Information processing apparatus and method

Abstract

The present invention relates to an information apparatus and method suitable for use in upgrading control programs readily by a user. In step S 501 , a storage area to store an upgraded firmware is determined. In step S 502 , the upgraded firmware is provided. In step 503 , the provided firmware is decrypted and re-encrypted. In step S 504 , re-encrypted firmware is written into the storage area determined in step S 501 . In step S 505 , a maximum marker is detected. In step S 506 , a value obtained by adding 1 to the maximum marker provides the marker corresponding to the storage area in which the firmware was stored in step S 504 . The present invention is applicable to, for example, an audio data server.

1 . An information processing apparatus comprising:
 a first information storage medium for storing programs loaded into and being executable from the first information storage medium;   a second information storage medium for storing
 a set of programs comprising
 a control program for controlling the information processing apparatus, 
 a load program for loading at least a part of said set of programs into said first information storage medium, 
 an execution instruction program for instructing execution of at least a part of said set of programs loaded into the first information storage medium, 
 a read program for reading data from an external information source and 
 a write program for writing data into said second information storage medium, and 
 
 a version information of at least a part of said set of programs; and 
   a controller for
 loading at least a part of said set of programs into said second information storage medium by means of said load program when the information processing apparatus is turned on, 
 executing said loaded part of said set of programs by means of said execution program, 
 reading an upgrade version of a program from said external information source by means of said read program in accordance with said version information and a user request during the execution of at least one of said set of programs, and 
 writing said read program into said second information storage medium by means of said writing program. 
   
   
   
       2 . An information processing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 said set of programs comprising real time operating system of the information processing apparatus.   
   
   
       3 . An information processing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 said set of programs being configured with four layers structure.   
   
   
       4 . An information processing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 said set of programs being configured with multiple layers structure, one of the layers including an application, other one of the layers including a middleware and other one of the layers including a plurality of device drivers.   
   
   
       5 . An information processing apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a display,
 wherein said set of programs being configured with multiple layers structure, one of the layers including an application, other one of the layers including a middleware and other one of the layers including a plurality of device drivers,   wherein a module of said application being capable of requesting corresponding module of said middleware in accordance with user operation on the information processing apparatus and providing user interface by controlling said display.   
   
   
       6 . An information processing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 said set of programs being configured with multiple layers structure, one of the layers including an application, other one of the layers including a middleware and other one of the layers including a plurality of device drivers,   wherein said application capable of creating a startup screen at the time of start up of the information processing apparatus.   
   
   
       7 . An information processing apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a DMA (Direct memory Access) controller. 
   
   
       8 . An information processing apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an encryption engine for encrypting data by use of an encryption key. 
   
   
       9 . An information processing apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the encryption engine capable to handle a DES (Data Encryption Standard) encryption. 
   
   
       10 . An information processing apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the encryption engine encrypting data by use of an encryption key generated based on a device ID of a predetermined component of the information processing apparatus. 
   
   
       11 . An information processing apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the encryption engine encrypting data by use of an encryption key generated based on a time information. 
   
   
       12 . An information processing apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a connector for performing data communication with other electronic equipment. 
   
   
       13 . An information processing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 said set of programs comprising a character conversion program.   
   
   
       14 . An information processing apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein
 said character conversion program is a kanji-kana conversion program.   
   
   
       15 . An information processing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 said set of programs comprising a USB (Universal Serial Buss) middleware.   
   
   
       16 . An information processing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 said set of programs comprising a USB (Universal Serial Buss) driver.   
   
   
       17 . An information processing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 said set of programs comprising an audio driver.