Method and apparatus for determining compatibility of computer programs

• US 6,684,328 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2002
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Matsuura, Yoko
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mai, Rijue
• Application Number:
  US10/039,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20020059480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/100, 709/201, 709/231, 709/232, 709/246, 709/330, 709/310, 709/315, 709/312, 709/106, 709/220, 709/221, 709/222, 710/20, 710/101, 710/10, 710/74, 710/73, 710/8, 710/104, 712/225
• US Class Current: 713/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1417 Boot up procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1433 during software upgrading
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation

Abstract

An information processing apparatus performs predetermined processing by executing a computer program. A program memory stores two boot addresses #1 and #2, each of which serves as an address from which a basic program including a boot program for performing a booting operation is stored. In installing a basic program, the boot addresses #1 and #2 are alternately selected to store the basic program. In starting an apparatus, an error of the computer program stored in the program memory is detected, and upon detection, one of the boot addresses #1 and #2 is selected, and the basic program stored from the selected address is executed. The version compatibilities of a basic program or an application program are described in the basic program or the application program. Upon upgrading the version of the application program, it is determined whether the version of the application program is compatible with the version of the basic program, and vice versa. The application program is then installed based on the result of the determination. With this arrangement, even if the installation of the basic program has failed, the apparatus can be started properly. It is also possible to prevent the installation of an application program whose version is incompatible with the OS and to prevent the installation of an OS whose version is incompatible with the application program.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus for providing a second computer program dependent upon a first computer program, said apparatus comprising:

a processor operable to describe in said second computer program a version of said second computer program and a version of said first computer program compatible with said second computer program; and

a multiplexer operable to multiplex program data using said first and second computer programs to produce a multiplexed output for modulating a broadcast carrier signal.

2. A method for providing a second computer program dependent upon a first computer program, comprising:

describing in said second computer program a version of said second computer program and a version of said first computer program compatible with said second computer program; and

multiplexing program data using said first and second computer programs to produce a multiplexed output for modulating a broadcast carrier signal.

3. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a second computer program dependent upon a first computer program, said second computer program including a data structure stored on said medium, said data structure comprising:

version information including a version of said second computer program and a version of said first computer program compatible with said second computer program,

wherein said first and second computer programs are for multiplexing program data to produce a multiplexed signal to modulate a broadcast carrier signal.

4. An information processing apparatus for installing a second computer program dependent upon a first computer program, said apparatus comprising:

a receiver operable to receive a broadcast signal produced by multiplexing program data using said first and second computer programs to produce a multiplexed output for modulating said broadcast signal;

a demodulator operable to extract said first and second computer programs from said broadcast signal;

a determination unit operable to make a determination of whether a version of said second computer program is compatible with a version of said first computer program, and to make a determination of whether said version of said first computer program is compatible with said version of said second computer program; and

an installation unit operable to install said second computer program based on said determinations.

5. An information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, when said version of said first computer program and said version of said second computer program compatible with said first computer program are described in said first computer program, and said version of said second computer program and said version of said first computer program compatible with said second computer program are described in said second computer program, said determination unit makes said determinations based on said versions described in said first computer program and said second computer program.

6. An information processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising an instruction unit, wherein, when said first computer program and said second computer program are provided from a predetermined providing apparatus, and said version of said second computer program is incompatible with said version of said first computer program, or said version of said first computer program is incompatible with said version of said second computer program, said instruction unit instructs said predetermined providing apparatus to transmit said first computer program whose version is compatible with said second computer program.

7. A method for installing a second computer program dependent upon a first computer program, comprising:

receiving a broadcast signal produced by multiplexing program data using said first and second computer programs to produce a multiplexed output for modulating said broadcast signal;

extracting said first and second computer programs from said broadcast signal;

making a determination of whether a version of said second computer program is compatible with a version of said first computer program, and a determination of whether said version of said first computer program is compatible with a said version of said second computer program; and

installing said second computer program based on said determinations.