JPH01204166A - Loading device for modem firmware - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily and flexibly cope with the MODEMs of the remote side that have different modulation systems and different transmission speeds by using a rewritable RAM in a memory and storing a working program with a loading instruction given from an external memory. CONSTITUTION:An external memory 3 storing a working program which is coincident with the modulation system and the transmission speed of the MO DEM set at the remote side for MODEM communication is connected to the main body side via an interface 4. A read/write control means 5 receives a loading instruction and stores the working program stored in the memory 3 in a firmware RAM 2 and performs action coincident with the modulation system by a processor and the transmission speed of the MODEM of the remote side. Thus it is possible to easily load firmware in accordance with the modulation system and the transmission speed of each MODEM.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] This invention relates to a modem firmware loading device that enables a modem equipped with a microprocessor or a digital signal processor to support multiple types of systems, and is capable of loading modem firmware according to transmission speed and modulation system. The purpose is to easily load firmware (operation program) into firmware memory, and it includes a microprocessor that performs signal modulation and m-tone processing operations,
A firmware RAM that stores the operating program of this microprocessor is removably connected to the firmware RAM via an interface, and has a specified transmission speed internally.

an external storage device that stores an operating program for implementing a modulation method; and read/write control means that receives a load command, reads out the operating program stored in the external storage device, and writes it to the firmware RAM. Prepare and configure.

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a modem firmware loading device for making a modem equipped with a microprocessor or a digital signal processor (DSP) compatible with a plurality of types of systems.

[Prior Art] Modems that perform modulation and demodulation of signals transmitted through communication lines or signals that have been transmitted have recently been equipped with microprocessors or digital signal processors.
Digital processing is becoming mainstream. In such a modem, a microprocessor or digital signal processor is configured to perform predetermined modulation and demodulation processing according to a program stored in memory.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] On the other hand, a modem that exchanges signals with various communication stations via a switched circuit network has different transmission speed and modulation than the modem of the communication station with which it communicates. It is necessary to match the modes, but in this case, instead of preparing various modems, you can share the hardware and simply change the program (firmware) stored in memory to support modems of different modes. It would be convenient if possible.

The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a modem firmware loading device that can easily load firmware according to transmission speed and modulation method into firmware memory. .

[Means for Solving the Problems] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the principle of the present invention. In the figure,
1 is a microprocessor that performs signal modulation/demodulation processing operations; 2 is a firmware RAM that stores the operating program (firmware) of this microprocessor 1;
It is connected to the processor 1 via a data bus and an address bus.

Reference numeral 3 denotes an external storage device in which an operating program for hiding a specific transmission speed and modulation method is stored, and is connected to the firmware RAM via an interface 4. Reference numeral 5 denotes a read/write control means which receives a load command, reads out an operating program stored in the external storage device 3, and writes it into the firmware RAM 2.

[Function] The external storage device 3 can be attached or detached from the main body side via the interface 4, and the modem can store an external storage device containing an operation program that matches the modulation method and transmission speed of the modem with which it communicates. It is connected to the main body side via the interface 4. The read/write control means 5 receives the load command and stores the operation program contained in the external storage device 3 in the firmware RAM, thereby causing the processor 1 to perform an operation consistent with the modulation method and transmission speed of the partner modem. . Therefore, according to the present invention, there is no need to prepare firmware for each type of partner modem in advance.

[Example] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. Here, an example is shown in which there is one microprocessor that operates as a modem. In the figure, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. G1. G2 is data bus DB1 and address bus ABI
A gate is provided to control the enable/disable of each bus,
Reference numeral 50 denotes a control microprocessor, which serves as read/write control means in FIG.

DB2 and AB2 are a data bus and an address bus connecting the control microprocessor 50 and the firmware RAM 2, and gates G3. G4 controls whether the bus is valid or invalid. DB3 and AB3 are a data bus and an address bus that connect the control microprocessor 50 and the external storage device 3, and an interface 4 is provided in the middle of these buses to make the external storage device 3 detachable. ing. Reference numeral 6 denotes a connection detection means for detecting the presence or absence of connection of the external storage device 5 to the main body side (controlling microprocessor 50 side) and providing a signal indicating the presence or absence of the connection to the control microprocessor 50; 7, a control microprocessor; The control microprocessor 50 receives this load command signal, controls each gate G1 to G4, and also controls the firmware RAM.
It is configured to control read/write of programs to/from 2.

The operation of the device configured as described above will be explained as follows.

First, the external storage device 3 in which the operating program corresponding to the partner modem is stored is selected and connected to the main body via the interface 4. External storage device 3
For example, a ROM is used, and in this case it is installed in the main body via a ROM socket. The connection detection means 6 is composed of a switch that connects to the common line by installing a ROM, for example.
A status signal indicating that there is a connection is given to the control microprocessor 50.

When a load command signal is given to the control microprocessor 50 in such a state by the load command means 7, which is a switch or the like provided in the modem, the control microprocessor 50 first loads data from the external storage device 3 there. The stored operation program is transferred to the data bus DB.
3. Read using address bus AB3, gate G
3. With G4 open (gates G1 and G2 closed),
This operating program is written into the firmware RAM 2. The operation program is read from the external storage device 3 and written to the firmware RAM 2, for example, one word at a time, and when all words are written to the firmware RAM 2, the operation program loading mode ends.

Next, the control microprocessor 50 controls the gate G1.
G2 is opened, data bus DB1. address bus ABI
are respectively enabled (gates G3 and G4 are closed)
, the microprocessor 1 and the firmware RAM 2 are coupled via a data bus DB1 and an address bus AB1.

As a result, the microprocessor 1 performs modulation/demodulation processing at a transmission speed matching the modem of the other party and using a modulation method according to the operation program stored in the firmware RAM 2.

The other modem changes, and the transmission speed is different from the previous modem.
In the case of a modulation type modem, an operation program corresponding to the partner modem is stored in the firmware RAM 2 using the same procedure as described above.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. Here, an example is shown in which three microprocessors are provided to operate as a modem. Each microprocessor 11, 12, 13 has a firmware RAM 21, 22, 23, and in the loading mode, the control microprocessor 50 loads the operating program stored in the external storage device 3 into each firmware RAM 21, 22, 23. RAM21.22.2 for
The data are stored sequentially according to the capacity of 3.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the content structure of the external storage device 3 in FIG. The first address (address 0) contains the number of processors (3" in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3), and the following addresses 1 to 3 contain the program capacity ("X") of each microprocessor 11, 12', and 13.

Contains a control code indicating "Y", 2"), followed by an operation program P1 (code ff1X) executed by the microprocessor 11 from address 4 to address 4+X, and an operation program P1 (content ff1X) executed by the microprocessor 12 from address 4+X+1 to address 4+X+1+Y. Operation program P2 starts from address 4+X+Y+2
Operation programs P3 executed by the microprocessor 13 are stored at addresses +X+Y+2+Z.

The control microprocessor 50 first reads control codes indicating the number of processors and the capacity of each program from the external storage device 3, and sequentially reads the operating programs P1. P
2. P3 is read, and according to the control code, the operating program P1 is stored in RAM21, and the operating program P2 is stored in RAM2.
2, the operating program P3 is stored in the RAM 23, respectively.

According to the device of this embodiment, since the control code is also stored in the external storage device 3, the control program 50
can easily load operating programs without being aware of the number of processors.

In each of the above embodiments, the external storage device 3 is a ROM.
However, other storage means such as an IC card or a floppy disk may be used.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained in detail above, the present invention comprises a memory for storing an operation program for operating as a modem, which is composed of a rewritable RAM, and operates in accordance with the transmission speed and modulation method of the other modem. A program can be stored from an external storage device using a load command.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a modem firmware loading device with a simple configuration that can easily and flexibly support partner modems with various modulation methods and different transmission speeds.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the principle of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are block diagrams of the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the content structure of an external storage device in the device shown in FIG. 3. be. In FIGS. 1 to 3, 1 is a microprocessor, and 2 is a firmware RAM. 3 is an external storage device, 4 is an interface, 5 is a read/write control means, and 50 is a control microprocessor. Cornering 1 Figure ＼ 3 External record H base exposed personal information location ■ Inner packaging koji cII included Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] A microprocessor (1) that performs signal modulation/demodulation processing operations.
), a firmware RAM (2) that stores the operating program of this microprocessor (1), and a firmware RAM (2) that is removably connected to the firmware RAM (2) via an interface (4), and internally has a specific transmission speed, An external storage device (3) stores an operation program for implementing the modulation method, and upon receiving a load command, reads the operation program stored in the external storage device (3) and stores it in the firmware RAM (2). a modem firmware loading device comprising read/write control means (5) for writing to the modem firmware;