JPH1153193A - Remotely downloadable terminal device, downloading method applied to loader program that same terminal device has, and recording medium where same loader program is recorded - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enrich a software group without any increase in production cost by dividing a memory for software storage into areas and performing revision by the divided areas. SOLUTION: In respective banks of a program group storage part 5, software modules are decentralized and stored. Here, the respective banks are EEPROMs 51 to 54 and have free areas at their end parts. Thus, the software group is stored in the banks and revised, bank by bank. Therefore, a RAM used as a buffer for downloading bank data needs to have only one bank and hardware which can withstand abnormality occurrence during the revision is reduced in scale. Further, master and back-up loader programs are arranged in two banks, so when one loader program is started, the loader program itself can be revised.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a terminal device used in a service system using a wired or wireless communication medium,
The present invention relates to a download method applied to a loader program provided in the terminal device, and a recording medium recording the loader program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a broadcasting service business using a wired or wireless communication medium has received a lot of attention from the industrial world. Among them, digital satellite broadcasting and digital CATV have attracted much attention, and various business developments are expected in the future. On the other hand, it is "maintenance of the terminal device" that bothers the organizer of the service business. The terminal device referred to here is highly intelligent by implementing various software, and the maintenance of the terminal device means performing bug correction or specification change of the software. Bug fixes and specification changes are usually made by software version upgrades, but it goes without saying that version upgrades become more difficult as terminal devices become more popular.

In order to uniformly upgrade a terminal device that has become widespread in many homes, a host station may transmit the latest version of a software module via a communication medium, and the terminal device may receive and use the latest software module. . When the terminal device is a personal computer type and includes a hard disk device and a file system for accessing an area on the hard disk device in directory units and file units, version upgrade is realized by so-called installation processing. Specifically, first, the host station transmits the latest version of software and installer software for installing the latest version.
When the terminal device receives the latest version and the installer, the installer software creates a new directory on the hard disk device and stores the latest version in the created directory (where the software module of the old version was stored. The latest version may be stored in the directory.)

[0004] It should be noted here that the terminal devices used in the broadcasting service business as described above are:
Because it is intended to be provided to many homes at low prices, it is common to use a so-called microcomputer system type in which software modules are directly stored and used in EEPROM or the like. Needless to say, it does not even have a hard disk drive (here, "EEP" in EEPROM means electrically erasable a
Abbreviation for nd programmable, a ROM that can electrically erase stored contents and rewrite stored contents. ). Therefore, it is impossible to access the software module in file units or directory units when upgrading.

In order to upgrade the software module, what is called a remote download is directly performed on the software module stored in the EEPROM or the like in the terminal device. Generally, downloading refers to a process of extracting a part of data stored in a secondary storage and writing the data to an internal area of a primary storage, and remote downloading refers to a process in which a memory device provided in a terminal device is primarily stored. This is a download in which a hard disk device or the like installed in a communication service host station is assumed to be secondary storage, assuming storage. In realizing the remote download, the host station reads a part of the data stored in the secondary storage and transmits it to the terminal device. The terminal device receives the data, analyzes the program and data included in the data, performs error detection processing and the like, and writes the data in the free space in the primary storage (the free space referred to here is A region other than the region already occupied by the software module among the regions in the primary storage.)

[0006] The above processing in the terminal device is performed by the processor mounted in the terminal device by the EEPROM in the terminal device.
This is performed by executing the procedure of the loader program recorded in the OM. In principle, remote download is
The processor in the terminal device according to the loader program,
Although the above processing may be performed, it is too dangerous to write the received latest version of the software module directly on the old version. Because if the power of the terminal device is cut off while overwriting the latest version, both the new version upgrade and the old version upgrade in the primary storage will be incomplete, and neither of them will be practically inoperable This is because In this way, it is indispensable to secure a backup of the old version in order to prepare for a power failure during the overwriting of the latest version.

[0007] In the above, how much backup is required for the old version software module is required. In principle, backup of the old version software module is necessary for all software modules stored in the primary storage of the terminal device. Is done. The reason is that if there is a difference between the memory size of the latest version and the memory size of the old version, the terminal device will overwrite the occupied area of the old version of another software module already written. is there. For example, old versions of software modules in the primary storage of the terminal device in order from the top address
Assume that # 1, # 2, # 3, # 4, and # 5 have been written, and that the latest versions of these software modules are to be overwritten on the primary storage. Here, if the memory size of the latest version of software module # 1 is significantly larger than the memory size of the old version,
Not only the occupied area of the software module # 1 of the old version but also the occupied area of the old version of the software modules # 2 and # 3 recorded after the software module # 1 is overwritten. With the occupied areas of software modules # 2 and # 3 overwritten in this way,
If an error such as a power failure occurs, the software module
Since some of # 2 and # 3 do not exist in the primary storage due to overwriting, it may happen that the terminal cannot be started next time.

[0008] Even if the power of the terminal device is cut off during the remote download, the following two design restrictions have been imposed on the microcomputer system type terminal device in order to completely start the terminal device. The first design constraint is that a memory chip having a size twice as large as the total size of the software modules mounted on the terminal device is mounted, and one is used as a backup for the software modules of the old version upgrade, and the other is used as a backup It is used for memory write of a software module group of a version. That is, even if a power failure occurs when storing a new version of software, the terminal device can be started by the old version of software.

The second design constraint means that the download loader program in the software is not to be upgraded, that is, the loader program is not to be downloaded. FIG. 19 shows an example of a conventional terminal device created in compliance with these design constraints.
This terminal device stores software consisting of programs and data, and a main EEPROM 81 used as primary storage.
, An upgrade EEPROM 82, a ROM 83 storing a loader program, and a program execution unit 84 for executing the loader program. When the apparatus is started, the program execution unit 84 executes the main EEPROM 81 according to the boot program stored in the boot ROM.
Execute the program stored in. During the execution of the program, if the latest version of the software module group is transmitted by broadcasting, the loader program updates the transmitted latest version of the software to the EE for version upgrade.
The data is sequentially stored in the PROM 82.

When the version upgrade ends normally, a switching process is performed to activate the latest version of the program stored in the version upgrade EEPROM 82. If the version upgrade ends abnormally, the program stored in the main EEPROM 81 is restarted and the version upgrade is retried.

[0011]

In the conventional terminal device, since the program of the currently used version is backed up in the EEPROM as it is, an application program is used.
An EEPROM that is twice the total data size of the application program must be implemented. This is unavoidable in order to satisfy the “guarantee of terminal device startup”, but at the cost of increasing the hardware scale per terminal and increasing the production cost. In order to reduce the production cost in this conventional configuration, the total software size must be reduced, and the enrichment of the software in the terminal device is hindered by the increase in the production cost.

Further, in the conventional terminal device, when a bug of the loader program needs to be corrected or the specification needs to be changed, a large-scale ROM replacement must be performed. In other words, a broadcasting company that operates a broadcasting service dispatches a serviceman to a home that is a member of the broadcasting service and exchanges ROMs free of charge. However, such ROM replacement imposes a large labor burden on the service business organizer, and may cause a situation in which the operating base of the broadcast service may be shaken. A first object of the present invention is to provide a terminal device capable of enriching a software group without increasing production cost.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a terminal device capable of upgrading the version of a loader program viewed as a taboo.

[0014]

In order to achieve the first and second objects, the present invention relates to a terminal device, comprising n (n is an integer of 2 or more) to which a unique bank address is assigned. A first memory having a divided area, in which an arranged area in which one or more software modules are arranged in each divided area, and a free area in which an increase in the data size of the software module at the time of version upgrade is provided A second memory having the same memory capacity as one of the n divided areas, and a content section storing the latest version of one or more software modules arranged in any of the divided areas; When transmission data including a header section storing a storage destination bank address indicating a storage destination of the software module is transmitted from the host station, the reception section receives the transmission data. And a separating unit that separates a header portion of the received transmission data and stores the latest version software module included in the content portion in the second memory, and indicates a storage destination of the content portion from the separated header portion. Detecting means for detecting the storage destination bank address; and sequentially reading out the latest version of the software module from the content section stored in the second memory,
Arranging means for arranging in the divided area to which the detected storage destination bank address is assigned.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a terminal device will be described with reference to the drawings. The terminal device is a terminal installed in a home that has joined the broadcast service A. In the broadcasting service A, TV programs of various genres, such as masterpiece movies, popular dramas, sports, and culture, are broadcast via satellites. The TV programs provided by the broadcasting service A have more channels and higher image quality than those using terrestrial waves, and the terminal device 10 includes a tuner and a decoder for displaying these programs on a TV receiver. It is noteworthy that the terminal device 10 realizes various intelligent functions in addition to these tuners and decoders. Its intelligent features include weekly and monthly broadcast schedules (generally Electoric Program
It is called Guide (EPG). ), Billing of viewing fee, display of headline news, online quiz, TV shopping, games, karaoke, etc., and the configuration emphasizes the interactivity with the operator.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the terminal device 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the terminal device 10 includes a CS tuner 1, a TS decoder 2, an AV decoder 3, a download RAM 4, a program group storage 5, a processor 6, and a boot ROM 7. This apparatus is installed in a home and used by being connected to a TV receiver and a VCR. CS tuner 1 is π
When the CS antenna receives a broadcast wave of / 4QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying) modulation, it demodulates it and
The transport packet specified in MPEG2 is obtained and output to the TS decoder 2. The TS decoder 2 separates the transport packet output by the CS tuner 1 into four elementary streams. The four elementary streams are video streams, audio streams,
The video stream, the audio stream, and the PCR stream are output to the AV decoder 3, and the private stream is stored in the download RAM 4. The video stream, audio stream, and PCR stream constitute a TV program.
Used for maintenance of intelligent functions.

FIG. 2A shows the structure of the four elementary streams. The video stream is composed of PID (abbreviation of Packet IDentification), video data, and CRC (abbreviation of cyclic redundancy code), and the audio stream is composed of PID, audio data, and CRC. PCR (Program Clock Refer
stream: PID, P
It consists of CR data and CRC, and the private stream is P
It consists of ID, program header (means PrgHeader in the figure), bank data, and CRC. The PID is used when the TS decoder 2 separates an elementary stream to determine which of the AV decoder 3 and the download RAM 4 outputs the elementary stream to be separated.

The bank data is a group of software transmitted by the broadcasting station side of the broadcasting service, which is required to be collectively stored in a memory of one bank. In the present embodiment, a bank refers to a set of divided areas in a memory mounted on a terminal device. The program header is information transmitted as a private stream together with the bank data.
(B). In the figure, "program name" indicates the name of the bank data, "data size" indicates the data size of the bank data, and "bank number" indicates the bank where the bank data is stored. Indicates an address. "Version information" indicates the date and time when the bank data was created or the date when the bank data was last updated.

The AV decoder 3 decodes a video stream and an audio stream into a video signal according to the PCR stream, and outputs the video signal to a television. Download RAM
Reference numeral 4 denotes a SIMM type DRAM or EEPROM, which stores a private stream separated by the TS decoder 2. The program group storage unit 5 is composed of n banks, and a plurality of software modules are distributed and stored in each bank (in FIG. 1, n = 4, the first bank, the second bank, and the third bank). And a fourth bank). Each bank has a plurality of EEPROM chips 51-54 (hereinafter referred to as EEPROM 51-EEPR
Called OM54. ), And the storage capacity is almost the same as that of the download RAM 4. The software modules stored by the program group storage unit 5 include data,
This refers to the uniform modularization of multiple types of software such as programs.

These EEPROMs 51 to 54 are
It is connected to a common second bus 9. EEPROM 51-EEPR
The internal area of the OM 54 is directly accessed by the processor 6 by assigning a logical address. Each bank is assigned a unique bank address, and the logical address is represented by a combination of a bank address and an offset address indicating an internal area of each bank. FIG. 4 shows EEPROMs 51 to EE
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a memory image of a PROM 54. In this figure, logical address 000000 to logical address 0FFFFF are accessed with bank address = 01, and logical address 10000
Access from 0 to the logical address 1FFFFF is made at the bank address = 02.

Bank 1 contains software module # 1
To # 10, and software modules # 11 to # 20 are stored in the bank 2 in order from the head.
These software modules are stored in order from the top of the bank so that the end of the bank becomes an empty area. The reason that the bank end portion is stored so as to be an empty area is to upgrade the version for each bank. For example, it is assumed that the software module stored in the bank 1 is going to be upgraded to the latest version. Here, if the memory size of the latest version of software modules # 1 to # 10 is significantly larger than the memory size of the old version,
Although the occupied area of the software modules # 1 to # 10 of the old version is overwritten, the occupied area of the software modules # 11 to # 20 in the bank 2 is also overwritten because there is an empty area at the end of the bank 1. It won't.

As described above, since the EEPROMs 51 to 54 have an empty area at the end thereof, the EEPROMs 51 to 54 do not overwrite the occupied area of the software module stored in the bank located at the succeeding logical address, and store the software module itself. You can overwrite the software module you are using with the latest version. FIG. 3A shows an example of the format of the software module. A software module includes a module header, a software entity, and a CRC. Figure 3 shows an example of a module header
(B). Module header is "Program name"
It consists of "program size", "bank number", and "version information". The "program name" indicates what name the software module is named by the broadcasting station, and the "program size" indicates how much data size the software module has. “Bank number” indicates the bank address of the bank in which the software module is stored, “version information” indicates the date and time when the bank data was created,
Alternatively, it indicates the date of last update.

The software modules in FIG.
They are common in that they have the property of “relocatable”. “Relocatable” means “operable in any area of the memory space”. The reason why the software module is “relocatable” is that the organizer of the broadcasting service desires to dynamically change the arrangement of each software module in the program group storage unit 5 (note that the above-described bank data is , A plurality of software modules to be stored in one bank, that is, a plurality of software modules having the format shown in FIG.

Software modules are broadly divided into those constituting an operating system and application programs. This means that the terminal device 10 has a software management structure found on general-purpose computers, such as "run various application programs based on an operating system". FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing what the contents of a plurality of software modules arranged in the program group storage unit 5 are. As shown in FIG. 5, the program group storage unit 5 stores various types of software modules such as font data, bitmap data, and graphic data. Among the software modules in the figure, the representative software modules of the components of the operating system are kernel 11,
The loader program 12 and the loader program 22.

The kernel 11 performs basic processing among the intelligent functions of the terminal device 10. Fundamental processing includes normality determination of each software module immediately after power-on, and activation of a loader program. The loader program 12 is a master loader program and is stored in the first bank (in FIG. 5, "master" is described as an original. In the following drawings, "master" is also used as an "original"). "Is used.) The loader program according to the present embodiment performs processing for activating software modules stored in the program group storage unit 5 that are classified as application programs. At the same time, download processing for upgrading the bank data stored in the program group storage unit 5 is performed.

Typical download processing performed by the loader program 12 includes error detection processing, fragmentation elimination processing, and the like. The error detection process refers to a process for detecting, when a garbled bit or the like occurs in the bank data of the received private stream, using a CRC or the like. If it is determined by this detection processing that the bank data is normal, the bank data is stored in the storage destination bank. If an error is detected, the bank data is reacquired. Here, when the broadcasting station of the digital satellite broadcast transmits the private stream at a predetermined cycle, the loader program 12 waits for the cycle and reacquires the private stream,
Attempt error detection again.

Fragmentation elimination processing means that the memory size of the latest version of the software module is significantly larger than the memory size of the old version of the software module, and the latest version of the software module is stored in the memory area occupied by the old version of the software module. If it is not possible to overwrite the software module, the software module already written in the memory is moved back and forth to secure the free area of the memory size just to write the latest version of the software module, and conversely, the memory of the latest version of the software module If free space is created because the size is smaller than the memory size of the software module of the previous version, the free space created due to such a difference in memory size is already saved. Comprising a processing to pack by moving the software modules written in re back and forth.

For newly received bank data,
Since it is essential to perform the above processing, it is generally said that downloading the loader program 12 requires a long period of time. The loader program 22 includes the loader program 12
This is a loader program that performs the same processing as that described above, and is stored as a backup in a bank (second bank) different from the loader program 12 (in FIG. 5,
Backups are marked as "copy". Hereinafter, "backup" is also used in the figure for "backup". ). The processor 6 reads out a program counter for designating a read destination address in a region in the program group storage 5 and a readout circuit for reading out a machine language instruction constituting the software module located at the address. A decoding unit that decodes the instruction, and an arithmetic operation unit that performs an arithmetic operation according to the result of decoding the instruction. The download RAM 4 and the boot ROM 7 connected to the first bus 19 are accessed and stored in the program group storage unit 5. Executes software modules that are classified as application programs among the existing software modules.

The boot ROM 7 stores a boot program for the processor 6 to perform bootstrap when the power of the terminal device 10 is turned on. The MMU 8 associates the real addresses of the EEPROMs 51 to 54 connected to the second bus 9 with the corresponding logical addresses. When the processor 6 outputs the read destination address to the first bus 19, The address is interpreted as a logical address, and the corresponding real address is output to the second bus 9. The MMU 8 has a first bus 19 and EEPROMs 51 to 5
4 between the EEPROM 51 and the EEPROM 54
Are allocated to a linear address space accessible by the processor 6.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are flowcharts showing the processing of the kernel 11 immediately after power-on and the download processing by the loader program 12. When the operator turns on the power of the terminal device 10, the CS tuner 1
Demodulates the digital satellite broadcast wave modulated by PSK and converts the transport packet specified in MPEG2
Output to TS decoder 2. The TS decoder 2 converts the output transport packets into four video streams,
Separate into audio stream, PCR stream and private stream. The AV decoder 3 decodes the video stream and the audio stream into a video signal according to the PCR stream, and outputs the video signal to the television receiver. As a result, the TV set displays the TV program in the broadcasting service, and the operator can watch TV programs of various genres such as a masterpiece movie, a popular drama, sports, and culture.

On the other hand, the start address of the boot ROM 7 is set in the program counter incorporated in the processor 6 during such an operation. Once the start address is set,
The processor 6 performs bootstrap according to a boot program stored in the boot ROM 7. When the bootstrap is performed, the program counter of the processor 6 is set to the first step of the flowchart of the kernel 11 shown in FIG. First, the processor 6 checks the CRC of the software module allocated to each bank in step S1. If the result of the check is abnormal, in step S2, the processor 6 performs an appropriate error process such as retry of reading the software module. judge. If there is only one, there is no room for selection, so the loader program of that bank is started.
The latest one of the loader programs stored in a plurality of banks is started by referring to the version information of each software module. In other words, the version information with the newest is given priority and activated.

In the example of FIG. 4, if the master loader program 12 is new, the program counter of the processor 6 is set to the start address of the loader program 12, and the processing of the processor 6 is performed by the kernel 11
To the loader program 12. By sequentially executing the loader program 12, the processor 6 starts processing for activating various application programs. In parallel with these processes, the processor 6 starts the download process shown in the flowchart of FIG. In step S11, the processor 6 refers to the download RAM 4 and monitors whether a private stream is newly stored. As long as the data is not stored, the processor 6 repeats the processing of step S11 endlessly. Here, as shown in FIG. 12A, when the bank data addressed to the n-th bank is stored in the download RAM 4 (see the hatched portion), the process proceeds to step S12, where the CRC of the newly stored private stream is checked. I do. If the result of the check is abnormal, the process proceeds to step S11. If the result is normal, in step S13, the version information in the header is identified by referring to the program header included in the private stream, and the new information is identified. It is determined whether the latest version of the bank data is stored in the private stream.

If the latest version is stored, step S1
In step 4, referring to the program header of the private stream, it is recognized which bank is specified by the bank data as the storage destination. After the recognition of the storage bank, in step S15, the bank address where the activated loader program is located is recognized. When these bank addresses are recognized, it is determined in step S16 whether the storage bank of the bank data included in the private stream matches the bank in which the activated loader program exists. In the example of FIG. 12A, the master loader program exists in the first bank, and the bank data in the private stream stored in the download RAM 4 specifies the n-th bank as the storage destination. Since the banks do not match, the process proceeds to step S6. In step S6, the processor 6 divides the bank data into a plurality of software modules, and in step S8,
The processor 6 writes each divided software module into the area occupied by the n-th bank.

Unlike writing, writing here does not require execution of error detection processing, fragmentation elimination processing, and the like, and requires only a short copy from memory to memory. It is unlikely that the power of the terminal device will be cut off in a short period during which copying is performed, and the version upgrade of bank n will be completed in a short time. When the writing is performed, the bank data stored in the n-th bank is upgraded to the latest version as shown in FIG. After the nth version upgrade,
As shown in FIG. 13A, it is assumed that a private stream including bank data addressed to the first bank is stored in the download RAM 4. If a new private stream is stored, step S11 becomes Yes and step S11
It moves to 12. The processor 6 performs a CRC check on the newly stored private stream in step S12, and determines in step S13 whether the latest version of the bank data is stored.
, Refers to the program header of the private stream and recognizes that the bank data specifies the first bank as the storage destination. After the recognition, in step S15, the bank in which the active loader program is located is recognized.

After recognizing both banks, it is determined in step S16 whether the bank where the bank data is to be stored matches the bank in which the loader program being started is located. Here, since the storage destination is the first bank, the storage destination bank of the bank data included in the private stream matches the bank in which the activated loader program exists, and the result in step S16 becomes Yes. Move to step S17. In step S17, the process branches to the kernel 11. After the branch, referring to the module header of the loader program stored in the second bank, falsify the version information in the header to the latest date and time, and proceed to step S18. In step S18, the CRC is rewritten according to the falsification of the version information. After rewriting the CRC, the processor 6 is reset in step S19.

Here, the alteration by resetting the version information means that the processor 6 restarts the backup loader program 22 stored in the second bank. Because the terminal device 1 is reset
This is because the kernel 11 selects a loader program whose version information is new as shown in FIG.
See). Hereinafter, this process will be described step by step. When the processor 6 is reset, the program counter of the processor 6 is set to the start address of the boot ROM 7. When set as described above, the processor 6 follows the boot program stored in the boot ROM 7 and
The bootstrap is performed again, and the CRC of the software module allocated to each bank is determined in step S1.
Check. If everything is normal, the process proceeds to step S3, where it is determined whether the loader program exists in a plurality of banks. Start the latest one. When the version information of the loader program 12 is compared with the version information of the loader program 22, the backup loader program 22 is rewritten to the latest date and time. The processing of the processor 6 branches from the kernel 11 to the loader program 22.

By sequentially executing the loader program 22, the processor 6 starts processing for activating various application programs. In parallel with these processes, the processor 6 starts the download process shown in the flowchart of FIG. In step S11, the processor 6 monitors whether the private stream is newly stored by referring to the download RAM 4, but since the download RAM 4 has already stored the bank data addressed to the first bank, the process proceeds to step S11. In step S12, a CRC check of the newly stored private stream is performed, and step S12 is performed.
After it is determined in step S13 whether the latest version of the bank data is stored in the new private stream, in step S14, the program header of the private stream is referred to recognize which bank the bank data specifies as a storage destination. . After the recognition of the storage bank, in step S15, the bank where the activated loader program is located is recognized. When these banks are recognized, it is determined in step S16 whether the storage bank of the bank data included in the private stream matches the bank in which the activated loader program exists.

In this case, since what is running is the loader program 22 whose version information has been falsified at the latest date and time, the two banks do not match, and the process proceeds to step S6.
In step S6, the processor 6 divides the bank data into a plurality of software modules, and in step S8, the processor 6 writes the divided individual software modules in an area occupied by the first bank. When writing is performed, the bank data stored in the first bank is upgraded to the latest version as shown in FIG. Since the latest version of the bank data includes the latest version of the loader program, the loader program is also upgraded at the same time.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the software module group is stored in a plurality of banks, and the version is upgraded in units of banks. On scale. Therefore, hardware that can withstand the occurrence of an abnormality during the version upgrade can be realized in a smaller scale. Therefore, the software modules can be enhanced without the cost of increasing the production cost. In addition, since the master and backup loader programs are respectively arranged in the two banks, if one version is to be upgraded, it is possible to control the activation of the other. As described above, by starting one of the loader programs, the version of the loader program itself can be upgraded.

Since the version upgrade can be realized without performing ROM replacement which involves a large labor cost such as dispatch of a serviceman, bug correction and specification change of the loader program can be easily performed. It should be noted that since the upgrade of the loader program involves a process of activating the loader program stored in another bank and a reboot process, it is desirable that the upgrade of the bank 1 be performed at a low frequency. In order to reduce the frequency of version upgrade of the bank 1, it is advisable to place software modules that need to be upgraded at a high frequency in a bank other than the bank where the loader program is stored. In particular, software modules that perform processing related to MPEG stream decoding processing and software modules that display weekly and monthly broadcast schedules are said to be updated frequently, so these software modules are separate from the loader program. It is desirable to store in a bank.

Further, in the present embodiment, in which bank each software module is arranged is determined with reference to the "bank" described in the module header of the software module. It is also possible to calculate a statistic that indicates whether or not the software module has been allocated in each bank based on the calculated statistic. (Second Embodiment) The second embodiment is a configuration for realizing version upgrade of a loader bank without using a backup loader program (a loader bank is a bank in which a master loader program is arranged). .). The reason why the backup loader program is not used in the present embodiment is to improve the use efficiency of the ROM. That is, the loader program is used only as the master, and another software module is arranged in the area occupied by the backup loader program in the first embodiment.

However, there is a prerequisite for realizing the loader bank upgrade in the second embodiment. The precondition is that a recoverable bank exists in banks other than the loader bank. The resumable bank means that the stored contents can be restored because the bank data is regularly distributed or the transmission of the request signal can instruct the broadcasting station to transmit the bank data. A bank that does not cause any trouble even if the stored contents are destroyed. FIG.
Is a flowchart of the loader program in the second embodiment, which is configured to upgrade the loader bank without activating the backup loader program. A series of processes for upgrading the loader bank according to this flowchart will be described with reference to the explanatory diagrams of FIGS. FIG. 14A shows an initial state of the series of processes. In the initial state, the first bank is assigned to the loader bank, and the second bank is assigned to the recoverable bank. RA for download
The latest version of the bank data for the loader bank is already stored in M4.

When the latest version is thus stored, the processor 6 performs the same processing as the processing from step S11 to step S14 in FIG. That is, in step S11, it is monitored whether a private stream is newly stored in the download RAM 4, and if it is stored,
In step S12, a CRC check of the newly stored private stream is performed, and if it is normal, it is determined in step S13 whether or not the latest version of the bank data is stored in the new private stream. If the latest version has already been stored, the storage location of the latest bank data version is recognized in step S14. Step S1
After the execution of step 4, the process proceeds to step S22, where the processor 6 determines whether the storage destination bank of the bank data newly stored in the download RAM 4 is a loader bank.

If the storage destination is the loader bank, the latest version of the bank data should be originally written in the first bank.
Writes new bank data to another bank. The other bank is a restorable bank, and the bank data in the download RAM 4 is written to the restorable bank. In performing this writing process, the processes of steps S6 to S8 in FIG. 9 are sequentially performed. That is, in step S6, the processor 6 divides the bank data into a plurality of software modules, and in step S8, the processor 6 writes each of the divided software modules in the area occupied by the recoverable bank.

When new bank data is written in the recoverable bank, the loader bank is changed to the old loader bank and the recoverable bank is changed to the new loader bank in step S24. FIG. 14B shows a state in which the processing of step S24 has been completed in a series of steps of the loader bank version upgrade. In this figure, it can be seen that the first bank and the second bank store the bank data of the old and new loader banks. In this state, the processor 6 performs a reset in step S25. Resetting in the state of FIG. 14B means that the processor 6 executes the latest version loader program stored in the new loader bank. Because the terminal device 10
Is restarted, the kernel 11 selects the loader program of the new loader bank whose version information is new (see step S4 in the flowchart of FIG. 8).

When the loader program of the new loader bank is started, the processor 6 performs the same processing as the processing of steps S11 to S14 in FIG. That is, in step S11, it is monitored whether a private stream is newly stored in the download RAM 4. Here, the broadcasting station regularly distributes bank data, and FIG.
4C, it is assumed that a private stream including the latest version of bank data addressed to the second bank is stored in the download RAM 4. When the bank data for the second bank, which is the old recoverable bank, is stored, step S
In step 12, the CRC of the newly stored private stream is checked, and if it is normal, it is determined in step S13 whether the new private stream stores the latest version of the bank data. If it is stored, the destination bank of the latest bank data is recognized.
After the execution of step S14, when the process proceeds to step S22, the processor 6 determines whether the storage bank of the bank data newly stored in the download RAM 4 is the old loader bank. Since the storage destination of the new bank data is the resumable bank, step S22 is No and the process proceeds to step S26.

In step S26, the processor 6 determines whether the storage destination of the bank data stored in the download RAM 4 is a recoverable bank. If the bank is a recoverable bank, the process proceeds to step S27, and it is determined whether the storage bank of the storage destination is updated to a new loader bank.
If not updated, move to step S29 for download
The processing is completed by writing the bank data in the RAM 4 to the recoverable bank. However, in the example of FIG. 14, since the second bank, which is the resumable bank, has been updated to the new loader bank in the intermediate state of FIG.
7 is Yes, and the routine goes to Step S28.

In step S28, the first bank updated to the old loader bank in step S24 is updated to a recoverable bank. When updated in this manner, the first bank becomes a recoverable bank, and the second bank becomes a loader bank. After updating the first bank to the restorable bank, the processor 6 writes the bank data stored in the download RAM 4 to the first bank updated to the restorable bank. FIG. 14D shows the final state after the processor 6 has upgraded the version according to the flowchart of FIG. In this figure, it can be seen that while the second bank is updated to a loader bank and the first bank is updated to a recoverable bank, the bank data of both banks is upgraded.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the latest version of the loader bank is transmitted, the latest version of the bank data is written to the recoverable bank, and the bank in which the old loader program is located is replaced with the recoverable bank. , The bank data of the loader bank can be upgraded using only the master loader program. By such processing, the loader program arranged in the terminal device 10 can be set to only the master,
Another software module can be placed in place of the backup loader program. (Third Embodiment) The third embodiment realizes version upgrade in software module units. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a private stream transmitted by a broadcasting station in the third embodiment. This private stream differs from that shown in the first embodiment in that n software modules to be stored in different banks are multiplexed into one private stream.

FIG. 7 shows the inside of the terminal device 10 according to the third embodiment. This configuration differs from that shown in FIG. 1 in that the download RAM 4 is replaced with the latest module RAM 13.
And a bank data copy RAM 14. When the TS decoder 2 separates a private stream in which a plurality of software modules are multiplexed, the latest module RAM 13 stores the private stream. The bank data copy RAM 14 is a memory for expanding bank data for replacing software modules. The replacement of the software module means that when the latest version of the software module is stored in the latest module RAM 13, the bank data stored in the bank is read out to the bank data copy RAM 14, and the read bank data is included. Out of the plurality of software modules, the software module is replaced with the latest version stored in the latest module RAM 13, and the replaced contents are written to the original bank.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a loader program configured to upgrade the software module unit.
(A) to (D) and FIGS. 16 (a) to (C) are explanatory diagrams showing a process of upgrading a software module by a loader program. FIG. 15A shows an initial state in a series of processes for upgrading a software module. In the figure, module_A11.old, module_A12.old, module_A13.old... Indicate software modules of the first bank. Module_B11.old, module_B12.old, module_B13.old... Indicate software modules of the second bank. Each of these modules is given the name "old", which means that all software modules are "old". It can be seen that two software modules, module_A13.new and module_B15.new, are stored in q13. These are the latest versions of software modules sent using two private streams.

When the terminal device 10 is turned on, the processor 6 starts monitoring whether a private stream is newly stored in q13 in step S31 of the flowchart of FIG. If it is stored, step S31 becomes Yes and the process moves to step S32.
In step S32, a CRC check of the private stream newly stored in the latest module RAM 13 is performed, and if normal, the n latest versions included in the private stream newly stored in the latest module RAM 13 are checked. Get a software module. After the acquisition, the variable i is initialized in step S34. The variable i is a variable that individually designates the n software modules stored in the latest module RAM 13, and setting this to “1” means that a plurality of software modules stored in the latest module RAM 13 This means that the first one of the software modules has been set as a subsequent processing target.

In step S35, the version information of the i-th software module in q13 is obtained, and in step S36, the module header in the private stream including the i-th software module is referred to and included in the version information in the header. Recognize the current bank number k. In the latest module RAM 13, module_A13.new exists at the beginning, and the module header of module_A13.new has a bank number that designates the first bank as a storage destination. Be recognized. After recognition, step S37
, The bank data stored in the ROM of bank number 1 is written into the replacement work RAM 14. FIG. 15 (b)
Indicates a first intermediate state after the processing in step S37. In this figure, the bank data copy RAM 14
Contains the module _A11.old stored in the first bank
It can be seen that ~ module_A16.old is stored as it is.

After writing the bank data in the bank data copy RAM 14, in step S 38, the corresponding software module contained in the bank data transferred to the bank data copy RAM 14 is stored in the i-th module stored in the latest module RAM 13. Replace with the latest version. FIG. 15C shows the second intermediate state after the processing in step S38. In FIG. 15B, module_A11.old to module_A16.old are stored, but in FIG.
Only module_A13.old is replaced by module_A13.new among the software modules of. By this replacement, it can be seen that bank data in which module_A13.old has been replaced with the latest version has been obtained in the bank data copy RAM 14.

As described above, the bank data including the latest version of the software module is stored in the bank data copy RAM 1.
4 is obtained in step S39.
Writes the software module after replacement from the replacement work RAM to the ROM of the bank number k (= 1). FIG. 15D
Indicates a third intermediate state after the processing in step S38. In FIG. 15C, the bank data in which module_A13.old has been replaced with the latest version is stored in the bank data copy RAM 14, but in FIG.
The bank data including the latest software module is written in the first bank. This writing indicates that the bank data in which module_A13.old has been replaced with the latest version has been obtained in the first bank. As described above, when the processing for the first latest version is completed, it is determined whether the variable i is n in step S40.
If the variable i is not n, the process proceeds to step S41,
Increment the variable i. After the increment, the process returns to step S35.

In step S35, the download RAM
4, the version information of the second software module is obtained. In step S36, the bank number k included in the version information in the header is recognized by referring to the module header of the second software module. Module_A1 in the latest module RAM 13
After 3.new, there is a module_B15.new, and the header of this module_B15.new has a bank number that designates the second bank as a storage destination, so the second bank is recognized as a storage destination. Is done. After the recognition, the bank data stored in the ROM of the bank number k (= 2) is written into the replacement work RAM 14 in step S37. FIG. 16 (a)
It shows a fourth intermediate state after the processing of step S37. In this figure, the bank data copy RAM 14 stores the module_B11.old ~ stored in the second bank.
It can be seen that module_B16.old is stored as it is.

After writing the bank data in the bank data copy RAM 14, in step S 38, the corresponding software module contained in the bank data transferred to the bank data copy RAM 14 is stored in the second module stored in the latest module RAM 13. Replace with the latest version. FIG. 16B shows the fifth intermediate state after the processing in step S38. In FIG. 16A, module_B11.old to module_B16.old are stored, but in FIG.
Only module_B15.old is replaced by module_B15.new among the software modules of. By this replacement, it can be seen that bank data in which module_B15.old has been replaced with the latest version has been obtained in the bank data copy RAM 14.

As described above, the bank data including the latest version of the software module is stored in the bank data copy RAM 1.
4 is obtained in step S39.
Writes the bank data after replacement from the replacement work RAM to the ROM of the bank number k (= 2). FIG. 16C shows the final state after the processing in step S38. FIG.
In (b), module_B11.old to module_B16.old in which module_B14 has been replaced with the latest version are stored in bank data copy RAM 14, but FIG.
Then, this is written in the first bank. By this writing, it is understood that bank data in which module_B15.old has been replaced with the latest version has been obtained in the second bank.

When the processing for the second latest version is completed, it is determined in step S40 whether the number of variables i is n. Since n = 2, the processing of this flowchart ends. As described above, according to the present embodiment, the broadcasting station transmits only software modules that need to be upgraded, and the terminal device 10 appropriately receives the transmitted software modules, and uses the received software modules to update the software modules. Replace. As compared with the case where the bank data stored in the bank is totally replaced, the time required for the version upgrade can be shorter, and
Can be completed in a shorter time.

(Fourth Embodiment) The fourth embodiment relates to a terminal device that cannot be remotely upgraded by a single terminal device, but can be remotely upgraded when a smart card 15 is inserted. 4th
FIG. 17 shows the internal configuration of the terminal device in the embodiment.
In FIG. 17, a software storage ROM 16 and a card slot 17 are connected to the second bus 9 in place of the program group storage unit 5 in the terminal device, and a boot ROM 18 is connected in place of the boot ROM 7. The smart card 15 includes EEPROMs 51 to 54 connected to the second bus 9 in the first to third embodiments.
The connector, the housing, the electrical characteristics, and the like are designed in accordance with, for example, the PCMCIA standard.

The software storage ROM 16 includes a loader program and a kernel, and is configured so that software-related processing in the terminal device can be completed.
These software modules correspond to the first to third embodiments.
The difference from the software module group stored in the embodiment is that the software module stored in the software storage ROM 16 cannot be remotely upgraded. The card slot 17 is provided for the terminal device to load the smart card 15, and when the smart card 15 is loaded therein, the EEPROM 51 to the EEPROM 54 in the smart card 15 are connected to the second bus 9, It can be accessed by the processor 6.

The boot ROM 18 checks the card loaded state in the card slot 17 when the power of the terminal device is turned on. If the smart card 15 is not inserted in the card slot 17, the boot ROM 18 sequentially reads the software modules stored in the software storage ROM 16. When the smart card 15 is inserted into the card slot 17, the bootstrap is performed so that the processor 6 executes the software modules stored in the EEPROMs 51 to 54 in the smart card 15 sequentially. Do. As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if the terminal device is manufactured and sold at a time when it is not ready for remote version upgrade, as long as the terminal device is provided with the card slot 17, the external device can be connected to the external device. By installing the smart card 15 of this embodiment, the remote version upgrade similar to the first embodiment can be performed.

(Fifth Embodiment) The fifth embodiment relates to a terminal device capable of upgrading a loader program by loading a smart card 15. Fifth
FIG. 18 shows the internal configuration of the terminal device in the embodiment.
In FIG. 18, a card slot 17 is connected to the second bus 9 instead of the EEPROM 51 in the terminal device.
A boot ROM 18 is connected instead of the ROM 7. In the present embodiment, the smart card 15 includes therein an EEPROM 51 connected to the second bus 9 in the first to third embodiments. The EEPROM 52 includes a loader program and a kernel.
The configuration is such that software-related processing in the terminal device can be completed with only 53.

The boot ROM 18 checks the loaded state of the card in the card slot 17 when the terminal device is turned on. When the smart card 15 is inserted in the card slot 17, the bootstrap is performed so that the processor 6 sequentially executes the loader program and the kernel stored in the EEPROM 51 in the smart card 15. . If the loader program-kernel in the EEPROM 51 is executed by the processor 6, as in the first embodiment, when the latest version of the software module of the EEPROM 51 is stored in the download ROM 4, E
Activate the loader program stored in EPROM 52 and execute EEP
According to the ROM 52, the latest version of the software module can be stored in the EEPROM 51.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if the terminal device is manufactured and sold at a time when the remote version upgrade is not ready, as long as the card slot 17 is provided. By installing an external smart card 15, remote version upgrade similar to that of the first embodiment can be performed. In the fourth and fifth embodiments, the software module for remote version upgrade is provided to the terminal device by the smart card 15 compliant with the PCMCIA standard. However, the card for this provision is based on another standard. It may be designed. Further, other than the smart card 15, any other rewritable recording medium may be used. For example, a rewritable recording medium may be a phase-change optical disk such as a DVD-RAM. In this case, the terminal device is provided with a disk drive mechanism in place of the card slot 17, in which a DVD-RAM storing a software module group is loaded, and the same processing as in the fourth and fifth embodiments is performed.

Although the description has been given based on the above embodiment,
It is only presented as an example of a system that can be expected to have the best effect at present. The present invention can be modified and implemented without departing from the gist thereof. It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to any system as long as the system guarantees the activation of the terminal device. The following (a) (b) (c)
The following changes can be made. (A) In the above example, the version is updated immediately after the bank data is transferred.
The version upgrade process may be performed by temporarily storing the information on the top of the screen and when the operator inputs the end button or the power button.

(B) Other data structures may be used for the program header and module header. For example, a configuration in which the name of each program, each version, each relative start address, each size, and the like may be recorded in the header portion of the bank data. (C) The storage destination bank is recorded in the program header, and the loader program checks the storage destination bank to determine the storage destination bank. However, another method may be used. For example, a bank may be specified according to a program name, a version name, or the like. (D) The broadcasting service has been described by taking digital satellite broadcasting as an example. However, it goes without saying that the configuration of the present invention is applied to terminal devices of other broadcasting services such as digital CATV.

[0068]

As described above, according to the present invention, a terminal device has n (n is an integer of 2 or more) divided areas to which a unique bank address is assigned, A first memory provided with an arranged area in which one or more software modules are arranged in each divided area, a free area in consideration of an increase in the data size of the software module at the time of version upgrade, and the n divided areas Of the second having the same memory capacity as one
Transmission data including a memory, a content section storing the latest version of one or more software modules arranged in any of the divided areas, and a header section storing a storage destination bank address indicating a storage location of the software module is transmitted. Receiving means for receiving the data transmitted from the host station, separating means for separating the header part of the received transmission data and storing the latest version software module included in the content part in the second memory,
Detecting means for detecting a storage destination bank address indicating a storage location of the content portion from the separated header portion; and sequentially reading out the latest version of the software module from the content portion stored in the second memory, and detecting the detected storage destination bank. Since it is configured to include an arrangement means for arranging in a divided area to which an address is assigned, a memory for storing software is divided into a plurality of areas, and a version upgrade is performed for each divided area. As a result, the memory for temporarily storing the software downloaded at the time of the version upgrade is sufficient for one divided area. The number of banks
When the number is n, the mounting amount of the memory is twice the amount of the program in the related art, whereas in the present invention, the mounting amount of the memory is (1 + 1 / n) times.

Therefore, it is possible to realize a smaller-scale hardware that can withstand the occurrence of an abnormality during the version upgrade. Therefore, the software modules can be enhanced without the cost of increasing the production cost. The latest version software module can be directly written to the memory without overwriting the software module stored in the storage bank other than the storage destination bank. Therefore, the version in the terminal device can be upgraded in a short time while maintaining high security.

In the above configuration, of the n divided areas in the memory, a master of the loader program is arranged in the first divided area, and a backup of the loader program is arranged in the second divided area. If the bank address detected by the detecting unit indicates a divided area other than the first divided area, the arranging means according to the loader program of the master arranged in the first divided area, stores the latest data stored in the second memory. A first arrangement control unit for arranging the version in a divided area other than the first divided area; and a backup arranged in the second divided area if the bank address detected by the detecting means indicates the first divided area. Allocating the latest version stored in the second memory in the first divided area according to the second loader program.
The configuration may include an arrangement control unit. With this arrangement, the master and backup loader programs are arranged in the two divided areas, respectively. Therefore, if one of them needs to be upgraded, the other is started. Control can be performed. As described above, by starting one of the loader programs, the version of the loader program itself can be upgraded. Since the version upgrade can be realized without performing a ROM exchange that involves a large labor burden such as dispatching a serviceman, it is easy to fix a bug in the loader program and change specifications.

Further, in the above configuration, a master of the loader program is arranged in the first divided area among the n divided areas in the memory, and the arranging means is divided by the bank address detected by the detecting means. If the area is a divided area other than the first divided area, the second area is set according to the loader program arranged in the first divided area.
A first arrangement control unit for arranging the latest version stored in the memory in a divided area other than the first divided area; and a first divided area designated by the bank address detected by the detecting means, A second arrangement control unit for arranging the latest version stored in the second memory in a second divided area different from the first divided area in the arrangement means according to a loader program arranged in the one divided area; When the arrangement is performed, the monitoring unit that monitors whether one or more software modules arranged in the second divided area before the arrangement by the second arrangement control unit is stored in the second memory, When the latest version of the one or more software modules has been stored in the second memory, the second memo is stored in accordance with the loader program located in the second divided area. One or more software modules stored be configured to include a third arrangement control unit to place the first divided area may, according to this configuration,
When the latest version of the software group stored in the divided area is transmitted, the latest version is written in the second divided area, so that the loader program arranged in the terminal device can be used only as the master, and the backup loader can be used. Other software can be placed in place of the program.

In the above configuration, the header part of the transmission data has a plurality of bank addresses, each bank address indicates a storage destination of each software module included in the content part, and A third memory having the same memory capacity as one of the n divided areas is provided, and the arranging unit executes any software if the latest version of the software module is arranged in the content part of the transmission data. A take-out unit to take out, a first arrangement control unit to arrange a plurality of software modules arranged in a divided area specified by a bank address detected by the detection means in a third memory;
When the replacement unit that replaces a part of the plurality of software modules arranged in the third memory with the latest version extracted from the second memory and the plurality of software modules in the divided area in the third memory are replaced, A second arrangement control unit for arranging the contents of the third memory after replacement in the identified divided area, and an extraction control unit for fetching another software module when the contents of the second memory are arranged in the divided area. According to this configuration, the broadcast station transmits only the software modules that need to be upgraded, and the terminal device appropriately receives the transmitted software modules and uses the software modules. To replace the software. Compared with the case of replacing all software stored in the divided area, the time required for version upgrade can be shorter,
The version upgrade by the terminal device can be completed in a shorter time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a terminal device of a remote download system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 (a) Elementary decoding by TS decoder 2
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a stream. FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a program header.

FIG. 3A illustrates a configuration of a software module. FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a module header.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing what software modules are stored in a first bank and a second bank.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing what software modules are stored in a first bank and a second bank.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a private stream in a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a terminal device 10 according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing contents of a kernel in the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing processing contents of a loader program in the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing processing contents of a loader program in the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing processing contents of a loader program in a third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing how bank data addressed to the n-th bank is stored in the ROM by the loader program in the first embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing how bank data addressed to the first bank is stored in the ROM by the loader program according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing how bank data addressed to a first bank is stored in a ROM by a loader program according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 15 shows that the software module addressed to each bank is the third.
How the loader program in the embodiment
It is explanatory drawing which shows whether it is stored in OM.

FIG. 16 shows that the software module addressed to each bank is the third.
How the loader program in the embodiment
It is explanatory drawing which shows whether it is stored in OM.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a terminal device 10 according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a terminal device 10 according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional terminal device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tuner 2 TS decoder 3 MPEG decoder 5 Program group storage part 6 Processor 10 Terminal device 11 Kernel 12 Loader program 22 Loader program

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hisayuki Kino 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A terminal device, comprising n (n is an integer of 2 or more) divided areas to which a unique bank address is assigned, wherein one or more software modules are arranged in each divided area. Placed area,
A first memory provided with a free area in anticipation of an increase in the data size of the software module at the time of version upgrade; a second memory having the same memory capacity as one of the n divided areas; Transmission data including a content section storing the latest version of one or more software modules arranged in any of the areas and a header section storing a storage destination bank address indicating a storage location of the software module is transmitted from the host station. Then, receiving means for receiving the data, a separating means for separating the header part of the received transmission data and storing the latest version software module included in the content part in the second memory, and a separated header Detecting means for detecting a storage destination bank address indicating a storage destination of the content part from the part; 2 sequentially reads the latest version of the software module from the stored content portion in the memory, the terminal apparatus characterized by comprising an arrangement means for arranging the divided region detected storage destination bank address is assigned. 2. A loader program master is arranged in a first divided area of the n divided areas in the memory, and a backup of the loader program is arranged in a second divided area. If the bank address detected by the detecting means points to a divided area other than the first divided area, the latest version stored in the second memory is updated according to the master loader program arranged in the first divided area. A first arrangement control unit arranged in a divided area other than the one divided area; and a backup loader program arranged in the second divided area if the bank address detected by the detecting means indicates the first divided area. And a second arrangement control unit for arranging the latest version stored in the second memory in the first divided area according to The terminal device according to claim 1. 3. The software module arranged together with the master of the loader program in the first divided area has a lower frequency of upgrading than the software modules arranged in other divided areas. 3. The terminal device according to 2. 4. A master of a loader program is arranged in a first divided area of the n divided areas in the memory, and the arranging means is a divided area designated by a bank address detected by a detecting means. If the divided area is other than the one divided area, the first arrangement control unit arranges the latest version stored in the second memory in the divided area other than the first divided area according to the loader program arranged in the first divided area. If the divided area indicated by the bank address detected by the detecting means is the first divided area, the latest version stored in the second memory is arranged according to the loader program arranged in the first divided area. A second arrangement control unit that is arranged in a second divided area different from the first divided area, and when the arrangement in the second divided area is performed, the second arrangement A monitoring unit that monitors whether the latest version of one or more software modules placed in the second divided area before the placement by the control unit is stored in the second memory; and a monitoring unit that monitors one or more software modules that were placed before. When the latest version is stored in the second memory, a third arrangement control unit that arranges one or more software modules stored in the second memory in the first divided area according to a loader program arranged in the second divided area. The terminal device according to claim 1, comprising: 5. The software module arranged together with the master of the loader program in the first divided area has a lower frequency of upgrading than the software modules arranged in other divided areas. 5. The terminal device according to 4. 6. The contents section of the transmission data has a plurality of latest versions of the software modules, the header section has a plurality of bank addresses, and each bank address is associated with each software module included in the contents section. The terminal device includes a third memory having the same memory capacity as one of the n divided areas, and the arranging means includes a latest version of a software module in a content part of transmission data. Is arranged, a take-out unit for taking out any software, and a first arrangement control for arranging a plurality of software modules arranged in the divided area specified by the bank address detected by the detection means in the third memory And a part of the plurality of software modules arranged in the third memory in a second memo. A replacement unit that replaces the latest version taken out of the third memory; and a second unit that, when a plurality of software modules in the divided area in the third memory are replaced, places the replaced contents of the third memory in the identified divided area. 2. The terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising an arrangement control unit, and an extraction control unit configured to extract another software module when the contents of the second memory are arranged in the divided area. 7. It is composed of n (m ≧ n ≧ 2) divided areas storing m pieces of software in a distributed manner, wherein two divided areas include a master of a loader program,
A memory for storing a backup, a receiving unit for receiving communication data including the latest version of the software group stored in any of the divided areas, a buffer for storing the latest version of the received software group, And an execution unit that executes a master of the loader program when the unit starts receiving the communication data. A download method applied to a loader program used in a terminal device including: An identification step for identifying whether or not the latest version of the software group stored in the software is stored; a determination step for determining whether the identified divided area is a divided area in which a loader program being executed is allocated; If it is not a divided area where the loader program of A writing step of writing a software group; and a starting step of starting a backup loader program arranged in another divided area to the execution unit if the divided area is provided with the executing loader program. How to download. 8. The communication data includes storage location information indicating a divided area in which a latest version is to be stored. The identification step is included in received communication data when a software group is accumulated in a buffer. A first recognition sub-step of recognizing the storage location information stored in the memory. In the determination step, when the storage location information is recognized, the loader program currently being executed by the execution unit is allocated to any of the memory divided areas. A second recognition sub-step of recognizing whether or not the storage area is recognized by the first recognition sub-step, and determining whether the divided area recognized by the second recognition sub-step matches the storage area. The download method according to claim 7, further comprising a determination sub-step. 9. A memory comprising n (m.gtoreq.n.gtoreq.2) divided areas in which m pieces of software are stored in a distributed manner, wherein a master of a loader program is arranged in one of the divided areas. And a receiving unit that receives communication data including the latest version of the software group stored in any of the divided areas, a buffer that stores the latest version of the received software group, and the receiving unit starts receiving communication data. Then, a download method applied to a loader program used in a terminal device having an execution unit that executes a master of the loader program, wherein the software group stored in the buffer is stored in any divided area of the software group The identification step for identifying the latest version and the identified divided area are performed by the executing loader program. A first determination step of determining whether or not the storage area is a divided area in which a loader program being executed is allocated (hereinafter, this divided area is referred to as an old loader divided area). A first writing step of writing the software group in the buffer into another divided area (hereinafter, this divided area is referred to as a new loader divided area); and a loader included in the software group written in the new loader divided area. A startup step of restarting the program; a second determination step of determining whether the software group previously stored in the new loader divided area has been stored in the buffer when the loader program is restarted; A second writing step of writing the software group into the old loader divided area when the software group is accumulated in the buffer. How to download characterized the door. 10. A system comprising n (m ≧ n ≧ 2) divided areas storing m pieces of software in a distributed manner, wherein a master of a loader program and a backup are allocated to two of the divided areas. And a receiving unit that receives communication data, which includes the latest version of software stored in any of the divided areas,
A first buffer for storing the latest version of the received software group, a second buffer for storing a software group stored in any of the divided areas, and a loader program when the receiving unit starts receiving communication data. A download method applied to a loader program used for a terminal device having an execution unit for executing a master, wherein if a plurality of latest versions of software are accumulated in a buffer, an extraction step of extracting any software, An identification step for identifying in which divided area the latest version software is the latest version of software stored in the divided area; and a first writing for writing the software group stored in the identified divided area to the second buffer Step and split area when written in the second buffer Replacing the part of the software group in the area using the latest version in the first buffer; and replacing the software group in the divided area in the second buffer, the contents of the replaced second buffer are replaced. A download method, comprising: a second writing step of writing to a divided area; and a control step of taking out another software module when the contents of the second buffer are written to the divided area. 11. A loader program master and a backup are allocated to two divided areas, wherein n divided areas (m ≧ n ≧ 2) storing m pieces of software in a distributed manner. A receiving unit for receiving communication data including the latest version of the software group stored in any of the divided areas; a buffer for storing the latest version of the received software group; Is a recording medium that stores a loader program used in a terminal device including an execution unit that executes a master of the loader program, in which divided area the software group stored in the buffer is stored. The identification step for identifying the latest version of the software group and the identified divided area are executed by the loader program being executed. A determining step of determining whether or not the program is a divided area in which a loader program is being executed; and a writing step of writing a software group in a buffer to an identified storage destination if the executing loader program is not a divided area. A starting step of starting the loader program arranged in another divided area in the execution section if the divided area is arranged with the executing loader program. 12. The communication data includes storage location information indicating a divided area for storing a latest version. The identification step is included in received communication data when a software group is accumulated in a buffer. A first recognition sub-step of recognizing the storage location information stored in the memory. In the determination step, when the storage location information is recognized, the loader program currently being executed by the execution unit is allocated to any of the memory divided areas. A second recognition sub-step of recognizing whether or not the storage area is recognized by the first recognition sub-step, and determining whether the divided area recognized by the second recognition sub-step matches the storage area. The recording medium according to claim 11, comprising: a determination sub-step. 13. A memory comprising n (m ≧ n ≧ 2) divided areas storing m pieces of software in a distributed manner, wherein a master of a loader program is arranged in one of the divided areas. And a receiving unit that receives communication data including the latest version of the software group stored in any of the divided areas, a buffer that stores the latest version of the received software group, and the receiving unit starts receiving communication data. Then, the storage medium storing the loader program used in the terminal device including the execution unit that executes the master of the loader program, wherein the software group stored in the buffer is the latest software group stored in any divided area The identification step for identifying whether the version is a version, and the identified divided area are allocated by the executing loader program. A first determining step of determining whether the divided area is a divided area where the loader program being executed is allocated (hereinafter, this divided area is referred to as an old loader divided area). A first writing step of writing a software group in a buffer into a divided area (hereinafter, this divided area is referred to as a new loader divided area), and reloading a loader program included in the software group written in the new loader divided area. A startup step for starting; a second determination step for determining whether the software group previously stored in the new loader divided area has been accumulated in the buffer when the loader program is restarted; and a software group previously stored. A second writing step of writing the software group into the old loader divided area when the software group is accumulated in the buffer. Recording medium according to. 14. A storage system comprising n (m ≧ n ≧ 2) divided areas storing m pieces of software in a distributed manner, of which a loader program master and a backup are allocated to two divided areas. And a receiving unit that receives communication data, which includes the latest version of software stored in any of the divided areas,
A first buffer for storing the latest version of the received software group, a second buffer for storing a software group stored in any of the divided areas, and a loader program when the receiving unit starts receiving communication data. A storage medium storing a loader program used for a terminal device having an execution unit for executing a master, wherein the loader program extracts one of the software when a plurality of latest versions of the software are accumulated in a buffer. Step, an identification step of identifying which of the divided areas the extracted latest version software is the latest version of software stored in, and writing a software group stored in the identified divided area to the second buffer A first writing step and writing in a second buffer When the software group of the divided area in the first buffer is replaced, a replacement step of replacing a part of the software group of the divided area by using the latest version in the first buffer when the software is replaced. A recording medium, comprising: a second writing step of writing contents to a divided area; and a control step of taking out another software module when the contents of a buffer are written to the divided area.