WO2005007258A1

WO2005007258A1 - Device to process program codes

Info

Publication number: WO2005007258A1
Application number: PCT/IB2004/051273
Authority: WO
Inventors: Reinhard Meindl; Stefan Posch
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date: 2003-07-23
Filing date: 2004-07-21
Publication date: 2005-01-27

Abstract

A device (1) for processing program code (SW) comprises processing means (3) for processing the program code (SW), program-storage means (4) for storing the program code (SW) to be processed, and communications means (6) for the contactless readin of additional program code (ASW) from at least one data carrier (2) that is situated within the zone of action of the communications means (6) and on which the additional program code (ASW) is stored, wherein the processing means (3) are arranged to process the additional program code (ASW) as a supplement to the program code (SW).

Description

Device to process program codes

The invention relates to a device to process program codes. The invention also relates to a data carrier for communicating with the processing device. The invention further relates to a processing system for processing program codes. The invention finally relates to a method of processing program codes.

Known from document US 2002/0093426 is a games console in which, by the fitting of a so-called RFID device, i.e. a contactless identification device that is also referred to as a transponder, features of the software on the games console are enabled. When the games console is purchased, its software already comprises all the features that can subsequently be enabled by the fitting of the RFID device. For this purpose, the RFID device contains an enabling code that can be read by the games console. The features of the software that are enabled only become viewable or usable for the user of the games console as a result of the enabling. It is also disclosed in this document that, by means of the enabling code in the RFID device, features of the software can be downloaded to the games console from a "game capability server". Something that is disadvantageous about this known games console is that either all the software features able to be enabled have to be already stored on the games console when it is purchased or else a data transmission network, such as, for example, the internet, is required to make a data connection between the games console and the game capability server to allow additional software features to be downloaded. Children, who are the target group for games consoles, are often forbidden by their parents to download software from the internet, on the one hand from the justified apprehension of receiving virus-infected software and on the other because of the problems that can arise with on-line purchases. It is an object of the invention to provide a processing device of the kind stated in the first paragraph, a data carrier of the kind stated in the second paragraph, a processing system of the kind stated in the third paragraph, and a method of processing program codes of the kind stated in the fourth paragraph, in which the above-mentioned disadvantages are avoided. To enable the above object to be achieved, features according to the invention are provided in a processing device according to the invention such that the processing device according to the invention can be characterized in the manner stated below, namely: A device for processing program code, having processing means for processing the program code, program-storage means for storing the program code to be processed, and communications means for the contactless read-in of additional program code from at least one data carrier that is situated within the zone of action of the communications means and on which the additional program code is stored, wherein the processing means are arranged to process the additional program code as a supplement to the program code. To enable the above object to be achieved, features according to the invention are provided in a data carrier according to the invention such that the data carrier according to the invention can be characterized in the manner stated below, namely: A data carrier, comprising an interface for communicating with the communications means of the processing device claimed in claim 1 and for receiving electrical energy for supplying power to the data carrier, and additional program-storage means for storing additional program code that can be processed by the device claimed in claim 1 , wherein the additional program code can be read out over the internet. To enable the above object to be achieved, a processing system according to the invention comprises a processing device according to the invention and at least one data carrier according to the invention. To enable the above object to be achieved, features according to the invention are provided in a method according to the invention such that the method according to the invention can be characterized in the manner stated below, namely: A method of processing program codes, comprising the making available of the program code in program-storage means and of additional program code on a data carrier, wherein, in the processing of the program codes, the additional program code is read in contactlessly from the data carrier and is processed as a supplement to the program code. What is achieved by the features according to the invention is that sections of program code can be post-loaded at any time without an internet connection to a server being required for the purpose. The additional sections of program code that are post-loaded remain usable for as long as the data carrier is within the reception range of communications means by means of which the additional program code can be read out of the data carrier. This also has the additional advantage that the additional program code can easily be transmitted to another device simply by bringing the data carrier into the reception zone of the said other device. Nevertheless, the solution according to the invention does offer a high level of security against would-be illicit copiers because the additional program code stored on the data carrier generally contains only portions of software that cannot be run on their own. By virtue of the provisions detailed in claims 2 and 15, the advantage is obtained that the software of CE devices, games consoles and computers can be updated and expanded dynamically. These provisions open up entirely new sales and marketing channels such as, for example, the sale of data carriers according to the invention in supermarket chains or the inclusion of such data carriers with other products. By virtue of the provisions detailed in claims 3 and 16, the advantage is obtained that the program code to be processed can be divided into mutually independent modules, which makes it considerably easier for the program code to be supplemented. By virtue of the provisions detailed in claims 4 and 17, the advantage is obtained that high reliability and stability are achieved in the processing of the program code. By virtue of the provisions detailed in claims 5 and 18, the advantage is obtained that the original program code can be expanded by an almost unlimited number of additional program code, which additional program code is each held in store in data carriers of their own that are situated in the reception zone of a processing device in which the program code and the additional program code are processed. The anticollision means ensure that, of the data carriers that are possibly present in the reception zone, only one at a time is selectively picked out for communication. By virtue of the provisions detailed in claims 6, 9 and 19, the advantage is obtained that, implemented in the additional program code, there may also be features that call for data to be written to the data carrier to enable this data then to be further processed. It is useful in this case for the data carrier to be fitted with a data memory of a suitable size so that, depending on the features that the additional program code contains in the particular case, care can already be taken when the data carrier is being designed to see that the data memory required is present. By virtue of the possibility of transmitting the additional program code or portions thereof from the processing device to the data carrier, it is possible for the additional program code stored on the data carrier to be updated. By virtue of the provisions detailed in claims 7 and 20, the advantage is obtained that pre-defined data structures can be made available to supplement the program code. Data structures of this kind may for example be additional items for computer games such as cars and racing circuits for car-racing games, landscapes, weapons and new characters for adventure games, or, in general terms, additional levels of difficulty for games. By virtue of the provisions detailed in claim 10, the advantage is obtained on the one hand that the additional program code remains stored irrespective of whether there is a supply voltage to the data carrier but on the other that it can also be overwritten, as a result of which the data carrier can be updated. By virtue of the provisions detailed in claim 11, the advantage is obtained that the central unit is able to relieve the load on the processing device by making available its own computing capacity for processing at least parts of the additional program code. Precautions can be taken in this way against the processing speed of the processing device dropping in an unacceptable way if the program code is supplemented with a large number of additional program code. By virtue of the provisions detailed in claim 12, the advantage is obtained that the additional program code can be put on the market in the form of stickers, items in check- card format, and so on. The data carriers can thus be attached directly to the processing device. These and other aspects of the invention are apparent from and will be elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing a processing device according to the invention and a data carrier according to the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a processing device according to the invention in the form of a games console.

Fig. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing a processing system according to the invention. The processing system comprises a processing device for processing program code, which is denoted in general by the reference numeral 1, and a data carrier 2, which is in wireless contact with the processing device 1. The processing device 1 may be a consumer electronics (CE) device such as, for example, a video recorder, a CD and/or DVD player, a games console for video or computer games, or a computer on which user software is run. The processing device 1 comprises processing means 3, such as, for example, a microprocessor or microcontroller, which communicate via a data-bus with program-storage means 4 on which are stored on the one hand an operating system OS to allow the processing means to perform their basic operations and on the other hand program code SW for processing in the processing means. The program-storage means 4 may be a semiconductor memory such as a PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, etc., but also optical storage media such as CD-ROMs, or magnetic storage media such as hard disks or floppy disks. The program code SW to be processed may be user software, computer games, extensions to the operating system, and so on. The processing means 3 are also connected for communications purposes to a data memory 5, such as, for example, an RAM. When processing the program code SW, the processing means co-operate with one or more input/output means 8 that may take different forms depending on the form taken by the processing device 1. In this way, input/output means may be provided for screen display, for keyboard inputs, for access to a CD/DVD drive, for acoustic signals, etc. Such input/output means are generally familiar in the field of CE equipment, games consoles and computers and therefore do not need to be explained in detail. To enable the processing means 3 to communicate contactlessly with one or more data carriers 2, the processing device 1 has communications means 6 and, connected thereto, an antenna 7 for transmitting high-frequency electromagnetic signals ES. By means of these high-frequency electrical signals ES, the data carrier 2 can also be supplied with electrical energy if, for example, it is a passive data carrier complying with ISO/IEC standard 14443. When this is the case, the communications means 6 transmit via the antenna 7 an HF carrier signal at a frequency of 13.56 MHz that carries modulated information. In an embodiment of this kind the range is typically up to 1 m. To obtain longer ranges, the frequency can be changed, to 125 kHz, for example. In accordance with the invention, the processing means 3 process on the one hand the program code SW stored in the program-storage means 4, but on the other hand they also process additional program code ASW stored on the data carrier 2, provided a data carrier 2 of this kind is situated within the transmission/reception zone of the communications means 6. If the processing means 3 detect the presence of a data carrier 2, the additional program code ASW is read out from the data carrier 2 and processed, in which case buffer storage of the additional program code ASW takes place if required in the data memory 5. In a simple embodiment of the data carrier, the data carrier may be provided with a hardware-coded circuit for communicating with the communications means 6 and for reading out additional program code ASW stored in a fixed form. The hardware-coded circuit may take the form of a state machine. In a more powerful embodiment of the data carrier 2, which is shown in the right-hand half of Fig. 1, the data carrier 2 comprises a coupling element 10 for receiving/transmitting the electromagnetic signals ES. The coupling element 10 is in the form of a coil having one or more turns. Connected to the coupling element 10 is an interface 11 that demodulates the information contained in the electromagnetic signal ES and modulates information to be transmitted. Also, the interface 11 channels off from the electromagnetic signal ES received electrical energy to supply voltage to the electrical components of the data carrier 2. The interface 11 is also connected to a central unit 12 that may take the form of a microcontroller, which means that the data carrier 2 has intelligence and computing capacity of its own. The central unit 12 is connected to a program memory 13 that contains an adapted operating system in the form of firmware FW for performing basic functions of the central unit 12, and it also contains the additional program code ASW that is to be processed by the processing means 3 of the processing device 1 as a supplement to the program code SW. The fact of the data carrier 2 being embodied in a form in which it has a central unit 12 produces a large of number of functions that the data carrier 2 is able to perform. In this way, data may for example be processed directly in the data carrier 2, which is the purpose for which the data memory 14 is provided. Also, the processing of the additional program code ASW may be remoted from the processing means 3 to the data carrier 2, in which case it is not the additional program code ASW that is read out of the data carrier 2 but only the data that has been processed under the routines of the additional program code ASW. It is understood that when this is the case the communications means 6 are so designed that, as well as data being read in from the data carrier 2, it is also possible for data to be written to the data carrier 2. The write function to the data carrier may also be embodied in a form in which it is not, or not only, data that is written but also the additional program code ASW or parts thereof, for which purpose the program memory 13 is usefully in the form of an EEPROM. In an embodiment of this kind, the additional program code ASW to be updated may first be read in to the data memory 5 of the processing device 1 from a data network or an interchangeable data-carrier medium and then transmitted on to the data carrier 2. It should be mentioned that, even though inductive transmission of data and energy between the processing device 1 and the data carrier 2 has been shown for the present embodiment, the invention is not limited to this. Capacitive or microwave transmission could equally well be used, as well as other methods of transmission known in the field. It should also be mentioned that, for increased security, the transmission of data between the processing device 1 and the data carrier 2 may take place while using authentication and on-line encryption procedures. So that the communications means 6 are able to communicate with a plurality of data carriers 2 without any interference between them, there are provided in the processing device 1 anticollision means 9 by means of which an anticollision algorithm is run. An algorithm of this kind may, for example, cause the communications means 6 to emit a broadcast signal that causes all the data carriers 2 situated within the transmission/reception zone of the communications means 6 to send back a unique identification number by reference to which the processing means 3 are able to address the desired data carrier 2 individually. To prevent collisions caused by a plurality of data carriers replying at the same time, delay elements for delay times of different lengths, and if required of lengths that can be varied in accordance with a random-number algorithm, may be provided in the data carriers, thus ensuring that, at least after a number of broadcast signals, all the data carriers situated in the transmission/reception zone of the communications means have been reliably recognized. The electrical and electronic components of the data carrier 2 can be integrated into a single chip. This chip in turn is generally surrounded by a protective envelope that may be composed of cardboard, films or cards of polyethylene, or the like. To allow the data carrier 2 to be attached to a processing device, an outer face of the protective envelope may be provided with a layer of adhesive. Fig. 2 shows a games console 15 that represents one embodiment of the processing device according to the invention. The games console 15 comprises a cursor-key pad 16 and a control knob 18 as an input means and a display 17 as an output means. In the games console 15, computer games in the form of program code are processed, for which purpose there is implemented in the interior of the games console a circuit of a processing device 1 as shown in Fig. 1. Individual computer games may be held in store on memory cards that can be inserted in the slot 22 of the games console to allow them to be played. To enable a computer game that is being played on the games console to be expanded with features such as additional figures, landscapes, racing circuits or levels of difficulty, a label 19 is stuck to the outside of the housing of the games console 15, which label 19 has on its underside a layer of adhesive 21 to allow it to be connected to the housing of the games console. Embedded in the label 19 is a data carrier 20 in the form of a chip that contains the additional program code needed for expanding the computer game with the features described. The label 19 thus acts as a protective envelope for the data carrier 20. The additional program code is read out of the data carrier 2 contactlessly, as was described above by reference to Fig. 1. It will be appreciated from the above description that it is also possible for a plurality of labels, containing data carriers each of which contains additional features for computer games, to be stuck to the housing of the games console.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A device (1) for processing program code (SW), having processing means (3) for processing the program code (SW), program-storage means (4) for storing the program code (SW) to be processed, and communications means (6) for the contactless read-in of additional program code (ASW) from at least one data carrier (2) that is situated within the zone of action of the communications means (6) and on which the additional program code (ASW) is stored, wherein the processing means (3) are arranged to process the additional program code (ASW) as a supplement to the program code (SW).

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the device (1) is in the form of a consumer electronics (CE) device, a games console (15) or a computer.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the processing means (3) are designed to process modular program code, the program code (SW) stored in the program-storage means and the additional program code (ASW) stored on the data carrier (2) being in the form of co-operating program modules.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the processing means (3) are designed to process multitasking programs and the program code for at least one task is stored on the data carrier (2).

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that anticollision means (9) are provided for selective communication with one of a plurality of data carriers (2) situated within the zone of action of the communications means (6).

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the processing means (3) and the communications means (6) are arranged to write data and/or additional program code to the data carrier (2).

7. A device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the processing means (3) are designed to read in and process data structures coded in the additional program code (ASW).

8. A data carrier (2), comprising an interface (11) for communicating with the communications means (6) of the processing device (1) claimed in claim 1 and for receiving electrical energy for supplying power to the data carrier (2), and additional program-storage means (13) for storing additional program code (ASW) that can be processed by the device (1) claimed in claim 1, wherein the additional program code (ASW) can be read out over the interface (11) or processed in the data carrier.

9. A data carrier as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that data storage means

(14) are provided.

10. A data carrier as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the additional program-storage means (13) are in EEPROM form.

11. A data carrier as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that a central unit (12) is provided for processing the additional program code (ASW) or parts thereof in co-operation with the processing means of the processing device claimed in claim 1.

12. A data carrier as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that it is embedded in a protective envelope (19) that preferably comprises a layer of adhesive (21) on an outer side.

13. A processing system for processing program code, comprising a processing device (1) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 and at least one data carrier (2) as claimed in any of claims 8 to 12 that can be brought into the zone of action of the processing device.

14. A method of processing program code, comprising the making available of the program code (SW) in program-storage means and of additional program code (ASW) on a data carrier (2), wherein, in the processing of the program code, the additional program code (ASW) is read in contactlessly from the data carrier (2) and is processed as a supplement to the program code (SW).

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the processing of the program code takes place in a consumer electronics (CE) device, a games console (15) or a computer.

16. A method as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the program code (SW) to be processed and the additional program code (ASW) are in the form of co-operating program modules.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the program modules are processed in a multitasking process.

18. A method as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that anticollision procedures are used for selective communication with one or more data carriers (2).

19. A method as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the processing of the program code (SW) comprises the writing of data to the data carrier (2).

20. A method as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the processing of the program code (SW) comprises the read-in and processing of data structures from the additional program code (ASW).