JP2006189973A - Electronic apparatus and program update method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate countermeasures against an interrupted update operation. <P>SOLUTION: For a program update in an electronic apparatus where firmware programs set functions that the apparatus can implement, an update program acquired by the apparatus is once saved in a nonvolatile memory 62, and the update program saved in the nonvolatile memory 62 is read out to update the firmware program stored in a memory 51. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention uses, for example, a recordable DVD (Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc) or the like as a recording medium, and an electronic apparatus suitable for application to a video camera recorder or the like that records a moving image or the like on the recording medium. It relates to the program update method.

  In recent years, various video recording / reproducing apparatuses using a large capacity disk recording medium such as a DVD as a recording medium have been developed. Various disc recording / playback apparatuses (so-called video camera recorders) integrated with a video camera have been commercialized.

  There are various types of media that can be recorded (reproduced) handled by such a video recording / reproducing apparatus. There are various types of recording formats for video data and audio data, and there are many cases where a single recording / reproducing apparatus can support a plurality of formats.

  However, new types of media and recording formats may be developed in the future, and video recording / playback is necessary in order to be able to support new types of media and recording formats with already released products. An update process for updating software as firmware set to operate the apparatus is necessary.

  For example, if the manufacturer collects the corresponding device and connects it to a dedicated update terminal prepared in the factory or service center, the software update can be performed at a relatively high level. However, it is troublesome for the user to bring the device to the service center for software update, and it cannot be said that the update process is very efficient.

For this reason, in a device that is relatively easy to connect to a network such as the Internet, such as a peripheral device connected to a computer device or a mobile phone terminal, the update data is received by the device and received. The software is updated with the updated data. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes a firmware update process in a peripheral device for a computer device.
JP 2001-51844 A

  By the way, in this type of electronic device, if the update operation is interrupted for some reason while updating the firmware program, the firmware program remains in the device in an incomplete state. It will be. For example, if the power switch of the device is erroneously operated during the update operation, and the device is turned off, the update operation is interrupted at that time.

  Because of this, if the firmware program in the device's memory becomes incomplete, the device control program is incomplete, so that the device cannot be used and the update work must be restarted. It itself becomes impossible. Therefore, when such a situation occurs, it is eventually necessary to bring the device to the manufacturer's service center for repair. Specifically, for example, in the case of the video camera recorder described above, the update program is recorded on a disc that can be attached to the recorder and distributed to the user, so that the disc on which the program is recorded is attached to the recorder. Now you can update. However, if the power is turned off during the update of the program that controls the functions related to disc playback, there is a possibility that disc playback control cannot be performed. In such a case, the update operation is executed again. Even so, the program cannot be read from the disk, and it becomes impossible to update.

  That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, the video camera recorder includes a camera block 1 that performs an imaging process, and a recording / playback block 2 that records and plays back a video signal obtained by the camera block 1 on a disk or the like. Assume that the respective blocks 1 and 2 are controlled by individual control units 3 and 4. At this time, the firmware programs 5 and 6 are also prepared individually by the control units 3 and 4. In the case of such a configuration, for example, while the recording / playback block 2 reads the update program recorded on the disk and updates the firmware program 6 that controls the operation of the recording / playback block 2. If the update fails, the disc cannot be recorded or played, the device cannot be used, and the disc cannot be played, so the update program itself cannot be played. It will also be impossible to complete the update process correctly.

  In the above description, the case of updating the software has been described by taking the video camera recorder as an example. However, the same problem occurs when updating various electronic devices in which other firmwareized software is incorporated. is there.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object thereof is to make it easy to cope with a case where an update operation is interrupted.

  In the present invention, when updating a program of an electronic device in which a function that can be realized by the device is set by a firmware program, the update program acquired by the device is temporarily stored in a nonvolatile memory, and the nonvolatile memory The update program stored in is read out, and the firmware program is updated.

  By doing so, the update process can be performed in a state where the update program is stored in the nonvolatile memory.

  According to the present invention, the update process can be performed in a state where the update program is stored in the nonvolatile memory, and even if there is any trouble during the update, the update stored in the nonvolatile memory can be performed. It is possible to take measures such as performing update processing again by using the program for the user.

  In this case, the firmware program includes at least a first firmware program and a second firmware program, and the second firmware program is stored in a storage area set in a nonvolatile memory that stores the first firmware program. The update program for the program is stored, the update program for the second firmware program stored in the storage area is read, and the second program stored in the non-volatile memory storing the second firmware program is stored. By performing the update process for the two firmware programs, at least one of the two firmware programs can be reliably updated using the non-volatile memory for storing the two programs.

  The update program is obtained by reading from a predetermined storage medium, and the second firmware program is a program that controls reading of the predetermined storage medium. Even when the storage medium cannot be read, the update can be re-executed using the update program stored in the nonvolatile memory.

  Also, when the electronic device is started up, the firmware program is checked, and if the firmware program is determined to be incorrect based on the check result, the update program stored in the non-volatile memory is read and the firmware By performing the program update process, even if the firmware update is interrupted in an incomplete state, the device can be updated correctly by simply restarting the device.

  Furthermore, the update program is a program received or input from the outside and stored in a predetermined storage medium in the device, so that the update based on the update program received or input from the outside can be performed satisfactorily. Become.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In this example, as an example of an electronic device incorporating firmwareized software, it is applied to a video camera recorder. First, the configuration of the video camera recorder of this example will be described with reference to FIG. The video camera recorder 100 of this example is a video recording / reproducing apparatus that uses a disc recording medium called DVD as a recording (storage) medium, and has a camera unit 10 that performs imaging, and recording / reproduction that performs recording and reproduction on a disc. Part 20.

  The camera unit 10 includes an optical system 11 including a lens, an imager unit 12 that converts image light imaged by the optical system 11 into an electric signal, and an imaging signal obtained by the imager unit 12 in a predetermined format. And an image pickup processing unit 13 for digital video data. In addition, the microphone 14 and the voice processing unit 15 are provided, and the voice signal picked up by the microphone 14 is processed into digital audio data by the voice processing unit 15. The video and audio processing operations in the camera unit 10 are executed by control based on a command from the control unit 30. That is, imaging and audio capture are controlled by a command from the human interface control unit 32 in the control unit 30, and a video and audio processing state is set by a command from the signal system control unit 33. Video data may be captured as moving image data or still image data, and the processing state is different for each.

  The digital video data and digital audio data output from the camera unit 10 are supplied to the encoding / decoding unit 21 in the recording / reproducing unit 20 and encoded for recording. For example, when recording a moving image, video data and audio data are encoded by the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) 2 system. When video data is recorded as a still image, it is encoded by the JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) method. The encoded data is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 24 connected to the encoding / decoding unit 21 until recording on the disk.

  The encoded data stored in the buffer memory 24 is read out to the disk recording / reproducing unit 22 at the timing of recording, and processing for recording on the disk 23 is performed. The data is recorded on the disk 23 by the irradiation of the laser beam. The data recorded on the disk 23 is read by the disk recording / playback unit 22 and sent to the encoding / decoding unit 21 to be decoded from the MPEG2 system, and the decoded video data and audio are decoded. Data is sent to the input / output processing unit 25 and output from the terminal unit 26 to the outside. Processing operations of recording and reproduction in the recording / reproducing unit 20 are executed by control based on a command from the control unit 30. That is, recording and reproduction on the disc are executed under the control of the disc control unit 31 in the control unit 30.

  The terminal unit 26 includes a terminal for inputting and outputting as digital data in addition to a terminal for inputting and outputting as an analog video signal and audio signal. Examples of terminals for digital data include IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 1394 standard terminal (port), USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard terminal (port), etc. Video data and audio data can be exchanged with video equipment and computer devices equipped with the. The video camera recorder may receive various data by connecting to an information processing device such as a computer device. As data to be received, for example, there is a program for updating a program in the video camera recorder. When data is received, the data is sent from the input / output processing unit 25 to the control unit 30 side.

  The configuration of the control unit 30 includes a disk control unit 31, a human interface control unit 32, a signal system control unit 33, and a display control unit 34, each of which is constituted by a microcomputer that performs control operations. The human interface control unit 32 is supplied with operation input data from the operation input unit 41 such as an operation key or a touch panel, and controls the operation state of each unit of the video camera recorder to a corresponding state based on the operation input. The human interface controller 32 controls the lighting of the pilot lamp 42 composed of a light emitting diode or the like. The pilot lamp 42 is used as a recording lamp indicating that recording is in progress, but in this example, a program to be described later is also turned on when updating.

  The signal system control unit 33 performs control for setting a signal processing path in the camera unit 10 and the recording / reproducing unit 20. The display control unit 34 controls display on the display unit 43 provided for monitoring by the device based on a command from the human interface control unit 32. The display unit 43 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display panel, and displays captured images and reproduced images as images. In addition, various messages and the like are displayed as OSD (On Screen Display) as characters and graphics in the image under the control of the display control unit 34 based on a command from the human interface control unit 32. Character and graphic data necessary for OSD display is prepared in advance in a memory (not shown) provided in the display control unit 34. Characters, graphics, and the display screen of the display unit 43 of this example are configured as a touch panel, and the displayed functions can be operated by the user touching the display screen of the display unit 43.

  Connected to the disk control unit 31 is a flash memory 51 in which a program for performing a control operation in the disk control unit 31 is stored. Functions that can be controlled by the disk control unit 31 are determined by the program stored in the flash memory 51.

  The human interface control unit 32 includes an SDRAM 61 for temporarily accumulating data for processing in the human interface control unit 32 and the like, and a flash memory 62 in which a program for performing a control operation in the human interface control unit 32 is stored. And an EEPROM 63 in which setting data and the like are stored. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the flash memory 62 stores a program (program A) for loading a program and a program (program B) constituting software that actually functions as firmware. . Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the flash memory 62 of this example has a storage area for update data. The EEPROM 63 has a storage area for destination data. The usage of these storage areas will be described later.

  As for the program stored in the flash memory 62, the program B is executed in a normal operation state, and the load program A is activated when the firmware program is updated. The flash memories 51 and 62 and the EEPROM 63 connected to the control units 31 and 32 are non-volatile storage means in which stored data is not lost even when power is not supplied, and data is controlled by the control of the control units 31 and 32. Can be rewritten. However, the destination data stored in the destination data storage area is restricted so that it cannot be rewritten.

  In addition, the control unit 30 of this example includes a memory card interface unit 35 and is configured to be able to transfer data to and from the memory card 44 mounted in the card slot of the video camera recorder and each unit in the recorder. The memory card 44 can store captured still image data, for example.

  In the video camera recorder 100 of this example configured as described above, a firmware program is stored in advance in the flash memories 51 and 62 connected to the disk control unit 31 and the human interface control unit 32 at the time of product shipment. . The EEPROM 63 connected to the human interface control unit 32 stores setting data for determining the execution state of the program processing depending on the destination of the device 100 (which country or region is the product for). For the device 100, the language of the character displayed on the display unit 43 when the device is operated is set to correspond. The firmware program itself stored in the flash memories 51 and 62 is the same for any destination. In the case of this example, the destination data itself is set so that the destination determined by the manufacturer at the time of product shipment cannot be changed by a user operation.

  The firmware program stored in the flash memories 51 and 62 connected to the disk control unit 31 and the human interface control unit 32 can be modified by an update program input (received) to the device.

  Next, a process for updating the firmware program will be described. FIG. 2 is a configuration example for downloading a corresponding update program by the video camera recorder 100 when the firmware program is updated. As shown in FIG. 2, for example, a video camera recorder 100 is connected to a personal computer device 200 prepared on the user side. As the connection at this time, for example, any one of the terminal portions 26 prepared in the video camera recorder 100 (for example, a USB terminal) is used. In addition, a disk 23 capable of recording data is loaded in the disk loading section of the video camera recorder 100. Then, the computer apparatus 200 to which the video camera recorder 100 is connected accesses the server 300 that provides the update program via the Internet 400 and causes the computer apparatus 200 to download the corresponding update program.

  The update program downloaded to the computer device 200 is input to the video camera recorder 100 by an operation for inputting update data of the video camera recorder 100 (for example, an operation using a menu screen). In this example, the update data input to the video camera recorder 100 is recorded (stored) in the disk 23 under the control of the disk control unit 31. That is, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, for example, when the human interface control unit 32 detects the input of update data from the update data terminal unit 26 (step S <b> 11), the human interface control unit 32 to the disk control unit 31. Then, a command for recording (writing) the inputted data onto the disk is sent to record on the disk (step S12).

  When the recording of the update data onto the disk 23 is completed, the update process is subsequently executed by the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. In the example of FIG. 2, the update data is downloaded via the network. For example, the manufacturer of the video camera recorder 100 distributes the disk on which the update data is recorded to the user. The disk may be mounted to start the update.

  The update process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5. First, when the disk control unit 31 confirms that update data is recorded on the loaded disk 23, the update data is recorded. Update data is read from the disk 23 to the SDRAM 61 connected to the human interface controller (HI controller) 32 (step S21). In the case of this example, a program for updating the firmware for the human interface control unit, a program for updating the firmware for the disk control unit, and new setting data necessary for executing the updated program, It is read from the disk 23 and transferred to the SDRAM 61.

  Thereafter, the update program of the firmware for the disk control unit out of the update program read out to the SDRAM 61 is stored in the update data storage area (FIG. 3) of the flash memory 62 connected to the human interface control unit 32. (Step S22). Since the flash memory 62 is a non-volatile storage means, data is protected even if the power is cut off during the update operation.

  Next, the program (program B in FIG. 3) stored in the flash memory 62 is updated using the update program for the firmware for the human interface controller in the update program read out to the SDRAM 61 (step B). S23). At the time of the update, the load program (program A in FIG. 3) stored in the same flash memory 62 is executed to update the firmware program. At this time, the setting data is also transferred from the SDRAM 61 to the EEPROM 63 and updated. However, with respect to the setting data, only the destination data set for this device is transferred to the EEPROM 63.

  Next, the disk control unit firmware update program stored in the flash memory 62 in step S22 is read out and sent to the disk control unit 31, and the flash connected to the disk control unit 31 using the update program. The firmware program stored in the memory 51 is updated (step S24). The update work shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is a work that requires a relatively long time, for example, a time of about several minutes. Instead of the update program stored in the flash memory 62, the disk control unit firmware update program stored in the SDRAM 61 may be sent to the disk control unit 31 for update processing. The update program stored in the flash memory 62 may be deleted after the update process is completed.

  FIG. 6 shows the data flow during such an update process (the number of steps in FIG. 6 is the same as the flowchart in FIG. 5). The data read from the disk to the SDRAM 61 in step S21 is for human interface control. There are an update program, an update program for disk control, and setting data. Of the data read to the SDRAM 61, the disk control update program is transferred to and stored in the flash memory 62 on the human interface control unit side in step S22, and is stored in the flash memory 62 in step S24. The program stored in the flash memory 51 on the disk control unit 31 side is updated using the stored data. The program for operating the human interface control unit 32 is updated using the data stored in the SDRAM 61 in step S23.

  In this way, the firmware program of the video camera recorder of the present example is updated. For example, by restarting the device, the program can be used under the control of the updated firmware.

  By the way, in the case of this example, even when the firmware update is interrupted for some reason, the firmware update can be executed again. The flowchart of FIG. 7 is a diagram showing processing in that case.

  When the video camera recorder of this example is first turned on by a user operation or the like, the video camera recorder checks the program constituting the firmware for disk control stored in the flash memory 51 connected to the disk control unit 31 ( Step S31). In the check, it is determined whether or not the program is correct (step S32). If the program is correct, a normal startup operation is performed (step S33).

  If it is detected that the program is an incomplete program, it is determined whether or not the flash memory 62 connected to the human interface control unit 32 stores a disk control firmware update program (step S34). . In the case of this example, as described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5, the update program is stored in the flash memory 62 when the update is not completed. If it is determined in step S34 that the data is not stored, the update is impossible and, for example, an error is displayed (step S35).

  If it is determined in step S34 that the update program corresponding to the flash memory 62 is stored, the update program is read and the program constituting the firmware stored in the disk control flash memory 51 is read. Update (step S36).

  Note that if the update of the program constituting the firmware for controlling the human interface is interrupted and the program is incomplete, at least the disk control unit 31 operates correctly at this stage. Therefore, it is possible to read the update data for controlling the human interface from the disk 23 again, and the update may be performed with the read data.

  By updating the firmware program of the video camera recorder 100 in this way, even if there is a problem such as a power-off operation or a power cord being disconnected during the update, The update operation can be performed again using the data stored in the flash memory, which is a non-volatile storage means, and it is possible to prevent the update from being stopped midway and the device from becoming unusable.

  In particular, in the case of this example, the firmware update program is downloaded from the outside and recorded (stored) on the disk, and then the firmware update operation is performed by reading from the disk, but the reading from the disk is controlled. Since only the update program that updates the firmware to be stored is stored in the flash memory, at least the disk can be played back. If the disk can be played, other update programs can be downloaded from the disk. It can be read again and updated, and the update can be completed correctly.

  In the embodiment described so far, the case of updating the firmware of the video camera recorder has been described. However, if the device can update the firmware program, it can be applied to update the firmware program of other electronic devices. Also good. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the update program is once recorded on the disc mounted on the video camera recorder, and then the recorded program is read and updated. You may make it download directly from the outside to internal memory. Alternatively, another storage medium (recording medium) such as a memory card may be used for storing the update program.

  In addition, the configuration of the control unit illustrated in FIG. 1 in the above-described embodiment is an example, and can be applied to devices having other control configurations. As for the configuration of each storage means such as a flash memory, the storage area of one storage means is used separately for each control means instead of physically preparing individual storage means for each control means. The configuration may be substantially the same as that of FIG.

It is a block diagram which shows the example of the electronic device (video camera) by one embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the download state of the data by one embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the data writing structural example of the flash memory by one embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed the example of a download process by one embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed the example of an update process by one embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which showed the flow of the data at the time of the update by one embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed the example of a process at the time of re-execution of the update by one embodiment of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed the conventional apparatus structure.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Camera part, 11 ... Optical system, 12 ... Imager part, 13 ... Imaging process part, 14 ... Microphone, 15 ... Audio | voice processing part, 20 ... Recording / reproducing part, 21 ... Encoding / decoding part, 22 ... Disc recording Playback unit, 23... Disk, 24... Buffer memory, 25 .. input / output processing unit, 26... Terminal unit, 30... Control unit, 31. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS Display control part 35 ... Memory card interface part 41 ... Operation input part 42 ... Pilot lamp 43 ... Display part 44 ... Memory card 51 ... Flash memory 61 ... SDRAM 62 ... Flash memory 63 ... EEPROM , 100 ... Video camera recorder, 200 ... Personal computer device, 300 ... Server, 400 ... Internet

Claims (10)

In an electronic device program update method in which functions that can be realized by the firmware program are set,
Once the update program acquired by the device is saved in a non-volatile memory,
A program update method for an electronic device, comprising: reading an update program stored in the non-volatile memory and performing an update process of the firmware program. In the electronic device program update method according to claim 1,
The firmware program includes at least a first firmware program and a second firmware program,
An update program for the second firmware program is stored in a storage area set in a non-volatile memory for storing the first firmware program;
Reading the update program for the second firmware program stored in the storage area and updating the second firmware program stored in the nonvolatile memory storing the second firmware program An electronic device program update method. In the electronic device program update method according to claim 2,
The update program is obtained by reading from a predetermined storage medium,
The electronic firmware program update method, wherein the second firmware program is a program for controlling reading of the predetermined storage medium. In the electronic device program update method according to claim 1,
When starting up the electronic device, check the firmware program,
A program update for an electronic device, wherein if the firmware program is determined to be incorrect from the check result, the firmware program is updated by reading the update program stored in the nonvolatile memory Method. In the electronic device program update method according to claim 1,
A program update method for an electronic device, wherein the update program is a program received or input from outside and stored in a predetermined storage medium in the device. In an electronic device in which functions that can be realized by the firmware program are set,
Non-volatile first storage means for storing a firmware program and executing the program stored during device operation;
A non-volatile second storage means having at least a free space capable of storing an update program and storing an update program acquired at the time of update;
The device is controlled by the firmware program stored in the first storage means, and the firmware program stored in the first storage means is updated with the update program stored in the second storage means. And an electronic device. The electronic apparatus according to claim 6.
The firmware program includes at least a first firmware program and a second firmware program,
The first and second storage means are storage means for storing the first and second firmware programs, respectively.
An electronic device, wherein an update program for updating the first firmware program is stored in an empty area of the second storage means. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein
The first update program is obtained by reading from a predetermined storage medium,
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first firmware program is a program for controlling reading of the predetermined storage medium. The electronic apparatus according to claim 6.
The control unit checks the firmware program stored in the first storage unit when the device is activated, and determines that the firmware program is not correct based on the check result. An electronic device, wherein the update program stored in the storage means is read out, and the firmware program is updated. The electronic apparatus according to claim 6.
It has an input unit that receives or inputs data from outside,
An electronic device, wherein the update program input to the input unit is acquired by being stored in a predetermined storage medium in the device.

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