JP2010114735A - Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily update a control program, or the like, even in a situation where an external power source is not turned on. <P>SOLUTION: A communication module 31 receives a first program through wireless communication; a recording module 33 uses the received first program to update a second program recorded on a built-in recording medium 33a; and a power supply module 34 supplies power from a built-in internal power source 34a to the communication module 31 and the recording module 33. The present invention is applicable to e.g., digital televisions receivers, cellular phones. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program, and in particular, updates a control program for easily controlling an information processing apparatus, for example, even when an external power source that supplies power from the outside is not turned on. The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program that can be performed.

  For example, in a digital television receiver for digital broadcasting, a function for receiving and displaying an electronic program guide (EPG, Electronic Program Guide) by a control program such as application software, middleware, and firmware, a network such as the Internet Various functions such as a function for connecting to a network, a function for displaying a web browser used when connected to a network, and the like are provided.

  If there is a problem with these control programs, an update program to solve the problem of the control program is provided via a television broadcast signal, the Internet, or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory. There are update techniques for updating a control program by supplying the digital television receiver (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4).

JP 2003-304458 A JP 2004-516543 A JP 2006-101553 A JP 2007-299372 A

  However, with the conventional update technology, for example, when a malfunction of the control program is detected immediately before shipment from the factory, the digital television receiver packed in cardboard or the like is unpacked and the digital television receiver is connected to an external power source. The control program in which the malfunction occurred could not be updated until after the power was turned on.

  In addition, for example, when the user is not familiar with a device such as a digital television receiver, the USB memory or the like in which the update program is recorded is not known. The control program cannot be updated via the recording medium.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and makes it possible to easily update a control program or the like even in a situation where an external power supply is not turned on.

  An information processing apparatus or program according to an aspect of the present invention is recorded on a built-in recording medium using a first receiving unit that receives a first program and the received first program by wireless communication. An information processing apparatus or information including update means for updating a second program that has been executed and power supply means for supplying power from a built-in internal power supply to the first reception means and the update means A program for functioning as a processing device.

  The power supply means can supply the power to the first receiving means and the updating means even in a situation where external power feeding is not performed.

  A second receiving means for receiving information via a predetermined network can be further provided, and the first receiving means can be provided in a situation where the second receiving means is not connected to the predetermined network. The first program can be received by wireless communication.

  The power supply means generates power by electromagnetic induction based on the electromagnetic waves from another information processing apparatus that transmits the first program by electromagnetic waves, and the generated power is supplied to the first receiving means and the It can be made to supply with respect to an update means.

  If the version information of the recording program is older than the version information of the update program, the update means can update the recording program based on the update program.

  An information processing method according to an aspect of the present invention is an information processing method of an information processing apparatus that updates a second program, and the information processing apparatus includes a first reception unit, an update unit, and a power supply unit. And the first receiving means receives the first program by wireless communication, and the update means is recorded on a built-in recording medium using the received first program. The information supply method includes a step of updating the program and supplying the power from the built-in internal power source to the first receiving unit and the updating unit.

  According to an aspect of the present invention, the first receiving unit receives the first program using wireless communication, and the updating unit stores the first program received using the first program. The second program recorded on the recording medium is updated, and power from the built-in internal power supply is supplied to the first receiving unit and the updating unit by the power supply unit.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, a control program or the like can be easily updated even in a situation where an external power supply is not turned on.

  Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a communication processing system 1 including a digital television receiver 11 to which the present invention is applied.

  The communication processing system 1 includes a digital television receiver 11 and a data terminal 12, and is formed when it is necessary to update a control program recorded in the digital television receiver 11.

  The digital television receiver 11 appropriately updates a control program (recording program) recorded on a built-in recording medium by an update program (update program) transmitted from the data terminal 12.

  The digital television receiver 11 includes a communication module 31, a processing module 32, a recording module 33, a power supply module 34, and an external power supply processing module 35.

  The communication module 31 receives data from the data terminal 12 (communication module 61) by non-contact proximity wireless communication and supplies the data to the processing module 32. That is, the communication module 31 receives, from the data terminal 12, information indicating the version of the update program (update program version information), identification information that uniquely identifies a recording program that can be updated by the update program, an update program, and the like. Received data is received and supplied to the processing module 32.

  In addition, the communication module 31 transmits an update result or the like indicating that the recording program has been normally updated by the update program from the processing module 32 to the data terminal 12 by non-contact proximity wireless communication.

  The processing module 32 controls the communication module 31 and the recording module 33.

  The processing module 32 controls the recording module 33 and reads information (recording program version information) indicating the version of the recording program uniquely identified by the identification information from the communication module 31 from the recording medium 33a.

  The processing module 32 determines whether the version information of the recording program read from the recording medium 33a is older than the version information of the update program from the communication module 31. When it is determined that the version information of the recording program is older than the version information of the update program, the processing module 32 controls the recording module 33 and records recorded on the recording medium 33a based on the update program. Update the program.

  The recording module 33 includes a recording medium 33a composed of, for example, a hard disk or a flash memory. The recording medium 33a stores a recording program for controlling the operation of the digital television receiver 11, version information of the recording program, identification information for uniquely identifying the recording program, and the like.

  Further, the recording module 33 reads out version information of the recording program recorded on the recording medium 33 a and supplies it to the processing module 32. Further, the recording module 33 updates the recording program recorded on the recording medium 33a.

  The power supply module 34 incorporates an internal power supply 34a such as a rechargeable battery, and supplies the power output from the internal power supply 34a to the communication module 31, the processing module 32, and the recording module 33 as appropriate. Thereby, for example, even when the digital television receiver 11 is packed with cardboard or the like and the external power supply for supplying electric power to the digital television receiver 11 from the outside is not performed. The communication module 31, the processing module 32, and the recording module 33 can be operated using the power supplied from the supply module 34 as a power source.

  The power supply module 34 does not include the internal power supply 34a, but generates power by electromagnetic induction based on electromagnetic waves transmitted from the data terminal 12, and the generated power is transmitted to the communication module 31, the processing module 32, and You may make it supply to the recording module 33. FIG.

  The external power supply processing module 35 uses an electric power supplied by the external power supply as a power source, displays an image of a television program on a display (not shown), or is supplied via a television broadcast signal or a network such as the Internet. The update program causes the recording module 33 to update the recording program recorded on the recording medium 33a.

  The data terminal 12 includes a communication module 61, a processing module 62, a recording module 63, and a display 64.

  The communication module 61 transmits the update program or the like from the processing module 62 to the communication module 31 of the digital television receiver 11 by non-contact proximity wireless communication.

  The communication module 61 receives data from the communication module 31 by non-contact proximity wireless communication and supplies the data to the processing module 62.

  The processing module 62 controls the communication module 61, the recording module 63, and the display 64. The processing module 62 appropriately supplies data from the communication module 61 to the display 64 for display.

  Further, the processing module 62 supplies an update program or the like from the recording module 63 to the communication module 61.

  The recording module 63 incorporates a recording medium 63a composed of, for example, a hard disk or a flash memory. In the recording medium 63a, an update program, version information of the update program, identification information for uniquely identifying a recording program that can be updated by the update program, and the like are recorded.

  In addition, the recording module 63 reads an update program or the like recorded on the recording medium 63 a and supplies it to the processing module 62.

  The display 64 is an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), for example, and displays data from the processing module 62.

  Next, FIG. 2 shows the appearance of the data terminal 12.

  A display 64 is mainly provided outside the data terminal 12. The display 64 displays a communication result or the like by non-contact proximity wireless communication with the digital television receiver 11.

  Next, communication processing performed by the digital television receiver 11 with the data terminal 12 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  This communication processing is performed, for example, by an employee of a factory that manufactures the digital television receiver 11 on the side where the communication module 61 of the data terminal 12 is installed. This is started when the module 31 is brought close to the surface on which the module 31 is installed.

  At this time, the processing module 62 of the data terminal 12 controls the recording module 63 to uniquely identify the version information of the update program and the recording program that can be updated by the update program from the recording medium 63a. Read information. Then, the version information and the identification information read from the recording medium 63a are transmitted to the communication module 31 of the digital television receiver 11 by the contactless proximity wireless communication using the electromagnetic wave by controlling the communication module 61.

  At this time, the electromagnetic wave from the communication module 61 is supplied to the power supply module 34 via the communication module 31. When the power supply module 34 receives the electromagnetic wave from the communication module 61 via the communication module 31, the power supply module 34 starts supplying power output from the internal power supply 34a to the communication module 31 to the recording module 33.

  In step S <b> 1, the communication module 31 receives the update program version information and identification information from the communication module 61 and supplies them to the processing module 32.

  In step S2, the processing module 32 controls the recording module 33, and from the recording medium 33a, the recording program uniquely identified by the identification information from the communication module 31 (identification information identical to the identification information from the communication module 31 is obtained). Read version information).

  The processing module 32 determines whether the version information of the recording program read from the recording medium 33a is older than the version information of the update program from the communication module 31.

  If it is determined in step S3 that the version information of the recording program is older than the version information of the update program, the process proceeds to step S4, and the processing module 32 sends a transmission request for requesting transmission of the update program. The data is supplied to the communication module 31 and transmitted to the data terminal 12.

  At this time, when the processing module 62 of the data terminal 12 controls the communication module 61 and receives a transmission request from the communication module 31, the processing module 62 controls the recording module 63 and reads the update program from the recording medium 63a. Then, the read update program is transmitted to the digital television receiver 11 by non-contact proximity wireless communication by controlling the communication module 61.

  The process proceeds from step S4 to step S5, and the processing module 32 controls the communication module 31 to receive the update program from the communication module 61 of the data terminal 12.

  Further, the processing module 32 causes the recording module 33 to update the recording program recorded on the recording medium 33a based on the received update program.

  Thereafter, in step S6, the processing module 32 supplies the communication module 31 with an update result indicating that the recording program recorded in the recording medium 33a has been normally updated by the update program, and notifies the data terminal 12 of the update result. Let

  At this time, the processing module 62 of the data terminal 12 controls the communication module 61 to receive the update result from the communication module 31 and display it on the display 64.

  In addition, the processing module 32 controls the power supply module 34 to stop the supply of power. Thereafter, the communication process is terminated.

  If it is determined in step S3 that the version information of the recording program is not older than the version information of the update program, the process proceeds to step S7.

  Then, the processing module 32 supplies the communication module 31 with information indicating that it is not necessary to update the recording program, and notifies the data terminal 12 of the information. At this time, the processing module 62 of the data terminal 12 controls the communication module 61 to receive information from the communication module 31 and display it on the display 64.

  In addition, the processing module 32 controls the power supply module 34 to stop the supply of power. Thereafter, the communication process is terminated.

  As described above, in the communication process, the update program is transmitted from the data terminal 12 to the digital television receiver 11 by non-contact proximity wireless communication, and the received update program is received by the digital television receiver 11. The recording program recorded on the recording medium 33a is updated.

  Therefore, for example, when a malfunction of the recording program is detected immediately before shipment from the factory, the recording program can be easily updated without unpacking the digital television receiver 11 packed in cardboard or the like and without turning on the external power supply. It becomes possible to do.

  Therefore, after unpacking the digital television receiver 11 and turning on the external power supply, a USB memory or the like is connected to the digital television receiver 11 to update the recording program, and then the digital television receiver The recording program can be updated promptly as compared with the case of performing 11 packing again.

  Further, in the communication process, it is not necessary to perform an operation of connecting a USB memory or the like to the digital television receiver 11 as in the conventional update technology, so that the user is not familiar with a device such as a digital television receiver. Even if it exists, it becomes possible to update a recording program easily.

  In this embodiment, the recording program recorded in the digital television receiver 11 is updated. For example, an installation program for installing a new program not recorded in the digital television receiver 11 is used. May be transmitted from the data terminal 12 to the digital television receiver 11 as an update program, and a new program may be recorded as a recording program.

  The present invention can be applied to any information processing apparatus that operates based on a control program, such as a mobile phone, in addition to the digital television receiver 11.

  When the present invention is applied to a mobile phone or the like, the user can easily update the recording program recorded on the mobile phone simply by holding the mobile phone over (adjacent to) a data terminal designated in advance. Can do.

  In the communication process, the non-contact proximity wireless communication is performed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the communication process can be performed by, for example, 802.11x or Bluetooth.

  By the way, the series of processes described above can be executed by dedicated hardware or can be executed by software. When a series of processing is executed by software, a program constituting the software can execute various functions by installing a so-called embedded computer or various programs. For example, it is installed from a program storage medium in a general-purpose personal computer.

  FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of a computer that executes the above-described series of processing by a program.

  A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201 executes various processes according to a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202 or a storage unit 208. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 203 appropriately stores programs executed by the CPU 201 and data. These CPU 201, ROM 202, and RAM 203 are connected to each other by a bus 204.

  An input / output interface 205 is also connected to the CPU 201 via the bus 204. The input / output interface 205 is connected to an input unit 206 including a keyboard, a mouse, and a microphone, and an output unit 207 including a display and a speaker. The CPU 201 executes various processes in response to commands input from the input unit 206. Then, the CPU 201 outputs the processing result to the output unit 207.

  A storage unit 208 connected to the input / output interface 205 includes, for example, a hard disk, and stores programs executed by the CPU 201 and various data. The communication unit 209 communicates with an external device via a network such as the Internet or a local area network.

  Further, a program may be acquired via the communication unit 209 and stored in the storage unit 208.

  The drive 210 connected to the input / output interface 205 drives a removable medium 211 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory, and drives the programs and data recorded therein. Get etc. The acquired program and data are transferred to and stored in the storage unit 208 as necessary.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a program storage medium for storing a program that is installed in a computer and can be executed by the computer is a magnetic disk (including a flexible disk), an optical disk (CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read). Only Memory), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) included), magneto-optical disk (including MD (Mini-Disc) included), or removable media 211, which is a package media consisting of semiconductor memory, or the program is temporary or permanent It is configured by a ROM 202 that is stored in an automatic manner, a hard disk that constitutes the storage unit 208, and the like. The program is stored in the program storage medium using a wired or wireless communication medium such as a local area network, the Internet, or digital satellite broadcasting via a communication unit 209 that is an interface such as a router or a modem as necessary. Done.

  In this specification, the system represents the entire apparatus constituted by a plurality of apparatuses.

  Further, in the present specification, the step of describing the program stored in the program storage medium is not limited to the processing performed in time series in the described order, but is not necessarily performed in time series. Or the process performed separately is also included.

  The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

It is a block diagram which shows a communication processing system. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of a data terminal. It is a flowchart explaining a communication process. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a computer.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Digital television receiver, 12 Data terminal, 31 Communication module, 32 Processing module, 33 Recording module, 33a Recording medium, 34 Power supply module, 34a Internal power supply, 61 Communication module, 62 Processing module, 63 Recording module, 63a Recording Medium, 64 displays

Claims (7)

First receiving means for receiving the first program by wireless communication;
Updating means for updating the second program recorded in the built-in recording medium using the received first program;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a power supply unit that supplies power from a built-in internal power source to the first receiving unit and the updating unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power supply unit supplies the power to the first reception unit and the update unit even when external power feeding is not performed. Further comprising second receiving means for receiving information via a predetermined network;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first receiving unit receives the first program through wireless communication even in a situation where the second receiving unit is not connected to the predetermined network. The power supply means generates power by electromagnetic induction based on the electromagnetic waves from another information processing apparatus that transmits the first program by electromagnetic waves, and the generated power is supplied to the first receiving means and the update. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is supplied to the means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the update unit updates the recording program based on the update program when the version information of the recording program is older than the version information of the update program. In the information processing method of the information processing apparatus for updating the second program,
The information processing apparatus includes:
First receiving means;
Update means;
Power supply means, and
The first receiving means receives the first program by wireless communication;
The update means updates the second program recorded in the built-in recording medium using the received first program,
An information processing method including a step in which the power supply means supplies power from a built-in internal power supply to the first receiving means and the updating means. Computer
First receiving means for receiving the first program by wireless communication;
Updating means for updating the second program recorded in the built-in recording medium using the received first program;
A program for causing the first receiving means and the updating means to function as power supply means for supplying power from a built-in internal power supply.

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