JPH11316722A - Program updating method in handy terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To rewrite into the latest one without being conscious of the edition of a program of its own handy terminal by rewriting into the newest program when the edition number of the program is referred to and the program stored in a host computer is not the newest one. SOLUTION: A handy terminal which receives a communication start instruction telegraphic message transmits an edition number of a program stored in a flash ROM 10 to a host computer. The host computer compares it with the edition number of a program stored in a self-file and when the edition number of the program stored in the ROM 10 is newer than the edition number of the program stored in the file of the host computer, a CPU 9 of the handy terminal transfers a program which is stored in the ROM 10 and a RAM 11 to the host computer. After that, data which is collected by a command of the CPU 9 is transmitted to the host computer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable information terminal (hereinafter referred to as "handy terminal"), and more particularly, to a method of updating a program thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A handy terminal has a rewritable nonvolatile memory (Flash ROM), a battery-backed RAM, etc., in which a basic program for input / output device control and an application program (hereinafter collectively referred to as a program) are rewritten. It is installed. When the above-mentioned handy terminal is used for daily work, an error (program bug) of a program may be found or the specification of the program may be changed. In such a case, it is necessary to rewrite the program of the operating handy terminal, and a host computer for transferring the rewrite program to the handy terminal is required for rewriting.
It was necessary to distribute a new program for rewriting from the manufacturer of the program to the host computer, and perform the rewriting of the program individually for all the handy terminals holding the program rewriting work. These series of operations are complicated and performed by a dedicated person such as a handy terminal administrator.

[0003]

As described above, the handy terminal manager must select one handy terminal to be rewritten, which is the total number of handy terminals, and select a handy terminal that has not been rewritten. No. The rewriting operation is performed by starting a program for rewriting the program stored in the main body of the handy terminal and transferring a new program from the host computer to the handy terminal. Due to the nature of the equipment, handy terminals are often distributed and operated over a wide area (for example, a courier driver carries out a work with one handy terminal per person). Therefore, for the rewriting, it was necessary for the handy terminal manager to collect handy terminals distributed over a wide area and perform the above-mentioned work. In addition, when the handy terminals are gathered, it is necessary to prepare a replacement handy terminal or take measures such as suspending the operation, and in the worst case, the operation of the handy terminal is delayed. It is necessary to rewrite the Handy Terminal program without the help of a dedicated person and without delaying the work.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and issues a handy terminal storing the latest program, data stored in the handy terminal, and various commands. A method of updating a program performed between the host computer and a host computer, wherein the program stored in the host computer is older than the program stored in the handy terminal, and the program is stored in the host computer. When updating a stored program to a new program, a version number of the program stored in the handy terminal is transmitted to the host computer, and the program stored in the host computer is transmitted. If the program stored on the host computer is not the latest version, refer to the latest version number. Rewriting the program Handita - proposes a method of updating the program in Terminal.

[0005]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS When rewriting a handy terminal program from an old one to a new one, one handy terminal, which has already rewritten the program, is delivered to the user (operator). This one is a program that is rewritten by a full-time administrator. If the user (operator) operates this one handy terminal in daily work, when the collected data is transmitted to the host computer, a difference in the version number is detected by the transmission protocol for version number confirmation. become. Since the latest version of the program is written in the handy terminal, the new version of the program is transferred and stored in the host computer together with the new version number. In this state, daily work of transferring data collected by another handy terminal user (operator) to the host computer is performed. At this time, in the version number confirmation protocol, the version of the program stored in the handy terminal is older than the version number of the program stored in the host computer, so the new version of the program stored on the host computer is transferred to the handy terminal. After the transfer, normal data transfer processing is performed.

[0006]

[Operation] By operating a handy terminal in which one new basic program is written, it is possible to write a program to another old version of the handy terminal, and rewriting work is performed by a handy terminal user (operator). It will be performed automatically without being conscious.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a handy terminal 1 of the present invention. Reference numeral 2 denotes an LCD display unit for displaying collected data and a message from the main body of the handy terminal 1 to an operator (not shown). Reference numeral 3 denotes an LED, and a handy terminal 1
When the main body is turned on, it is lit. 4 is a buzzer and a handy terminal 1
This is the part that emits a warning sound from the main unit. Reference numeral 5 denotes a key input portion, on which a numeric keypad and various function keys are arranged for inputting collected data. Reference numeral 6 denotes a communication connector, which is used to communicate with a host computer (not shown) provided outside.
-232C cable (not shown) or the like. Reference numeral 7 denotes a battery pack which stores a rechargeable power supply battery (not shown) for operating the handy terminal 1. Reference numeral 8 denotes a charging terminal, which is used when the above-described rechargeable power supply battery is charged.

FIG. 2 is an electrical block diagram of the handy terminal 1. As shown in FIG. Reference numeral 9 denotes a central processing unit which is a control means of the handy terminal 1, and executes processing according to the present invention and predetermined processing of an application program according to a program stored in a rewritable flash ROM 10 or RAM 11. .
By operating the key input unit 5 described above, data input to the LCD display unit 2 via the power supply circuit 12 is displayed. When transmitting the collected data to an externally provided host computer (not shown), the above-mentioned RS-232C is connected to the communication connector 6 which is an external interface.
By connecting a cable (not shown), the CPU 9
The data is transmitted in accordance with the command. Reference numeral 13 denotes a calendar circuit, which is provided for generating year / month / day / hour / minute / second information. The year / month / day / hour / minute / second information is protected by backup lithium (not shown). Buzzer drive circuit 4
And the LED drive circuit 3 are also commanded by the CPU 9 respectively.
Perform a predetermined operation.

FIG. 3 shows an arrangement of programs stored in the flash ROM 10 and the RAM 11 provided in the main body of the handy terminal 1. Reference numeral 14 connects a host computer (not shown) to the handy terminal 1, connects the handy terminal 1 and
This is a communication protocol for performing data transfer. Reference numeral 15
Is the version number of the program stored in the handy terminal 1. Reference numeral 16 denotes a version number confirmation protocol, which is a version of a new version stored in the host computer when the version of the program of the handy terminal is older than the program stored in the host computer (not shown). An input / output control program for transmitting a version of the program to the handy terminal is stored. Reference numeral 17 stores an application program for causing the handy terminal 1 to perform various operations.

Next, the actual operation will be described based on the transmission protocol (14 in FIG. 3) of the data transmission program shown in FIG. A user (operator) (not shown) of the handy terminal 1 connects the handy terminal 1 to a host computer (not shown) as part of daily work and collects data collected in the handy terminal 1. Activate daily work to send (stock data, sales data, etc.) to the host computer. This is a process for transmitting the data (collected data) stored in the handy terminal 1 to the host computer. At this time, the handy terminal calls and executes the transmission program 14 in FIG. Similarly, the transmission control program is executed on the host computer. First, the host computer transmits a communication start instruction message to the handy terminal 1 (S1). The handy terminal 1, having received the communication start instruction message, transmits the version number of the program stored in the flash ROM 10 to the host computer (S2).

The host computer that has received the version number of the program stored in the handy terminal 1 compares the version number of the program stored in its own file with the host computer. The processing is performed after being classified into the following three types by comparison. (1) Processing when the version number of the program stored in the flash ROM 10 of the handy terminal 1 is newer than the version number of the program stored in the file of the host computer. (2) The version number of the program stored in the host computer is
Processing when the version is newer than the version number of the program stored in the handy terminal. (3) Processing when the version number of the program stored in the host computer and the version number of the program stored in the handy terminal 1 are the same. According to the result of the determination, the processing is performed after being classified into the above three types.

A process when the version number of the program stored in the flash ROM 10 provided in the handy terminal 1 is newer than the version number of the program stored in the file of the host computer will be described. The host computer (not shown) has a CPU of the handy terminal 1 for the handy terminal 1.
9 is instructed (transmission of an electronic message) to request transmission of the program stored in the flash ROM 10 and RAM 11 (S3). Upon receiving the instruction (telegram), the CPU 9 of the handheld terminal 1 executes the flash RO
M10, the program stored in the RAM 11 is transferred to the host computer (S4). Host computer
The computer accumulates the transferred program from the handy terminal 1 in a file provided in the host computer, and first writes the version number of the program transmitted from the handy terminal 1 in the file. Thereafter, the host computer sends an instruction (telegram) including a command "Send collected data" to the handy terminal 1 (S5). On the other hand, the handy terminal 1 is a file (not shown) provided in the host computer with data (stock data and sales data, etc.) collected by a command from the CPU 9. (S6), and the process ends.

Here, the message format shown in FIG. 5 will be described. The reference numeral 18 contains (02) HEX and STX in hexadecimal. In the part of 19, (00) HEX: start instruction, (0)
1) HEX: version number, (02) HEX: program request, (03) HEX: data is a program, (04) H
EX: program rewrite instruction, (05) HEX: program rewrite preparation OK, (06) HEX: request for collection data, (07) HEX: data is collection data, (0)
8) HEX: final data, (09) HEX: abnormality found,
(0A) HEX: Censored, as appropriate. Reference numeral 20
Describes the length of a message in 1 byte, and some commands have a length of 0 depending on the type of command. 21 has a maximum of 25
The message data of up to 5 bytes is stored. 22 has 16
(03) HEX and ETX are stored in radix. 23 is a check code, and the value from STX to ETX is XORed
The stored value is stored. As shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment, the version number of the program stored in the file of the host computer is set to 2, and the version number of the program stored in the flash ROM 10 of the handheld terminal 1 is set to 1. doing.

Next, the program stored in the host computer is the flash RO of the handy terminal 1.
The processing when the program is newer than the program stored in M10 will be described. The host computer transmits an instruction (telegram) including a command of "rewrite the program" to the handy terminal 1 (S7).
The handy terminal 1 having received the message erases the program stored in the flash ROM 10 or the RAM 11 and transmits a "program rewriting preparation OK" command to the host computer (S8).
The host computer that has received the "program rewriting preparation OK" command transmits the new program stored in the file of the host computer to the handy terminal 1 (S9). Handy terminal 1
Receives a new program transmitted from the host computer, and issues a flash RO
Write to M10. Thereafter, the version number of the program transmitted from the host computer is first written into the flash ROM 10, and the data collected from the host computer is transmitted to the handy terminal 1 in the same manner as described above. An instruction (telegram) including the command of "send" is transmitted (S5). On the other hand, the handy terminal 1 is a file (not shown) provided in the host computer with data (stock data and sales data, etc.) collected by a command from the CPU 9. (S6), and the process ends.

Next, the processing when the program stored in the host computer and the program stored in the handy terminal 1 are the same will be described. In this case, there is no need to change the program, so the host computer sends the "collection data" to the handy terminal 1.
Is transmitted (S5). The handy terminal 1 having received the message transmits the collected data to the host computer (S6), and ends the processing.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention, the version number of the program stored in the host computer is compared with the version number of the program of the handy terminal, and the protocol for transferring the new version of the program to the old one is used in daily work. Embed in collected data transfer processing. As a result, the user (operator) of the handy terminal can rewrite the version of the program of the handy terminal to the latest one without being aware of the version. The operator simply replaces the new version of the handy terminal with one old handy terminal, and the handy terminal program is rewritten via the host computer, and the same host is used by one handy terminal. The version of all other handy terminal programs in operation will be updated. The rewriting of the program is performed at any time without any special staff intervention and without any interruption of the work.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a handy terminal.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a handy terminal.

[Fig. 3] Arrangement of data in flash ROM and RAM

Fig. 4 Transmission protocol

Fig. 5 Message format

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing setting of a version number;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Handy terminal 2 LCD display part 3 LED 4 Buzzer 5 Key input part 6 Communication connector 7 Battery pack 8 Charging terminal 9 Central processing unit 10 Flash ROM 11 RAM 12 Power supply circuit 13 Calendar function 14 Program for checking version number 15 Version number storage part 16 Input / output control program 17 Application program 18 Part expressed in hexadecimal number 19 Command 20 Message length 21 Message body 22 Part expressed in hexadecimal number 23 Check code

Claims (1)

[Claims] A method of updating a program performed between a handy terminal storing a latest program, data stored in the handy terminal, and a host computer issuing various commands. , The handita
The program stored in the host computer is older than the program stored in the terminal, and when updating the program stored in the host computer to a new program, the program stored in the handy terminal is used. Transmitting the version number of the program to the host computer, referring to the version number of the program stored in the host computer,
A program updated in a handy terminal, when the program stored in the terminal is not the latest one, the program is rewritten to the latest program.