JP3738706B2 - In-device version unification method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an in-device version unification method for unifying firmware versions in a device in which a plurality of controlled panels having firmware are mounted.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A conventional in-device version unification method will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, reference numerals 1A, 1B,..., 1N denote apparatuses, and reference numeral 100 denotes a monitoring apparatus that monitors the apparatuses 1A, 1B,. The device 1A is mounted the control panel 1A ₁ ~1An, the device 1B is mounted the control panel 1B ₁ ~1Bn, the device 1N is mounted the control panel 1N ₁ ~1Nn. The controlled panels 1A _{1 to} 1An, 1B _{1 to} 1Bn,... 1N _{1 to} 1Nn have firmware (hereinafter abbreviated as F / W).
[0003]
F / W refers to a microprogram that controls hardware by a software method. Unlike hardware (hereinafter abbreviated as H / W), the function can be easily changed by changing the F / W, so it is often used for control of a controlled panel. For this reason, if there are many changes, the version of F / W may become many types.
[0004]
For example, suppose that the F / W versions of the controlled panels 1A _{1 to} 1An in the apparatus 1A are unified to the latest version, and the controlled panel 1A _{n + 1} is newly installed in the apparatus 1A. In this case, the monitoring device 100 detects the new installation of the controlled panel 1A _{n + 1 on} the device 1A and informs the operator accordingly.
[0005]
The operator knows that the controlled panel 1A _{n + 1} is newly installed in the apparatus 1A from the notification from the monitoring apparatus 100, and determines the F / W version of the newly installed controlled panel 1A _{n + 1.} examined, if old version sends the latest version of the F / W to the control panel 1A n _{+ 1,} rewrites the F / W of the control panel 1A n _{+ 1} has. That is, the latest version of the F / W is downloaded to the controlled panel 1A _{n + 1} .
[0006]
As a result, the F / W version of the controlled board 1A _{n + 1} newly installed in the apparatus 1A becomes the same as the F / W version of the controlled boards 1A _{1 to} 1An already installed, and the inside of the apparatus 1A Unification of the F / W version. Similarly, the devices 1B to 1N are also notified of the new installation of the controlled panel by the notification from the monitoring device 100, and the F / W version is unified.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the in-device version unification method, there is a problem that the burden on the operator increases as the number of devices increases. That is, when the number of devices is small, the number of newly-controlled boards to be mounted is small, so that it does not take much time. However, as the number of devices increases, the number of newly controlled boards increases, and the F / W version must be unified for each one, which places a heavy burden on the operator. . In addition, due to human error, the F / W of the newly mounted controlled board may be rewritten to the wrong F / W. As the number of devices increases, it is expected that the control panel for rewriting the F / W will be mistaken, and that F / W selection mistakes will increase.
[0008]
The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that can reliably unify the F / W versions in the apparatus without imposing a burden on the operator. The purpose is to provide a unified version.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides a new mounting recognition means for recognizing that the device itself is newly mounted in the apparatus on the controlled board, and a new mounting in the apparatus by this means. If it is recognized, the F / W version and the H / W version that it owns are read, and the version reading notification means for notifying the control board provided in the apparatus is provided, and it is newly installed in the control board. Version pair comparison means for comparing a version pair of the F / W version and the H / W version notified from the controlled panel and a version pair group of the F / W version and the H / W version registered in advance; If the notified version pair is not included in the registered version pair group based on the comparison result of the version pair comparing means, it is paired with the notified H / W version. Identify the F / W version that is registered, this particular version of the F / W was transmitted to the control panel mounted on a new, downloading means for rewriting the F / W of the controlled machine has Are provided.
[0014]
According to the present invention, when a controlled panel is newly mounted in the apparatus, it is recognized that the mounted controlled panel is mounted in the apparatus by itself. Then, the F / W version and the H / W version that the user has are read out and notified to the control panel. The control panel includes a version pair of F / W version and H / W version notified from a newly mounted controlled panel, and a pair of version pairs of F / W version and H / W version registered in advance. When the notified version pair is not included in the registered version pair group, that is, the combination of the notified F / W version and H / W version is not registered. The F / W version to be combined with the notified H / W version is selected from the registered version pair group, and the selected version of the F / W is downloaded to the newly mounted controlled board.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[ Reference Example 1 ]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a reference example 1 before the description of the in- device version unification method according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a device, 2 is a control panel provided in the device 1, and 3 is a controlled panel mounted on the device 1 and controlled by the control panel 2.
[0016]
The controlled panel 3 includes a mounting recognition unit 3A for recognizing that it is newly installed in the device 1, and a FROM (Flash Read Only) in which F / W including version information (F / W version) is stored. Memory) 3B, F / W version reading unit 3C for reading the F / W version from FROM 3B based on a read request from mounting recognition unit 3A, and F / W version from F / W version reading unit 3C 2 and a F / W receiving unit 3E that receives the F / W transmitted from the control panel 2 and transfers it to the FROM 3B.
[0017]
The control panel 2 includes a version receiving unit 2A that receives the F / W version notified from the controlled panel 3, a FROM 2B that stores the latest F / W including version information (F / W version), The comparison unit 2C that compares the F / W version from the controlled panel 3 via the version receiving unit 2A and the F / W version in the FROM 2B, and the comparison result in the comparison unit 2C An F / W control unit 2D that reads F / W and an F / W transmission unit 2E that transmits the F / W read from the FROM 2B to the controlled panel 3 by the F / W control unit 2D. .
[0018]
A characteristic operation of the apparatus 1 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. The control panel 3 _{1 to} 3n is already mounted on the device 1 (the controlled panel 3 _{n + 1} is not yet mounted), and the F / W versions of these controlled panels 3 _{1 to} 3n are the latest. It is assumed that the version is unified.
[0019]
In this state, when the controlled board 3 _{n + 1} is newly installed in the apparatus 1 (step 201), the installation recognition unit 3A of the controlled board 3 _{n + 1} is newly installed in the apparatus 1 itself. Is recognized (step 202), and an F / W version read request is sent to the F / W version read unit 3C. The F / W version reading unit 3C receives a read request from the mounting recognition unit 3A, reads the F / W version of the controlled panel 3 _{n + 1} from the FROM 3B, and controls the control panel via the version notification unit 3D. 2 is notified (step 203).
[0020]
The F / W version from the newly mounted controlled panel 3 _{n + 1} is received by the version receiving unit 2A of the control panel 2 and sent to the comparing unit 2C. The comparison unit 2C compares the F / W version from the controlled board 3 _{n + 1} via the version receiving unit 2A and the F / W version (the latest F / W version) in the FROM 2B (step 204). The comparison result is sent to the F / W control unit 2D.
[0021]
When the F / W control unit 2D receives a comparison result indicating that the F / W version from the controlled board 3 _{n + 1} is different from the F / W version in the FROM 2B (YES in step 205), The F / W (the latest version of the F / W) in the FROM 2B is read (step 206) and sent to the controlled panel 3 _{n + 1} via the F / W transmitter 2E.
[0022]
The latest version of the F / W sent to the controlled board 3 _{n + 1} is received by the F / W receiving unit 3E and transferred to the FROM 3B. As a result, the F / W (old version F / W) in the FROM 3B is rewritten to the latest version F / W (step 207), and the F / W of the controlled panels 3 _{1 to} 3 _{n + 1} is changed. All are the latest versions, and the F / W version in the apparatus 1 is unified (step 208).
[0023]
When the comparison unit 2C obtains a comparison result that the F / W version from the controlled board 3 _{n + 1} and the F / W version in the FROM 2B are the same (NO in step 205). ), F / W control unit 2D does nothing. In this case, the F / W of the newly mounted controlled panel 3 _{n + 1} is the latest version, and the F / W version in the apparatus 1 is unified without any action (step 208).
[0024]
As described above, according to the first reference example, when the controlled panel 3 is newly installed in the apparatus 1, the F / W version in the apparatus 1 is automatically unified, so that the operator is not burdened. . This is the same even if the number of devices 1 increases and the number of controlled boards 3 newly mounted increases. That is, in each apparatus 1, the F / W version in the apparatus 1 is automatically unified in the same manner. In addition, it is possible to prevent human error and to unify the F / W versions in the apparatus 1 with certainty. In addition, operational management becomes very easy.
[0025]
[ Reference Example 2 ]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a reference example 2 before the description of the in- device version unification method according to the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 denote the same or equivalent components. In the second embodiment, an F / W transmission request unit 2F and an F / W reception unit 2G are provided on the control panel 2, and an F / W transmission request reception unit 3F and an F / W transmission unit 3G are provided on the controlled panel 3. Yes. In addition to the latest F / W including version information (F / W version), the history of F / W version up to the latest version F / W is registered in FROM-2B as F / W version group. ing.
[0026]
A characteristic operation of the apparatus 1 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. The control panel 3 _{1 to} 3n is already mounted on the device 1 (the controlled panel 3 _{n + 1} is not yet mounted), and the F / W versions of these controlled panels 3 _{1 to} 3n are the latest. It is assumed that the version is unified.
[0027]
In this state, when the controlled board 3 _{n + 1} is newly installed in the apparatus 1 (step 401), the installation recognition unit 3A of the controlled board 3 _{n + 1} is newly installed in its own apparatus 1. Is recognized (step 402), and an F / W version read request is sent to the F / W version read unit 3C. The F / W version reading unit 3C receives a read request from the mounting recognition unit 3A, reads the F / W version of the controlled panel 3 _{n + 1} from the FROM 3B, and controls the control panel via the version notification unit 3D. 2 is notified (step 403).
[0028]
The F / W version from the newly mounted controlled panel 3 _{n + 1} is received by the version receiving unit 2A of the control panel 2 and sent to the comparing unit 2C. The comparison unit 2C compares the F / W version from the controlled board 3 _{n + 1} via the version receiving unit 2A with the F / W version group registered in the FROM 2B (step 404) and compares the comparisons. The result is sent to the F / W control unit 2D.
[0029]
The F / W control unit 2D states that “the F / W version from the controlled board 3 _{n + 1} is included in the F / W version group registered in the FROM 2B. When the comparison result “is not the latest version” is sent (YES in steps 405 and 406), the latest version of the F / W registered in the FROM 2B is read (step 407), and the F / W is transmitted. It is sent to the controlled panel 3 _{n + 1} via the part 2E.
[0030]
The latest version of the F / W sent to the controlled board 3 _{n + 1} is received by the F / W receiving unit 3E and transferred to the FROM 3B. As a result, the F / W (old version F / W) in the FROM 3B is rewritten to the latest version F / W (step 408), and the F / W of the controlled panels 3 _{1 to} 3 _{n + 1} is changed. All are the latest versions, and the F / W version in the apparatus 1 is unified (step 412).
[0031]
When a comparison result is sent that the F / W version from the controlled panel 3 _{n + 1} is not included in the F / W version group registered in FROM 2B (YES in step 405, step 406) NO), the F / W control unit 2D determines that the F / W included in the controlled panel 3 _{n + 1} is the latest version of the F / W, and controls the controlled panel 3 via the F / W transmission request unit 2F. Send F / W transmission request to _{n + 1} .
[0032]
This F / W transmission request is received by the F / W transmission request receiver 3F of the controlled board 3 _{n + 1} and sent to the F / W transmitter 3G. In response to this F / W transmission request, the F / W transmission unit 3G transfers the F / W stored in the FROM 3B to the control panel 2 (step 409).
[0033]
The F / W of the controlled board 3 _{n + 1} sent from the controlled board 3 _{n + 1} is received by the F / W receiving unit 2G of the control panel 2 , and the FROM is sent via the F / W control unit 2D. 2B. As a result, the F / W from the controlled panel 3 _{n + 1} is stored in the FROM 2B as the latest version of the F / W (step 410).
[0034]
At the same time, the F / W control unit 2D of the control panel 2 transfers the F / W from the controlled panel 3 _{n + 1} to the other controlled panels 3 _{1 to} 3n via the F / W transmission unit 2E. . As a result, the F / W in the FROM 3B in the other controlled panels 3 _{1 to} 3n is rewritten to the F / W (the latest version F / W) of the controlled panel 3 _{n + 1} (step 411). All the F / Ws of the controlled panels 3 _{1 to} 3 _{n + 1} become the latest version, and the F / W version in the apparatus 1 is unified (step 412).
[0035]
In the comparison unit 2C, the comparison result that the F / W version from the controlled panel 3 _{n + 1} is the same as the latest version in the F / W version group registered in the FROM 2B was obtained. In this case (NO in step 405), the F / W control unit 2D does nothing. In this case, the F / W of the newly installed controlled panel 3 _{n + 1} is the latest version, and the F / W version in the apparatus 1 is unified without any action (step 412).
[0036]
Embodiment
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the in- device version unification system according to the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 denote the same or equivalent components. In this embodiment , an H / W version reading unit 3H is provided between the F / W version reading unit 3C of the controlled unit 3 and the FROM 3B. In addition to the F / W including version information, the FROM 3B stores H / W version information (H / W version) of the controlled panel 3. Further, in the FROM 2B of the control panel 2, a version pair group of an F / W version and an H / W version indicating a suitable combination of F / W and H / W, and H / W and All F / Ws to be combined are registered.
[0037]
A characteristic operation of the apparatus 1 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. In addition, the controlled panels 3 _{1 to} 3n are already mounted on the apparatus 1 (the controlled panel 3 _{n + 1} is not yet mounted), and the F / W version and H of these controlled panels 3 _{1 to} 3n are installed. It is assumed that the / W version is a suitable combination.
[0038]
In this state, when the controlled board 3 _{n + 1} is newly installed in the apparatus 1 (step 601), the installation recognition unit 3A of the controlled board 3 _{n + 1} is newly installed in the apparatus 1 itself. Is recognized (step 602), and F / W version and H / W version read requests are sent to the F / W version read unit 3C and the H / W version read unit 3H.
[0039]
Upon receiving a read request from the mounting recognition unit 3A, the F / W version reading unit 3C reads the F / W version of the controlled panel 3 _{n + 1} from the FROM 3B. The H / W version reading unit 3H receives the read request from the mounting recognition unit 3A and reads the H / W version of the controlled panel 3 _{n + 1} from the FROM 3B. Then, the F / W version reading unit 3C and the H / W version reading unit 3H notify the control panel 2 of the read F / W version and H / W version via the version notification unit 3D (step 603).
[0040]
The version pair of the F / W version and the H / W version from the controlled panel 3 _{n + 1} is received by the version receiving unit 2A of the control panel 2 and sent to the comparing unit 2C. The comparison unit 2C includes a version pair of the F / W version and the H / W version from the controlled board 3 _{n + 1} via the version receiving unit 2A, and the F / W version and H registered in the FROM 2B. The version pair group with the / W version is compared (step 604), and the comparison result is sent to the F / W control unit 2D.
[0041]
When the version pair from the controlled board 3 _{n + 1} is not included in the version pair group registered in the FROM 2B (YES in Step 605), the F / W control unit 2D notifies the notified H / W The F / W version registered as a pair with the W version is specified (step 606), the F / W of the specified F / W version is read from the FROM 2B, and controlled via the F / W transmitting unit 2E. Send to board 3 _{n + 1} .
[0042]
The F / W sent to the controlled board 3 _{n + 1} is received by the F / W receiver 3E and transferred to the FROM 3B. As a result, the F / W in the FROM 3B is rewritten to the F / W sent from the control panel 2, and the combination of F / W and H / W in the controlled panel 3 _{n + 1} is suitable. Become. As a result, the F / W version and H / W version of the controlled panels 3 _{1 to} 3 _{n + 1} are all suitable combinations, and the F / W version in the device 1 is unified to the version suitable for the H / W version. (Step 608).
[0043]
In comparison unit 2C, the version pair of F / W version and H / W version from controlled panel 3 _{n + 1} is included in the version pair group of F / W version and H / W version in FROM 2B. If the comparison result is obtained (NO in step 605), the F / W control unit 2D does nothing. In this case, the F / W and H / W of the newly mounted controlled panel 3 _{n + 1} are suitable combinations, and the F / W version in the device 1 can be changed to the H / W version without any action. A suitable version is unified (step 412).
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description , according to the present invention, when a controlled panel is newly installed in the apparatus, it is recognized that the mounted controlled panel is installed in the apparatus by itself. The F / W version and the H / W version of the F / W and the H / W version of the control panel are read out and notified to the control panel. The pair of the F / W version registered in advance and the version pair group of the H / W version are compared, and if the notified version pair is not included in the registered version pair group, it is registered. F / W version to be combined with the notified H / W version is selected from a group of versions, and the controlled board is newly equipped with the selected version of F / W Because downloaded, if the version of the F / W of suitable by H / W are different, such as, automatic F / W in the device is intended to be unified revision for the H / W, burdening the operator Therefore, it is possible to reliably unify the F / W versions in the apparatus.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram showing a reference example 1 before a description of an in- device version unification method according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a characteristic operation in Reference Example 1 ;
FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram showing a reference example 2 before the description of the in- device version unification method according to the present invention.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a characteristic operation in Reference Example 2. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a block configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an in-device version unification system according to the present invention.
6 is a flowchart for explaining a characteristic operation in the embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a system configuration diagram illustrating a conventional in-device version unification method.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Apparatus, 2 ... Control board, 2A ... Version receiving part, 2B ... FROM, 2C ... Comparison part, 2D ... F / W control part, 2E ... F / W transmission part, 2F ... F / W transmission request part, 2G ... F / W receiving unit, 3 (3 _{1 to} 3 _{n + 1} ) ... Controlled panel , 3A ... Installation recognition unit, 3B ... FROM, 3C ... F / W version reading unit, 3D ... Version notification unit, 3E ... F / W receiving unit, 3F... F / W transmission request receiving unit, 3G... F / W transmitting unit, 3H... H / W version reading unit.

Claims (1)

An in-device version unifying method for a device having a control panel and a controlled panel controlled by the control panel,
The controlled panel is
A new loading recognition means for recognizing that it is newly loaded in the device;
When the new installation in the apparatus is recognized by this means, it has a version read notification means for reading the firmware version and the hardware version of its own and notifying the control panel,
The control panel
Version pair comparison means for comparing a version pair of a firmware version and a hardware version notified from a newly mounted controlled panel and a version pair group of a firmware version and a hardware version registered in advance;
Based on the comparison result of this version pair comparison means, if the notified version pair is not included in the registered version pair group, the notified hardware version and the firmware version registered as a pair are identified. And a means for transmitting the specified version of firmware to the newly installed controlled panel, and downloading means for rewriting the firmware possessed by the controlled panel. method.

Images