JP2961922B2 - Data recorder - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data recorder suitable for use in a digital data streamer used for backing up data created by a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Data created by a computer is usually backed up by a data recorder such as a digital data streamer (DDS). It has already been proposed to use a digital audio tape recorder (DAT) as this data recorder. DA
This is because, in the case of T, a large amount of data can be saved, and the high-speed search function enables high-speed data search.

By the way, firmware for controlling such a data recorder main body (F / W, which is generally used as a concept wider than software)
The program data which is a part of EP-RO is generally
The memory is stored in a memory means (IC) such as a mask ROM or the like, and the stored memory means is used by being mounted on an IC socket mounted on a printed circuit board in the apparatus.

In such a data recorder, program data (including an update program for rewriting) already provided in the apparatus is often rewritten and upgraded by version upgrade or change of specifications. ing. In the following description, this update program is called a reboot program.

[0005]

In the data recorder using the above-mentioned memory means, when it is desired to exchange the program data and update the firmware, it is necessary to exchange the memory means containing the new program data. The replacement work is troublesome.
That is, it is necessary to remove the corresponding printed circuit board from the apparatus cabinet, remove the mounted old IC (memory means), and reinsert the IC storing the new program data. Therefore, the work for the upgrade is very troublesome.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems. In particular, the present invention uses the recording medium itself used in the data recorder as a program data storing means for upgrading, so that it is quick and simple. The present invention proposes a data recorder capable of performing an update process such as an upgrade.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, there is provided a data storage device for saving external data to a recording medium based on program data stored in a first memory means. In the recorder,
The program data to be updated that constitutes the firmware is stored in the same type of recording medium as the recording medium,
The recording medium storing the program data to be updated is reproduced, and the program data to be updated is stored in the second memory means. The update program data in the first memory means is stored in the third memory means. Evacuation, erasing the first memory means based on the update program of the third memory means, and then transferring the program data of the second memory means to the first memory means,
The update of the program data of the first memory means is performed.

[0008]

As shown in FIG. 1, a recording medium 30 used by the data recorder itself to save data is used as program data storage means for upgrading.

As shown in FIG. 3, based on the reboot program stored in the flash memory 20, the latest program data (firmware) to be rebooted is read from the dedicated magnetic tape 30 and saved in the buffer memory 21. (Steps 31a, 32, 3)
3). Thereafter, the program data including the new reboot program is transferred from the buffer memory 21 to the flash memory 20 (steps 38, 39, 40). After the transfer, processing is performed based on the new reboot program saved in the flash memory 20, and the RAM 10
The old reboot program saved in (1) is erased (step 42).

As described above, new program data is stored in the magnetic tape (dedicated magnetic tape storing program data) 30 which is the same recording medium as the recording medium used by itself, and the new program data is read to update the flash memory 20. As a result, the exchange of old and new program data can be performed quickly and easily.

[0011]

Next, a case where an example of a data recorder according to the present invention is applied to a DDS will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic system diagram showing an example of a case where a DAT is used as a data recorder. In the figure, 1 is a rotary DAT (R-DAT), 2 is an interface bus, 3 is a host computer, and 4 and 5 are internal buses. Data (digital data) created by the host computer 3 is saved in DAT1. DAT1
As is well known, a recording / reproducing unit 6, a recording amplifier 7, a reproducing amplifier 8, a signal processing circuit 9, a RAM (SRAM) 10, a data control unit 11, an interface board 12, a system control unit 13, a servo motor drive circuit 14, etc. Be composed.

The recording / reproducing unit 6 has a rotating drum (not shown) on which a magnetic head is mounted. A magnetic tape as a recording medium is wound around an angular range of approximately 90 °, and two magnetic drums having different azimuths. Data is recorded and reproduced by the head. Digital data for backup supplied from the host computer 3 via the buses 5 and 4 is input to the interface board 12 and then sent to the data control unit 11, RAM 10, signal processing circuit 9 and the like in accordance with an instruction from the system control unit 13. Predetermined signal processing is performed. By this signal processing, digital data converted into the DAT format is obtained. The converted digital data is supplied to the recording / reproducing unit 6 where it is recorded and saved, and the saved digital data is reproduced by the recording / reproducing unit 6 when necessary.

The reproduced digital data is subjected to an inverse conversion process in a signal processing circuit 9. The inversely converted digital data is sent to the data control unit 11, the interface board 1
The data is input to the host computer 3 via the computer 2 and reused.

The system control unit 13, the signal processing circuit 9, and the data control unit 11 include an absolute frame number (AFNO),
Predetermined signals such as a mode instruction, a relative frame number (LFNO), and a data transfer instruction are exchanged with each other in accordance with an instruction from the system control unit 13.

In the present invention, a first memory means 20 for a new program transfer program is provided, in which program data including a reboot program is stored, and new program data to be updated in accordance with the instruction of the reboot program is stored. Is done. The new program data includes the latest upgraded reboot program.

A rewritable memory is used as the memory means 20 provided to accomplish such processing. A typical memory is a flash memory. FIG. 1 shows an example using a flash memory. In addition to the flash memory 20, a buffer memory 21 as second memory means is provided. Reference numeral 22 denotes a display element such as a photodiode or a liquid crystal (LCD), and reference numeral 23 denotes a function key used at the time of a program update process (reboot process).

The latest reboot program (latest firmware) described above is stored in the same recording medium as that used for saving data in the host computer 3. When the DAT is used, the recording medium is, of course, the magnetic tape 30 (see FIG. 1). Therefore, as the magnetic tape 30, for example, a dedicated magnetic tape 30 in which only the program data to be updated is stored can be used. The format (tape format) of the data written on the magnetic tape 30 is the same as the tape format of the magnetic tape used for data saving.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a tape format of a dedicated magnetic tape 30 on which program data is stored.
This magnetic tape 30 is divided into a head area and a data area, like the magnetic tape for data saving. The head area is initially a device area.

In the device area, data is not recorded, and is prepared as an area for loading a tape. Of the following references and system areas,
In the reference area, data for determining reliability such as the number of times of use of the tape and the error rate are recorded. However, due to the configuration as a dedicated magnetic tape for program data,
Such data may not be particularly recorded in this area.

At the end of the data area, a data end area (E
OD) and a tape end area (EOT).
D indicates data indicating the end of the data, and EOT indicates data indicating the end of the tape. The leading area of the data area is a vendor group, and the vendor group has an area (user area, which is allocated from the 5756th byte to the 126613th byte) which is not particularly defined. Identification data (ID) indicating that the magnetic tape 30 is a dedicated magnetic tape storing program data is recorded.
For example, identification data (user name, type of data recorder, type, type of recording data, etc.) such as “SONY DDS SDT-2000 F / W UPDATE TAPE” is recorded in ASCII code.

Program data for new firmware (F / W) is recorded from the group next to the vendor group. In each of these areas, data is recorded in group units. Each group GP1, GP2, GP3,
.. Is a recording area in units of 128 Kbytes. The above-described new program data length including the reboot program data is a data length of approximately three groups in the case of this example, and therefore, the groups GP1, GP2, GP3
Is recorded with the new program data. Just in case, the same program data is transferred to another group GP4, G
P5,... May be recorded double or triple. FIG. 2 shows an example of double recording.

Using the magnetic tape 30 dedicated to firmware (program data) as described above, the program data is rebooted. FIG. 3 shows an example of a change processing flow for that. As a prerequisite, a cassette 31 containing a dedicated magnetic tape 30 is loaded into the DAT 1 during the reboot process (see FIG. 1).

When the cassette 31 is loaded, the recording / reproducing section 6 automatically enters the reproducing mode in accordance with the instruction of the reboot program stored in the flash memory 20, and the data recorded on the magnetic tape 30 is reproduced.
Among the reproduced data, data (identification code) of the vendor group is analyzed (step 31a). When the data analysis reveals that this is a magnetic tape storing the program data for updating (step 32), at least three subsequent groups G
The program data recorded in P1, GP2 and GP3 is read and stored in a buffer memory (RAM, etc.) 2
1 (step 33).

After saving the program data, the cassette data is unloaded and the cassette 31 is discharged (step 34). Thereafter, in order to indicate that special data has been read from the magnetic tape 30, in this example, the display element 22 is specially lighted (for example, blinks) to call attention to the operator (step 35). Next, in order to perform a reboot process, an operation of an unusual operation key is prompted (step 36). In this example, the eject key 23 is 10
It is checked whether the operation has been performed continuously for at least two seconds, and when the other state continues for a predetermined time (step 3
7) It is determined that the process is not the reboot process, and the process exits from the reboot process.

On the other hand, when it is confirmed that the eject key 23 has been continuously operated for a predetermined time or more, first, the reboot program stored in the flash memory 20 is stored in the RAM 10 as the third memory means. Evacuation processing is performed (step 38).
The reboot process is continued in the state of being saved in the AM 10 (step 39). That is, based on the reboot program saved in the RAM 10, the flash memory 2
0, the new program data (including the new reboot program) stored in the buffer memory 21 is stored in the flash memory 2.
0 (step 40).

When the transfer of the new program data is completed, the display element 22 is turned off to alert the operator to the end of the reboot process (step 41). Firmware) to end the reboot process (step 42).

In the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which a magnetic tape is used as a recording medium in a data recorder using a DAT, but this is an example, and the same type of recording medium as a recording medium for recording backup data is used. The present invention can be applied by using a medium.

[0029]

As described above, in the data recorder according to the present invention, new program data to be updated is stored in the same recording medium as the recording medium for data saving, and this recording medium is stored based on the current update program. This saves new program data.

According to this, new program data can be easily saved without any operation of replacing the IC storing the program data as in the prior art, so that the updating process can be executed quickly and accurately. Has the features that can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a main part showing an example of a data recorder according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a tape format of a magnetic tape.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a firmware change processing flow.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 DAT 3 Host computer 6 Recording / reproducing part 9 Signal processing circuit 10 RAM for saving a reboot program 11 Data control part 12 Interface board 13 System control part 20 Memory means (flash memory) 21 Buffer memory 22 Display element 23 Eject key 30 Firmware storage Magnetic tape

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G06F 3/06

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A data recorder in which external data is saved on a recording medium based on program data stored in a first memory means, wherein firmware is configured on a recording medium of the same type as the recording medium. The program data to be updated is stored. The recording medium storing the program data to be updated is reproduced, and the program data to be updated is stored in the second memory means. Saving the updated program data in the third memory means, erasing the first memory means based on the updated program in the third memory means, and then transferring the program data in the second memory means to the first memory means. Means for updating the program data in the first memory means. A data recorder characterized in that it has been made so.