JPH06119162A - Function correcting method for information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the need for the tempering work of a ROM when a functional program is changed or added in an information processor in which the functional program is stored in the ROM. CONSTITUTION:A function managing table and a down load execution program are stored in the ROM 13 in advance. After the function managing table is stored by transferring from the ROM 13 to a RAM 14, the down load of a desired functional program is performed from a host computer 20 to the RAM 14 via communication equipment 15 according to the down load execution program, and also, the function managing table is corrected so as to utilize the functional program. Thus, information processing can be performed according to a down-loaded functional program. The down load can be executed on plural information processors 10A-10C for one time of processing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a function correcting method capable of changing / adding a function program in an information processing device having a ROM (read-only memory) storing the function program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a program storage type information processing apparatus, as shown in FIG. 4A, a boot program BP, a function FA program FA, a function B program FB, a function C program FC, etc. are stored in a ROM. It is known to have memorized. In addition, ER indicates an empty region.

[0003]

In the above information processing apparatus, when a request for modification such as change / addition of a function is made, it is necessary to rewrite the ROM (content change). For example, when there is a request to change the function B to B'for the ROM as shown in FIG. 4A, it is necessary to store the program FB 'of the function B'in the ROM instead of the program FB by reworking. was there.

Further, when a function correction request is made for a product that has been shipped, in addition to the work of re-writing the ROM, the work of replacing the ROM for each product is added, which requires a great deal of time and labor.

An object of the present invention is to rewrite a ROM,
It is to provide a new function correction method that does not require replacement work.

[0006]

The present invention is for communicating with a central processing unit, a read-only first memory that stores a function program, a readable / writable second memory, and another information processing device. In the information processing device, the central processing unit uses the second memory and the communication unit and performs information processing in accordance with the functional program in the first memory. A function management table for managing the function program and a download execution program for executing a download from the other information processing apparatus are stored in advance, and the function management table is stored in the first memory. After being transferred to and stored in the second memory, the other information processing device is transferred to the second memory via the communication means in accordance with the download execution program. Is characterized in that the available function program according to the download modify the function management table as well as download Nozomu function program.

[0007]

According to the function correcting method of the present invention, a desired function program is downloaded from the information processing device such as a host computer to the second memory via the communication means and used, so that the function can be easily changed or added. Can be dealt with. Further, the download can be executed in a single process for a plurality of information processing devices.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the information processing apparatus 10A, a CPU (central processing unit) 11 is connected to a ROM 13, a RAM (readable / writable memory) 14, a communication device 15 and the like via a bus 12. The communication device 15 is network-connected to a host computer 20 having a program storage device 21.

The information processing apparatuses 10B and 10C have the same configuration as the information processing apparatus 10A and are similarly network-connected to the host computer 20.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ROM 13 stores a boot program BP, a function management table FMT download execution program DP, a function FA program FA, a function B program FB, and a function C program FC.

The function management table FMT is for managing the function programs in the ROM. In this example, the number N of function programs N = 3, the identification information ID = A regarding the program FA and the execution start address A ₁ , Program FB
Identification information ID = B and execution start address B
₁ and the identification information ID = C regarding the program FC and the execution start address C ₁ are stored.

Next, an example of the function correcting operation will be described.
Will be described. When the power switch is turned on, in response thereto, the boot program is entered (), and the function management table FMT is transferred from the ROM 13 to the RAM 14 and stored (that is, copied). After that, the process moves to the download execution program DP (), and in accordance therewith, the desired function program is downloaded from the host computer 20 to the RAM 14 via the communication device 15 (). The function identification information ID is stored in the downloaded program.

For example, if the program FB 'of the function B'for changing the function B is downloaded, the identification information ID = B in this program is compared with the identification information ID in the function management table FMT, and they match. Determine ().
In this case, since it matches the identification information ID = B of the program of the function B, it is regarded as a function change, and the execution start address is corrected for the matching ID = B in the function management table FMT (). That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the execution start address k ₁ of the program FB 'is written. After this, run any other downloads.

For example, when the program FD of the function D is downloaded (), the identification information ID is compared similarly to the previous time, and it is determined whether they match (). In this case, since there is no match, it is regarded as a function addition, and the identification information ID = D and the execution start address L ₁ regarding the program FD are written in the function management table FMT (,). Also, the number of functions N is changed from 3 to 4.

When the processing for changing or adding the function is completed as described above, the download execution program DP is transferred to the function utilization program AP (). In the function use program AP, the function programs FA, FC, FB ′, F
Any of D can be used, and when each program is used, the function management table FMT is always referenced to execute the program.

As shown in the programs FA and FC in FIG. 3, the execution start address in the function management table FMT is ROM.
If the address in 13 is indicated, the corresponding function is not changed or added, and the function program in the ROM 13 is executed. If the execution start address in the function management table FMT points to an address in the RAM 14 as shown in the programs FB ′ and FD in FIG. 3, the corresponding function is changed / added, and the function program in the RAM 14 is changed. To execute.

The function correcting operation as described above is similarly performed for the information processing apparatuses 10B and 10C. 10 downloads from host computer 20
It is also possible to perform the processing once for a plurality of information processing devices such as A to 10C. By doing so, work efficiency is significantly improved.

[0018]

As described above, according to the present invention, the desired function program is downloaded from the other information processing apparatus to the RAM of the information processing apparatus via the communication apparatus and used. Modifications / additions can be easily dealt with, and there is no need to rework or replace the ROM.

Further, it is possible to execute the download for a plurality of information processing devices in a single process, and it is possible to greatly save the time and labor required for the function modification.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a storage format diagram for explaining a function correcting operation in the system of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a storage format diagram illustrating a relationship between a function management table and a function program.

FIG. 4 is a storage format diagram for explaining a conventional ROM rewriting operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10A to 10C Information processing device 11 CPU (central processing unit) 12 Bus 13 ROM (read-only memory) 14 RAM (readable / writable memory) 15 communication device 20 host computer 21 program storage device FMT function management table DP download execution program FA ~ FD, FB 'function program AP function use program

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A central processing unit, a read-only first memory storing a function program, a readable / writable second memory, and a communication unit for communicating with another information processing apparatus. In a central processing unit, in an information processing device using the second memory and the communication means and performing information processing in accordance with the function program, the first memory manages the function program. Function management table and a download execution program for executing a download from the other information processing apparatus are stored in advance, and the function management table is transferred from the first memory to the second memory and stored. Then, according to the download execution program, the desired function program is downloaded from the other information processing device to the second memory via the communication means. Function correction method of an information processing apparatus, characterized by the available function program according to the download modify the function management table as well as unload.