response to an instruction based on the management information stored in the non-volatile storage unit, the first program is expanded to a storage unit for starting processing, and the electronic device is started in a state where the functions are limited. Let
When preparing a second program for executing functions other than the above functions and storing them in the non-volatile storage means, the management information is updated so that the second program is read,
Based on the updated management information, the first and second programs are expanded in a storage means for executing a startup process, and the electronic device can be started, so that the electronic device can function. An electronic device activation method that activates in an unrestricted state. In the electronic device starting method according to claim 1,
The electronic device activation method, which is a program that also executes an operation for notifying that the electronic device is being activated. In the electronic device starting method according to claim 2,
The electronic device activation method, wherein the operation of notifying that the device is being activated is a display of a startup screen on a display unit included in the electronic device. A first program that executes a minimum necessary function for starting up the device, and a non-volatile storage unit that stores management information of the first program;
A storage unit for work in which the first program is expanded and stored when the device is activated;
Control means for deploying the first program in the work storage means and executing a startup process with limited functions in response to an instruction based on the management information stored in the non-volatile storage means; Prepared,
The control means, when storing the second program for executing functions other than the functions in the non-volatile storage means, updates the management information so that the second program is also read out. Electronic equipment characterized by The electronic device according to claim 4,
The first program is a program that also executes an operation for notifying that the electronic device is being activated, and the corresponding notification operation is performed during development in the work storage unit under the control of the control unit. Do electronic equipment. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein
An electronic apparatus comprising: a display unit, wherein the control unit is a process of displaying a predetermined startup screen on the display unit as a notification operation of the startup based on the management information. In a program that activates an electronic device,
A first program for executing a minimum function necessary for starting the electronic device;
Management information of the first program;
A second program for executing functions other than the functions;
When the second program is prepared, it comprises update information for updating the management information so as to read both the first program and the second program,
By deploying the first program according to an instruction based on the management information in the storage means for starting processing execution, the electronic device is started in a state where the function is limited,
The electronic device is activated in a state where the function is not limited by developing the first and second programs in a storage unit for executing activation processing in accordance with an instruction based on the management information updated with the update information. program. The program according to claim 7, wherein
The first program is a program that also executes an operation for notifying that the electronic device is being activated. The program according to claim 8, wherein
The operation of notifying that the computer is being activated is a program for displaying an activation screen on a display unit included in the electronic device.

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