JP2007087142A - Software updating system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To incorporate software necessary for an information terminal even if there is a limit on the memory size. <P>SOLUTION: An information code P records OS information for downloading the OS and address information, for instance, of a server which can download the OS as connection destination information. The information terminal 4 reads the information code P optically (U1), downloads the OS indicated by the OS information recorded in the information code P (U5), and set it up so that it can be executed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a software update system for updating software incorporated in an information terminal.

An example of this type of software update system is disclosed in Patent Document 1. According to the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, a barcode is read, a predetermined server is accessed based on the read data, information necessary for downloading software is acquired, and based on the acquired information The software is downloaded by accessing a predetermined server to set up the software.
JP 2003-140903 A

However, there has been a problem that only specific software can be incorporated by the hardware installed in the information terminal. Some information terminals, for example, have an OS (Operating System) for a specific area such as domestic or overseas and set at the time of product shipment. As a result, only commonly used functions are installed in the product, and many functions that are not used are incorporated. At this time, a necessary function may not be incorporated due to the limitation of the memory size installed in the information terminal.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a software update system in which necessary software can be incorporated in an information terminal even if the memory size is limited.

  According to the software update system of the first aspect, it operates as follows. The display means of the first information terminal converts the connection destination information and software information for downloading the software into a graphic symbol image and displays it. The reading means of the second information terminal optically reads the graphic symbol image displayed on the display means of the first information terminal, and acquires connection destination information and software information. The second information terminal communicates with the server corresponding to the connection destination information by the communication means, and the software indicated by the software information is transmitted to the server based on the software information included in the graphic symbol image read by the reading means. When the download request is received and the download request is received by the server, the software is downloaded through the communication means. For this reason, software is set up in the information terminal. Therefore, even if there is a limit on the size of the memory, suitable software can be incorporated.

  According to the software update system of the second aspect, the display means of the first information terminal displays information on a plurality of functional software constituting the software, and the information on one or a plurality of functional software is selected by the selection means. Then, since the information of the selected function software is displayed as a graphic symbol image, the function software can be selected, and the storage capacity for storing the software can be small.

  According to the software update system of the third aspect, it operates as follows. The display means of the first information terminal displays connection destination information for connection to the server as a graphic symbol image. When the second information terminal determines that the software is not installed by the determination unit, the second information terminal displays the list information of the software that is not installed by the display unit, and when the selection unit selects at least one software, The communication means communicates with the server corresponding to the connection destination information included in the graphic symbol image read by the reading means, and the selected software is selectively requested to download to the server. The software can be selectively downloaded, and the software can be selectively incorporated. Even if the memory size is limited, the software necessary for the information terminal can be incorporated.

According to the software update system of claim 4, the determination means determines whether or not the software required when the power is turned on is included, so that it is quickly installed. You will be able to download the necessary software quickly.
According to the software update system of the fifth aspect, the determination means is necessary when the user needs to determine whether or not the software required when a predetermined operation is performed is incorporated. Software can be downloaded.

  According to the software update system of the sixth aspect, it operates as follows. The second information terminal optically reads the graphic symbol image displayed on the display means of the first information terminal by the reading means, and sends it to the server corresponding to the connection destination information included in the read graphic symbol image. The device information of the terminal is transmitted by the communication means, and the server transmits one or a plurality of software information corresponding to the device information received from the second information terminal to the second information terminal. The information terminal transmits the software information to the server when the software information is selected as necessary from the one or more pieces of software information received from the server, and the server receives the software received from the second information terminal. The second information terminal receives the software download request indicated by the information, and the second information terminal receives the software for which the download request is received on the server side. To downloaded, select the function corresponding to the device information of its own terminal can incorporate software can incorporate software required to the information terminal as there is memory size limit.

  According to the software update system of the seventh aspect, it operates as follows. The first information terminal sends the device information of the second information terminal input by the input means to the server through the communication network, and requests software information that can be incorporated from the server. The server accepts the request transmitted from the first information terminal, and transmits one or more pieces of software information that can be incorporated to the first information terminal. The first information terminal displays on the display means one or more pieces of software information received from the server as graphic symbol images. When the graphic symbol image displayed on the display means of the first information terminal is optically and selectively read by the reading means, the second information terminal is configured to perform software based on the software information included in the figure name symbol image. The software indicated by the information is requested to be downloaded to the server, and when the download request is accepted by the server, the software is downloaded through the communication means. Therefore, the software can be selected by selecting the function and the memory size is limited. However, the necessary software can be incorporated into the information terminal.

  According to the software update system of the eighth aspect, it operates as follows. The second information terminal includes storage means for storing the device information of the own terminal and display means for displaying the device information of the own terminal stored in the storage means as a graphic symbol image. The first information terminal includes reading means for optically reading a graphic symbol image displayed on the display means of the second information terminal. At this time, since the first information terminal optically reads the graphic symbol image displayed on the display means of the second information terminal and inputs it as device information of the input means, the input method becomes simple.

  According to the software update system of the ninth aspect, it operates as follows. The first information terminal displays information on the software incorporated in the terminal as a graphic symbol image. The second information terminal optically reads the graphic symbol image displayed on the display means of the first information terminal by the reading means, and sends software indicated by the software information included in the read graphic symbol image to the server. When the download request is made and the download request is accepted by the server, the software is downloaded through the communication means, so that the software incorporated in the first information terminal is incorporated in the second information terminal. This makes it possible to incorporate necessary software into the information terminal even if there is a limitation on the memory size.

According to the software update system of claim 10, since the display means of the first information terminal displays the graphic symbol image as a one-dimensional barcode, two-dimensional code, or icon, the information can be simplified through the graphic symbol image. And it becomes possible to transmit reliably.
As in the software update system according to the eleventh aspect, it is more preferable that the second information terminal is constituted by a portable information terminal configured to be portable by the user.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 1 schematically shows an example of a software update system. As shown in FIG. 1, a software update system 1 includes a server 2 connected to a network 3 as a communication network, and an information terminal 4 connected to the network 3 through an access point 5 (corresponding to a second information terminal). And an information terminal 6 (corresponding to a first information terminal).

  The information terminal 4 is composed mainly of a microcomputer (not shown), for example, and includes a display unit 4a as a display unit and an operation unit 4b as a selection unit (operation unit). The information terminal 4 captures an outer image by performing a predetermined operation on the operation unit 4b from the outside, and an information code P (for example, a one-dimensional barcode or a two-dimensional code ( For example, it has a function of optically reading an image (corresponding to a graphic symbol) (corresponding to a graphic symbol) (corresponding to reading means). The display unit 4a is configured by a liquid crystal display, for example. The operation unit 4b is constituted by a keyboard, for example.

  The information terminal 4 is configured to be portable. The information terminal 4 has a wireless communication function for performing wireless communication with the outside according to a predetermined wireless communication standard (for example, communication conforming to the IEEE 802.11x standard), and is configured to be able to communicate with the access point 5. Since the access point 5 is connected to the network 3, the information terminal 4 is configured to be able to communicate with the server 2.

  The information terminal 6 includes a display unit 6a as a display unit for displaying the information code P and the like, and an operation unit 6b as a selection unit. The information terminal 6 is configured to realize various functions as an information terminal by operating the operation unit 6b from the outside. Specifically, the information terminal 6 has substantially the same function as that of the information terminal 4, and thus the function description is omitted. The information terminal 6 can also be connected to the network 3 through the access point 5 or other access points, but the information terminals 4 and 6 cannot directly communicate with each other over the network.

The above operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b).
FIG. 2A shows an example in which the information terminal optically reads the information code displayed on the information terminal. As shown in FIG. 2A, the information code P is displayed on the display unit 6 a of the information terminal 6. The information terminal 4 optically reads the information code P displayed on the display unit 6 a of the information terminal 6.

  In this information code P, connection destination information indicating the connection destination address of the server 2 and OS (corresponding to software) information (corresponding to software information) indicating the OS (Operation System) file name and the like are recorded. . The information terminal 6 displays this information code P on the display unit 6a.

FIG. 2B schematically shows the operation of the software update system.
As shown in FIG. 2B, the information terminal 4 optically reads the information code P to read connection destination information and OS information recorded in the information code P (step U1). Next, the information terminal 4 establishes communication connection with the server 2 indicated by the connection destination information (step U2). The information terminal 4 requests the server 2 to download an OS (corresponding to software) indicated by the OS information (step U3).

  Next, when the download request is accepted by the server 2 (step U4: YES), the information terminal 4 downloads the OS (step U5). Thereafter, the information terminal 4 sets up the OS after downloading the OS indicated by the OS information. The information terminal 4 includes a non-volatile memory (not shown), and sets up an OS for this non-volatile memory. Thereafter, the information terminal 4 executes the program on the set-up OS. As a result, the OS can be executed.

  According to this embodiment, OS information for downloading the OS is recorded in the information code P, and for example, address information of the server 2 capable of downloading the OS is recorded as connection destination information. No. 4, since the information code P is optically read and the OS indicated by the OS information recorded in the information code P is downloaded and set up to be executable, the information is stored even if the memory size is limited. An OS suitable for work by the terminal 4 can be incorporated.

The information terminal 6 displays the connection destination information and the OS information on the display unit 6a as the information code P using a one-dimensional barcode or a two-dimensional code. And it becomes possible to transmit reliably.
Further, the information terminal 4 can set up an OS suitable for the information terminal 4 even if it cannot communicate directly with the information terminal 6 by radio or the like.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the first embodiment is that each terminal of the information terminals 4 and 6 also informs the function software information K together with one or more. When the functional software information K is selected, connection destination information and software information corresponding to the selected functional software information K are displayed on the display unit. The same parts as those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and only different parts will be described below.

FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B show one mode in which the information terminal shows the function software information together with the information code.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the information terminals 4 and 6 control the functions 1 to 4 on the display units 4a and 6a, respectively. Details of these functions 1 to 4 are displayed on each of the display sections 4a and 6a as function software information K together with a check box (no symbol). These functions 1 to 4 are functions such as a one-dimensional barcode and two-dimensional code reading function, a wireless communication function, and a wired communication function.

  When at least one (one or more) of these function software is selected from the outside by the operation unit 4b or 6b, each information terminal 4, 6 will receive information on the function software corresponding to the selected function. The check information is displayed in the check box of K, and the form of the information code P is changed so as to include the connection destination information and the OS information (software information) information corresponding to the information of the selected functional software. Display on 4a and 6a. That is, the information code P in FIG. 3A and the information code P in FIG. 3B are different in form.

  For example, when the information terminal 6 displays the information code P together with the function software information K, the information terminal 4 that does not incorporate the OS optically displays the information code P displayed on the display unit 6 a of the information terminal 6. Then, as in the first embodiment, a download request is sent to the server 2 corresponding to the read connection destination information. Then, the server 2 accepts this download request. When the information terminal 4 recognizes that this download request has been received, for example, the information terminal 4 downloads the software and sets up the downloaded software to be executable.

  Therefore, when the user selects a function, the information terminal 4 downloads and sets up the function software corresponding to the selected function, so that the user can select the function, and only the necessary function can be set up. The software can be set up and executed even if the storage capacity of the information terminal 4 is small.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the previous embodiment is that it is determined whether or not software required when the power is turned on is installed, and the software is installed. If it is determined that the software is not installed, a list of software that can be installed is displayed on the display unit, and if at least one software is selected from the software list, the server is requested to download the software. The same parts as those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and only different parts are described below.

  When the power key (no symbol) of the operation unit 4b is pressed, the information terminal 4 determines the pressed state, and determines whether the OS is incorporated when the power is turned on. Note that the determination may be made when a predetermined operation is performed by the operation unit 4b regardless of when the power key is pressed. At this time, if the OS is not incorporated in the own terminal, the information terminal 4 displays the OS list information on the display unit 4a using the shortcut key S. It is desirable to display on the software update menu screen. In this case, it is easy for the user to check the list information.

  FIG. 4 shows a display mode of the software update menu. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of shortcut keys S are displayed on the display unit 4a. Although not shown in the figure, the OS information is clearly shown in each shortcut key S, and software information (for example, a file name) can be recognized from the outside. When the user selects the shortcut key S using the operation unit 4b, the server 2 is requested to download an OS corresponding to the shortcut key S. Since the following operations are the same as those in the previous embodiment, the description thereof is omitted. Even in such an embodiment, substantially the same operational effects can be obtained.

  According to the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not an OS required when the power is turned on, and if it is not installed, the OS is installed. Therefore, since necessary software is downloaded without waiting for a user's instruction, necessary software can be quickly downloaded.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, since it is determined whether or not software required when a predetermined operation is performed is installed, a necessary OS can be downloaded when necessary. .

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the previous embodiment is that when the information terminal requests the server to download software, the device information of the terminal is transmitted to the server. Then, an OS having a function indicated by information of software that can be installed corresponding to the device information is set up. The same parts as those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and only different parts will be described below.

  FIG. 5 schematically shows the operation of the software update system. As shown in FIG. 5, when the information terminal 4 optically reads the connection destination information from the information code P (step V1), the information terminal 4 establishes communication connection to the connection destination server 2 indicated by the connection destination information (step V1). V2). The information terminal 4 transmits the device information of the terminal (for example, device model information) to the server 2 (step V3). When the server 2 receives the device information of the information terminal 4, the server 2 transmits one or more pieces of software information corresponding to the device information to the information terminal 4. That is, an OS on which the device operates is searched, and information on the OS (file name and the like) is transmitted to the information terminal 4 as software information. Upon receiving the OS information from the server 2, the information terminal 4 displays this OS information list (software information list) on the display unit 4a and prompts the user to select the OS to be used.

  When the user selects desired OS information using the operation unit 4b, the information terminal 4 requests the server 2 to download an OS corresponding to the selected OS information (step V5). When the server 2 accepts this OS download request (step V6), the information terminal 4 starts downloading the OS (step V7), and sets up the OS when the download process is completed. In such an embodiment, the same effects as the above-described embodiment can be obtained, and the user can select necessary software. Even if the memory size is limited, the software can be incorporated.

(Fifth embodiment)
FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B show a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the previous embodiment is the system operation. The same parts as those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and only different parts will be described below.

FIG. 6B shows the operation of this embodiment in a schematic sequence diagram.
The information terminal 6 requests the server 2 for software information that can be incorporated by transmitting device information input from the operation unit 6b to the server 2 through the network 3 (step T1). When the server 2 accepts the request, the server 2 responds to the information terminal 6 with a plurality (or 1) of installable OS information (step T2), and the information terminal 6 receives the plurality of installable OS information received from the server 2. Are displayed as corresponding information codes P on the display unit 6a (step T3).

The display mode at this time is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6A, a plurality of information codes P are displayed on the display unit 6a, but different OS information is recorded on each information code P. At this time, the user selects and reads the information code P. When the information code P is read by the information terminal 4 (step T4), the server 2 is requested to download software indicated by the OS information included in the information code P (step T5). Next, when the server 2 accepts the download request (step T6), the information terminal 4 downloads the software (step T7).
Also according to this embodiment, there are substantially the same functions and effects as in the previous embodiment.

(Sixth embodiment)
FIG. 7 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the previous embodiment is that the information terminal 4 stores the device information of the own terminal and the own terminal stored in the storage device. Is displayed as a graphic symbol image, and an information terminal 7 in place of the information terminal 6 inputs the graphic symbol image displayed on the display unit 4a of the information terminal 4 as optical information and inputs it as device information. is there. The same parts as those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted, and only different parts are described below.

  The information terminal 4 stores the device information of its own terminal in a memory (not shown) (corresponding to storage means). The information terminal 4 generates an information code P so as to include the device information of the own terminal, and displays the information code P on the display unit 4a. An information terminal 7 in place of the information terminal 6 has a function of optically reading the information code P in addition to the function provided in the information terminal 6.

  The information terminal 7 optically reads the information code P displayed on the display unit 4 a of the information terminal 4 and inputs it as device information of the information terminal 4. When the device information is input, the information terminal 7 sends the device information to the server 2 through the network 3 and requests the server 2 for OS information that can be incorporated. Since the subsequent operation is the same as that of the above-described embodiment, the description thereof is omitted. Even in such an embodiment, the same operational effects as the above-described embodiment can be obtained, and the operability and convenience at the time of input can be improved.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and for example, the following modifications or expansions are possible.
The information terminal 4 may display information on the OS (software) incorporated in the terminal itself on the display unit 4a as the information code P, and the information terminals 6 and 7 may read the information optically. In this case, since the OS incorporated in the information terminal 4 is incorporated into the information terminals 6 and 7 as they are, the user can easily incorporate the same OS between the terminals without having to perform troublesome assembling work. .

Although the embodiment applied to the information code P such as a one-dimensional barcode or two-dimensional code as a graphic symbol has been shown, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, an icon may be applied.
Although the embodiment in which the information terminals 4, 6, and 7 are configured to be portable is shown, the present invention is not limited to this and may be applied to an information terminal that is fixedly installed. The information terminal 4 is particularly preferably portable.

  Although the embodiment in which the OS information is applied as software information and the OS is applied as software is shown, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the application program information may be applied to the application program information indicating the information of the application program as the software information You may apply to.

1 is a schematic system configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a figure which shows an optical reading form, (b) is a flowchart which shows operation | movement roughly. Explanatory drawing which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention ((a) and (b) is a figure which shows the aspect which an information terminal displays a function software and an information code) Explanatory drawing which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention (The figure which shows the one display aspect of a software update menu) The flowchart which shows schematically operation | movement of the 4th Embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention ((a) is a figure which shows the display mode of an information code, (b) is a sequence diagram) Explanatory drawing which concerns on the 6th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  In the drawings, 1 is a software update system, 2 is a server, 3 is a network (communication network), 4 is an information terminal (second information terminal), 5 is an access point, and 6 and 7 are information terminals (first information terminals). ).

Claims (11)

A server for storing software connected to a communication network and downloadable from the outside;
A first information terminal comprising display means for displaying connection destination information and software information for downloading software as a graphic symbol image;
A reading means for optically reading a graphic symbol image displayed on the display means of the first information terminal, and a second information terminal comprising a communication means configured to be connectable to the communication network,
The second information terminal communicates with the server corresponding to the connection destination information included in the graphic symbol image read by the reading means by the communication means, and the graphic symbol image read by the reading means A software update system that requests download of software indicated by the software information to the server based on the software information included in the server, and downloads the software through the communication means when the download request is received by the server. . The first information terminal comprises a selection means;
The display means of the first information terminal displays information on a plurality of function software constituting the software, and when information on one or a plurality of function software is selected by the selection means, the selected function software 2. The software update system according to claim 1, wherein information is displayed as the graphic symbol image. A server for storing software connected to a communication network and downloadable from the outside;
A first information terminal comprising display means for displaying connection destination information for connection to the server as a graphic symbol image;
Reading means for optically reading a graphic symbol image displayed by the display means of the first information terminal, communication means configured to be connectable to the communication network, selection means, display means, and required software A second information terminal comprising determination means for determining whether or not it is incorporated,
When it is determined by the determination means that no software is incorporated, the second information terminal displays the list information of the software not incorporated by the display means, and the selection means selects at least one software. Then, the communication unit communicates with the server corresponding to the connection destination information included in the graphic symbol image read by the reading unit, and requests the server to download the selected software. Software update system characterized by   4. The software update system according to claim 3, wherein the determination unit determines whether or not software required when the power is turned on is incorporated.   4. The software update system according to claim 3, wherein the determination unit determines whether software required when a predetermined operation is performed is incorporated. A server for storing software connected to a communication network and downloadable from the outside;
A first information terminal comprising: communication means configured to be connectable to the server through the communication network; and display means for displaying connection destination information for connecting to the server as a graphic symbol image;
Second information comprising reading means for optically reading a graphic symbol image displayed on the display means of the first information terminal, communication means configured to be connectable to the server through the communication network, and selection means With a terminal,
The second information terminal transmits the device information of the own terminal to the server corresponding to the connection destination information included in the graphic symbol image read by the reading unit by the communication unit,
The server transmits one or more pieces of software information corresponding to the device information received from the second information terminal to the second information terminal;
The second information terminal transmits the software information to the server when the software information is selected by the selection unit as needed from one or more pieces of software information received from the server,
The server accepts a software download request indicated by the software information received from the second information terminal;
The software update system, wherein the second information terminal downloads software whose download request has been accepted on the server side. A server for storing software connected to a communication network and downloadable from the outside;
A first information terminal comprising input means for inputting device information, communication means configured to be connectable to the server through the communication network, and display means;
A communication means configured to be connectable to the server through the communication network and a second information terminal comprising a reading means for optically reading a graphic symbol image;
The first information terminal requests the server for software information that can be incorporated by transmitting device information of the second information terminal input by the input means to the server through the communication network,
The server accepts the request transmitted from the first information terminal, and transmits one or a plurality of software information that can be embedded to the first information terminal,
The first information terminal displays one or more pieces of software information received from the server as the graphic symbol image on the display means,
When the graphic symbol image displayed on the display means of the first information terminal is optically and selectively read by the reading means, the second information terminal is based on software information included in the graphic symbol image. A software update system that requests download of the software indicated by the software information to the server and downloads the software through the communication means when the download request is received by the server. The second information terminal includes storage means for storing device information of the terminal itself, display means for displaying the device information of the terminal stored in the storage means as a graphic symbol image, and the first information terminal. Comprises a reading means for optically reading a graphic symbol image displayed on the display means of the second information terminal,
The first information terminal is inputted as device information of the input means by optically reading the graphic symbol image displayed on the display means of the second information terminal by the reading means. Item 8. The software update system according to Item 7. A server for storing software connected to a communication network and downloadable from the outside;
A first information terminal comprising display means for displaying information of software incorporated in the terminal as a graphic symbol image;
A second information terminal comprising: reading means for optically reading a graphic symbol image displayed on the display means of the first information terminal; and communication means configured to be connectable to the server through the communication network; With
When the graphic symbol image is optically read by the reading means, the second information terminal requests the server to download software indicated by the software information included in the read graphic symbol image, and the server When the download request is accepted, the software is downloaded through the communication means.   The display unit of the first information terminal is configured to display the graphic symbol image as a one-dimensional barcode, a two-dimensional code, or an icon. The described software update system. The software update system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the second information terminal is a portable information terminal configured to be portable by a user.

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