KR20030087418A - Method for upgrading firmware using modem - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method for updating a firmware using a modem line is provided to update the firmware of an audio device, a video device, and a card bus device through the modem line connecting to a wire or a wireless telephone through the call connection, and to directly control power of a PC on a BIOS(Basic Input/Output System) through the modem line. CONSTITUTION: A service number for updating the firmware through the wire or the wireless telephone through the call connection is requested and inputted(403). The connection of a peripheral device is checked by the received service number, and the firmware information to be transmitted to the peripheral device is searched and extracted from a database(407). The extracted firmware information is transmitted to the peripheral device by an update program installed to the BIOS(412).

Description

Firmware update using modem line {Method for upgrading firmware using modem}

The present invention relates to a firmware update method using a modem line, and more particularly, to a firmware update method using a modem line for updating the firmware of a computer at a distance through a modem line without going through a computer.

In general, computer peripherals, such as CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, hard disk drives (HDDs), and other disk devices, include memory (ROM) firmware for controlling and managing the hardware of disk devices to perform and drive various functions. Saved in

In general, firmware update and bug correction, etc. stored in the memory are taken in the HDD of the computer through the floppy disk or the Internet. When the peripheral device (audio device, video device) for update is determined, the update is made to the designated peripheral device. Firmware information to be sent is sent.

In addition, in order to update the firmware on a plurality of computers in a short distance, it is possible to update the BIOS, video, audio, and keyboard firmware by transmitting firmware information to a plurality of computers connected through a LAN card.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a firmware update process using a typical LAN.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the firmware update system using a LAN, the server system 10 and a plurality of PCs 20 and 30 are connected by a LAN card. The server system 10 includes an operating system (OS) 11, an application program 13, a driver 15, and a LAN card 17, wherein the plurality of PCs 20 and 30 are each a LAN card 27. And 37, and are distinguished by an Internet Protocol (IP) and a Mac Address, respectively.

Accordingly, in order to update the firmware, the server system 10 first drives and loads the OS 11, and then operates the application program 13. Then, the plurality of PCs 20 and 30 connected through the LAN card 17 are checked. At this time, the check is performed through a Mac address and a system ID.

After that. When the checking of the PCs 20 and 30 to transmit the firmware information is completed, the firmware code and firmware update information generated by the application program 13 of the server system 10 are transferred to the corresponding PCs 20 and 30 through the LAN card. Will be delivered. Therefore, the PCs 20 and 30 perform an update based on the received firmware update information.

However, in the firmware update method using a conventional LAN card, the update of BIOS, video, audio, and keyboard firmware is possible because the OS of the server system is loaded first, and an application program must be present. The procedure is complicated, and furthermore, since the firmware can be updated only by using a LAN at a long distance, it is impossible to update the firmware at a long distance by using a connection method other than a LAN. there was.

In addition, in the conventional remote control via a LAN card, even when the computer is turned off at a long distance, the remote control procedure is complicated because it is possible to be connected via a LAN and after the OS is loaded.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned disadvantages, and performs the firmware update of the audio device, the video device, and the cardbus device through a modem line capable of call connection with a wired or wireless telephone, as well as a modem line. The purpose is to provide a firmware update method using a modem line to directly control the power of the PC on the BIOS (BIOS) rather than the OS.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a firmware update process using a typical LAN.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a firmware update process using a modem line applied to the present invention.

3 is a structural diagram of a data format used as a service protocol according to the present invention;

4 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a firmware update method using a modem line according to the present invention.

※ Explanation of code for main part of drawing

200: telephone terminal 210: motherboard device

211: modem 213: CPU (Control Processing Unit)

215: voice chip 218: bios

217; South Bridge

219: HDD 230: card bus device

250: audio device 270: video device

290: power supply

The present invention for achieving the above object, the first step of receiving a request for the input of the service number for the firmware update via a wired telephone or a cordless telephone connected via a modem line; Determining whether a peripheral device for firmware update is connected according to the received service number, and searching and extracting firmware information to be transmitted to the peripheral device from a database; And a third step of transmitting the extracted firmware information to the peripheral device identified by the update program installed in the BIOS to perform the update.

In addition, the present invention includes a first step of receiving a request for input of a service number for firmware update through a wired telephone or a cordless telephone connected through a modem line; A second step of checking whether a peripheral device for firmware update is connected according to the received service number, and checking firmware information to be transmitted to the peripheral device in a database; A third step of, if the firmware information to be transmitted exists in a database, transmitting the firmware information to a peripheral device by an update program installed in the BIOS to perform an update; A fourth step of requesting firmware information from a wired or wireless telephone connected through a modem line if the firmware information to be transmitted does not exist in the database or the version is low. And a fifth step of transmitting the firmware information received through the modem line by the request to the peripheral device by the BIOS update program to perform the update.

In addition, the present invention includes a first step of receiving a request for input of a service number for firmware update through a wired telephone or a cordless telephone connected through a modem line; A second step of checking whether the mode analyzed through the received service number is a firmware update mode or a power control mode; And in the case of the firmware update mode, transmit the firmware information stored in the database to the connected peripheral device to perform the update. In the case of the check result, the main board device is powered on the BIOS. And a third step of turning off.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a firmware update method using a modem line according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a firmware update process using a modem line applied to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the configuration for firmware update includes a main board for controlling firmware update and power supply operation by information requested from a wired or wireless telephone (not shown) connected through the telephone terminal 200. The device 210 and a peripheral device 220 for updating firmware pre-stored in its own memory by firmware update information and control information transmitted from the motherboard device 210.

The motherboard device 210 includes a modem 211, a control processing unit (CPU) 213, a voice chip 215, a north bridge 216, a south bridge 217, and a bios 218. The device 220 may include a card bus device 230 including a memory 235 storing BIOS firmware information, an audio device 250 including a memory 255 storing audio firmware information, and a memory storing video firmware information ( A video device 270 including 275 and a microcomputer (power supply controller) 290 including a memory 295 storing power on / off control information.

Herein, the devices 230, 250, 270, and 290 of the peripheral device 200 are connected in parallel to the CPU 213 through the south bridge 217 and the north bridge 216 of the motherboard device 210. The HDD 219 stores firmware information to be transmitted to the peripheral device for updating, and the BIOS 218 stores the firmware information under the control of the CPU 213 transmitted through the north bridge 216 and the south bridge 217. To pass.

The modem 211 is connected to an external wired and cordless phone through the phone terminal 200 to signal and transmit a call call requested by the user through the wired and cordless phone to the CPU 213, and the CPU 213. The input request information of the service number is transmitted to the wired or wireless telephone connected through the telephone terminal 200 under the control of.

The CPU 213 controls the operation of the computer as a whole. In particular, the CPU 213 processes a signal input through the modem 211 to check whether a service number for firmware update is received and to update the firmware corresponding to the confirmed service number. The information is transmitted to the corresponding devices, that is, the card bus device 230, the audio device 250, and the video device 270, respectively, via the north bridge 216 and the south bridge 217 to perform the update.

That is, the firmware information transmitted from the HDD 219 under the control of the CPU 213 is transmitted to the peripheral devices 230, 250, 270, and 290 on the BIOS 218. In this case, the firmware information to be transmitted to the peripheral devices 230, 250, 270, and 290 does not exist in the HDD 219, or the firmware information to be transmitted is the same or lower than the firmware information currently stored in the memory of the peripheral devices 230, 250, 270, and 290. In this case, the CPU 213 may request transmission of firmware information for updating to a wired or wireless telephone connected through a telephone line.

Therefore, it is preferable that the wired or wireless telephone is capable of transmitting firmware information for updating, that is, data, and can be downloaded and stored through the Internet.

The south bridge 217 temporarily stores firmware information transferred from the BIOS 218, that is, information for updating, and then transfers the temporarily stored firmware information to the corresponding device when the firmware previously stored in the memory of the corresponding device is deleted.

Here, the input request information of the service number delivered to the wired or wireless telephone is a voice message, which is representative of "Enter the service number of the device for updating".

Here, the service number delivered to the motherboard device 210 through the telephone terminal 200 is a combination of a key number and a special symbol (*, #) present in the wireless or wired terminal, as shown in FIG. It is possible through. That is, by inputting six consecutive keys, it is possible to update the peripheral device 220 or to control on / off of power.

First, after the user listens to the voice message and continuously presses the key of "110001" by using a wired or wireless telephone and selects the Done button (#), it is for updating the firmware of the BIOS and the service of the "110001". The motherboard device 210 having received the number updates firmware previously stored in the memory 235 of the corresponding cardbus device 230 using the file name 'BIOS.bin' in the BIOS folder of the hard disk (C driver). .

Here, 11, the first number value of "110001", means 1 byte of the firmware type or power off selection, and the third and fourth key numbers (00) indicate whether the information of the firmware is read or written ( 01 means a selection of the hard disk, and the meaning of the value is equally applied to the video firmware update, the audio firmware update, and the power off selection of the motherboard. .

Therefore, "220300" in the service number is for updating the video firmware, the motherboard device 210 received the service number of "220300" is the file name 'Video.bin' in the video folder of the hard disk (C driver) 'Is used to update the firmware previously stored in the memory 275 of the video device 270.

In addition, "330000" in the service number is for updating the audio firmware, the motherboard device 210 received the service number of "330000" is the file name 'Audio.bin' in the audio folder of the hard disk (C driver) 'Is used to update the firmware previously stored in the memory 255 of the audio device 250.

In the service number "440101" is to turn off the power of the motherboard, the motherboard device 210 received the service number of "440101" is to be powered off.

4 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a firmware update method using a modem line according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the call call request is confirmed through the telephone terminal 200 for communication connection from the outside (401), the voice chip connected through the modem 211 is connected. The control unit 215 controls the transmission of the voice message to the wired or wireless telephone in the remote area through the modem 211.

At this time, the voice message transmitted to the wired and wireless telephone requests a service number for firmware update through a numeric key and a special key (402).

Therefore, when the service number is received from the wired or wireless telephone, it is determined whether the currently received service number is a code for firmware update or a power off of the motherboard apparatus (403, 404).

As a result of the determination in step 404, if the received service number is confirmed as a code for firmware update, the type of firmware is selected through the checked service number (406), and the peripheral device of the selected firmware is checked (407). .

In this case, the CPU 213 determines whether firmware update information corresponding to the identified peripheral device (eg, the audio device 250) exists in the HDD 219 (408). Here, although the storage means for storing the firmware information is described as an HDD in the embodiment of the present invention, it may include all other recording and reproducing means including an optical recording medium.

In addition, the HDD 219 stores firmware information of a peripheral device 220 that requires a version change or an update even if it is not used at the time of release.

Accordingly, when the requested firmware update information exists in the HDD 219 as determined in the process 408, the CPU 213 calls the BIOS 218 through the south bridge 217 to write the HDD 219 to the HDD 219. Delivers stored firmware update information.

At this time, the BIOS 218 temporarily stores the received firmware update information in the south bridge 217, and if the firmware stored in the memory 255 in the audio device 250 is deleted, the temporarily stored firmware information is transmitted to the audio device 250. It is delivered as a completion to complete the update procedure (411, 412).

Here, in step 408, only the firmware update information requested in the HDD 219 is determined. However, in the present invention, when firmware update information exists in the HDD 219, the memory in the audio device 250 may be deleted. It is more preferable not to perform the update procedure when the version of the firmware stored in the HDD 219 is low or the same through the version comparison with the firmware existing at 255.

Therefore, if it is determined in step 408 that the requested firmware update information does not exist in the HDD 219, the firmware information is requested to the wired or wireless terminal connected through the telephone line 200 (409). In operation 410, it is determined whether the requested firmware information is received.

As a result of the determination in step 410, if the requested firmware information is received, the process proceeds to step 411 of calling BIOS and transmitting firmware information. If the requested firmware information is not received, the loop ends. .

Therefore, the wired or wireless telephone is assumed to be a device capable of data transmission in addition to voice calls. On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step 404, if the received service number is confirmed as a code for the main power off, the CPU 213 controls the main power of the PC to be off and ends the present loop (405).

Here, in the embodiment of the present invention, the loop is terminated when the firmware update procedure is completed, but when the firmware update is completed, the power of the PC may be turned off or the power of the PC may be turned off. Even when making calls via wired and cordless telephones, it is more desirable to allow the power of the PC to be controlled on by the CPU connected to the modem.

In addition, although the embodiment of the present invention describes the updating of the firmware existing in one PC through the modem line, the backup of the important data to a specific location or the transmission to another computer using the modem line at a long distance. It is to be noted that is merely a substitute for the technical spirit described in the present invention.

As mentioned above, preferred embodiments of the present invention are disclosed for purposes of illustration, and those skilled in the art can improve and change various other embodiments within the technical spirit and technical scope of the present invention disclosed in the appended claims below. , Replacement or addition would be possible.

The firmware update method using the modem line as described above enables the firmware update of the audio device, the video device, and the card bus device directly through the modem line through the modem line without having to separately download the server system and the application program. Not only is the firmware update procedure extremely simple, it is also a useful invention that allows for simpler control of the motherboard's power supply.

Claims (8)

A first step of receiving a request for input of a service number for firmware update through a wired telephone or a cordless telephone connected through a modem line; Determining whether a peripheral device for firmware update is connected according to the received service number, and searching and extracting firmware information to be transmitted to the peripheral device from a database; And And updating the extracted firmware information to the peripheral device identified by the update program installed in the BIOS to perform the update. The method of claim 1, And updating a power supply of the motherboard device according to the input service number as the firmware update of the peripheral device is completed. The method of claim 1, In the first step, the request for input of the service number is performed by transmitting a voice message form to a wired or wireless telephone. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The peripheral device is a firmware device using a modem line, characterized in that the video device, the audio device and the card bus device and the other computer connected via the network communication communication with the mainboard device. The method of claim 1, The service number may include one byte for indicating the type of firmware information, one byte indicating whether the firmware is read or written, and one byte indicating a location where the firmware information is stored. Firmware update method using a modem line. The method of claim 1, The database is a firmware update method using a modem line, characterized in that it comprises a hard disk and an optical recording medium. A first step of receiving a request for input of a service number for firmware update through a landline telephone or a cordless telephone connected through a modem line; A second step of checking whether a peripheral device for firmware update is connected according to the received service number and checking firmware information to be transmitted to the peripheral device in a database; A third step of, if the firmware information to be transmitted exists in a database, transmitting the firmware information to a peripheral device by an update program installed in the BIOS to perform an update; A fourth step of requesting firmware information from a wired or wireless telephone connected through a modem line if the firmware information to be transmitted does not exist in the database or the version is low. And And updating the firmware information received through the modem line in response to the request to the peripheral device by the BIOS update program to perform the update. A first step of receiving a request for input of a service number for firmware update through a landline telephone or a cordless telephone connected through a modem line; A second step of checking whether the mode analyzed through the received service number is a firmware update mode or a power control mode; And In the case of the firmware update mode, the firmware information stored in the database is transmitted to the connected peripheral device to perform the update, and in the case of the power control mode, the main board device is powered off on the BIOS. Firmware update method using a modem line comprising a third step.