Electronic equipment

• US 6,532,587 B1
• Filed: 03/01/1999
• Issued: 03/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Sakai, Ryuichi, Hirose, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Follansbee, John A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOOKER, KELVIN
• Application Number:
  US09/260,422
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: 717/11, 717/168, 717/174, 711/100, 711/102, 711/103, 713/2
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/66 of program code stored in read-only memory [ROM]

Abstract

A data transfer unit is connected with an external nonvolatile memory storing a correction program and the like data, and it transfers the correction program, etc. of the external nonvolatile memory to an internal nonvolatile memory upon detecting it having been connected with the external nonvolatile memory. The external nonvolatile memory is disconnected from the data transfer unit after completion of the data transfer. When a CPU unit is reset thereafter, it transfers the correction program, etc. to a RAM unit, executes a program in a ROM unit, and also executes the correction program in the RAM unit upon reaching a correcting point stored in the RAM unit.

Claims

1. A method of correcting a program in a ROM unit provided in electronic equipment, comprising the steps of:

(1) connecting to the electronic equipment an external memory storing ROM correction data including a correction program for said ROM unit, a correcting point, and a version number of the correction program;

(2) verifying the connection of said external memory, and storage of the ROM correction data therein by a data transfer unit in said electronic equipment, and communicating a connection state to a CPU unit in said electronic equipment;

(3) comparing the version number of the correction program stored in said external memory with a version number of a correction program read from an internal memory and communicating the result thereof to said CPU unit;

(4) displaying, in response to a command from said CPU unit, the version number of the correction program stored in said external memory and the version number of the correction program stored in said internal memory;

(5) detecting a manual input command confirming the version number of the correction program stored in said external memory, and communicating the manual input command to said CPU unit;

(6) said CPU, based on said manual input command, ordering said data transfer unit to transfer the ROM correction data in said external memory to an internal memory;

(7) transferring said ROM correction data stored in said internal memory to a RAM unit within said electronic equipment by said CPU unit; and

(8) executing the correction program in said RAM unit upon reaching the correcting point stored in said RAM unit.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(9) resetting said CPU unit after completion of transferring said ROM correction data in said external memory to said internal memory.

3. Electronic equipment comprising:

(1) a ROM unit for storing a program;

(2) a RAM unit for storing ROM correction data including a correction program for correcting said program in said ROM unit, a correcting point defining location information identifying a point from which to initiate execution of said correction program, and a version number of said correction program;

(3) a CPU unit for executing said correction program in said RAM unit when an executing position of the program stored in said ROM unit reaches said correcting point stored in said RAM unit,

(4) an internal nonvolatile memory for storing said ROM correction data, and transferring said ROM correction data to said RAM unit at a command of said CPU unit;

(5) a data transfer unit capable of being connected with a detachable external nonvolatile memory storing said ROM correction data from outside of said electronic equipment, wherein said data transfer unit, upon detecting being connected with the external nonvolatile memory, transfers said ROM correction data to said internal nonvolatile memory only if the external nonvolatile memory stores said data;

(6) a comparator unit for comparing a version number of said correction program read from said external nonvolatile memory through said data transfer unit and a version number of said correction program read from said internal nonvolatile memory, and delivering a result thereof to said CPU unit;

(7) a display unit for showing the version number of the correction program stored in said external nonvolatile memory and the version number of the correction program stored in said internal nonvolatile memory pursuant to a command of said CPU unit; and

(8) an operation unit for inputting a command for said CPU unit to transfer the ROM connection data stored in said external nonvolatile memory to said internal nonvolatile memory.

4. The electronic equipment according to claim 3, further comprising a plurality of combinations composed of the CPU units, the ROM units and the RAM units, and communication means whereby said units are able to exchange the ROM correction data with one another.