Data processing: software development – installation – and managem – Software program development tool – Translation of code
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-01
2001-05-29
Trammell, James P. (Department: 2161)
Data processing: software development, installation, and managem
Software program development tool
Translation of code
C717S152000, C705S001100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06240550
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to a system for remote loading of objects or files in order to update software, particularly for audiovisual reproduction systems that are triggered by the payment of fees, such as jukeboxes or other devices.
In the prior art, devices for remote loading of an operating system through a network are known such as, for example, from British Patent No. 2 231 180. The teaching of this patent application calls for loading a first computer, which is connected to a second computer via a network, by loading a subset of the operating system into the memory of the first computer, whereby the subset contains the commands that make it possible to copy files, create a directory, and format a disk, as well as allowing a connection to operate through the network so that this subset can then be used to transfer all of the operating system files from the second computer to the disk of the first computer.
In this type of remote loading, the purpose is to load the entire operating system and all of the operating system files. This thus limits remote loading either to tying up, for relatively long periods of time, telecommunications systems that are to carry out remote loading in the case of the operating system, or causes the relevant files to have to be updated frequently.
From U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,278 a system is also known for remote loading to a terminal that is not equipped with a disk player.
From French Patent No. 2 682 786 another process is known for remote loading to a terminal that is not equipped with a hard disk.
Finally, European Patent No. 0 358 992 teaches a method for remote loading, via a network, of an operating system or of executable files to a computer that does not include a boot device or other devices that hold the executable program. A first minimum boot program is transferred initially, and then this minimum boot program executes itself, establishes a logical link to a disk of the server, and allows the querying computer to treat the server disk as a local boot device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to avoid the necessity, on the one hand, of rebooting the terminal to which downloading is done and, on the other, to make it possible to transfer operating files or parts of an executable program without having to reinitialize the machine, and doing so while making sure that the operation of the system is not degraded by the remotely loaded version.
This object is achieved by virtue of the fact that the architecture of the operating system provides for breaking the different tasks down into software modules that are interconnected by means of dynamic links or are composed of executable subroutines that have main dependence links to other parts of the operating system, whereby each of the modules is composed of object files or libraries that are represented by dynamic link libraries, which are organized among themselves according to a number of dependence levels, as described in their respective attributes.
According to another feature, the attributes of an object or a library indicate the version number and the dependencies of the object with respect to other objects.
According to another feature, the attributes indicate the levels attributed to the modules.
According to another feature, the different tasks include a main task that includes a module (JUKECORE), which is designed to load the dynamic link libraries (DLLs), to initialize the nucleus of the program, to initialize the graphics management module (GFX), to initialize the library loading module (WDLL), to load the Telecom module of the telecommunications tasks (TELECOM.DLL), and to launch the screen interpreter program as a main task.
According to another feature, the program is subdivided into a certain number of modules that define a task that is specific to the terminal.
According to another feature, this specific task is that which corresponds to a jukebox and includes a specific main task, a certain number of modules that define the “Windows” functions of the display, which are the following:
a module for running the mouse signals or the touch screen;
a module for running the messages that are exchanged among the objects;
a “FIL.DJL” module for managing the files on disk;
a “FIL.DJL” module for reading and writing files to and from disk;
a “FILIO.DJL” module for monitoring all of the events that are generated by the hardware, such as the touch screen, the sound card, and the money hardware processing interface.
According to another feature, the main task of the jukebox application includes a “SILOAD.DLL” module, which contains the library of the loader program, whereby the library is intended to verify the versions of the dynamic link libraries that are requested, to load them, and to call the Telecom task modules in order to transfer files.
According to another feature, the SILOAD module includes the list in a file (DLL.DEFAULT) of the minimum versions that are required for operation, as well as the list of all of the functions that are represented either by the libraries (DJL) (DATA JUKEBOX LIBRARY) or by the object files (DJO DATA JUKEBOX OBJECT).
According to another feature, the object or library contains the list of all of the functions that the library or object needs, as well as the version numbers and dependencies.
According to another feature, WDLL ensures the management of all of the new modules and verifies that the remotely loaded modules do not have any missing dependencies and that they have been loaded with the necessary versions.
According to another feature, SILOAD manages the loading of the modules that are specific to the task of the terminal, i.e., all of the “DJL” modules already listed above, as well as the jukebox library modules constituted by WOBJECT manage the object, the mixer, and the purchases; the “WCURSOR” module manages the movements of the cursor; the DBMAPI module manages the database; the “WFONTS” module manages all of the font types; and the “PARSER” module analyzes and generates the screens from the script and verifies the grammar with the aid of the “GRAMMAR.DJL” module and the lexical module “LEXY.DJL.”
According to another feature, the library loading module SILOAD includes a “WINDEF” module that contains the list of the files that have to be included in order to manage the windows of a Windows display that is supplied on the monitor of the jukebox-type terminal.
According to another feature, this list of objects consists of:
an “OBJET WPSCREEN.DJO” module, which makes it possible to define the main page on the monitor;
a “WSCREEN.DJO” object module, which makes it possible to determine in this main page the number of screens that are available and thus to allow multiple windows or screens to be displayed;
a “WIMAGE.DJO” module, which makes it possible to determine and define on the screen the image that it will use;
a “WANIM.DJO” module, which makes it possible to define the animation when the image is animated;
a “WBUTTON.DJO” module, which makes it possible to define and manage the buttons that are used on the screen of the main page;
a “WLABEL.DJO” module, which makes it possible to create the labels that make it possible to write on top of an object; and
a “WSCROLLER.DJO” module, which makes it possible to design the scroll display zones, between two points for example, horizontal, diagonal, vertical.
According to another feature, all of these object modules, which are managed by the main task, use a “JHANDLER” library, which makes it possible to define the fixed uses of the screens and thus to determine which are the interfaces that ensure the link to the different objects that are defined by the preceding modules.
According to another feature, the SILOAD task launches or loads the “XCP” module, makes it possible to manage payment tasks such as those handled by ticket receiving systems or coin or card payment units, and also makes it possible to save the basic information in the IBUTTON.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3982620 (1976-09-01), Kortenhaus
patent: 4186438 (1980-01-01), Benson et al.
pat
Dion Dominique
Nathan Guy
Booker Kelvin
Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
Touchtunes Music Corporation
Trammell James P.
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