JP2000250741A - Method for updating software - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately update a software by considering business time so as not to disturb business. SOLUTION: This method preliminarily sets plural pieces of date and hour data for performing software update, stores them in a device or a server connected to the device through a network and carries out software update processing on the basis of date and hour data selected among the plural date and hour data. First, the current time is acquired (step S101), the selected date and hour data is acquired (step S102), the both times are compared (step S103), and when the current time is larger (later) than the date and hour shown by the selected date and hour data, updation processing is carried out (step S104).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a software updating method for automatically updating software executed on a device such as a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Normally, software used in a computer is distributed or repaired by a developer or the like after the software is distributed, and the software is sequentially updated in the form of version upgrade. With version upgrades, improvements such as addition of functions, enhancement of functions, and elimination of bugs are advanced as compared with the software of the previous version, and it becomes more convenient for users.

[0003] Such a software version upgrade is performed by a method such as rewriting a part of a source program in the original software or overwriting the original software with new software. The update process accompanying the version upgrade is performed by executing an update program distributed by a medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk or a CD-ROM, or by executing an update program distributed via a network.

That is, data necessary for updating (an entity of updated data, a command for performing an update process, a content to be updated, and executable data) are stored in a disk of the computer itself via a medium or a network or a file server connected to the network. Update control information with a certain date and time is registered, and the executable date and time in the update control information is compared with the system clock of the computer itself and the system clock of the file server. The update command is started.

According to such an updating method, software can be automatically updated after a certain time, and a system having a large number of computers equipped with the same software, or a system that is distributed and arranged. This is especially effective when software used in a core business branch system (finance, travel agency, etc.) is updated at the same time.

[0006]

However, in such a software update method, it is desired that the update be performed after the end of the work so that normal work is not hindered.
Therefore, in consideration of the extension of the work time, the time at which the work is to be completed, such as late at night, is set and registered as the executable date and time.

For this reason, it is necessary to turn on the computer in accordance with the executable date and time registered in the setting.
The person in charge will be accompanied until late after the work due to the power supply operation.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a software updating method for solving such a problem. That is, according to the present invention, a plurality of date and time data for updating software is set in advance and stored in the device or a server connected to the device via a network, and is selected from the plurality of date and time data. The software update process is executed based on the date and time data.

In the present invention, since a plurality of date and time data for updating the software are set, the most suitable date and time can be selected according to the convenience of the update, and a long wait time can be achieved. Software can be quickly updated without being updated.

Further, according to the present invention, date and time data for updating software is set in advance and stored in the apparatus or a server connected to the apparatus via a network. In a case after the date and time indicated by the data, a method of executing software update processing is also used.

According to the present invention, at the stage when the power supply shutdown command is issued, the date and time indicated by the preset date and time data is compared with the time (date and time) when the power shutdown instruction is issued, and the update is performed. If the date and time set to perform the operation has passed, the software update processing is automatically executed. As a result, software update processing can be performed automatically when the power of the device is turned off at the end of the job, and the updated software is immediately used when the device is turned on at the start of the next job. Will be able to use it.

[0012]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a software updating method according to the present invention. FIG.
Is a flowchart for explaining a main part in the software updating method of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the present embodiment.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, in the software update method of the present embodiment, a software (not shown) of the computer 1 or a network-connected file server is used to update the software used in the computer 1. (Not shown), update data 2 is registered,
The automatic update is performed at a predetermined timing.

The computer 1 is provided with a software update processing program 11, and the automatic update proceeds sequentially by executing the software update processing program 11.

The update data 2 includes a difference between the software of the original version and the software of the new version, that is, a software update difference body 21 which is actual data relating to the update, and a software update command 22 for executing the update operation. And update control information 23. The update control information 23 includes a first update executable date and time 2 which is a plurality of date and time data for performing update.
4 and the second update executable date / time 25 are prepared in advance. In the present embodiment, a case where mainly two update executable dates and times are prepared is taken as an example.

The date and time selecting means 3 allows the operator to select one of the plurality of date and time data, the first update executable date and time 24 and the second update executable date and time 25. The date and time selecting means 3 may be started on the computer 1 or may be started remotely via a network.

Next, the flow of the software update method according to this embodiment will be described. First, either the first update executable date / time 24 or the second update executable date / time 25 is selected using the date / time selecting means 3 (see the arrow in FIG. 2).
If the desired date and time has already been selected by default, it is not particularly necessary. In the present embodiment, the later of the two update executable dates and times is selected by default. As a result, the software can be updated in consideration of extension of the business without changing the update executable date and time.

Next, the software update processing program 11 is started in the computer 1, and the current time indicated by the system clock 12 of the computer 1 is fetched (see the arrow in FIG. 2), and is selected first in the update control information 23 of the update data 2. The updated update executable date and time are captured (see the arrow in FIG. 2).

Next, the software update processing program 11 of the computer 1 compares the fetched current time with the previously selected update executable date and time in the update control information 23 to determine whether the software can be updated. Judge. Then, when it is determined that the update is possible, the software update command 22 of the update data 2 is called (see the arrow in FIG. 2).

When the software update command 22 is called, the actual software update starts, and the software update difference main body 21 in the update data 2
(See the arrow in FIG. 2), and the software update is completed.

Next, the flow of the software update processing program 11 started by the computer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In the following description, reference numerals not shown in FIG. 1 refer to FIG. That is, by starting the software update processing program 11, first, the current time is obtained from the system clock 12 (step S10).
1). Here, the acquired current time is T.

Subsequently, the update control information 23 of the update data 2
The update executable date and time selected in advance are acquired (step S102). Here, the acquired update executable date and time is assumed to be tn. Then, the two times are compared (step S103). That is, it is determined whether or not the acquired update executable date and time tn <current time T. If true, the software update command 22 is called to execute the update process (step S104). On the other hand, if false, the process ends without updating the software.

According to such processing, the software is automatically updated if the update execution date and time selected by the operator is exceeded.

Next, the actual operation will be described. FIG.
7A is a diagram (part 1) for explaining software update timing when the present embodiment is applied. FIG. 7A shows a case where time t2 is selected as the update executable date and time, and FIG. This shows a case where t1 is selected. In each case, update data is registered at time t0.

In the example shown in FIG. 3A, since the update executable date and time is selected at time t2, even if the software update processing program is started after time t1, the update processing is not performed and the software update processing is not performed. Version is Ver.1
Remains. Here, when the software update processing program is started after time t2, the software update command 22 shown in FIG. 2 is executed, and the software version is automatically updated to the new version 2.

As described above, by selecting the relatively late time t2, the software can be accurately updated after waiting for the end of the work on that day, for example, when the work does not end at a regular time.

Next, in the example shown in FIG.
Since the update executable date and time has been selected, the time t
When the software update processing program is started after 1, the software update command 22 shown in FIG. 2 is executed, and the software version is updated to the new Ver.

As described above, by selecting the relatively early time t1, it is possible to quickly update the software without having to wait a long time, for example, when the work is completed on a regular basis.

FIG. 4 is a diagram (part 2) for explaining the update timing of software when the present embodiment is applied. FIG.
(B) shows a case of returning to the original version after updating. In each case, update data is registered at time t0. In any of the examples, the software update processing program is automatically started together with the power-down instruction of the computer.

In the example shown in FIG. 4A, the update executable date and time is selected at time t1, and the update process is executed together with the computer power down instruction at the end of the job. That is, when the power of the computer is turned off, the software update processing program starts automatically, and compares the current time with the time t1.

If the time t1 is set to be the same as or slightly before the work end time, and the power supply of the computer is turned off at the end of the work on that day, the current time has passed the time t1. Software update command 2 shown in
2 starts and automatically executes software update processing. As a result, the software is updated to the new version
Will be updated to 2.

By automatically updating the software when the power of the computer is turned off, it is possible to prevent the operator from forgetting to update the software. In addition, when starting a new job, a new version can be obtained without performing any special processing.
Ver.2 software can be used.

Next, in the example shown in FIG. 4B, the software is automatically updated by turning off the power of the computer at the end of the job, similarly to the example shown in FIG. When the business is resumed between t1 and time t2, the version is returned to the original version.

That is, as in the example shown in FIG. 4A, the update executable date and time is selected at time t 1, and the update process is automatically executed upon a command to turn off the computer at the end of the business. Software has a new version Ve
Updated to r.2.

After that, if some kind of work becomes necessary before the time t2 set separately (for example, when the notice of the unfinished work is noticed), it is processed with the version before the update to match the work before the end. Need to do. However, the software was automatically updated to the new version Ver.2 due to the power-down command of the computer, and business would be performed with the new version Ver.2.

Therefore, for example, the time t2 is set before the start of the next job, and when the power of the computer is turned on between the time t1 and the time t2, the software version is changed to the original version Ver. Execute the function to automatically return to .1. With this, new version Ver.2
The software updated to the original version Ver.
It will be returned to 1 and you will be able to work with this version of the software.

When this task is completed and a power-down command for the computer is issued, a software update processing program is started based on this command, and the software update processing is automatically executed as before. by this,
The software version is updated to Ver. 2 again, and when starting the next job after time t2, the software having the new version Ver. 2 can be used immediately.

In the above embodiment, when the power-down command of the computer is issued and the selected update executable date and time are compared, if the power-down command is later, the automatic update is performed. Although an example has been described, the automatic update may be performed when the power-on is later than the power-on and the selected update executable date and time.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which two update executable dates and times are mainly set and either one is selected has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and three or more update executable dates and times are set. Then, a desired update executable date and time may be selected from among them.

[0040]

As described above, the software updating method of the present invention has the following effects. That is, since a plurality of date and time data for updating the software is set, the most appropriate update date and time can be selected according to the convenience of the update, and the device waits for a long time until the designated time and the device is updated. It is possible to update software quickly without turning on the power. Also, since the software is updated together with the command to turn off the power of the device, the software can be automatically updated when the operation is completed, preventing the operator from forgetting to update, and ensuring that the operation can be started when the next operation is started. It is possible to update the software beforehand.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a main part of a software update method according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram (part 1) for explaining software update timing;

FIG. 4 is a diagram (part 2) for explaining software update timing;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Computer 2 Update data 3 Date and time selection means 11 Software update processing program 12 System clock 21 Software update difference main body 22 Software update command 23 Update control information 24 First update executable date 25 Second update executable date

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of date / time data for updating software is set in advance and stored in an apparatus or a server connected to the apparatus via a network, and is selected from the plurality of date / time data. A software update method characterized by executing software update processing based on date and time data. 2. A first date / time data and a second date / time data indicating a date / time later than the first date / time data are set as the plurality of date / time data. 2. The software updating method according to claim 1, wherein data is selected. 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein a date and time indicated by the date and time data selected from the plurality of date and time data is compared with a power-down command of the apparatus. 2. The software update method according to claim 1, wherein the update process of the software is executed when the update is slower. 4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising: comparing a date and time indicated by the date and time data selected from the plurality of date and time data with a power-on command of the apparatus; 2. The software update method according to claim 1, wherein the update process of the software is executed when the update is slower. 5. When the power-down command of the device is issued after the earlier date and time of the two dates and times indicated by the two date and time data selected from the plurality of date and time data, the software update process 2. The software updating method according to claim 1, wherein when a power-on instruction of the device is issued between the two dates and times, a process of returning to software before updating is performed. 6. Date and time data for updating software is set in advance and stored in the apparatus or a server connected to the apparatus via a network. A software update method, wherein the software update process is executed when the date and time is after the indicated date and time.