JP2002333982A - Digital broadcasting receiver and download method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve such a problem that hardware should have been redesigned at the time of changing the operation system accompanying the progress of a broadcasting service since a conventional digital broadcasting receiver deal with only a specific operation system. SOLUTION: The hardware of a digital broadcasting receiver is provided with a mode switching information storage register 6, an initialization signal generating means 5, and a mode switching processing means so that it is possible to switch an indian mode different for each operating system. At the time of downloading an operation system, the indian mode information is precedingly downloaded, and the mode of the processing means is switched at the time of initialization so that the operation system can be downloaded in an environment matched with the indian mode of the operation system.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a digital broadcast receiver and a software download method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a digital broadcast receiver is a consumer product, so that the memory capacity is limited in order to realize a low price, and it is necessary to select an operating system having a small code size and a high function. In addition, since the service is always provided to the viewers, the operating system must be installed from the broadcasting center to the digital broadcast receiver during the operating system update or in the event of an accident, such as in the middle of the night when the viewers are unlikely to view. The download method is adopted. In a conventional digital broadcast receiver, only one type of operating system operates, and the receiver side also has one type of operating environment, for example, one endian mode in byte order. Therefore, it is necessary to switch such an operating environment, for example, endian mode. There was no. Endian mode is the order of bytes in word or doubleword data.
There are a big endian mode in which the LSB of the data string is the least significant byte, and a little endian mode in which the MSB is the least significant byte.

[0003] In a personal computer which is a similar platform of a digital broadcast receiver, there is basically only one type of operating system operating on the personal computer, and when updating the same operating system, a CDROM or a CDROM is required. A user manually installs a new operating system supplied via a recording medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk or a network according to a procedure.
In rare cases, multiple operating systems may run on the same personal computer, but in this case, the installation method is also manually installed by the user as in the case of the above-mentioned operating system update, and multiple operating systems are It is limited to a range that does not require changing the operating environment such as the endian mode.

[0004] However, with the diversification and sophistication of services in digital broadcasting, the adoption and evaluation of operating systems, including compatible applications, has been evaluated. They have come to value. Along with this, it is possible to select a plurality of operating systems as a digital receiver to support various services, and to realize switching of different operating systems by downloading to quickly respond to services desired by customers. It has become necessary.

[0005] In the configuration of the conventional digital broadcast receiver, switching of the operating environment of the operating system is not assumed as described above, so that it is not possible to switch and use the operating system that requires a different operating environment. Was.

Further, in the conventional digital broadcast receiver download method, there is no mechanism for downloading different operating systems to the same digital broadcast receiver.

On the other hand, some high-performance workstations and special-purpose computers have realized the operation of a plurality of operating systems that require different operating environments. Rather than switching, multiple operating systems are originally running on a platform that simultaneously implements multiple operating environments.This requires a huge amount of memory and high-speed processing, resulting in higher prices. As a result, it is difficult to adopt the digital transceiver as a digital transmitter / receiver belonging to a general popular type product such as a consumer product.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a communication apparatus for transmitting / receiving data to / from a broadcasting center facility, and a communication means for transmitting / receiving data to / from the broadcasting center facility. A mode information storage register for storing operating environment information of the operating system, a non-volatile memory for storing data transmitted from the broadcasting center facility, and a process for storing data transmitted from the broadcasting center facility in the non-volatile memory. Boot means for controlling the use of the received data, a processing unit for processing the data transmitted from the broadcast center equipment in accordance with the operating environment information, initialization means for initializing the processing unit, and a mode information storage register at the time of initialization. Broadcast receiver provided with mode switching means for switching the operating environment of the processing unit according to the operating environment information stored in the digital broadcast receiver Together provided, to provide a download method corresponding to a plurality of operating systems by exchanging operating environment information between a broadcasting center equipment and the digital broadcast receiver.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a digital broadcast receiver, 2 is a processing unit, 3 is a boot means, 4 is a nonvolatile memory, 5 is an initialization means, 6 Is a mode information storage register, 7 is a communication unit, 8 is a CPU, 9 is a processing unit A, 10 is a processing unit B, 11 is a bus A, 12 is a bus B, 13 is a bus C, 14 is a mode switching unit, and 15 is a mode switching unit. It is a broadcasting center facility. The operation of the digital broadcast receiver configured as described above will be described below.

In the digital broadcast receiver 1, the operating environment information of the operating system transmitted from the broadcasting center equipment 15 is received by the communication means 7. The received operating environment information is stored in the mode information storage register 6. Naturally, the endian mode of the operating system, the CPU 8, the processing unit A9, the processing unit B10, and the bus A
If the endian modes of the bus 11, bus B12, and bus C13 do not all match, the word data or double word data to be processed at the location where they do not match are recognized as erroneous data, and correct processing cannot be performed. For example, if data to be processed before the endian mode switching of the operating environment remains unprocessed after the endian mode switching, it is recognized as erroneous data and correct processing cannot be performed.

The mode switching means 1 in the processing unit 2 according to the operating environment information stored in the mode information storage register 6
4 is a CPU 8, a processing unit A9, a processing unit B10, and a bus A1.
1, the operation modes of the bus B12 and the bus C13 are switched.
For example, if the operation environment information is about the endian mode of the operating system and the mode is big endian, the CPU 8, the processing unit A9,
If the data processed by the processing unit B10, the bus A11, the bus B12, and the bus C13 is a word or a double word, the byte arrangement is processed as big endian. Similarly, if the endian mode is little endian, the byte sequence is processed as little endian.

Naturally, if the endian mode of the operating system and the endian mode of the CPU 8, the processing unit A9, the processing unit B10, the bus A11, the bus B12, and the bus C13 do not all match, a word to be processed at a location where the endian mode does not match. Data and double word data are recognized as erroneous data, preventing correct processing.
If data to be processed before the endian mode is switched remains unprocessed after the endian mode is switched, it is recognized as erroneous data and correct processing cannot be performed.

The trigger for changing or updating the operating environment as described above is given by the initialization means 5. Initialization means 5
Is a state machine which recognizes the F / F written from the CPU 8 or a specific data string received and generates an initialization pulse.

[0014] Since the operating environment of the terminal can be changed in accordance with the operating environment information, a plurality of operating systems that require different operating environments can be operated.

The boot means 3 stored in the non-volatile memory 4 can be constituted by, for example, a program decoded by the CPU 8, and implements a procedure for downloading an operating system to the memory of the digital broadcast receiver 1. If the boot means 3 does not operate normally, the download cannot be performed, so that the boot means 3 itself cannot be downloaded. Accordingly, the boot means 3 is unique without being changed even when the operating environment is switched. When the digital broadcast receiver 1 is set to the operating environment required by the operating system as described above, the boot means 3 needs to operate without any problem in the operating environment.

The invention relating to the boot means 3 when the operating environment information is in the endian mode will now be described in detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the boot means of the digital transceiver according to the present invention.
, 15 is an initialization vector address, 16 is an initialization position of the nonvolatile memory 4, 17 is an area A of the nonvolatile memory 4, 18 is an area B of the nonvolatile memory 4, 19 is data decoded in the big endian mode, Reference numeral 20 denotes data decoded in the little endian mode.

When a trigger, ie, initialization, is performed by the initialization means 5, the CPU 8 fetches data stored in a memory location uniquely determined by the initialization vector address 15, that is, data stored in the initialization location 16. When the operation environment information is in the endian mode, the byte arrangement of the data is interpreted in reverse depending on the mode, so that the data is treated as different data. The following mechanism can be realized by appropriately selecting the data stored in the initialization position 16.

When the operating environment information is big endian in the endian mode, the data stored in the initialization position 16 is interpreted as a branch instruction to Location A, and when it is little endian, it is interpreted as a NOP instruction and the initialization position is changed. If the data is selected such that the data at the address position obtained by adding 32 bits to 16 is interpreted as a branch instruction to Location B, it is possible to branch to the area A17 for big endian and to the area B18 for little endian. , Area A
By storing the boot means 3 described assuming the big endian in 17 and the boot means 3 described assuming the little endian in the area B18, in either endian mode. The boot means 3 that operates normally can be provided.

In this way, it is possible to provide boot means which can operate normally in the endian mode of the operating environment in the big endian mode or the little endian mode. Therefore, it is possible to normally download an operating system operating in a different endian mode. it can.

That is, by adopting the configuration of the present embodiment, even if the operating system changes, it is possible to appropriately cope with the operating environment.

Next, a method of downloading a plurality of operating systems requiring different operating environments between the digital broadcast receiver and the broadcasting center equipment will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a method for downloading an operating system according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a method for downloading an operating system according to the present invention. Reference numeral 21 denotes an operating system, and reference numeral 22 denotes a kernel, which implements the basic functions of the operating system. , 23 are all the libraries and drivers required for the receiver, 24 is all the libraries and drivers required for TV viewing, and 25 is the library and drivers required for basic TV viewing.

When the operating system 21 is downloaded from the broadcast center facility 15, the digital broadcast receiver 1 first notifies the broadcast center facility 15 of the current operating environment information (step 1).
5 compares the notified current operating environment information with operating environment information necessary for the operating system 21 to be downloaded from now on (step 2).

According to the comparison result, if the current operating environment information and the operating environment information of the operating system 21 to be downloaded are the same, the broadcast center equipment 15
The operating system 21 is downloaded to the digital broadcast receiver 1 from.

On the other hand, if the current operating environment information differs from the operating environment information of the operating system 21 to be downloaded according to the comparison result, the user tries to download from the broadcasting center equipment 15 to the digital broadcast receiver 1. The operating environment information of the operating system 21 is notified (step 3), and the digital broadcast receiver 1
Changes the operating environment of the processing unit 2 according to the operating environment information received as described above (step 4), and notifies the broadcast center equipment 15 that the change of the operating environment is completed (step 5). The operating system 21 is downloaded from the broadcast center equipment 15 to the digital broadcast receiver 1 by the notification of the completion of the change of the operating environment (step 6).

As described above, the broadcasting center equipment 15
Since the download procedure of the operating system 21 can be selected according to the current operating environment information of the digital broadcast receiver 1 and the operating environment required for the operating system 21 can be reliably realized, it is possible to efficiently download a plurality of operating systems 21. Become.

The current operating environment information notified from the digital broadcast receiver 1 to the broadcast center equipment 15 includes information on services added or deleted by downloading the operating system 21, that is, information on service contents requested by the customer. Changes are included. For example, if the customer is T
If a service only for V viewing is requested, the minimum necessary operating system 21 for implementing the requested service may be downloaded.

As shown in FIG. 4, an operating system 21 includes a kernel 22 for realizing basic functions and a library and driver 2 for realizing various services.
3 The kernel 22 is a program that is required in common regardless of the type of service, but the library and the driver 23 define necessary and unnecessary parts depending on the service. For example, when a customer requests only a TV viewing service, only a library and a driver 24 necessary for TV viewing are required, and if the basic TV viewing such as channel up and down is limited, a more basic TV viewing is required. It can be limited to only the library and the driver 25 necessary for watching TV.

When the operating system 21 is downloaded from the broadcast center equipment 15 as described above, first, the digital broadcast receiver 1 sends the broadcast center equipment 1
The service contents requested by the customer are notified to 5, and the broadcasting center equipment 15 compares the library and driver 23 required for the notified request contents with the library and driver 23 included in the operating system 21 to be downloaded from now on.

According to the comparison result, if the library and driver 23 required for the customer's request and the library and driver 23 included in the operating system 21 to be downloaded are the same, the digital broadcasting receiver 1 Operating system 21
Is downloaded.

According to the comparison result, when the library and driver 23 required for the customer's request and the library and driver 23 included in the operating system 21 to be downloaded are different, for example, the customer's request is
If the library and driver 23 included in the operating system 21 to be downloaded only for viewing and including the library or driver required only for services other than TV viewing are included in the broadcast center equipment 15
, An operating system 21 consisting only of a kernel 22 and a library and a driver 24 necessary for TV viewing is downloaded from the operating system 21 to the digital broadcast receiver 1.

In this way, the broadcast center equipment 15
Since the optimal library and driver can be selected according to the customer's request and the operating system can be downloaded, the time required for the download can be minimized and efficient. In addition, by downloading an operating system 21 having limited functions in advance, and then downloading an operating system 21 capable of realizing additional services at an appropriate time, an efficient operating system 21 can be provided without hindering the use of broadcasting by customers. Can be downloaded.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, the operating system is downloaded after the operating environment of the digital broadcast receiver is changed according to the operating environment information required by the operating system. Can operate the operating system and use the features of each operating system, so that it is possible to freely select the application software supported by each operating system and provide abundant services with a low-cost digital broadcast receiver. .

Further, the operating environment required by the operating system is notified to the digital broadcast receiver side prior to the downloading of the operating system itself, so that the downloading can be carried out reliably, and even a download in which a plurality of operating systems are mixed can be performed without failure and efficiently. It is.

Furthermore, by selectively downloading the functions of the operating system by category, the service desired by the customer can be downloaded quickly without waste, which is very efficient.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a boot means of the digital transceiver according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of an operating system download method according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a method for downloading an operating system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital broadcast receiver 2 Processing part 3 Boot means 4 Non-volatile memory 5 Initialization means 6 Mode information storage register 7 Communication means 8 CPU 9 Processing part A 10 Processing part B 11 Bus A 12 Bus B 13 Bus C 14 Mode switching means 15 Broadcasting center equipment 16 Initialization position 17 Area A 18 Area B 19 Data interpreted in big endian 20 Data interpreted in little endian 21 Operating system 22 Kernel 23 Library and driver 24 Libraries and driver required for TV viewing 25 Basic Library and driver necessary for effective TV viewing

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (Reference) G06F 9/06 610K 650B (72) Inventor Yasuo Masuda 1006 Kazuma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Nobuya Kusuhara 1006 Kadoma, Kazuma, Osaka Pref. Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. DA05 5C064 BD02 BD07 5K061 AA09 FF01 GG09 HH08 JJ07

Claims (10)

[Claims] Communication means for transmitting and receiving data to and from a center facility; a mode information storage register for storing operating environment information of an operating system transmitted from the center facility; and a non-volatile memory for storing data transmitted from the center facility. A memory, a boot unit for controlling a process of storing data transmitted from the center facility in the non-volatile memory and use of the stored data, and a processing unit for processing the data transmitted from the center facility in accordance with the operating environment information A digital broadcast receiver comprising: an initialization unit for initializing the processing unit; and a mode switching unit for switching an operation environment of the processing unit in accordance with the mode information stored in the mode information storage register at the time of initialization. 2. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein the operating environment information is an endian mode of the operating system, the boot means is a program which is decoded by the CPU, and data which is first accessed by the boot means. It is a data sequence that can be interpreted by the CPU whether the sequence is processed in big endian or little endian. In the big endian mode, the data sequence is deciphered by the CPU. Move the memory area to be stored to the storage area of the program described in big endian, and in the little endian mode, move the memory area accessed by the CPU to the program area described in little endian by the instruction to decode the data string in the little endian mode Digital broadcasting characterized by that Transceiver. 3. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein the mode switching means is a programmable register. 4. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein the mode switching means is a state machine. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein:
6. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein the initialization means is a programmable register. 6. Any one of claims 1 to 4
The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein the initialization means is a state machine. 7. One of claims 1 to 6
In the digital broadcast receiver described in the paragraph, after transmitting the operating environment information of the operating system from the broadcast center facility to the receiver, the operating system is transmitted from the broadcast center facility to the receiver. How to download a rating system. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the current operating environment information of the receiver is notified to the center facility, and the center facility compares the operating environment of the operating system to be downloaded with the current operating environment, and the two are compared. If they are different, the operating environment information required for the operating system to be downloaded from the center facility is notified to the receiver, and the operating environment of the processing unit of the receiver is switched according to the operating environment information. Is transmitted from the receiver to the broadcasting center equipment, and after the broadcasting center apparatus recognizes that the operating environment of the processing unit of the receiver has been switched, the operating system directs the operating system to the receiver. And transmitting the operating system. 9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the receiver notifies the center equipment of service contents requested by the customer, and a necessary part of the operating system according to the service requested by the customer. A method for downloading an operating system, comprising: downloading an operating system. 10. The method according to claim 7, wherein a part of the operating system is first downloaded from the center facility to the receiver, and then the entire operating system is downloaded. How to download the operating system.