JP2019071005A - Managing terminal, control device, control system, firmware updating method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To efficiently check the version of a firmware.SOLUTION: A managing terminal according to this embodiment includes: a first communicating unit that receives, from a control device that includes a second communicating unit, a frame which is for searching the second communicating unit and which contains information indicating the version of a firmware of the control device; and a first control unit which compares the version of the firmware with a predetermined version, transmits, when an update of the firmware is necessary, firmware updating data from the first communicating unit to the second communicating unit, and instructs the control device to update the firmware.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a management terminal, a control device, a control system, a firmware update method, and a program.

  Patent Document 1 shows an example of a method of updating firmware of a control device (referred to as a control device A) having a network interface. In the method described in Patent Document 1, another control device (referred to as a control device B) storing a data file of firmware is connected to the control device A by a network, and data of firmware is transmitted from the control device B to the control device A. Sent to

  In the case of the above method, the control device B acquires the firmware version of the control device A that is the firmware update target via the network. Next, the control device B compares the acquired firmware version of the control device A with the version of the firmware data stored in the control device B. Then, when the version of the firmware stored in the control device B is newer, the control device B transmits a data file of the firmware to the control device A, and the firmware of the control device A is updated. For example, when there are a plurality of control devices A that can be updated, the control device B needs to confirm the firmware version even for the control device A that does not need to actually update the firmware. Therefore, it is necessary to set the network in advance so that all the control devices A and B that can be updated can communicate with each other via the network. For example, an IP (Internet Protocol) address is assigned to the control device B and each control device A, authentication processing is performed between the control device B and each control device A for encryption of communication, etc. Processing such as setting an encryption key is necessary. That is, there is a problem that it takes time and much processing amount to confirm the firmware version.

International Publication No. 2014/097436

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and relates to a management terminal, a control device, a control system, a firmware updating method, and a program capable of efficiently checking the version of firmware.

  In order to solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention is a frame for searching for a second communication unit from a control device having a second communication unit, the information including information indicating a version of firmware of the control device. The first communication unit that receives a frame, compares the version of the firmware with a predetermined version, and transmits the firmware data for update from the first communication unit to the second communication unit when the firmware needs to be updated And a first control unit that instructs the control device to update the firmware.

  Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a second communication unit for transmitting a search frame of the own communication unit including information indicating a version of firmware of the own apparatus to the first communication unit of the management terminal; When the update of the firmware is instructed from the first control unit of the management terminal as the update of the firmware is required based on the result of comparing the version of the firmware with the predetermined version, the second communication unit is configured to (1) A control device including: a second control unit that updates the firmware using the update firmware data received from the communication unit.

  Further, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a frame for searching for the second communication unit from a control device having a second communication unit, the frame including information indicating a version of firmware of the control device. (1) The communication unit and the version of the firmware are compared with a predetermined version, and when it is necessary to update the firmware, the first communication unit transmits update firmware data to the second communication unit, and the control device If the management terminal has a first control unit instructing updating of the firmware with respect to the second communication unit and the first control unit instructs the second communication unit to update the firmware, the second communication unit is configured to And a second control unit that updates the firmware using the update firmware data received from the first communication unit. That is a control system.

  Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, in the management terminal having a first communication unit and a first control unit, a frame for searching the second communication unit from a control device having a second communication unit by the first communication unit. The frame including the information indicating the firmware version of the control device is received, the first control unit compares the firmware version with a predetermined version, and the firmware needs to be updated The firmware update method may transmit firmware data for update from the first communication unit to the second communication unit, and instruct the control device to update the firmware.

  Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, in the management terminal having a first communication unit and a first control unit, a frame for searching the second communication unit from a control device having a second communication unit by the first communication unit. The frame including the information indicating the firmware version of the control device is received, the first control unit compares the firmware version with a predetermined version, and the firmware needs to be updated It is a program that transmits firmware data for update from the first communication unit to the second communication unit and causes a computer to execute processing for instructing the control device to update firmware.

  According to the present invention, the firmware version can be efficiently confirmed.

It is a schematic diagram showing an example of composition of a control system concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the control system 1 shown in FIG. It is a block diagram showing an example of basic composition of an embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a configuration example of a control system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A control system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a management terminal 2 and one or more control devices 3.

  The management terminal 2 is a device having a communication device compatible with a wireless LAN (wireless local area communication network), a wireless PAN (personal wireless network), and the like, and a computer, for example, as an electronic device such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, and a tablet. It can be configured. The management terminal 2 includes a control unit 20, a wireless network interface unit 21, and a storage unit 22. In addition, the management terminal 2 may include a display device, an input device, a wired communication device, a mobile communication network, a communication device corresponding to a wireless city scale network, and the like (not shown).

  The control unit 20 is a computer provided with a CPU (central processing unit), a storage device, an input / output device, and the like, and controls each unit by executing a program stored in the storage device.

  The wireless network interface unit 21 is a wireless network communication device compatible with a wireless LAN, a wireless PAN, and the like. In the present embodiment, the wireless network interface unit 21 operates as a terminal (child device) that accesses the wireless access point 31 included in the control device 3 by the wireless signal 4. The wireless network interface unit 21 has, for example, a configuration based on the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11 standard.

  The storage unit 22 is a storage device, and has a storage area 221 (hereinafter referred to as a storage area 221) of firmware data for the control device 3. The storage area 221 stores firmware data for the control device 3. The storage area 221 may be provided in a storage device (not shown) of the control unit 20. The storage unit 22 may be configured as, for example, a removable storage medium. For example, the control unit 20 downloads firmware data for the control device 3 from a predetermined server and stores the downloaded firmware data in the storage area 221.

  In the present embodiment, the firmware is software implemented as hardware, and is, for example, a program that is read only and incorporated in the hardware. The firmware data is information for updating the firmware, and includes, for example, the program itself, data indicating the version of the program, inspection data of the program, identification information of corresponding hardware, and the like.

  The control device 3 is a device having a communication device corresponding to a wireless LAN, a wireless PAN, and the like, and a computer, and is, for example, an electronic device such as an audio / video device, a lighting device, an air conditioner, a home appliance, a measuring device, and a communication device. And can be configured as electrical devices. The control device 3 includes a control unit 30, a wireless access point 31, and a storage unit 32. The storage unit 32 is a storage device, and includes a storage area 321 of firmware version (hereinafter, referred to as storage area 321) and a storage area 322 of firmware data (hereinafter, referred to as storage area 322). Further, the control device 3 includes, for example, various devices (not shown) that constitute an electronic device or an electric device.

  The control unit 30 includes a CPU, a storage device, an input / output device, and the like, which are not illustrated, and controls each unit by executing a program stored in the storage device. The program stored in the storage device included in the control unit 30 includes firmware written using the firmware data stored in the storage area 322.

  The wireless access point 31 is a wireless network communication device such as a wireless LAN or a wireless PAN, and operates as an access point (base station or master device) to which the wireless network interface unit 21 accesses via the wireless signal 4. The wireless access point 31 has, for example, a configuration according to the IEEE 802.11 standard.

  In the storage area 321, data indicating the version of the firmware of the control device 3 is stored. The storage area 322 stores firmware data of the control device 3. The storage area 321 and the storage area 322 may be provided in a storage device (not shown) of the control unit 30.

  In the present embodiment, the management terminal 2 and each control device 3 perform the following processing (1) to (3).

(1) The management terminal 2 transmits a predetermined beacon from the wireless network interface unit 21 to one or more wireless access points 31 under the control of the control unit 20 in accordance with a predetermined instruction from the operator. Broadcast (hereinafter referred to as a request signal to distinguish it from the beacon transmitted by the wireless access point 31). On the other hand, in each control device 3, when the wireless access point 31 receives a request signal for requesting transmission of a predetermined beacon from the wireless network interface unit 21, the wireless access point 31 starts transmission of the predetermined beacon in response to the request. Here, a beacon is a control signal transmitted periodically, for example, a signal for the base station to notify predetermined information to another wireless station, a wireless station indicates predetermined information to another wireless station, or the like. It is a signal etc. for alerting | reporting to a base station. Note that the beacon provides, for example, information for a terminal to connect (or to receive authentication) to search for an access point or another terminal, or to connect to an access point or another terminal. Signal. Therefore, beacons are not generally encrypted. Further, in the present embodiment, the predetermined beacon transmitted by the wireless access point 31 in response to the request signal is a beacon including information indicating the version of the firmware of each control device 3. Note that the wireless access point 31 transmits a predetermined beacon, for example, when a predetermined time has elapsed since receiving the request, or when instructed by the wireless network interface unit 21 to stop the predetermined beacon or stop. Stop and start sending the original beacon.

  For example, in the IEEE 802.11 standard, a beacon frame transmitted by a base station includes an SSID (Service Set Identifier; service set identifier) that is a variable-length character string. The SSID is a name for identifying a network or a base station in a wireless LAN. Here, the beacon frame is classified into a management frame which is a kind of MAC frame defined in a MAC (medium access control) layer (part of a data ring layer) for broadcasting basic information of a wireless cell. There is. By setting data indicating the firmware version in this SSID, the beacon can include information indicating the firmware version of the control device 3. That is, in the present embodiment, when receiving the request, the wireless access point 31 sets and transmits data indicating the version of the firmware stored in the storage area 321 in the SSID of the beacon. In passive scanning defined in the IEEE 802.11 standard, a terminal searches for a base station and other terminals by monitoring beacons.

(2) Next, in the management terminal 2, the control unit 20 controls the firmware version set in the beacon received by the wireless network interface unit 21 and the firmware of the firmware data for the control device 3 stored in the storage area 221. Compare with the version. When the version of the firmware stored in the storage area 221 is newer, the control unit 20 wirelessly connects from the wireless network interface unit 21 to the wireless access point 31 of the control device 3 and sends firmware data to the control unit 30. The transmission is instructed to update the firmware of the control device 3. In addition, at the time of transmission of firmware data and an instruction of update, authentication processing and encryption processing are performed between the wireless network interface unit 21 and each wireless access point 31. In addition, when connecting to each wireless access point 31, the connection information such as the SSID, the encryption method, and the encryption key is acquired as a profile from each wireless access point 31 or each control unit 30, and these will be used next time connection is made. It is also possible to eliminate the setting procedure.

(3) Next, in each control device 3 that has received the firmware update instruction, the control unit 30 stores the received firmware data in the storage area 322 and the firmware version extracted from the firmware data in the storage area 321. Remember. Next, the control unit 30 executes a program for firmware update to update the firmware.

  Next, an operation example of the control system 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation example when updating firmware in the control system 1. It is assumed that firmware data for the control device 3 is stored in advance in the storage area 221 of the management terminal 2.

  The process shown in FIG. 2 is started, for example, when the operator performs a predetermined operation on the management terminal 2.

  First, the management terminal 2 transmits a request signal requesting transmission of a beacon including information indicating the firmware version of the control device 3 (step S1).

  Next, the control device 3 within the receivable distance of the request signal transmitted by the management terminal 2 transmits a beacon with the SSID being represented by the firmware version (step S2). In step S2, the control device 3 scans the network, and the control device 3 that has received the request signal from the management terminal 2 performs the following processing. That is, the control device 3 acquires firmware version information from the storage area 321 of the firmware version, and the wireless access point 31 transmits it as a character string of the SSID on a beacon frame.

  Next, the management terminal 2 receives the beacon transmitted by each control device 3 in step S2, and acquires the firmware version of each control device 3 from the SSID (step S3). In step S3, the management terminal 2 scans the network, receives beacons transmitted from one or more control devices 3, and acquires a firmware version from the character string of the SSID. After acquiring the firmware version, the management terminal 2 performs the process of step S4.

  In step S4, the management terminal 2 determines whether all the firmware versions of the control devices 3 acquired in step S3 have become equal to or greater than the firmware version stored in the management terminal 2 (step S4). In step S4, the management terminal 2 compares the version of the firmware data stored in the storage area 221 of the firmware data in the management terminal 2 with the firmware version acquired in step S3. If the firmware version obtained in step S3 is smaller (lower) than the firmware data in the management terminal 2, the process proceeds to step S5. If not, it is assumed that the update of the firmware of all the control devices 3 is completed, and the process shifts to end processing.

  That is, when all the firmware versions of each control device 3 are equal to or more than the firmware version stored in the management terminal 2, the management terminal 2 ends the process shown in FIG. 2 ("YES" in step S4).

  On the other hand, when all the firmware versions of each control device 3 are not equal to or more than the firmware version stored in the management terminal 2 (“NO” in step S4), the management terminal 2 uses the firmware version stored in the management terminal 2 , And select and connect the control device 3 with a lower firmware version (step S5). In step S5, for example, first, the management terminal 2 displays one or more control devices 3 with a lower firmware version, and the operator selects one or more control devices 3 among them. Next, after the authentication information (for example, an ID (identification code) and a password) and an encryption key necessary for connection to each selected control device 3 are set by the control unit 30, connection processing to each control device 3 is performed. Takes place. The management terminal 2 may set the authentication information of each control device 3 for each control device 3 according to the operation of the operator, or based on the authentication information and key information of each control device 3 registered in advance. It may be performed automatically regardless of the operator's operation. In addition, in one process of step S5, one control device 3 may be selected, and connection processing may be performed on the selected one control device 3. In this case, the processes of step S5 to step S7 and step S1 and subsequent steps are repeatedly performed by the number of control devices 3.

  Next, the management terminal 2 transmits firmware data to each control device 3 (step S6). In step S6, for example, the management terminal 2 encrypts and transmits the firmware data by the wireless network interface unit 21.

  Next, the management terminal 2 instructs each control device 3 to perform a firmware update process (step S6). Here, each control device 3 executes a firmware update process. Next, the management terminal 2 executes the processing in step S1 and onward in the same manner as described above.

  In the above operation example, in steps S1, S2, and S3, the plurality of control devices 3 that can be the firmware update target notify the management terminal 2 of the firmware version with the SSID. Therefore, the network such as assigning an IP address to the management terminal 2 and the control device 3 or setting an authentication process or an encryption method and an encryption key between the management terminal 2 and the control device 3 for encryption of communication, etc. It is possible to determine whether or not the firmware needs to be updated for each control device 3 without setting. Therefore, it is possible to save the trouble of setting the network for the control device 3 which does not require the update. However, for the control device 3 that needs updating, network setting is performed to perform updating.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when updating the firmware of the control device 3, the control device 3 notifies the management terminal 2 of the firmware version with the SSID. As a result, even when there are a plurality of control devices 3 that can be updated, only the control devices 3 that require firmware upgrades can be wirelessly connected to the management terminal 2.

  In addition, the present embodiment can be used, for example, in the following form. For example, when the control device 3 has a web server function and accesses from the management terminal 2 using a browser, the firmware can be updated. In this case, in the present embodiment, the control device 3 that can be a firmware update target notifies the management terminal 2 of the firmware version number via the SSID. The management terminal 2 displays the version of the firmware described in the notified SSID and the version of the firmware in the management terminal 2. The operator of the management terminal 2 executing the firmware update compares the displayed versions and operates the management terminal 2 and the control device 3 when the version of the firmware stored in the management terminal 2 is newer. Connect to the network. Also in this mode of use, it is possible to reduce the time and effort for network connection to the control device 3 where there is no need to update the firmware and to confirm the firmware version.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the control device 3 incorporating the access point performs firmware update by wireless connection, the version is connected to the control device 3 where there is no need to update the firmware. You can save the trouble of checking the That is, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to efficiently check the version of the firmware.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings, but the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes design and the like within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the information indicating the firmware version is included in the beacon periodically transmitted by the control device 3 as the SSID, but may be changed as follows. That is, the management terminal 2 may confirm the firmware version of each control device 3 using a probe request frame and a probe response frame used in active scanning in the IEEE 802.11 standard. In active scanning, a terminal searches for a base station or terminal existing in the vicinity by exchanging a probe request or probe response frame with a base station or another terminal. The probe request frame and the probe response frame, like the beacon frame, are classified into a management frame, which is a type of MAC frame. In this case, the management terminal 2 sets the probe request frame to be the above-described request signal in, for example, Vender Specific (information uniquely defined by a wireless LAN maker or the like) in the probe request frame, and transmits by broadcast. Do. On the other hand, the control device 3 transmits a probe response frame in response to the probe request frame. At this time, the control device 3 includes data indicating the firmware version as the SSID of the probe response frame, Vender Specific or Requested information elements (information requested in the probe request frame). Also in this example, the management terminal 2 can acquire data indicating the firmware version of each control device 3 using a management frame. Thus, the firmware version can be efficiently confirmed.

  The control unit 20 and the control unit 30 according to the present embodiment operate as described above by executing a predetermined program as a computer. In this case, all or part of the programs executed by the control unit 20 and the control unit 30 can be distributed via a computer readable recording medium or a communication line.

  Next, a basic configuration example of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a basic configuration of the embodiment of the present invention. The control system 10 shown in FIG. 3 includes a management terminal 100 and one or more control devices 200. The management terminal 100 includes a first communication unit 101 and a first control unit 102. The control device 200 includes a second communication unit 201 and a second control unit 202.

  The first communication unit 101 receives, from the control device 200 having the second communication unit 201, a frame for search of the second communication unit 201 and including information indicating the version of the firmware of the control device 200. The first control unit 102 compares the version of the firmware based on the above information contained in the received search frame with a predetermined version, and if the firmware needs to be updated, the first communication unit 101 performs the second communication The firmware data for update is transmitted to the unit 201, and the controller 200 is instructed to update the firmware.

  The second communication unit 201 is for searching for the second communication unit 201 (self communication unit) including information indicating the version of the firmware of the control device 200 (self device) with respect to the first communication unit 101 included in the management terminal 100 Send frames. The second control unit 202 determines that updating of the firmware is necessary based on the result of comparing the version of the firmware with the predetermined version, and the second control unit 202 instructs the first control unit 102 of the management terminal 100 to update the firmware. The communication unit 201 updates the firmware using the update firmware data received from the first communication unit 101.

  The second communication unit 201 can be a wireless access point. Also, information indicating the firmware version may be included in the search frame as the SSID. Also, the search frame may be a beacon frame.

  The correspondence between the basic configuration of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 and the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 or a modification thereof is as follows. The management terminal 100 corresponds to the management terminal 2 shown in FIG. The first communication unit 101 corresponds to the wireless network interface unit 21 shown in FIG. The first control unit 102 corresponds to the control unit 20 shown in FIG. Control device 200 corresponds to control device 3 shown in FIG. The second communication unit 201 corresponds to the wireless access point 31 shown in FIG. The second control unit 202 corresponds to the control unit 30 shown in FIG. The search frame of the second communication unit 201 corresponds to a beacon frame or a probe response frame.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 10 ... Control system, 2, 100 ... Management terminal, 3, 200 ... Control apparatus, 21 ... Wireless network interface part, 31 ... Wireless access point, 20, 30 ... Control part, 101 ... 1st communication part, 102 ... First control unit, 201 ... second communication unit, 202 ... second control unit

Claims (8)

A first communication unit that receives a frame for searching for the second communication unit from a control device having a second communication unit, the frame including information indicating a version of firmware of the control device;
The firmware version is compared with a predetermined version, and when it is necessary to update the firmware, firmware data for update is transmitted from the first communication unit to the second communication unit, and the firmware of the firmware is transmitted to the control device. And a first control unit that instructs updating. The management terminal according to claim 1, wherein the first communication unit is a wireless access point. The management terminal according to claim 1, wherein the information indicating the version of the firmware is included in the frame as an SSID. The management terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the frame is a beacon frame. A second communication unit for transmitting a search frame of the own communication unit including information indicating a version of firmware of the own apparatus to the first communication unit included in the management terminal;
When the update of the firmware is instructed from the first control unit of the management terminal as the update of the firmware is necessary based on the result of comparing the version of the firmware with the predetermined version, the second communication unit is configured to A control unit configured to update the firmware using the update firmware data received from the first communication unit. A first communication unit that receives a frame for searching for the second communication unit from a control device having a second communication unit, the frame including information indicating a version of firmware of the control device;
The firmware version is compared with a predetermined version, and when it is necessary to update the firmware, firmware data for update is transmitted from the first communication unit to the second communication unit, and the firmware of the firmware is transmitted to the control device. A management terminal having a first control unit that instructs updating;
The second communication unit;
A second control unit that updates the firmware using the update firmware data received by the second communication unit from the first communication unit when the first control unit instructs the update of the firmware; A control system comprising: In a management terminal having a first communication unit and a first control unit,
The first communication unit receives from the control device having the second communication unit a frame for searching for the second communication unit, the frame including information indicating a version of firmware of the control device;
The first control unit compares the version of the firmware with a predetermined version, and when it is necessary to update the firmware, the first communication unit transmits firmware data for update to the second communication unit, and the control is performed. A firmware update method that instructs the device to update firmware. In a management terminal having a first communication unit and a first control unit,
The first communication unit receives from the control device having the second communication unit a frame for searching for the second communication unit, the frame including information indicating a version of firmware of the control device;
The first control unit compares the version of the firmware with a predetermined version, and when it is necessary to update the firmware, the first communication unit transmits firmware data for update to the second communication unit, A program that causes a computer to execute processing for instructing the control device to update firmware.

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