JP3991985B2 - Optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus and memory erasing method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus for recording information on an optical disc and reproducing information recorded on an optical disc, and in particular, a function capable of rewriting and upgrading a program stored in a flash memory. The present invention relates to an optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus having The present invention also relates to a memory erasing method in an electronic device.

Conventionally, in an optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus, a firmware program for performing control and processing is stored in a flash memory, and each function of the apparatus is realized by executing the firmware program. If the function of the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus needs to be upgraded, the firmware program after the change is written in the flash memory.

That is, an optical disk recording / reproducing apparatus conventionally includes a flash memory for storing a firmware program and an upgrade program, and an SDRAM for temporarily storing data and programs, and is used for upgrading when the firmware is rewritten. The program is transferred from the flash memory to the SDRAM, and the SDRAM
If the firmware program has a function that allows the firmware program to be rewritten by starting up the version upgrade program, and the version of the function of the optical disc recording / reproducing device needs to be upgraded, the updated firmware program is stored in the flash memory. Is writing.

The procedure of the upgrade process for the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus will be described.
First, after transferring the upgrade program from the flash memory to the SDRAM,
The upgrade data (modified firmware program) is read from the optical disc on which the upgrade data is recorded, and is developed in the SDRAM. Thereafter, a process for erasing the contents of the flash memory is performed, and then the upgrade data stored in the SDRAM is transferred to the flash memory and written. By such processing, the upgrade data is written in the flash memory, and the upgrade of the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus is completed.
JP 2003-108397 A

However, in the erasure process in the upgrade process, the unused area on the flash memory is “0xFF”, and the erasure process is performed even for such a useless area. As a result, it takes a long time to erase, and as a result, the conventional optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus has a problem that it takes a lot of time for the upgrade process.

In the prior art of Patent Document 1, the difference in firmware program images is reduced to reduce the work time required for the version upgrade. However, an erase process for zeroing the contents of the flash memory is performed at the time of version upgrade. Since it cannot be omitted, the above problems cannot be solved.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and an optical disc recording / reproduction that can eliminate the erasing process for reducing the contents of the flash memory to zero at the time of version upgrade and can speed up the version upgrade. An object is to provide an apparatus and a memory erasing method.

_{In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is a flash memory as a first memory for storing a firmware program and a version upgrade program, and a second memory for temporarily storing data and programs. And when the firmware is rewritten, the firmware update program is transferred from the first memory to the second memory, and the firmware update program in the second memory is activated. in the optical disk recording and reproducing apparatus having a possible function be rewritten, and the final address selecting means for selecting the last address of one block for storing the firmware in said first memory as a final address is the selected The last address is the highest in the first memory Address determination means for determining whether or not the address is a later address, and when the address determination means determines that the final address is not the last address, the address from the next address to the last address Zero setting means for setting the content to zero, and when the final address is determined to be the last address by the address determination means or the content from the next address to the last address is zero A memory processing unit having an end processing unit for ending the memory erasing process for setting the address content to zero when set, and the operation of the memory processing unit as a preparation before performing the upgrade process Performed during power-on processing of the power supply, shutdown processing, or predetermined processing To provide an optical disc recording and reproducing apparatus.}

_{In this configuration, as preparation before performing the upgrade process, for example, when the power of the apparatus power supply is turned on, the memory processing unit starts operating during this process. Thus, the final address is the last address of one block for storing the firmware in the first memory is selected by the final address selecting means. Then, it is determined by the address determining means whether or not the selected last address is the last address of the first memory area, and when it is determined that it is the last address, the content of the address is set to zero. The memory erasing process to be set is ended by the end processing means. If it is determined by the address determining means that the final address is not the last address, the contents from the next address to the last address after the final address are set to zero by the zero setting means. Thereafter, the memory erasure process is terminated by the termination processing means.}

According to this configuration, as a preparation before performing the upgrade process, the unused area of the first memory that is not used is set to zero, so that the contents of the flash memory are erased to zero when the upgrade is performed. The processing can be omitted, and as a result, the version upgrade can be speeded up.

_{According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flash memory as a first memory for storing a firmware program and a version upgrade program, a second memory for temporarily storing data and programs, and the first memory. A memory erasing method in an electronic apparatus including a memory processing unit that performs erasing processing, wherein the memory processing unit sets a last address of one block storing the firmware in the first memory as a final address. selecting as, determining whether the selected final address is the last address of said first memory, the final when the last address is determined to the not the last address Setting the contents from the next address to the last address to zero, and the previous A step of ending the memory erasure process when the last address is determined by the address determination means or when the content from the next address to the last address of the last address is set to zero As a preparation before performing the upgrade process of the electronic device, the memory processing unit is operated during the power-on process, the shutdown process, or the predetermined process of the electronic device to execute the memory erasing process. A memory erasing method is provided.}

_{In this memory erasing method, as preparation before performing the upgrade process, for example, when the power of the electronic device is turned on, the last of one block for storing the firmware program in the first memory during this process Is selected as the final address. Then, it is determined whether or not the selected last address is the last address of the first memory. When it is determined that the selected last address is the last address, the memory erasing process for setting the content of the address to zero Is terminated. If it is determined that the last address is not the last address, the contents from the address next to the last address to the last address are set to zero. Thereafter, the memory erasing process is terminated.}

According to this memory erasing method, a wasteful area that is not used in the first memory is set to zero as preparation before performing the upgrade process, so that the contents of the flash memory are upgraded when the electronic device is upgraded. Can be eliminated, and as a result, version upgrade can be speeded up.

_{As described above, according to the present invention, in the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus having a function capable of rewriting the firmware program , the last address of one block storing the firmware program in the first memory is finally set. and final address selecting means for selecting as the address, and determines the address determining means for determining whether or not said selected end address is the last address of the first memory, the final address by said address determination means the last A zero setting means for setting the contents from the next address of the last address to the last address to zero when the address is judged not to be an address, and the final address is the last address by the address judgment means If judged or next to the last address And an end processing means for ending the memory erasing process when the content from the last address to the last address is set to zero, the operation of the memory processing section as a preparation before performing the upgrade process Is performed during the power-on process of the apparatus power supply, the shutdown process, or the predetermined process, so that the unused area of the first memory that is not used is set to zero as preparation before performing the upgrade process. As a result, when the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus is upgraded, it is possible to omit the erasing process for making the contents of the flash memory zero, and as a result, the upgrade can be speeded up. Therefore, since the processing time for version upgrade can be shortened, the time required for version upgrade at a factory and a service center can be shortened, and the cost can be reduced accordingly.}

_{According to the present invention, in the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus having a function capable of rewriting a firmware program , a final address which is the last address of one block storing the firmware program in the first memory A memory processing unit that sets the contents from the next address to the last address of the first memory to zero, and in preparation for performing the upgrade process, the operation of the memory processing unit Since it is performed during the ON process, the shutdown process, or the predetermined process, as a preparation before performing the version upgrade process, the unused area of the first memory that is not used is set to zero, and thereby the optical disk When upgrading the recording / playback device, the contents of the flash memory Erasing processing can be omitted, and as a result, the version can be speeded up. Therefore, since the processing time for version upgrade can be shortened, the time required for version upgrade at a factory and a service center can be shortened, and the cost can be reduced accordingly.}

_{According to the present invention, a flash memory as a first memory for storing a firmware program and a version upgrade program, a second memory for temporarily storing data and programs, and the first memory A memory erasing method in an electronic apparatus including a memory processing unit that performs erasing processing on the memory, wherein the memory processing unit stores a last address of one block that stores the firmware program in the first memory selecting as a final address, determining whether the last address of the selected last address said first memory, if said final address is determined to the not the last address Set the contents from the address after the last address to the last address to zero. And a memory erasure process when the final address is determined to be the last address by the address determination means or when the content from the next address to the last address of the final address is set to zero And erasing the memory by operating the memory processing unit during power-on processing, shutdown processing, or predetermined processing of the power supply of the electronic device as a preparation before performing the version upgrade processing of the electronic device. Since the process is executed, as a preparation before performing the upgrade process, the unused area of the first memory area that is not used is set to zero, so that flashing is performed when the electronic device is upgraded. This eliminates the erasure process of zeroing the memory contents. High-speed-flops can be achieved. Therefore, since the processing time for version upgrade can be shortened, the time required for version upgrade at a factory and a service center can be shortened, and the cost can be reduced accordingly.}

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration for explaining version upgrade processing in an optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

An optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) player has a flash memory 1 as a first memory for storing a firmware program and a version upgrade program, and a second memory for temporarily storing data and programs. Memory 2 that controls the flash memory 1 and the SDRAM 2 as well as the flash memory 1 and the SDRAM 3 that exchanges data with the flash memory 1 and executes the arithmetic processing, and a memory that erases the flash memory 1 And a processing unit 4.

The memory processing unit 4 includes a final address setting unit 41 that sets a final address of a firmware program in the flash memory 1 and an address determination that determines whether or not the set final address is the last address of the flash memory 1 Means 42; and zero setting means 43 for setting the contents from the next address to the last address to zero when the address judging means 42 judges that the last address is not the last address; Ending processing means 44 for ending the memory erasure processing when the address determining means 42 determines that the last address is the last address or after the contents up to the last address are set to zero. Have. This memory processing unit 4
This operation is performed during power-on processing of the apparatus power supply, shutdown processing, or predetermined processing as preparation before performing the version upgrade processing.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the memory erasing process executed before the upgrade process of the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The memory erasing process will be described with reference to this flowchart.

Before performing this memory erasing process, the upgrade program stored in the area 12 of the flash memory 1 is transferred to the area 22 of the SDRAM 2. This is because when the contents of the flash memory 1 are rewritten, the upgrade program in the flash memory 1 cannot be used. Therefore, the upgrade program is transferred to the SDRAM 2 and the version upgrade program in the SDRAM 2 is used. This is for performing the up processing.

As preparation before performing the upgrade process, for example, when the power of the apparatus power is turned on, the memory processing unit 4 starts operation during the power-on process. Thus, the final address of the firmware program in the flash memory 1 is set by the final address setting means 41 (step S1).

Then, it is determined by the address determination means 42 whether or not the set final address is the last address of the flash memory 1 (step S2). Is terminated by the termination processing means 44.

When the address determination means 42 determines that the final address is not the last address, the next address of the final address of the firmware program is set (step S3), and the content of the set address is “0x00”. It is determined whether or not (step S4). If the address content is not set to “0x00”,
The contents of the address are set to “0x00” by the zero setting means 43 (step S5).

When the content of the set address is “0x00”, or the content of the address is “0x00”
After “00” is set, it is determined whether or not the last address of the flash memory 1 has been processed (step S6). If the last address has not been processed, the set address is set to the next address ( Returning to the process of step S7) and step S4, the same process is performed.

When the processing for the last address of the flash memory 1, that is, the processing for setting the contents from the address next to the last address of the firmware program in the flash memory 1 to “0x00” is completed (step S6). This memory erasing process (a process for setting all unused areas of the flash memory 1 to “0x00”) is completed.

Note that if the process of setting all the unused areas of the flash memory 1 that are not used to “0x00” is continuously performed during the power-on process, the power-on process may be hindered due to a time problem. In this case, the memory erase process is divided by performing the process power-on process or the shutdown process several times, and the number of bytes that does not hinder the process power-on process or the shutdown process is set to “0x00”. Anyway. The memory erasing process may be executed during a predetermined process that does not affect the memory erasing process.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining version upgrade processing for the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus according to this embodiment. The version upgrade process will be described with reference to this flowchart.

After transferring the upgrade program from the flash memory 1 to the SDRAM 2,
The version upgrade data (modified firmware program) is read from the optical disk 5 on which the version upgrade data is recorded (step S11), developed on the SDRAM 2, and when development to the final part of the version upgrade file is completed (step S12).
Next, the erase process of the flash memory 1 is performed (step S13).

However, since the erasing process of the flash memory 1 has already been completed by the memory erasing process as described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2, the erasing process in step S13 is omitted. In step S14, a process for removing charges at once is performed. By this processing, the contents of each address of the flash memory 1 become “0xFF”.

Next, the upgrade data stored in the SDRAM 2 is transferred and written to the flash memory 2 (step S15). By such processing, the upgrade data is written into the flash memory 1, the optical disk recording / reproducing apparatus is actually operated using the flash memory 1, the functions are checked, and it is confirmed that the flash memory 1 is normal. Later (step S16), the version upgrade process is terminated.

In the present embodiment, the memory erasing process in the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus has been described. However, the memory erasing method of the present invention is not limited to the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus, but also in an electronic device having a flash memory storing a firmware program. Thus, the memory erasing process can be realized.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, as a preparation before performing the upgrade process, the unused area of the flash memory 1 that is not used is set to “0x00”.
At the time of version upgrade, all address contents of the flash memory 1 are “0x00”.
The erasing process (preprogram) to be performed can be omitted, and as a result, the version upgrade can be speeded up. Therefore, since the processing time for version upgrade can be shortened, the time required for version upgrade at a factory and a service center can be shortened, and the cost can be reduced accordingly.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure for demonstrating the upgrade process in the optical disk recording / reproducing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a memory erasing process that is executed before performing an upgrade process of the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a version upgrade process for the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus in the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Flash memory (first memory)
2 SDRAM (second memory)
4 Memory Processing Unit 41 Final Address Setting Unit 42 Address Determination Unit 43 Zero Setting Unit 44 End Processing Unit

Claims (2)

  _{A flash memory as a first memory for storing a firmware program and a version upgrade program, and a second memory for temporarily storing data and programs, and a program for version upgrade when rewriting the firmware In the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus having a function capable of rewriting the firmware program by starting the version upgrade program in the second memory by transferring the firmware from the first memory to the second memory,
Last address selection means for selecting the last address of one block storing the firmware in the first memory as the last address, and whether the selected last address is the last address of the first memory An address determination means for determining whether or not, and when the address determination means determines that the final address is not the last address, the contents from the address next to the last address to the last address are set to zero Memory when the final address is determined to be the last address by the zero setting means and the address determining means, or when the content from the next address to the last address is set to zero A memory processing unit having termination processing means for terminating the erasing process, An optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus characterized in that the operation of the memory processing unit is performed during a power-on process of the apparatus power supply, a shutdown process, or a predetermined process as a preparation before performing a startup process.   A flash memory as a first memory for storing a firmware program and a version upgrade program, a second memory for temporarily storing data and programs, and a memory process for performing an erasure process on the first memory A memory erasing method in an electronic device comprising:
The memory unit, the steps of the last address of one block for storing the firmware in a first memory is selected as the last address, the last address of the selected last address said first memory Determining whether the last address is not the last address, setting the content from the next address to the last address to zero when the final address is determined not to be the last address, A step of ending the memory erasure process when it is determined by the address determination means that the last address is the last address, or when the contents from the next address to the last address of the last address are set to zero; Have
  As preparation before performing version upgrade processing of an electronic device, the memory processing unit is operated during power-on processing, shutdown processing, or predetermined processing of the power supply of the electronic device to execute memory erasure processing Memory erase method.}

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