Data processor, program updating method and storage medium

Abstract

A data processor capable of preventing a system from starting up improperly due to incomplete program updating. The data processor receives, by way of an external interface, a program which is sent by communicating medium such as a broadcast wave or a telephone network from an external device and stores the received program into a memory B which is different from a memory A storing a program for the system when a version of the received program is newer than that of a program currently executed by the data processor, thereby starting up an MPU at the next time with the program stored in the memory B.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A data processor operating on the basis of a program stored in first memory means, comprising: 
 receiving means for receiving an updating program transmitted from outside;    comparing means for comparing a version of the program stored in said first memory means with that of said upgrading program; and    control means for storing said upgrading program into second memory means different from said first memory means when the version of said upgrading program is newer than that of the program stored in said first memory means.    
     
     
         2 . The data processor according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 instructing means for instructing start-up of the data processor;    designating means for designating a program to be read out when the data processor is started up as instructed by said instructing means; and    changing means for changing the designation by said designating means from the program stored in said first memory means to a program stored in said second memory means.    
     
     
         3 . The data processor according to  claim 1 , further comprising check means for checking the received upgrading program for its operation.  
     
     
         4 . The data processor according to  claim 1 , wherein said first memory means and said second memory means comprise flash memories.  
     
     
         5 . A data processor comprising having processing means which processes data sent from outside on the basis of a program stored in first memory means and outputs the data to an output device comprising: 
 receiving means for receiving an upgrading program sent from outside;    control means for storing the received upgrading program into second memory means different from said first memory means; and    changing means for changing processing by said processing means on the basis of the program stored in said first memory means to processing by said processing means on the basis of the upgrading program stored in said second memory means.    
     
     
         6 . The data processor according to  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 comparing means for comparing a version of the program stored in said first memory means with that of said upgrading program; and    control means for storing said received upgrading program into second memory means different from said first memory means when said comparing means judges that the version of said upgrading program is newer than that of the program stored in said first memory means.    
     
     
         7 . The data processor according to  claim 5 , wherein control is executed by said control means when processing is not executed by said processing means.  
     
     
         8 . The data processor according to  claim 7 , wherein control is executed by said control means when data being processed by said processing means and said updating program are sent from the same source.  
     
     
         9 . The data processor according to  claim 5 , further comprising a selecting means for selecting a program to be executed by said processing means from either of said first memory means or said second memory means as designated by a user.  
     
     
         10 . The data processor according to  claim 5 , further comprising a detecting means for defecting a scheduled operation time of said processing means so that said control is executed by said control means on the basis of said detected operation time.  
     
     
         11 . The data processor according to  claim 5 , wherein said output device comprises a display device.  
     
     
         12 . A data processor having processing means which processes data sent from outside on the basis of a program stored in memory means and outputs the data to an output device comprising: 
 judging means for judging whether or not processing is executed by said processing means;    receiving means for receiving an updating program sent from outside;    memory control means for storing said received program into the memory means when said judging means that processing is not executed by said processing means; and    processing control means for controlling said processing means on the basis of the updating program stored in said memory means.    
     
     
         13 . The data processor according to  claim 12 , wherein said memory control means stores said updating program into a memory area different from that of the preliminarily stored program.  
     
     
         14 . The data processor according to  claim 12 , wherein control is executed by said memory control means when data being processed by said processing means and said upgrading program are sent from the same source.  
     
     
         15 . The data processor according to  claim 12 , further comprising detecting means which detects a scheduled operation time of said processing means, wherein control is executed by said memory control means on the basis of said detected operation time.  
     
     
         16 . The data processor according to  claim 12 , wherein said output device comprises a display device.  
     
     
         17 . A program updating method for a data processor operating on the basis of a program stored in first memory means, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving an updating program sent from outside;    comparing a version of the program stored in said first memory means with aversion of said updating program; and    storing said updating program into second memory means different from said first memory means when the comparison indicates that the version of said updating program is newer than that of the program stored in said first memory means.    
     
     
         18 . The program updating method according to  claim 17 , wherein a program to be read out to start up the data processor is changed from the program stored in said first memory means to the program stored in said second memory means.  
     
     
         19 . The program updating method according to  claim 17 , wherein said received updating program is checked for its operation and stored into said second memory means.  
     
     
         20 . The program updating method according to  claim 17 , wherein said first memory means and said second memory means comprise flash memories.  
     
     
         21 . A program updating method for a data processor having processing means which processes data sent from outside on the basis of a program stored in first memory means, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving an updating program sent from outside;    storing said received updating program into second memory means different from said first memory means; and    changing processing by said processing means on the basis of the program stored in said first memory means to processing by said processing means on the basis of the updating program stored in said second memory means.    
     
     
         22 . The program updating method according to  claim 21 , 
 wherein a version of said program stored in said first memory means is compared with that of the updating program, and    wherein said received updating program is stored into second memory means different from said first memory means when the comparison indicates that the version of the updating program is newer than that of the program stored in said first memory means.    
     
     
         23 . The program updating method according to  claim 21 , wherein a program is stored into said second memory means when processing is not executed by said processing means.  
     
     
         24 . The program updating method according to  claim 23 , wherein a program is stored into said second memory means when data being processed by said processing means and said updating program are sent from the same source.  
     
     
         25 . The program updating method according to  claim 21 , wherein a program to be executed by said processing means is selected from said first memory means or said second memory means as designated by a user.  
     
     
         26 . The program updating method according to  claim 21 , wherein a scheduled operation time of said processing means is detected and a program is stored into said second memory means on the basis of a detected operation time.  
     
     
         27 . The program updating method according to  claim 21 , wherein said output device comprises a display device.  
     
     
         28 . A program updating method for a data processor which processes data sent from outside on the basis of a program stored in memory means and outputs the data to an output device, comprising the steps of: 
 judging whether or not processing is executed by said processing means;    storing an updating program sent from outside into memory means when the processing is not executed by said processing means; and    controlling said processing means on the basis of the updating program stored in said memory means.    
     
     
         29 . The program updating method according to  claim 28 , wherein said updating program is stored into a memory area different from that of the preliminarily stored program.  
     
     
         30 . The program updating method according to  claim 28 , wherein the updating program is stored into the memory means when data being processed by said processing means and said updating program are sent from the same source.  
     
     
         31 . The program updating method according to  claim 28 , wherein a scheduled operation time of said processing means is detected and the updating program sent from outside is stored into the memory means on the basis of the detected operation time.  
     
     
         32 . The program updating method according to  claim 28 , wherein said output device comprises a display device.  
     
     
         33 . A memory medium to be used in a data processor which operates on the basis of a program stored in first memory means having the following steps to update a program comprising the steps of: 
 receiving an updating program sent from outside;    comparing a version of the program stored in said first memory means with that of said updating program; and    storing said updating program into second memory means different from said first memory means when the version of said updating program is newer than that of the program stored in said first memory means.    
     
     
         34 . A memory medium to be used in a data processor having processing means which processes data sent from outside on the basis of a program stored in first memory means and outputs the data to an output device having the following steps to update a program, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving an updating program sent from outside by receiving means;    storing said received updating program into second memory means different from said first memory means; and    changing processing by said processing means on the basis of the program stored in said first memory means to processing by said processing means on the basis of the updating program stored in said second memory means.    
     
     
         35 . A memory means to be used in a data processor having processor means which processes data sent from outside on the basis of a program stored in memory means and outputs the data to an output device having the following steps to update a program, comprising the steps of: 
 judging whether or not processing is executed by said processing means;    storing an updating program sent from outside into said memory means when the processing is not executed by said processing means; and    controlling said processing means on the basis of the updating program stored in said memory means.