JP3614085B2 - Firmware download method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a firmware download method, and more particularly to a firmware download method in a mobile communication data processing apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, this type of firmware download method is used for downloading firmware to a mobile communication data processing apparatus provided between a mobile communication exchange and a radio base station.
[0003]
Referring to FIG. 3 which is a block diagram of a conventional mobile communication data processing apparatus to which this conventional firmware download method is applied, the conventional mobile communication data processing apparatus 19 is configured to receive a voice signal (low (Velocity coded signal) is converted (decoded) into a voice signal (PCM signal) for use in the general telephone network and sent to the mobile communication switch, and the voice signal (PCM signal) from the mobile communication switch is encoded at a low speed. It has a function of converting (encoding) a signal into a voice signal and sending it to the radio base station. The common control unit A20, the common control unit B21, the common bus 10, a plurality of functional units 22, and an exchange interface ( An exchange IF) and a base station interface (base station IF). The common control unit A20 includes a main processing unit 23, a serial port 7, and an in-unit bus. The main processing unit 23 is a processor that executes the functions of the common control unit according to a preset program. 7 is connected to the maintenance tool 5 such as a personal computer via a communication cable, and the intra-unit bus is a bus used in the common control unit A20. Then, the common control unit A20 receives a control command for setting an operating channel from the mobile communication switching unit which is a host device via the switching unit IF in the mobile communication data processing device 19, and according to the control command. This channel is set (that is, the functional unit 22 in the mobile communication data processing device 19 and the channel that the functional unit 22 is responsible for) are selected, and the mobile communication switch received on this channel via the switch IF The voice signal (PCM signal) is passed to the functional unit 22 and converted (encoded) into a low-speed encoded voice signal and sent to the radio base station via the base station IF in the mobile communication data processing device 19. . The common control unit A20 passes the voice signal (low-speed encoded signal) from the radio base station received on this channel via the base station IF to the functional unit 22 and converts it into a voice signal of the PCM signal. To the mobile communication exchange via the IF. The mobile communication data processing device 19 is normally operated by the operation of the common control unit A20. The common control unit B21 has exactly the same configuration as the common control unit A20. The mobile communication data processing device 19 operates in a redundant configuration including the common control unit A20 and the common control unit B21. One of the common control unit B21 becomes the active system and the other becomes the standby system, and when the failure occurs in the active system, the active system and the standby system are automatically switched. Here, for example, the common control unit B21 is a standby system and the common control unit A20 is an active system. The common bus 10 is used by the active common control unit A20 to communicate with the plurality of functional units 22, and cannot be accessed from the standby common control unit B21.
[0004]
The maintenance tool 5 is, for example, a personal computer used for maintenance, and has a function of acquiring the state in the mobile communication data processing device 19, a function of downloading firmware of the functional unit 22, and the like.
[0005]
Referring to FIG. 4 which is a block diagram of a functional unit of a conventional mobile communication data processing apparatus, the conventional functional unit 22 includes a main processing unit 12, a communication memory 18, a unit internal bus, a ROM 17, and a flash. A memory A15, a flash memory B16, and a DSP 13 are provided. The main processing unit 12 is a processor and is connected to the common bus 10 via a communication memory 18. The intra-unit bus is an internal bus of the functional unit 22. The ROM 17 stores a program for starting the main processing unit 12. The flash memory A15 stores a program for the main processing unit 12 after startup and a program for the DSP 13, and the flash memory B16 stores the same program as the flash memory A15.
[0006]
The main processing unit 12 determines whether the flash memory A15 and the flash memory B16 are abnormal by a checksum or the like by a startup program in the ROM 17 at the time of startup, and issues an alarm when both are abnormal, and when either one is abnormal The contents of the flash memory that is not abnormal are copied to the flash memory determined to be abnormal, the DSP 13 program in the flash memory is transferred to the DSP 13, and the DSP 13 receives the DSP 13 program and stores it in the internal memory. Then, after startup, the program is normally operated by the post-startup program in the flash memory B16, and the DSP 13 is operated by the DSP13 program (the DSP 13 performs data processing (conversion of the audio signal described above) which is the main function of the functional unit 22). ).
[0007]
Next, a conventional firmware download method will be described with reference to FIG. 3 which is a block diagram of a conventional mobile communication data processing device 19. In order to revise the firmware stored in the flash memory A15 and the flash memory B16 shown in FIG. 4, for example, the maintenance tool 5 uses the revised firmware as a download program as a serial data via the serial port 7 as a main processing unit. 23, the main processing unit 23 receives the download program as serial data and downloads it to the functional unit 22 that is not in operation, which should replace the firmware. The functional unit 22 which is not operated receives this download program and stores it in the flash memory A15 and the flash memory B16. At this time, the active common control unit A20 performs the normal operation described above. Conventionally, in order to revise the firmware stored in the flash memory A15 and the flash memory B16 shown in FIG. 4, for example, the flash memory in which the download program is stored in advance is physically exchanged. That is, the plurality of functional units 22 have the same function, and even if one functional unit 22 is removed, the other functional units 22 take over, and the system does not lead to a system down. Even during operation, it is possible to replace the flash memory storing the download program in advance. When the flash memory in which the download program is stored in advance is physically exchanged during the operation of the mobile communication data processing device 19, the functional unit 22 to be exchanged for the flash memory is subjected to this functional unit by the maintenance tool 5. 22 does not accept new processing, waits until the processing currently executed by this functional unit 22 is completed, removes this functional unit 22 from the mobile communication data processing device 19, and flushes the function unit 22. The function unit 22 is returned to its original state by exchanging the memory.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional firmware download method described above, only the operation common control unit of the data processing apparatus for mobile communication to which this method is applied can access the functional unit via the common bus. The firmware updated from the tool is passed as a download program, and the download program is downloaded to the functional unit via the active common control unit. Therefore, when the mobile communication data processing device is downloaded, the active common control unit There is a problem that a load other than the normal operation is applied to the operation system, and the operation common control unit may be overloaded or the performance of the data processing apparatus for mobile communication may be deteriorated.
[0009]
In addition, when the flash memory in which the download program is stored in advance is physically exchanged during the operation of the data processing apparatus for mobile communication, this functional unit is newly added to the functional unit to be exchanged by the maintenance tool. Do not accept processing, wait until this functional unit finishes the processing currently being executed, remove this functional unit from the data processing device for mobile communication, replace the flash memory in this functional unit and replace this functional unit Therefore, there is a problem that it takes a very long time to load the revised firmware on the functional unit.
[0010]
The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate such conventional drawbacks. Even if the data is downloaded during operation of the mobile communication data processing apparatus, the operation common control unit is not subjected to a load other than normal operation, and is common to the operation system. It is an object of the present invention to provide a firmware download method in which a control unit is not overloaded and the performance of a data processing apparatus for mobile communication does not deteriorate, and it does not take time to load a revised firmware on a functional unit.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first firmware download method of the present invention, a plurality of functional units for realizing a predetermined function connected to each other by a common bus for normal operation, an active common control unit, and a standby common control Arranged in a data processing apparatus having a component with the unit and realizing the predetermined function in the functional unit by the control of the common control unit of the active system via the common bus and performing the normal operation In the firmware download method for downloading firmware in the functional unit,
Via the download dedicated bus dedicated to download, the firmware for downloading from the outside of the data processing device is temporarily stored by the common control unit of the standby system and the components of the data processing device are connected to each other The firmware temporarily stored in the functional unit is downloaded.
[0012]
According to the second firmware download method of the present invention, a plurality of functional units for realizing predetermined functions connected to each other by a common bus for normal operation, a common control unit for the active system, and a common control for the standby system In the functional unit disposed in the data processing apparatus having a component with the unit and causing the functional unit to realize the predetermined function by control of the common control unit of the active system via the common bus In the firmware download method for downloading firmware,
A maintenance tool for preparing the firmware for downloading in advance and transferring the firmware and the download destination address of the firmware;
The firmware and the address are received and stored from the maintenance tool, and the stored firmware is output together with the address to the download dedicated bus for connecting the components of the data processing device to each other, and is stored in the address. The common control unit of the standby system for writing the firmware;
The firmware and the address output from the common control unit in the standby system are received via the download dedicated bus, and the memory for writing the firmware is connected to the download dedicated bus when this address is the address of the own function unit. A plurality of said functional units;
It is configured with.
[0013]
In the second firmware download method of the present invention, the common control unit receives the firmware for downloading and the address of the download destination of the firmware from the maintenance tool, and the port receives the firmware. A memory for storing the firmware and the address;
A bus selection unit that selects the common bus when the common control unit is an active system, and selects the download dedicated bus when the common control unit is a standby system, and connects the common control unit to the selected bus;
The port, the memory, and the bus selection unit are controlled by a preset program, and when the common control unit is a standby system, the firmware is output to the download-dedicated bus selected by the bus selection unit together with the address. A main processing unit for writing the firmware to the address;
It is configured with.
[0014]
Further, the functional unit of the second firmware download method of the present invention is connected to an internal bus of the functional unit in advance, and stores a flash memory A that stores the old version firmware before the download,
Flash memory B, which is connected to the internal bus of this functional unit in advance and stores the same old version firmware as flash memory A,
A main processing unit that is connected to the internal bus of the functional unit in advance and controls the functional unit by the firmware stored in the flash memory B;
A part of the firmware previously connected to the internal bus of the functional unit and stored in the flash memory B is received by the control of the main processing unit at the time of activation of the functional unit, and then activated through the common bus. A DSP for realizing a predetermined function by the received firmware according to the control of the common control unit;
To receive the address output together with the firmware by the common control unit in the standby system together with the firmware, and to write the firmware into the flash memory A when this address is the address of its own functional unit A bus switching unit for switching the connection of the flash memory A from the internal bus of the own function unit to the download dedicated bus;
It is configured with.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a firmware download system of the present invention.
[0017]
The present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 has a plurality of functional units 4 for realizing predetermined functions connected to each other by a common bus for normal operation. This is an encoding / decoding device that converts an audio signal into an audio signal of a PCM signal, or converts an audio signal of a PCM signal into an audio signal of a low-speed encoded signal. A data processing apparatus 1 having a component with the common control unit of the system and having the function unit 4 realize a predetermined function by control of the common control unit of the active system via the common bus 11 (this data processing apparatus 1 is provided between, for example, a mobile communication exchange and a radio base station, and receives a voice signal of a low-speed encoded signal from the radio base station via a base station interface. PCM signal voice signal used in communication is sent to the mobile communication exchange via the exchange interface, and the PCM signal voice signal from the mobile communication exchange is received via the exchange interface to the low-speed encoded signal. In the firmware download method for downloading the firmware in the functional unit 4 arranged in the mobile communication data processing device 1 which is converted into a voice signal and sent to the radio base station via the base station interface. A maintenance tool 5 that prepares firmware for the transfer and transfers the firmware and the download destination address of the firmware, and stores and receives the firmware and address from the maintenance tool 5. Multiple functional units The standby firmware common control unit that outputs the stored firmware together with the address to the download dedicated bus 10 that connects the common control unit of the active system and the standby common control unit to each other and writes the firmware to this address. The unit (for example, the common control unit A2, hereinafter referred to as the common control unit A2) and the firmware and address output by the standby common control unit A2 are received via the download dedicated bus 10, and this address is self-functioning. A memory for writing this firmware at the address of the unit 4 is composed of a plurality of functional units 4 that connect to the download dedicated bus 10.
[0018]
When the common control unit is in the standby system, the common control unit is connected to the maintenance tool 5 such as a personal computer via a communication cable or the like, and the firmware for downloading and the address of the download destination of the firmware are connected to this maintenance unit. For example, the serial port 7 received from the tool 5, an intra-unit bus which is a bus used in the common control unit, a download memory 8 for storing the firmware and address received by the serial port 7, and the common control unit The common bus 11 is selected for the operation system, the download dedicated bus 10 is selected for the standby system, and the bus selection unit 9 for connecting the common control unit to the selected bus, the serial port 7, the download memory 8, and the bus selection. Part 9 and a preset program When the common control unit is in a standby system, the main processing unit 6 outputs the firmware stored in the download memory 8 together with the address to the download dedicated bus 10 selected by the bus selection unit 9 and writes the firmware to this address. It is comprised by.
[0019]
Next, the operation of the firmware download method of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
[0020]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional unit. The functional unit 4 is connected to the intra-unit bus in the functional unit 4 in advance and stores the old version firmware before downloading. The flash memory A15 that stores the program for the main processing unit 12 and the program for the DSP 13 that control the operation after startup, and the previous version that is connected in advance to the internal bus of the functional unit 4 and is the same as the flash memory A15 A flash memory B16 that stores the firmware, a main processing unit 12 that is connected to the internal bus of the functional unit 4 in advance and controls the functional unit 4 with the firmware stored in the flash memory B16, and the functional unit 4 in advance. Connected to the internal bus and stored in flash memory B16 A part of the firmware is received by the control of the main processing unit 12 (execution of the startup program stored in the ROM 17) when the functional unit 4 is activated, and the common operation system is shared via the common bus 11 after the functional unit 4 is activated. In response to the control of the control unit B3, the DSP 13 that realizes a predetermined function by the received firmware and the address that the standby common control unit A2 outputs together with the firmware to the download dedicated bus 10 are received. A bus switching unit 14 for switching the connection of the flash memory A from the intra-unit bus of the self-function unit 4 to the download dedicated bus 10 so that the firmware is written in the flash memory A at the address 4; The common control unit for the active system It is constituted by a communication memory 18 for connection with Tsu bets.
[0021]
In FIG. 1, for example, when the common control unit A 2 is a standby system, the common control unit A 2 is connected to the download dedicated bus 10 by the bus selection unit 9. The common control unit B3 is an active system and is connected to the common bus 11 by the bus selection unit 9. When the data processing apparatus 1 provided between the mobile communication exchange and the radio base station performs a normal operation of converting a voice signal by an operation of the active system, for example, the standby common control unit A2 The maintenance tool 5 that is connected in advance to the firmware for downloading and transfers the firmware and the download destination address of the firmware to the common control unit A2, completes the transfer, and controls the "data transfer completion notification". Transmit to unit A2. Under the control of the main processing unit 6, the common control unit A2 receives firmware and an address for downloading from the maintenance tool 5 through the serial port 7, stores them in the download memory 8, and transfers the “data transfer” transferred by the maintenance tool 5. “Finish notification” is received by the serial port 7 and it is confirmed that the transfer of the firmware has been normally completed by using, for example, a checksum sent together with the firmware, and a “data transfer completion report” is transmitted to the maintenance tool 5. . The maintenance tool 5 receives a “data transfer completion report” from the common control unit A2, and transmits a “download start notification” to the standby common control unit A2. The common control unit A 2 receives a “download start notification” from the maintenance tool 5 and outputs the firmware stored in the download memory 8 to the download dedicated bus 10 together with the address stored in the download memory 8. Each of the plurality of functional units 4 receives the address output from the standby common control unit A2 via the download dedicated bus 10 by the bus switching unit 14 and checks whether this address is the address of the own functional unit 4 or not. When the address is the address of the own function unit 4, the flash memory A15 is connected to the download dedicated bus 10. When the common control unit A2 outputs the firmware and address to the download dedicated bus 10, the common control unit A2 writes the firmware in the flash memory A15 connected to the download dedicated bus 10. Next, a reset instruction for initializing the functional unit 4 in which this firmware is written in the flash memory A15 is received by, for example, a switch provided in the functional unit 4 in advance, and the bus switching unit 14 connects the flash memory A15. Switching from the dedicated download bus 10 to the in-unit bus, the main processing unit 12 performs an abnormality determination by, for example, a checksum of the flash memory A15 by using a startup program stored in advance in the ROM 17, for example, and writing to the flash memory A15 when there is no abnormality The copied firmware is copied to the flash memory B16, and the firmware for the DSP 13 among the copied firmware in the flash memory B16 is transferred to the DSP 13. When the flash memory A15 is abnormal, the flash memory B16 is flashed. Performs abnormality determination of the memory B16, when no abnormality is the control of the normal operation by the old firmware in the flash memory B16, interrupts the activation process as an alarm when there is an abnormality in the flash memory B16.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the firmware download method of the present invention, the standby control system receives the firmware for downloading from the outside of the data processing apparatus and temporarily stores it via the download dedicated bus. Since the temporarily stored firmware is downloaded to the functional unit, even if it is downloaded during operation of the data processing device, no load other than normal operation is applied to the active common control unit. It does not become a load or the performance of the data processing apparatus for mobile communication is deteriorated, and it does not take time to load the revised firmware on the functional unit.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a firmware download method of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional unit.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a conventional mobile communication data processing apparatus to which a conventional firmware download method is applied.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of functional units of a conventional mobile communication data processing apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Data processor 2 Common control unit A
3 Common control unit B
4 Functional Unit 5 Maintenance Tool 6 Main Processing Unit 7 Serial Port 8 Download Memory 9 Bus Selection Unit 10 Download Dedicated Bus 11 Common Bus 12 Main Processing Unit 13 DSP
14 Bus switching unit 15 Flash memory A
16 Flash memory B
17 ROM
18 Communication Memory 19 Mobile Communication Data Processing Device 20 Common Control Unit A
21 Common control unit B
22 functional unit 23 main processing part

Claims (7)

A plurality of functional units for realizing predetermined functions connected to each other by a common bus for normal operation, components of an active common control unit, and a standby common control unit are included, and the common bus is used. Firmware for downloading the firmware in the functional unit arranged in the data processing apparatus which is configured to perform the normal operation by realizing the predetermined function in the functional unit under the control of the common control unit of the operational system. In the download method, the standby control unit receives the firmware for downloading from the outside of the data processing device, temporarily stores it, and connects the components of the data processing device to each other. Temporary storage in the functional unit via the bus Firmware download method being characterized in that so as to download the firmware. A plurality of functional units for realizing predetermined functions connected to each other by a common bus for normal operation, components of an active common control unit, and a standby common control unit are included, and the common bus is used. In the firmware download method for downloading the firmware in the functional unit arranged in the data processing device configured to realize the predetermined function in the functional unit under the control of the common control unit in the operational system,
A maintenance tool for preparing the firmware for downloading in advance and transferring the firmware and the download destination address of the firmware;
The firmware and the address are received and stored from the maintenance tool, and the stored firmware is output together with the address to the download dedicated bus for connecting the components of the data processing device to each other, and is stored in the address. The common control unit of the standby system for writing the firmware;
The firmware and the address output from the common control unit in the standby system are received via the download dedicated bus, and the memory for writing the firmware is connected to the download dedicated bus when this address is the address of the own function unit. A plurality of said functional units;
Firmware download method characterized by comprising: The common control unit includes a port for receiving the firmware for downloading and the address of the download destination of the firmware from the maintenance tool,
A memory for storing the firmware and the address received by the port;
A bus selection unit that selects the common bus when the common control unit is an active system, and selects the download dedicated bus when the common control unit is a standby system, and connects the common control unit to the selected bus;
The port, the memory, and the bus selection unit are controlled by a preset program, and when the common control unit is a standby system, the firmware is output to the download-dedicated bus selected by the bus selection unit together with the address. A main processing unit for writing the firmware to the address;
The firmware download method according to claim 2, further comprising: The functional unit is connected in advance to the internal bus of the functional unit, and the flash memory A that stores the old firmware before the download;
Flash memory B, which is connected to the internal bus of this functional unit in advance and stores the same old version firmware as flash memory A,
A main processing unit that is connected to the internal bus of the functional unit in advance and controls the functional unit by the firmware stored in the flash memory B;
A part of the firmware previously connected to the internal bus of the functional unit and stored in the flash memory B is received by the control of the main processing unit at the time of activation of the functional unit, and then activated through the common bus. A DSP for realizing a predetermined function by the received firmware according to the control of the common control unit;
To receive the address output together with the firmware by the common control unit in the standby system together with the firmware, and to write the firmware into the flash memory A when this address is the address of its own functional unit A bus switching unit for switching the connection of the flash memory A from the internal bus of the own function unit to the download dedicated bus;
The firmware download method according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising: In response to a reset instruction for initializing the functional unit, the functional unit switches the connection of the flash memory A from the download-dedicated bus to the internal bus, and the main processing unit uses the startup program prepared in advance. The abnormality of the flash memory A is determined. When there is no abnormality, the firmware written in the flash memory A is copied to the flash memory B, and the DSP firmware in the copied firmware in the flash memory B is replaced with the DSP firmware. When the flash memory A is abnormal, the flash memory B is determined to be abnormal. When there is no abnormality, normal operation is controlled by the old version of firmware in the flash memory B. To be abnormal Firmware download method according to claim 4, characterized in that so as to interrupt the startup processing as an alarm to. A plurality of functional units for realizing predetermined functions connected to each other by a common bus for normal operation, components of an active common control unit, and a standby common control unit are included, and the common bus is used. In the firmware download method for downloading the firmware in the functional unit arranged in the data processing device configured to realize the predetermined function in the functional unit under the control of the common control unit in the operational system,
Prepare the firmware to download in advance, transfer this firmware and the download destination address of this firmware, send a “data transfer completion notification”, receive a “data transfer completion report”, and send a “download start notification” Maintenance tools to
Receive and store the firmware and the address from the maintenance tool, receive the "data transfer completion notification" transferred by the maintenance tool, check that the firmware transfer has been completed normally, and send a "data transfer completion report" Sending to the maintenance tool, receiving a “download start notification” from the maintenance tool, and outputting the stored firmware together with the address to a dedicated download bus connecting the components of the data processing apparatus to each other The common control unit of the standby system for writing the firmware to the address;
The firmware and the address output from the common control unit in the standby system are received via the download dedicated bus, and the memory for writing the firmware is connected to the download dedicated bus when this address is the address of the own function unit. A plurality of said functional units;
Firmware download method characterized by comprising: The data processing apparatus is provided between a mobile communication switch and a radio base station, and receives a voice signal of a low-speed encoded signal from the radio base station via a base station interface and uses it in a general telephone network. The PCM signal is converted into a voice signal to be transmitted to the mobile communication switch via the exchange interface, and the PCM signal voice signal from the mobile communication switch is received via the switch interface to receive the low-speed encoded signal. Is a data processing device for mobile communication that is converted into a voice signal and sent to the radio base station via a base station interface,
The functional unit is a coding / decoding device that converts a voice signal of a low-speed encoded signal into a voice signal of a PCM signal or converts a voice signal of a PCM signal into a voice signal of a low-speed encoded signal. The firmware download method according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6.

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