JPH05342009A - Computer program type management device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] Even if the type of the hardware member 16 incorporated in the computer is changed, the program corresponding to the changed type is automatically loaded into the program memory 14. An external storage device 17 for storing each program corresponding to all types in the hard member 16 together with the program type VS, and a hard type VH of the hard member 16 and a program memory 14 in response to a start-up operation of a computer. When the type reading means for reading the program type VS and the read types VS, VH do not correspond to each other, the program of the program type VS corresponding to the hardware type VH is read from the external storage device 17 and the program memory 14 is read. And a program loading means for writing to.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a program management device for a computer, which manages between the type of a hardware member such as a display and a printer incorporated in a computer and the type of a program for operating this hardware member. ..

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a small computer includes a central processing unit (CPU) for executing various arithmetic processes, hardware members such as a display and a printer, and a program (software member) showing the contents of the various arithmetic processes. It is composed of. And depending on the purpose of the computer and its type,
A rewritable RAM is a business program (application program) for executing the above various arithmetic processes.
And a program memory composed of an EEPROM, a flash ROM, or the like.

Generally, the program stored in this program memory is frequently rewritten for improving performance or changing specifications. When the program is changed, the program type (version) VS is set, for example, in the head area of the program memory so as not to be confused with the program before the change.

On the other hand, the above-mentioned hardware members such as the display and the printer may be replaced with different types of hardware members for improvement or specification change. Moreover, due to a failure or the like, a different type of hard member may be temporarily attached.

A program for executing the above-mentioned various arithmetic processes also has a function of driving each of the above-mentioned hardware members in order to input various data for arithmetic operation and output each arithmetic operation result. Therefore, when the type of the hardware member changes, the program itself often needs to be changed.

Generally, when a computer is installed at a customer, the program type VS of the program is matched with the program type VS corresponding to the type VH of the hardware member incorporated in the computer. Therefore,
As described above, if the type of the hard member is changed due to some factor, the hard member may not operate at all or may output an incorrect result. If it doesn't work at all,
The operator notices the abnormality, but if an incorrect result is output, there is a concern that he will not notice the mistake.

In order to eliminate such inconvenience, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a system program (OS) for starting a business program stored in the program memory when the power is turned on is stored in the hardware member type reading unit 1 for reading the hardware type VH of the hardware member and the program memory. A software member type reading means 2 for reading the program type (version) VS of the program is provided, and it is determined whether or not the various types VH and VS read by these means 1 and 2 are types corresponding to each other. Therefore, the man-machine interface unit 4 notifies the operator when the types do not correspond to each other.
Further, if the types do not correspond to each other, the business program is not started.

[0008]

However, the program type management apparatus having the function shown in FIG. 5 still has the following problems to be solved.

That is, when this computer is installed at a customer, there is a correspondence between the program type VS and the hardware member type VH, but, for example, a failure occurs during online processing operation such as process control in a manufacturing plant. For example, when the hardware member is replaced with a different type, the fact is displayed on the man-machine interface unit 4 and the program does not start. Therefore, in the case where it is absolutely necessary to continue the online processing operation with this computer, it cannot be dealt with at all.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and by providing an external storage device for storing each program corresponding to all types of the hardware member, the hardware type of the hardware member is the program memory. If the program type is not supported, the corresponding program can be loaded from the external storage device, and even if the type of hardware member is exchanged, normal processing teaching can be continued and computer reliability is improved. An object of the present invention is to provide a computer program type management device capable of performing the same.

[0011]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a computer having a program memory for storing a program together with the program type, and a hardware member operating according to the program stored in the program memory. In a program type management device that manages between the types of hardware members and the types of programs stored in the program memory,

An external storage device for storing each program corresponding to all types in the hardware member together with the program type, and a type for reading the hardware type of the hardware member and the program type of the program memory in response to the start-up operation of the computer. The reading means and the program loading means for reading the program of the program type corresponding to the hardware type from the external storage device and writing the program in the program memory when the read types do not correspond to each other.

[0013]

According to the program type management device of the computer configured as described above, each program corresponding to all types such as different models and different specifications in the hardware member incorporated in this computer is also stored together with the program type. It is stored in an external storage device.

Then, for example, the system program (OS) is started in response to power-on of the computer, the hardware type of the hardware member and the program type of the program memory are read, and it is determined whether or not they correspond to each other. If not, the corresponding program is read from the external storage device and written in the program memory. Therefore, the computer normally starts the processing operation using the different types of hardware members.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the entire computer in which the program type management apparatus of the embodiment is incorporated.
CPU 11 that executes various arithmetic processes according to a program
On the other hand, a ROM 13 for storing a system program (OS), a program memory 14 constituted by a volatile storage element such as RAM, a data memory 15 for temporarily storing various data to be processed, via a bus line 12. A display 16 as a hard member, an interface 18 connected to an external storage device 17 including a magnetic storage device, etc. are connected.

The program memory 14 stores a business (application) program for executing various processes in the computer. Further, in the head area of the program memory 14, the program type (version) VS of the stored business program is set. Further, the display unit 16 stores a hardware type VH indicating a type determined by the model, specifications, etc. of the display unit 16.

Further, in the external storage device 17, a plurality of business programs corresponding to the types determined by the model and specifications of the display 16 are stored together with the program types VS. Therefore, when the display device 16 of a new model is developed or the specifications of the display device 16 are changed, the business program corresponding to the newly created type is additionally registered in the external storage device 17. ..

It is not necessary to change the hardware type VH when the business program does not need to be changed even if the 16 models or specifications of the display device are changed. Therefore, in this case, the hardware type V set on the display 16
H is unchanged. Then, when the power of the computer is turned on, the system program of the ROM 13 is started,
The initial processing shown in FIG. 2 is executed.

When the initial process shown in FIG. 2 is started, first, the program type VS set in the head area of the program memory 14 is read (P1). Next, display 16
The hardware type VH set to is read (P2). If the hardware type VH and the program type VS match, the process proceeds to P8 and immediately starts the business program stored in the program memory 14.

If they do not match in P3, each program type VS of each business program stored in the external storage device 17 is searched by the hardware type VH (P
4) Read the business program corresponding to the matching program type VS (P5). Then, in P6, the read business program is written into the program memory 14 (program load). Next, the program type VS in the head area of the program memory 14 is updated to the program type VS of the business program written this time (P7). Then, the process proceeds to P8 to activate the business program written this time.

In the case of the program type management device configured as described above, the model of the display 16 as a hardware member,
A plurality of business programs corresponding to the hardware type VH determined by the specifications and the like are stored in the external storage device 17 together with the program type VS.

Therefore, for example, when the computer is used for online processing such as process control in a manufacturing factory, even if the hardware member such as the display 16 is replaced with a different type due to a failure during the online processing operation. Also, when the replacement work is completed and the computer is restarted, the business program corresponding to the replaced display 16 is automatically loaded from the external storage device 17 into the program memory 14. Then, the online processing business is continued in accordance with the new business program loaded in this program.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the schematic arrangement of a computer incorporating a program type management apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. Therefore, detailed description of the overlapping portions is omitted.

In this embodiment, two program memories 14a. 14b is connected to the bus line 12. And normally, one of the program memories 1
Arithmetic processing is executed according to the business program stored in 4a and 14b. Also, in this embodiment, DM
An A control unit 19 is provided.

In the computer in which the program type management device having such a configuration is incorporated, for example, when the online processing job is executed by using the job program stored in the one program memory 14a, the display 16 If a failure occurs and the display 16 of another type is replaced and the computer is started, the system program starts as described above, and the work of the program type VS that matches the hardware type VH of the replaced display 16 is performed. The program is read from the external storage device 17. The read program data does not pass through the data bus 12 and
By the operation of the MA control unit 19, the program is directly loaded into the other program memory 14b.

Therefore, if the CPU 11 knows that the data is not correctly displayed on the display 16 while the new business program is being written in the program memory 14b by using the DMA control unit 15, the CPU 11 can read the previous program memory 14a. The normal online processing business can be continued according to the business program stored in. Then, when the program loading process for the other program memory 14b is completed, the execution target program of the CPU 11 is changed to the business program of the other program memory 14b, and the display device 16 starts to display correct data. That is, the two program memories 14a,
By providing 14b, the downtime of the online processing business can be suppressed to the minimum.

If the display unit 16 is not defective and is replaced with a high performance display unit 16, for example, after the business program corresponding to the new display unit 16 is loaded into the non-operating program memory, By configuring the system program to replace the display 16, the display 16 can be replaced in a short time.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a computer in which a program type management apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention is incorporated. The same parts as those in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. Therefore, detailed description of the overlapping portions is omitted.

In this embodiment, the external storage device for storing each business program corresponding to each hardware type VH of the display 16 as a hardware member is installed in the host system 23 connected to this computer via LAN. It consists of a configured database.

That is, every time a new model is developed or a specification is changed for a hardware member installed in a computer once installed at a customer's place, a new job is performed for an external storage device installed locally. Setting the program is very annoying.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the LAN interface 20 is provided on the computer side, and the LAN interface 22 is also provided on the far side host system 23 side so that the LAN interfaces 20 and 22 are connected by the training line 21. ..

Even with such a configuration, if the hardware members such as the display 16 are replaced in the computer, L
The corresponding business program stored in the database of the host system 23 is read out via the AN interface 20, 22 and the public line 21 and the program memory 14 is read.
Written in.

Therefore, it is possible to obtain substantially the same effect as that of the embodiment shown in FIG. Furthermore, since it is possible to download the necessary business programs from one external storage device to the program memories 14 of a plurality of computers using the public line 21 and the LAN when necessary, it is possible to increase the types of hardware members and specifications. The setting work efficiency of the business program due to the change is greatly simplified.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. In the embodiment, the display 16 is used as the hard member, but it goes without saying that it may be another hard member such as a printer or a card reader.

[0036]

As described above, according to the program type management apparatus of the present invention, an external storage device for storing each program corresponding to all types in the hardware member is provided, and the hardware type of the hardware member is the program memory. If the program type is not supported, the corresponding program is loaded from the external storage device. Therefore, even if the type of the hardware member is exchanged, the normal processing teaching can be continued without stopping the computer for a long time, and the reliability of the computer can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a computer incorporating a program type management device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the apparatus of the embodiment,

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a computer incorporating a program type management device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a computer incorporating a program type management device according to still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing each function of a conventional program type management device.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... CPU, 12 ... Bus line, 13 ... ROM, 1
4, 14a, 14b ... Program memory, 15 ... Date memory, 16 ... Display device, 17 ... External storage device, 18 ... Interface, 19 ... DMA control unit, 20, 22 ... LA
N interface, 21 ... Public line, 23 ... Host system.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A type of the hard member in a computer having a program memory for storing the program together with the program type, and a hard member operating according to the program stored in the program memory, and a program stored in the program memory. In a program type management device that manages between the types, the external storage device that stores each program corresponding to all types in the hardware member together with the program type, and in response to a boot operation of the computer, When the type reading means for reading the hardware type of the hardware member and the program type of the program memory and the read types do not correspond to each other, the program of the program type corresponding to the hardware type is read from the external storage device. Read the above Program type management apparatus of a computer and a program loading means for writing the program memory.