JPH07175640A - Function improvement system for electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the function of an already used former product without buying new product and to effectively utilize high-performance parts inside the electronic equipment of low working rate. CONSTITUTION:This function improvement system for electronic equipment is composed of an electronic equipment 3 to be operated by a driving signal outputted from a processing unit for decoding a first program stored in a first memory 8 and a second memory 1 which stores a second program whose function is more improved than the first program and is connected to the outside of the electronic equipment 3, and the electronic equipment 3 is provided with a third memory 10 stored with a conversion program for converting the second program to the object program of the electronic equipment 3 as a source program.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for improving the function of an electronic device, and more particularly, to improving the function of an old product that has already been used without replacing it with a new product having an updated program, and The present invention relates to a system for improving the function of an electronic device that enables effective use of internal electronic components.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in order to meet the diversified demands of users, various electronic devices such as office automation equipment and home electric appliances are
Product value, that is, improvement of functions, is actively being carried out.
In particular, recently, in addition to hardware, software has been actively developed, and as a result, many electronic devices having high quality and various functions have been developed.

In particular, the technical improvement of OA equipment such as computers or their peripherals (eg, printers) is very fast, and products having new functions are being developed one after another.

For example, the printer apparatus has a ROM storing a predetermined program in addition to the print head and the head drive section.
C that performs predetermined arithmetic control based on this program
It is configured to have a PU. In particular, C of the printer device
A PU having a higher performance than that of a CPU of another device is used, and high-speed printing is possible based on a program in a ROM.

[0005]

However, according to the conventional electronic equipment, when a new product in which a new function is added to the program is developed by version upgrade, there is a desire to replace an existing product with an old product feeling. There is an inconvenience that it will occur. In order to eliminate this inconvenience, it is conceivable to replace the ROM with an upgraded version, but in reality, it is difficult because a troublesome replacement work is required.

In the case of a printer device, high performance CP
Despite having U and a large-capacity memory, its CPU operates only during the printing operation, and the operating rate of the computer-connected printer is about 10 to 20.
There is a lot of waste with about%.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a function improving system for an electronic device which can improve the function of a used old product without replacing it with a new product.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a function improving system for an electronic device which can effectively use high performance components inside the electronic device having a low operating rate.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a first memory stored in a first memory in order to improve the function of a used old product without replacing it with a new product. The electronic device that operates according to the drive signal output from the processing unit that decodes the program, and the second program that has a function improved from that of the first program are stored, and a second device that is connected from outside the electronic device is stored. Consists of memory,
The electronic device provides a function improving system for an electronic device having a third memory that stores a conversion program for converting the second program as a source program into an object program of the electronic device.

The second memory is provided in another electronic device connected to a language conversion means for converting various programming languages into a common programming language, and the second program is used as a common programming language for the first programming. It has a configuration for providing to an electronic device.

The above electronic device has a flash ROM for storing an object program based on the second program converted by the conversion program.

Further, according to the present invention, in order to effectively use the high-performance components inside the electronic equipment having a low operation rate, the drive output from the processing unit for decoding the first program stored in the first memory is used. A first electronic device that operates by a signal, and a second electronic device whose function is improved by the first program.
And a second memory for storing the program of the above, which is externally connected to the first electronic device, and externally connected to the first electronic device, and output from the internal processing unit or the processing unit of the first electronic device. A third memory that stores a conversion program for converting the second program as a source program into an object program of the first electronic device. And an electronic device having a configuration in which the second electronic device operates according to a drive signal output from the first electronic device based on the object program converted by the conversion program of the third memory of the first electronic device. It is intended to provide a device function improving system.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The function improving system for electronic equipment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a function improving system for electronic equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic device function improving system includes a computer 1, a printer device 3, and a word processor 4.

The computer 1 has a source program whose function is improved (upgraded) than the program of the printer 3, and also translates various program languages and rewrites them into a predetermined program language (in this embodiment). In this case, for example, it is connected to the language conversion device 2 (for converting Fortran, Cobol, etc. into C language) (may be built in).

The printer 3 includes a head drive unit 5 and a print head 6 that perform a printing operation according to an image signal (usually a code signal) from the word processor 4, and an I / O that inputs and outputs signals to and from the control means. An interface 7, a ROM 8 storing a predetermined program, and a CP for executing various calculations based on the program in the ROM 8 to perform various controls
U9, a compiler memory 10 storing a compiler for converting a C language source program into an object program, and a rewritable EEPRO for appropriately storing the object program converted by the compiler memory 10.
It is provided with an M (flash ROM) 11.

The operation of the electronic equipment function improving system of the present invention will be described below with reference to the flow chart of FIG.

First, the program of the printer 3 (ROM 8
The contents of the above), the program whose function is improved, that is, the upgraded source program is held in the memory of the computer 1 from a floppy disk or the like.

Next, the source program transfer mode is input from the keyboard (not shown) of the computer 1. When the transfer mode is input, the printer 3 requests the computer 1 to transfer the source program (step 50).

When the computer 1 receives the transfer mode request from the printer 3, the computer 1 queries the printer 3 for the programming language of the printer 3 (step 51). On the other hand, the printer 3 answers the computer 1 with the program language of the printer 3 (C language in this embodiment) (step 52).

When the computer 1 inputs the program language of the printer 3 from the printer 3, the computer 1 determines whether or not the program language is common to the source program (step 53). As a result, if they are in common, the process directly proceeds to step 55, and if they are not in common, the process proceeds to step 54.

In step 54, the source program is once transferred to the language conversion device 2 connected to the computer 1, where the source program is translated, rewritten into the program language (C language) of the printer 3, and returned to the computer 1 again. .

When the source program becomes common with the programming language of the printer 3 in this way, the source program is transferred from the computer 1 to the printer 3 in step 55.

When the transfer is started, the source program is input to the control means through the I / O interface 7 of the printer 3, and the C language source program is converted into an object program by the compiler stored in the compiler memory 10. (Step 56).

When the upgraded source program is converted into an object program, the object program is a CP based on the program in the ROM 8.
It is stored in the EEPROM 11 under the control of U9 (step 57), and this completes the transfer of the source program.

When the source program is thus transferred to the printer 3 and stored in the EEPROM 11, the printer 3 stores the program in the ROM 8 and the EE.
The predetermined operation is performed based on the version-updated program stored in the PROM 11. Therefore, it is possible to improve the function of the used old product without replacing the new product with the new product.

Further, the printer 3 is equipped with a CPU 9 having higher performance than the word processor 4 and the like, although it is an electronic device having a low operating rate. Therefore, the printer 3
If the word processor 4 is operated using the upgraded program stored in the CPU 9 and the EEPROM 11, the high-performance parts of the printer 3 can be effectively used.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. The electronic device function improvement system of this embodiment is
The computer 1 and the word processor 4 are connected to each other.

The word processor 4 includes a head drive unit 12 for reading / writing image information from / to the floppy disk 13A, a magnetic head 13, a display 14 for displaying an image, and a keyboard for inputting sentences and various commands. 15, an I / O interface 16 for inputting / outputting signals to / from a control unit described later, a ROM 17 storing a predetermined program, and a predetermined operation based on the program of the ROM 17 to perform various controls. C
A PU 18, a RAM 19 for temporarily storing information read from the floppy disk 13A, a compiler memory 20 storing a compiler for converting a C language source program into an object program, and an object program converted by the compiler memory 20. It comprises a rewritable EEPROM 21 which stores it appropriately.

With such a configuration, it is possible to improve the function of the used old product word processor without replacing the new product word processor upgraded by the transfer of the program described in the first embodiment. .

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. The electronic device function improvement system of this embodiment is
The computer 1 and the facsimile device 22 are connected to each other.

The facsimile device 22 includes an irradiation lamp 25 for irradiating the original 23 placed on the platen 24, and an image sensor for receiving the reflected light from the original 23 through the self-fox lens 26 and outputting an image signal. 27,
A / which converts the image signal from analog to digital
A D converter 28, a line buffer 29 that sequentially stores image signals of several lines, an encoding circuit 30 that encodes the image signals of the line buffer 29 by a signal compression method such as MR or MH, and an encoded image. Modulate signal to NCU
MODEM 3 for transmitting to a line through (line connection unit) 32 or demodulating an image signal received from the line
1, a decoding circuit 33 that decodes the image signal demodulated by the MODEM 31, and a recording head 34 that records on a recording sheet by the image signal whose signal compression is released by the decoding, as a driving unit. .

On the other hand, as a control unit, a ROM 35 storing a predetermined program, and a CPU 36 for performing various controls by executing a predetermined calculation based on the program in the ROM 35.
A RAM 37 for temporarily storing the operation result, a compiler memory 38 for storing a compiler for converting a C language source program into an object program, and a rewritable memory for appropriately storing the object program converted by the compiler memory 38. It has an EEPROM 39.

With such a configuration, it is possible to improve the function of the used old product facsimile without replacing the new product facsimile upgraded by the transfer of the program described in the first embodiment. .

In the above-described embodiments, the functions of the printer, the word processor, and the facsimile have been improved, but the present invention is not limited to these electronic devices, and may be, for example, a scanner, a copying machine, or the like. Further, it may be a home electric appliance such as a camera, a video camera, a video player, a CD player, a microwave oven, a refrigerator, and a washing machine. Also, although the source program was transferred from the computer,
A recording medium such as a C card may be directly set in the electronic device and may be compiled into the programming language of the electronic device.

Apart from the above embodiment, examples of use that can be executed by using the high performance CPU and large capacity memory of the printer are as follows. (1) Receive compressed data from a personal computer, decompress the data inside the printer, and print it. In this use example, it is possible to improve the decrease in the processing speed due to the limit of the data transfer speed of the printer or the personal computer. Further, in the case of the printer attached to the scanner, the image data can be compressed and then transferred to the personal computer, the data transfer time can be shortened and the external storage device of the personal computer can be effectively utilized. (2) Receive graphic image data from a personal computer, perform image rotation, enlargement, reduction, rendering, or other processing, and return the processed data to the personal computer. In this usage example, the CPU used in the printer can process faster than the CPU used in the personal computer. Can be used for. (3) Download the database software and data,
Performs high-speed data search, high-speed sorting, and advanced printing processing. In this usage example, the printer can be used as another computer when it is not used as a printer.

[0037]

As described above, according to the function improving system for electronic equipment of the present invention, the electronic device operated by the drive signal output from the processing unit for decoding the first program stored in the first memory is operated. The electronic device includes a device and a second memory that stores a second program whose function is improved from that of the first program and is connected from the outside of the electronic device. The electronic device uses the second program as a source program. Since it has the third memory storing the conversion program for converting into the object program of the device, it is possible to improve the function of the used old product without replacing it with the new product.

In addition, the first electronic device having a low operating rate is
When the second electronic device is operated from the outside and the second electronic device is operated by the drive signal output from the first electronic device based on the object program converted by the third memory of the first electronic device. , The high-performance components of the first electronic device can be effectively used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Computer 2 Language Conversion Device 3 Printer Device 4 Word Processor 5 Head Drive Unit 6 Print Head 7 I / O Interface 8 RO
M 9 CPU 10 Compiler memory 11 EEPROM 12 Head drive unit 13 Magnetic head 13A Floppy disk 14 Display 15 Keyboard 16 I / O interface 17 RO
M 18 CPU 19 RA
M 20 Compiler memory 21 EE
PROM 22 Facsimile 23 Original document 24 Platen 25 Light source 26 Selfox lens 27 Image sensor 28 A / D conversion circuit 29 Line buffer 30 Encoding circuit 31 MO
DEM 32 NCU 33 Decoding circuit 34 Recording head 35 RO
M 36 CPU 37 RA
M 38 Compiler memory 39 EE
PROM

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An electronic device that operates according to a drive signal output from a processing unit that decodes a first program stored in a first memory; and a second device having a function improved from that of the first program. A second memory configured to store a program and be connected from outside the electronic device, wherein the electronic device stores a conversion program for converting the second program as a source program into an object program of the electronic device. 3. A function improving system for an electronic device, comprising: 2. The second memory is provided in another electronic device connected to a language conversion means for converting various programming languages into a common programming language, and the second program is used in the common programming language. The function improving system for an electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the system is provided to the first electronic device. 3. The function improving system for an electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device has a flash ROM that stores the object program based on the second program converted by the conversion program. 4. A first electronic device that operates according to a drive signal output from a processing unit that decodes the first program stored in the first memory; and a function improved from the first program. A second memory that stores a second program and is externally connected to the first electronic device; and a second memory that is externally connected to the first electronic device and is output from the processing unit of the first electronic device. A second electronic device that operates according to a drive signal that is stored, wherein the first electronic device stores a conversion program that converts the second program as a source program into an object program of the first electronic device. 3 memory, the second electronic device to the object program converted by the conversion program of the third memory of the first electronic device Enhancements system for an electronic apparatus, characterized by having a configuration operating by the drive signal outputted from the first electronic device brute.