Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/ – Input/output data processing – Peripheral adapting
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-30
2001-10-02
Pan, Daniel H. (Department: 2171)
Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/
Input/output data processing
Peripheral adapting
C710S074000, C455S418000, C712S039000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298402
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of rewriting data, which includes programs, residing in an information processing apparatus, and an information processing apparatus in which data, including programs, can be rewritten.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In an information processing apparatuses such as a personal computer, a basic input-output system (BIOS) is stored in a read-only memory (ROM), and an operating system (OS), application programs, and data are stored in a hard disk. In the information processing apparatus, for starting up the system, the BIOS reads the OS and other facilities from the hard disk to a random access memory (RAM). An application program stored in the RAM is run on the other hand, in an information processing apparatus such as a portable terminal, a BIOS, an OS, application programs, and data are loaded in a ROM from the beginning. In the information processing apparatus, an application program already loaded in the ROM is run to start up the system.
In the information processing apparatus having the OS, application programs, and data stored in the ROM, when the system must be modified, the ROM is replaced with another or the data in the ROM is rewritten by a ROM writer. therein. This leads to an increase in cost. Moreover, the method using a ROM writer requires the special apparatus referred to as a ROM writer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a data rewriting method making it possible to readily rewrite data residing in an information processing apparatus in which the data including programs is stored in a programmable ROM.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus in which data including programs is stored in a programmable ROM and the data can be rewritten readily.
The present invention attempts to accomplish the above objects.
An information processing apparatus in accordance with the present invention has data including programs stored in a programmable ROM. For rewriting data residing in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, an information processing apparatus in which new data resides is connected to the information processing apparatus over a cable. The information processing apparatus having the new data shall be called a transmitting-side information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus whose system must be modified shall be called a receiving-side information processing apparatus. To begin with, the receiving-side information processing apparatus is executed. Thereafter, the reception program residing in the receiving-side information processing apparatus outputs a data transfer request to the transmitting-side information processing apparatus. The transmitting-side information processing apparatus transmits requested data to the receiving-side information processing apparatus. According to the present invention, the transmitting-side apparatus should merely have a facility for transmitting data in response to a data request. A general-purpose information processing apparatus can therefore be used as the transmitting-side information processing apparatus, but any special apparatus such as the ROM writer is not needed. The receiving-side information processing apparatus activates the reception program on receipt of data, and writes the received data in the ROM.
According to the present invention, reception is executed by the reception program stored in the RAM. No limitations will be imposed on writing of data in the ROM. For example, a block of the data in the ROM can be specified freely. Moreover, when programs included in the data are rewritten, it means that the programs are modified or another programs are added. Furthermore, programs completely different from programs having been stored in the ROM can be written.
In the data rewriting method in accordance with the present invention, the transmitting-side information processing apparatus should merely have a transmission program. The receiving-side information processing apparatus should merely transfer the reception program to the RAM. Control then jumps to the reception program, whereby programs with which the ROM is written are input. Thus, one information processing apparatus can be provided with both the transmitting facility and receiving facility. Using the information processing apparatus having both the transmitting facility and receiving facility, even an end user of the information processing apparatus can rewrite data including programs. This obviates the necessity of bringing an information processing apparatus to a manufacturer or dealer so as to have data residing in the apparatus rewritten.
Incidentally, in the rewriting method and information processing apparatus in accordance with the present invention, the receiving-side information processing apparatus has a facility for checking the validity of received data. Consequently, it can be prevented that a program compatible with an information processing apparatus of a different type is written or data is rewritten with data of an older version.
Moreover, according to the present invention, data or especially programs can be rewritten between processing apparatuses employing ROMs of different specifications. When a program is run, the program proceeds with processing while rewriting part of it own contents. A sequence for the writing is different with the specifications for a ROM. When a program compatible with the specifications for a certain ROM is stored in another ROM having different specifications, the program may not execute the desired processing in some cases.
According to the present invention, a plurality of programs compatible with the different specifications for various ROMs is stored in a programmable ROM. Thus, the above subject is dealt with. For rewriting data, all the data including the plurality of versions of programs is transferred from a transmitting-side information processing apparatus to a receiving-side information processing apparatus. For running a rewritten program, the receiving-side information processing apparatus selects a program compatible with the specifications for an own ROM from among the plurality of versions of programs, and then runs the program. Thus, even when the specifications for a ROM to be employed are modified, the contents of the ROM of an older type can be rewritten with a program that can be run.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5400389 (1995-03-01), Niiyama et al.
patent: 5694611 (1997-12-01), Matsubara
patent: 5933595 (1999-08-01), Iizuka et al.
patent: 6094698 (2000-07-01), Namikawa
Kishi Kazuo
Kitahara Kiyoshi
Uchida Noboru
Chen Te Yu
Citizen Watch Co. Ltd.
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Pan Daniel H.
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