JP2008090503A - Transmission device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a transmission device which can perform efficiently input and transmission of data for program correction in order to correct a program stored in a ROM. <P>SOLUTION: A transmission device is for transmitting a signal for operating an electronic apparatus comprising; a ROM which stores a program; a CPU; a nonvolatile memory to which the CPU can read and write data; and a receiving part which receives a signal from outside. The transmission device has a memory to store temporarily data to be transmitted to an electronic appliance, stores the data for correcting a program stored in the ROM in memory, and when a predetermined operation is carried out, the data stored in the memory is transmitted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a transmission device that transmits data for correcting a program stored in a ROM of an electronic device.

  In an electronic device equipped with a microcomputer having a ROM with a program masked (hereinafter referred to as “microcomputer”), one of the methods for changing a program due to a bug or a specification change is that the corrected program is masked. It is to replace with a new microcomputer having a ROM. However, this method requires a great deal of cost, time, and effort because a new microcomputer must be manufactured and mounted on an electronic device, and the old microcomputer must be discarded.

  For this reason, some recent devices equipped with microcomputers include devices that can cope with program changes without replacing the microcomputer. Such a device has a non-volatile memory externally attached to the microcomputer, and in this non-volatile memory, the start address (hereinafter referred to as “changed part address”) of the changed part of the program recorded in the ROM, and the program And a modified program in place of the changed part. In this device, since the correction program is executed instead of the changed portion of the program, there is no need to replace the microcomputer. Such a function is generally called a “ROM correction function”.

  The microcomputer performs an initial process when the power of the electronic device in which the changed address and the correction program are stored in the nonvolatile memory is turned on or when the electronic device is reset. In this initial process, first, it is determined whether a correction program is stored in the nonvolatile memory. When it is determined that the correction program is stored, the changed partial address stored in the nonvolatile memory is copied to a register set in the RAM of the microcomputer. Furthermore, the correction program stored in the nonvolatile memory is copied to the RAM of the microcomputer. Next, the start address of the RAM area where the correction program is copied is set in the interrupt vector table in the RAM. Finally, a ROM correction function execution flag is set and the initial process is terminated.

  The microcomputer basically performs processing according to a program stored in the ROM. However, when the ROM correction function execution flag is set, the microcomputer constantly compares the current program address with the changed part address set in the RAM register. When these two addresses match, the microcomputer refers to the head address set in the interrupt vector table and executes the correction program stored in the RAM.

  Thus, in order to execute the “ROM correction function”, the changed part address and the correction program must be stored in the nonvolatile memory. An example of data writing to a nonvolatile memory is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-105695. In this example, a remote controller (hereinafter referred to as “remote controller”) for operating an electronic device having a nonvolatile memory and a microcomputer is used.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the remote controller and the electronic device. The electronic device 10 illustrated in FIG. 5 includes a light receiving unit 17 that receives a signal from the remote controller 50, a microcomputer 11, and a nonvolatile memory 15. The microcomputer 11 includes a CPU 12 that controls each component of the electronic device, a RAM 14 that stores necessary data, and a ROM 13 that stores programs and the like. A non-volatile memory 15 and a light receiving unit 17 are connected to the CPU 12.

  When changing a part of the program stored in the ROM 13 of the electronic device 10 shown in FIG. 5, the user operates the remote controller 50 to start the correction program writing program. Subsequently, the user operates the remote controller 50 to transmit the changed part address and the correction program to the electronic device 10. When the user presses the confirmation key of the remote controller 50 in a state where the changed part address and the correction program are temporarily stored in the RAM 14, the CPU 12 reads out the changed part address and the correction program stored in the RAM 14 to read the nonvolatile memory 15. Forward to. Thereafter, when the microcomputer 11 is reset, the above-described initial processing is performed, and the ROM correction function is executed.

JP 2000-105695 A

  However, in the program correction method using the electronic device 10 and the remote controller 50 shown in FIG. 5, every time the user selects or inputs a changed part address or a correction program, the remote controller 50 is operated to transmit data to the electronic device 10. There is a need to. Further, when the selection or input of data is missed, it is necessary to input the data again.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a transmission device capable of efficiently inputting and transmitting data for correcting a program stored in a ROM of an electronic device.

  The present invention transmits a signal for operating an electronic device including a ROM for storing a program, a CPU, a non-volatile memory in which the CPU can read and write data, and a receiving unit for receiving a signal from the outside. And a memory for temporarily storing data to be transmitted to the electronic device, wherein data for modifying a program stored in the ROM is stored in the memory, and a predetermined operation is performed. A transmission device for transmitting the data stored in the memory.

  In the transmission apparatus, the data for correcting the program includes a start address of a changed part of the program recorded in the ROM and a correction program instead of the changed part of the program.

  According to the transmission device of the present invention, it is possible to efficiently input and transmit data for correcting a program stored in the ROM of the electronic device.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a remote controller and an electronic device according to an embodiment. A remote controller 150 shown in FIG. 1 is a remote controller with a learning function in a format (hereinafter referred to as “home-made cooperative format”) created by the association of household electrical appliances regarding the communication format of an infrared remote controller. The remote controller 150 of this embodiment has a memory 151 for storing data therein.

  The electronic device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a light receiving unit 107 that receives a signal from a remote controller 150, a microcomputer 101, and a nonvolatile memory 105. The microcomputer 101 includes a CPU 102 that controls each component of the electronic device, a RAM 104 that stores necessary data, and a ROM 103 that stores programs and the like. A nonvolatile memory 105 and a light receiving unit 107 are connected to the CPU 102.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a format of a pulse signal (home-made cooperative format) transmitted from the remote controller 150 to the electronic device 100. As shown in FIG. 2, a pulse signal of data transmitted from the remote controller 150 includes a reader unit 201, a custom code unit 202, a custom code parity unit 203, a data code unit 204, a trailer unit 205, including. The reader unit 201 is a pulse signal indicating that transmission of remote control data is started. The custom code section 202 is a pulse signal indicating a code managed by the home appliance association representing the manufacturer name, product name, etc. of the remote controller. The custom code parity unit 203 is a pulse signal indicating parity for confirming whether the value of the custom code unit 202 is correct. When used as a normal remote controller, the data code unit 204 is a pulse signal for indicating a function code set for each device and each button of the remote controller. The trailer unit 205 is a pulse signal indicating the end of remote control data transmission.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a format of the data code unit 204 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the data code unit 204 includes a ROM correction function data / normal data determination unit 301, data size information 302, a data body 303, and error detection information 304. The ROM correction function data / normal data determination unit 301 is data for determining whether it is normal remote control data or program correction data (changed part address and correction program) to be written to the nonvolatile memory 105. is there. The data size information 302 is data indicating the changed part address and the total data size of the correction program. The data main body 303 stores the changed part address and the correction program data. Error detection information 304 is added to the end of the data body 303. The error detection information 304 is used to determine whether there is an error in the received data by comparing with the information calculated by the CPU 102 based on the received data.

  The remote controller 150 of this embodiment stores the data in the format shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in the internal memory 151 until the transmission key is pressed. The remote controller 150 transmits the data stored in the memory 151 to the electronic device 100 when the transmission key is pressed. The light receiving unit 107 of the electronic device 100 receives data transmitted from the remote controller 150. The CPU 102 stores the data received by the light receiving unit 107 in the RAM 104. The CPU 102 determines whether to modify the program stored in the ROM 103 based on the data stored in the RAM 104. When modifying the program, the CPU 102 writes the data stored in the RAM 104 into the nonvolatile memory 105. Hereinafter, the operation of the CPU 102 when the electronic device 100 receives the pulse signal transmitted from the remote controller 150 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the CPU 102 when the electronic device 100 receives the pulse signal transmitted from the remote controller 150. In step S401, the CPU 102 analyzes the received data. Specifically, the CPU 102 converts the pulse signal into a hexadecimal number between 00 and FF according to the length of the H level and L level sections. In step S402, it is determined whether the received data is normal remote control data or program correction data. When it is determined as normal remote control data, the CPU 102 performs normal processing according to the data. If it is determined that the data is for program correction, the process proceeds to step S403, and the CPU 102 performs the following three processes.

  In step S403, the CPU 102 confirms whether the size of the received data is within a specified range. Further, the CPU 102 confirms whether the changed part address in the data body 303 is within a specified range. Further, the CPU 102 confirms whether the value calculated from the received data matches the error detection information 304 and confirms that the received data has no error. If there is an error in the data, the process is terminated. If there is no error in the data, the process proceeds to step S404, and the CPU 102 writes the data body 303 (changed part address and correction program) in the nonvolatile memory 105. Thereafter, the CPU 102 executes processing for resetting the microcomputer 101 in step S405. The reset microcomputer 101 performs the above-described initial processing.

  As described above, the remote controller 150 of this embodiment stores data to be transmitted to the electronic device 100 in the internal memory 151, and when the transmission key is pressed, the data stored in the memory 151 is stored in the electronic device 100. Send to. For this reason, it is not necessary to operate the remote controller 150 and transmit data to the electronic device 100 each time the user selects or inputs a changed part address or correction program. Even if data selection or input is missed, the data stored in the memory 151 in the remote controller 150 may be corrected. For this reason, it is possible to efficiently input and transmit data for correcting the program stored in the ROM 103 of the electronic device 100.

  The transmission device according to the present invention is useful as an electronic device or the like for correcting a program stored in the ROM.

1 is a block diagram showing a remote controller and an electronic device according to an embodiment; The figure which shows the format of the pulse signal which the remote control transmits to the electronic equipment The figure which shows the format of the data code part shown in FIG. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of CPU when the electronic device receives the pulse signal transmitted from the remote control Block diagram showing remote control and electronic equipment

Explanation of symbols

150 Remote Controller 151 Memory 100 Electronic Device 107 Light Receiving Unit 101 Microcomputer 105 Nonvolatile Memory 102 CPU
104 RAM
103 ROM

Claims (2)

A transmission device that transmits a signal for operating an electronic device including a ROM that stores a program, a CPU, a nonvolatile memory that allows the CPU to read and write data, and a reception unit that receives an external signal. There,
A memory for temporarily storing data transmitted to the electronic device;
A transmission device that stores data for modifying a program stored in the ROM in the memory, and transmits the data stored in the memory when a predetermined operation is performed. The transmission device according to claim 1,
The data for correcting the program includes a start address of a changed part of the program recorded in the ROM and a correction program instead of the changed part of the program.

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