JPH1153280A - Controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a controller which surely rewrites a program through communication. SOLUTION: Writing to an area 2 of flash memory is started (S112) when a control program arrives (S110 is Yes). Here, when service interruption occurs (S114 is Yes) before finishing writing (S118 is No), processing is shifted to a B part that performs initialization after service interruption. When the writing of the control program to the area 2 is appropriately finished (S118 is Yes), rewriting of the control program that is stored in the area 2 to an area 1 is started (S120). When the rewriting to the area 1 is finished (S124 is Yes), processing is started (S126) according to the rewritten control program in the area 1. Here, if there is service interruption in the middle of writing to the control program area 2, the control program held in the area 1 of the flash memory is read and the processing is performed according to the program.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control apparatus for performing processing in accordance with a stored program, and more particularly, to a control apparatus for receiving a program and rewriting a previous program according to the received program to perform control. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a surveillance system for monitoring a situation in a remote place, an image captured through a video camera or the like is transmitted through a network.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present applicant has taken the monitoring system one step further, collects road conditions at a plurality of remote locations captured by a video camera into a base station, and communicates the information in response to a request from a user station. We have devised a system that distributes images of designated roads via a line. That is, by transmitting an image of a point designated by the user station, for example, a junction of a specific highway, the user station (driver)
To determine the traffic jam situation.

Here, in such a system, a video transmission device that images a set point and sends out a video to a base station side through a general line in response to a request is, for example, a rooftop of a building, a street light, or the like. It is placed in places where people cannot easily reach. Here, when a bug is found in the control program of the video transmission device, and when the control program already stored in the video transmission device is rewritten to a new version, communication from the base station to the new version is performed. I'm considering sending the program.

[0005] However, after the program is transferred via the communication device and the program once stored in the buffer is started to be written into the storage area, and before the writing is completed, the power transmission on the side of the video transmission device is stopped. In this case, the video transmission device cannot operate thereafter because of a program writing failure.

An object of the present invention is to provide a control device capable of reliably rewriting a program via a communication device.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first storage area having a capacity capable of storing a control program, a second storage area, and a third storage area. Initialization basic program stored in the area and the first
A control device having a CPU for performing processing in accordance with a control program stored in a storage area of the storage area, the control apparatus temporarily writes a control program received via a communication line in the second storage area, and stores the control program in the second storage area. It is a technical feature that after the control program is properly stored, the control program in the second storage area is copied to the first storage area.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, in the first aspect, while the received control program is temporarily written in the second storage area, the control program is held in the first storage area. Perform processing according to the control program,
It is a technical feature that after the writing from the second storage area to the first storage area is completed, processing is performed by the control program stored in the first storage area.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, it is preferable that a predetermined matter occurs during execution of copying from the second storage area to the first storage area. In the event of occurrence, after the cause of occurrence is resolved, the first storage area is stored in the second storage area according to the initial setting basic program stored in the third storage area. It is a technical feature to restart copying to the area.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, the third aspect is characterized in that the predetermined reason is a stop of external power supply.

A fifth aspect of the present invention stores a control program for controlling the image pickup apparatus and a rewriting program for rewriting the control program into a control program transmitted from the outside via a communication line in order to achieve the above object. A first storage area, a second storage area for storing the same program as the control program stored in the first storage area, and an initial setting basic program for performing initial settings when the power of the imaging apparatus is turned on. A control device comprising: a third storage area; and a CPU that performs processing according to a control program and a rewriting program stored in the first storage area and an initialization basic program stored in the third storage area. The CPU receives an externally transmitted program via a communication line according to a rewriting program stored in the first storage area. A control program and technical features to be stored in the second storage area.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, in the fifth aspect, the control program includes a rewriting program.

In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention stores a control program for controlling the operation of the imaging apparatus.
And a second storage area for storing the same program as the control program stored in the first storage area, and a control program stored in the first storage area from outside via a communication line. And a third storage area for storing an initial setting basic program for performing initial setting when the power of the imaging apparatus is turned on, and a control program stored in the first storage area. And a CPU that performs processing in accordance with an initialization basic program and a rewriting program stored in the third storage area, wherein the CPU is configured to execute the rewriting program stored in the third storage area. And storing a control program transmitted from the outside via a communication line in the second storage area. .

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, in the seventh aspect, the CPU further stores the program in the second storage area according to a rewriting program stored in the third storage area. A technical feature is that a control program is stored in the first storage area.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, the CPU according to any one of the fifth to eighth aspects has been described.
Determines whether the control program is properly stored in the first storage area when the power of the imaging apparatus is turned on according to the initial setting basic program stored in the third storage area, and determines whether the control program is properly stored. If it is determined that the program has not been stored, a technical feature is that the program stored in the second storage area is stored in the first storage area.

[0016] In order to achieve the above object,
The CPU according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein
Determines whether or not the program is properly stored in the second storage area when the power of the imaging apparatus is turned on, according to the initial setting basic program stored in the third storage area, and determines whether the program is properly stored. If it is determined that there is no signal, a technical feature is to transmit a signal to that effect to the outside via a communication line.

In the control device according to the first aspect, the storage device is the first device.
And a second storage area. Then, the control program received via the communication line is once written in the second storage area, and after the control program is properly stored in the second storage area, the control program in the second storage area is stored in the first storage area. To the storage area. For this reason, even if a power failure or the like occurs while the received program is being written to the second storage area, control can be performed according to the program in the first storage area. In addition, even if the system is stopped due to a power failure while the control program of the second storage area is being copied to the first storage area, the program stored in the second storage area may fail. After power restoration,
The system operates again, and the program in the second storage area can be properly copied to the first storage area. Therefore, it is possible to reliably rewrite the received program.

In the control device according to the second aspect, while the received control program is temporarily written in the second storage area,
Since the process is performed according to the control program stored in the first storage area, the process can be continued even while a new program is being received. Further, once the copying from the second storage area to the first storage area is started, after the copying to the first storage area is completed, the processing is performed by the control program stored in the first storage area. I do. For this reason, it is possible to appropriately perform processing according to a program that is assumed to exist in the first storage area.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when a predetermined event occurs after the copying from the second storage area to the first storage area is started, the occurrence event is resolved. After that, the first storage area is stored in the second storage area in accordance with the initial setting basic program stored in the third storage area.
Copying to the storage area is restarted. Therefore, even after the transcription is started and the processing cannot be performed by the control program stored in the first storage area, the transcription is performed according to the initialization basic program stored in the third storage area. Can be.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the power supply is stopped after the copying from the second storage area to the first storage area is started, the power supply is restarted. According to the initial setting basic program stored in the third storage area, copying from the second storage area to the first storage area is restarted. Therefore, even after the transcription is started and the processing cannot be performed by the control program stored in the first storage area, the transcription is performed according to the initialization basic program stored in the third storage area. Can be.

According to the control device of the fifth to tenth aspects, the control program of the imaging device stored properly in any one of the first storage area and the second storage area always exists. Therefore, if a power failure occurs during the writing of the control program that has been upgraded from the outside or the bug has been removed to the second storage area, or the control program written to the second storage area is Further, even if a power failure occurs during writing to the first storage area, based on the control program of the imaging device properly stored, the subsequent control of the imaging device is continued without so-called hang-up. Becomes possible.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a video collection and distribution system according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a video collection and distribution system, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a video collection and distribution system of the first embodiment.

FIG. 2A shows a video transmission apparatus 10,
FIG. 2B illustrates a base station 20 that collects images from a plurality of video transmission devices 10, and FIG. 2C illustrates the base station 20.
2 shows a user station 30 requesting a specific video. The video transmission device 10 is disposed, for example, at each junction of an expressway, captures the congestion status at the junction with the camera 12, and transmits the video to the base station 20 via the communication device 14. The communication device 14 is a communication device for transmitting and receiving data by wireless communication using a mobile phone or the like, or wired communication such as a general public line or an ISDN line, and includes, for example, a mobile phone and a general telephone. It is a modem or a terminal adapter (the same applies to the communication devices 24A, 24B and 36 hereinafter). The video transmission device 10 is provided with sensors such as an illuminometer, a thermometer, and a hygrometer (not shown). On the base station 20 side, the video collection and distribution device 22 temporarily holds the video received via the communication device 24A. User station (vehicle) 30
Are provided with a communication device 36, a request issuing device 32 for requesting the base station 20 to transfer a video, and a video display 34 for displaying the transferred video. Here, the request issuing device 32 and the video display 34 can be configured using a navigation device.

With reference to FIG. 1, description of the video collection / delivery method will be continued. The video transmission device 10 shown in FIG.
However, the highway junction and traffic congestion are likely to occur in N
The base station 2 is located at one location and is connected via a general communication line.
0 is connected. The base station 20 is provided with a number N2 of communication devices 24A smaller than the number N1, and is provided so as to be able to receive image data from the video transmission device 10.

The video collection / distribution device 22 of the base station 20 comprises a computer, a video collection unit 22a for collecting image data from the video transmission device 10, a video storage unit 22b for storing the collected data, and a video storage unit 22b. A determination unit 22c that determines whether each image data stored in the storage unit 22b is new, and determines a data request frequency of each video transmission device 10.
And a distribution unit 22d that distributes image data requested by the user station. The video collection and distribution device 22
Is provided with N3 communication devices 24B for distributing image data to user stations.

On the other hand, as described above with reference to FIG.
And a request issuing device for requesting the base station 20 to transfer a video, and a video display 34 for displaying the transferred video. There are N4 user stations. Here, the number N4 (tens of thousands) of user stations is the largest, and then the number N of communication devices 24B for communication with the user station on the base station 20 side.
Many 3 Next to this, the number N1 of the video transmission devices 10 is the largest. The number N2 of the communication devices 24A of the base station 20 for communication with the video transmission device 10 is the smallest.

The configuration of the video transmission device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The video transmission device 10 includes an A / D converter 1 that converts an analog signal (NTSC, PAL) output from the camera 12 into a digital signal (RGB, YUV).
1, an image encoding unit 13 that encodes the digitally converted image signal, a block memory 18 that holds the encoded image signal, and a CPU 15 that performs various controls.
A RAM 16 used as a work area of the CPU 15 and as a buffer during communication, an initial setting basic program for performing initial settings at power-on and the like, a program rewriting procedure program on the video transmission device 10 side, and the like. ROM 19, a flash memory 17 for storing a control program, and a transmission unit 14 for communicating with the base station. Here, the flash memory 17
Is divided into an area 1 (17a) and an area 2 (17b), and the CPU 15 performs various processes according to a control program stored in the area 1.

The outline of the video collection and delivery system will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B show a display screen of the video display 34 formed of a touch panel. FIG. 4A shows a selection screen for a video request. In the selection screen, an outline of the city expressway and first to fifth junctions provided on the expressway are shown. Here, for example, the driver checks the traffic congestion at the first junction, and if the driver is not too crowded, the first
If you are going from the junction to the city expressway, touch the first junction. Thereby, the first
An image captured by the video transmission device 10 arranged at the junction is sent from the base station 20 and displayed as shown in FIG. Based on this image, the driver determines the traffic congestion state of the first junction.

The processing in the user station, the base station, and the video transmission device will be described in more detail. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing in the user station 30, the base station 20, and the video transmission device 10 in the video collection and distribution method according to the first embodiment. First, as described above with reference to FIG. 4A, when the driver touches the first junction in the display screen of the video display 34 formed of a touch panel and requests transfer of the image of the first junction, The determination of the image transmission request of the user station in step 12 is Yes, and the user station calls the base station with the communication device 36 such as a mobile phone,
An image request is transmitted to transmit the image of the first junction (S14).

Here, when the base station receives the image transmission request from the user station, the determination in step 22 becomes Yes, and the base station first holds the latest video data obtained by imaging the first junction. It is determined whether it has been performed (S24). Here, unless the video data is held (No in S24), the video transmission device 10 for imaging the first junction is called by the communication device 24A, and an image request is transmitted to transmit the image. (S26).

When receiving the image request from the base station side (Yes in S30), the video transmission apparatus 10
To capture and compress the image of the first junction (S34). Then, the video transmission device 10 sends the image data to the base station 20 (S36).

When the base station 20 receives the image data from the video transmission apparatus 10 (S40: Yes), it transfers the received image to the user station 30 (S42). In the determination in step 24 described above, the first
Similarly, when the latest video data obtained by capturing the junction is held, the received image is transferred to the user station (S42).

When the user station receives the video data from the base station 20 (Yes in S50), the user station displays the received image in FIG.
The image is displayed on the video display 34 as shown in FIG.
2).

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the processing performed when the video transmission apparatus 10 rewrites the control program of the video transmission apparatus, that is, rewrites the control program to a new version of the control program or a control program in which a bug has been corrected. 6 and FIG. 7 will be described. First, the CPU 15 of the video transmission device 10
It is determined whether an instruction to transfer a new program has been received from the base station (S110).

Here, there is an instruction from the base station to send a control program, and when the video transmission device 10 is ready for reception and starts sending the control program (S110: Y
es) Stores the received control program in RAM (buffer)
16 and the process of writing the program stored in the RAM 16 into the area 2 of the flash memory 17 is started (S112). Here, if a power failure occurs before the end of the writing (No in S118), even if the power failure is recovered, the writing process and subsequent processes cannot be continued. For this reason, at the time of power recovery, the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.
Perform initial settings after a power failure. The writing of the control program to the area 2 and the copying of the control program from the area 2 to the area 1 can all be performed by the rewriting procedure program stored in the ROM.

On the other hand, when the writing of the control program to the area 2 is properly completed (Yes at S118), the rewriting of the control program stored in the area 2 to the area 1 is started (S120). Here, if a power failure occurs before the rewriting is completed (No in S124), even if the power failure is recovered, the write processing is performed as described above.
Subsequent processing cannot be continued. For this reason, when the power failure is recovered, the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7 is executed as described later, and the initialization after the power failure is performed. When the rewriting to the area 1 is completed (Yes in S124),
The processing is started according to the rewritten control program for area 1 (S126).

Next, a process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7 after a power failure occurs while the control program is being received and written in the area 2 as described above, and the power failure is recovered. First, when the power is restored and the power is supplied, the CPU 15 first
Read the initial setting basic program held in
The subsequent processing is advanced by the program (S150).
Here, it is checked whether the control program is properly stored in the area 1 of the flash memory 17 or not.
The determination is made using C or the like (S152). Here, area 2
Even if there is a power failure during writing to the memory, the control program in area 1 exists without being affected (S15
2 is Yes), the process proceeds to step 126 shown in FIG. 6, and processing is performed according to the control program stored in the area 1. That is, the process returns to step 110, and the control program is received and the writing to the area 2 is restarted in accordance with the retransmission instruction after the transmission of the interrupted program from the base station. Note that a specific signal indicating that the program of the area 2 is not properly stored may be transmitted to the base station.

Here, a power failure occurs while the above-described control program for area 2 is being copied to area 1, and the processing after the recovery from the power failure will be described again with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, when the power is restored and the power is supplied, the CPU 15 reads the initial setting basic program stored in the ROM 19, and proceeds with the subsequent processing by the program (S150). First, it is determined whether the control program is properly stored in the area 1 of the flash memory 17 (S152). Here, when a power outage occurs during copying to area 1, writing of the control program to area 1 has not been completed.
That is, since the information is not properly stored (S152 is N
o), it is determined whether the control program is stored in an appropriate state in the area 2 (S154). Here, area 1
Even if there is a power failure during writing to the area, since the previous control program in the area 2 exists without being affected (Yes in S154), the writing of the program in the area 2 to the area 1 is restarted. (S156). Here, when there is a power failure again, the process returns to step 150. When the writing to the area 1 is completed (Y in S160)
es), the process proceeds to step 126 shown in FIG. 6, the control program stored in the area 1 is read, and processing is started according to the program.

In the above-described embodiment, since the received control program determines the address (such as a vector) to be held in the area 1, the control program is stored in the area 1 before the CPU 15 The operation is starting.

Here, in the conventional program rewriting method, if a power failure or the like occurs while the program is being rewritten through the communication device, the apparatus performs processing even if the power is restored thereafter. Can not be performed (hangup). On the other hand, in the configuration of the above-described embodiment, even if a power failure or the like occurs during communication, the processing can be resumed after recovery. For this reason, the program can be reliably rewritten via communication, and no hang-up occurs even if a failure occurs during the rewriting of the program.

In the embodiment described above, the initial setting basic program is stored in the ROM 19, and when a power failure occurs, the initial setting is performed according to the initial setting basic program. Alternatively, by adding a function that enables the mapping to be changed to a program transmitted from the base station side, an initial setting program can be included in the control program, and the program can be transmitted by communication. is there.

In this embodiment, the rewriting of the program has been described by taking the video transmission device 10 as an example, but it goes without saying that the configuration of the present invention can be applied to various devices.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a video collection and distribution system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are explanatory diagrams illustrating an outline of a video collection and distribution method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a video transmission device according to a first embodiment.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams showing a display screen on a video display; FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process performed by a user station, a base station, and a video transmission device in the video collection / delivery method according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of rewriting a program by the video transmission device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process at the time of power restoration of the video transmission device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Video transmission device 12 Camera 15 CPU 17 Flash memory 17a Area 1 17b Area 2 19 ROM 20 Base station 22 Video collection and distribution device 24A Communication device 24B Communication device 30 User station 32 Request issuer 34 Video display 36 In-vehicle telephone

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification symbol FI // H04N 5/38 G06F 9/06 420S (72) Inventor Yukio Yamamoto 10 Takane, Fujiimachi, Anjo-shi, Aichi Aisin Ai (72) Inventor Seiichi Suzuki 2-19-12 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Equos Research Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Yamakawa 2- 19-12 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Inside Equos Research (72) Inventor Toshihiro Mori 2-19-12 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan Inside (72) Inventor Hiroki Ishikawa 2- 19-12 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo No. Equos Research Co., Ltd.

Claims (10)

[Claims] A first storage area having a capacity capable of storing a control program; and a second storage area, wherein an initial setting basic program and a first basic program stored in a third storage area are provided.
A control device provided with a CPU that performs processing according to a control program stored in a storage area of the first storage area. The control apparatus temporarily writes a control program received via a communication line in the second storage area, and stores the control program in the second storage area. After the control program is properly stored, the control program of the second storage area is copied to the first storage area. 2. The control program according to claim 2, wherein
While writing to the storage area once, processing is performed in accordance with the control program held in the first storage area. After copying from the second storage area to the first storage area is completed, 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the processing is performed by a control program stored in one storage area. And determining whether or not a predetermined matter has occurred during execution of the copying from the second storage area to the first storage area. The method according to claim 2, wherein after the cancellation, the copying from the second storage area to the first storage area is restarted in accordance with the initial setting basic program stored in the third storage area. Control device. 4. The control device according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined reason is a stop of external power supply. 5. A control program for controlling an imaging device,
A first storage area for storing a rewrite program for rewriting the control program into a control program transmitted from the outside via a communication line, and a program identical to the control program stored in the first storage area. A second storage area for storing, a third storage area for storing an initial setting basic program for performing initial setting when the power of the imaging apparatus is turned on, a control program, a rewriting program, and a control program stored in the first storage area. A control device comprising: a CPU for performing processing in accordance with an initialization basic program stored in a third storage area, wherein the CPU externally communicates with a communication line in accordance with a rewriting program stored in the first storage area A control program transmitted through the second storage area. 6. The control device according to claim 5, wherein the control program includes a rewriting program. 7. A first storage area for storing a control program for controlling an operation of the imaging apparatus, a second storage area for storing a control program identical to the control program stored in the first storage area, A rewriting program for rewriting a control program stored in the first storage area into a control program transmitted from the outside via a communication line, and an initial setting basic program for performing initial setting when the power of the imaging apparatus is turned on are stored. A control device comprising: a third storage area; and a CPU that performs processing according to a control program stored in the first storage area, an initialization basic program stored in the third storage area, and a rewriting program. The CPU receives an externally transmitted signal via a communication line according to a rewriting program stored in the third storage area. Control apparatus characterized by storing the control program in the second storage area. 8. The control device according to claim 7, wherein the CPU further executes a control program stored in the second storage area according to a rewrite program stored in the third storage area. 1 is stored in one storage area. 9. The control device according to claim 7, wherein the CPU is configured to execute the first program when the power of the imaging device is turned on in accordance with an initial setting basic program stored in the third storage area. It is determined whether the control program is properly stored in the first storage area, and if it is determined that the control program is not stored properly, the program stored in the second storage area is stored in the first storage area. It is characterized by being stored. 10. The control device according to claim 7, wherein the CPU according to the initialization basic program stored in the third storage area, when the power of the imaging apparatus is turned on. It is determined whether or not the program is properly stored in the storage area 2 and if it is determined that the program is not properly stored,
A signal to that effect is transmitted to the outside via a communication line.