Method for updating a control program for an information processing apparatus, and an information processing apparatus for updating a control program of an associated rewritable memory or a memory disk

Claim 2

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for effecting at least one of information recording and reproduction by instruction from a host computer, said apparatus effecting at least one of the recording of information on and reproduction of information from a memory medium in which a control program is stored and being removably mounted in said apparatus, the control program stored in the memory medium including a region for storing information indicative of its version, said apparatus comprising: a rewritable memory for storing a control program for controlling the apparatus, the control program stored in said rewritable memory including a region for storing information indicative of its version; discriminating means for discriminating whether the control program stored in the memory medium is a control program of the same type as, and replaceable with, the control program stored in said rewritable memory, wherein when said discriminating means discriminates that the control program stored in the memory medium is not a control program of the same type as the control program stored in said rewritable memory, a control program of an older version is not replaced with a control program of a newer version; comparison means for comparing the version of the control program stored in said rewritable memory with the version of the control program stored in the memory medium; and means for replacing a control program of an older version with a control program of a newer version in conformity with the discrimination made by said discriminating means and the comparison made by said comparison means.

Claim 3

An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the memory medium comprises a magneto-optical disk.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 3, wherein the memory medium comprises a magneto-optical disk.

Claim 7

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for effecting at least one of information recording and reproduction by instruction from a host computer, said apparatus effecting at least one of recording of information on and reproduction of information from a memory medium in which a control program is stored, the control program including a region for storing information indicative of its version and the memory medium being removably mounted in said apparatus, said apparatus comprising: a rewritable memory for storing a control program for effecting control of said apparatus, the control program stored in said rewritable memory including a region for storing version information indicative of its version; discriminating means for discriminating whether the control program stored in the memory medium is a control program of the same type as, and replaceable with, the control program stored in said rewritable memory, wherein when said discriminating means discriminates that the control program stored in the memory medium is not a control program of the same type as the control program stored in said rewritable memory, the control program stored in said rewritable memory is not replaced with the control program from the memory medium; first judging means for reading the version information from the control program stored in said rewritable memory and the version information from the control program stored in the memory medium, and for comparing the version information to judge whether the control program stored in said rewritable memory should be replaced with the control program stored in the memory medium, which is when the version of the control program stored in said rewritable memory is older than the version of the control program stored in the memory medium; means for reading out the control program from the memory medium when said discriminating means discriminates that the control program stored in the memory medium is a control program of the same type as, and replaceable with, the control program stored in said rewritable memory and said first judging means judges that the control program stored in said rewritable memory should be replaced; and means for replacing the control program stored in said rewritable memory with the control program read out from the memory medium.

Claim 8

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for effecting at least one of information recording and reproduction by instruction from a host computer, said apparatus effecting at least one of recording of information on and reproduction of information from a memory medium in which a control program is stored, the control program including a region for storing information indicative of its version and the memory medium being removably mounted in said apparatus, said apparatus comprising: a rewritable memory for storing a control program for effecting control of said apparatus, the control program stored in said rewritable memory including a region for storing version information indicative of its version; discriminating means for discriminating whether the control program stored in the memory medium is a control program of the same type as, and replaceable with, the control program stored in said rewritable memory, wherein when said discriminating means discriminates that the control program stored in the memory medium is not a control program of the same type as the control program stored in said rewritable memory, the control program stored in said rewritable memory is not replaced with the control program from the memory medium; first judging means for reading the version information from the control program stored in said rewritable memory and the version information from the control program stored in the memory medium, and for comparing the version information to judge whether the control program stored in said rewritable memory should be replaced with the control program stored in the memory medium, which is when the version of the control program stored in said rewritable memory is older than the version of the control program stored in the memory medium; means for reading out the control program from the memory medium when said discriminating means discriminates that the control program stored in the memory medium is a control program of the same type as, and replaceable with, the control program stored in said rewritable memory and said first judging means judges that the control program stored in said rewritable memory should be replaced; and means for replacing the control program stored in said rewritable memory with the control program read out from the memory medium.

Claim 9

An information processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising (i) second judging means for judging whether the control program stored in the memory medium should be replaced with the control program stored in said rewritable memory, (ii) means for reading out the control program from said rewritable memory when said second judging means judges that the control program stored in the memory medium should be replaced, and (iii) means for recording the control program read out from said rewritable second memory onto the memory medium.

Claim 10

An information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said second judging means compares the version information of the control program stored in said rewritable memory with the version information of the control program stored in the memory medium, and said second judging means judges that the control program stored in the memory medium should be replaced when the version of the control program stored in the memory medium is older than the version of the control program stored in said rewritable memory.

Claim 11

An information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control program stored in the memory medium and the control program stored in said rewritable memory include identification codes indicative of the types of the programs, and said discriminating means comprises means for comparing these identification codes.

Claim 12

An information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said memory medium comprises a magneto-optical disk.

Claim 15

A method according to claim 10, further comprising (i) a second judging step of judging whether the control program memorized in the memory medium should be replaced with the control program stored in the rewritable memory, (ii) reading the control program out of the rewritable memory when it is judged that the control program memorized in the memory medium should be replaced, and (iii) recording the control program taken out of the memory onto the memory medium.

Claim 16

A method according to claim 11, wherein said second judging step comprises comparing the information indicative of the version of the first control program stored in the rewritable memory with the information indicative of the version of the second control program stored in the memory medium and when the version of the second control program stored in the memory is older than the version of the first control program stored in the rewritable memory, it is judged that the second control program stored in the memory medium should be replaced.

Claim 17

A method according to claim 10, wherein the control program memorized in the memory medium and the control program stored in the rewritable memory include discrimination codes indicative of the types of the programs, and said discriminating step comprises comparing these discrimination codes.

Claim 18

A method according to claim 10, wherein the memory medium comprises a magneto-optical disk.

Claim 19

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for effecting at least one of information recording and reproduction by instruction from a host computer, said apparatus effecting at least one of recording of information on and reproduction of information from a memory medium having a control program stored therein and being removably mounted in said apparatus, the control program stored in the memory medium including a region for storing information indicative of its version, said apparatus comprising: a rewritable memory for storing a control program for controlling said apparatus, the control program stored in said rewritable memory including a region for storing information indicative of its version; discriminating means for discriminating whether the control program stored in the memory medium is a control program of the same type as, and replaceable with, the control program stored in said rewritable memory, wherein when said discriminating means discriminates that the control program stored in the memory medium is not a control program of the same type as the control program stored in said rewritable memory, the control program stored in said rewritable memory is not recorded onto the memory medium; judging means for reading the version information from the control program stored in said rewritable memory and the version information from the control program stored in the memory medium, and for comparing the version information to judge whether the control program stored in the memory medium should be replaced with the control program stored in said rewritable memory, which is when the version of the control program stored in the memory medium is older than the version of the control program stored in said rewritable memory; means for reading the control program out of said rewritable memory when said discriminating means discriminates that the control program stored in the memory medium is a control program of the same type as, and replaceable with, the control program stored in said rewritable memory and said judging means judges that the control program stored in the memory medium should be replaced; and means for recording the control program read out of said rewritable memory onto the memory medium.

Claim 20

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for effecting at least one of information recording and reproduction by instruction from a host computer, said apparatus effecting at least one of recording of information on and reproduction of information from a memory medium having a control program stored therein and being removably mounted in said apparatus, the control program stored in the memory medium including a region for storing information indicative of its version, said apparatus comprising: a rewritable memory for storing a control program for controlling said apparatus, the control program stored in said rewritable memory including a region for storing information indicative of its version; discriminating means for discriminating whether the control program stored in the memory medium is a control program of the same type as, and replaceable with, the control program stored in said rewritable memory, wherein when said discriminating means discriminates that the control program stored in the memory medium is not a control program of the same type as the control program stored in said rewritable memory, the control program stored in said rewritable memory is not recorded onto the memory medium; judging means for reading the version information from the control program stored in said rewritable memory and the version information from the control program stored in the memory medium, and for comparing the version information to judge whether the control program stored in the memory medium should be replaced with the control program stored in said rewritable memory, which is when the version of the control program stored in the memory medium is older than the version of the control program stored in said rewritable memory; means for reading the control program out of said rewritable memory when said discriminating means discriminates that the control program stored in the memory medium is a control program of the same type as, and replaceable with, the control program stored in said rewritable memory and said judging means judges that the control program stored in the memory medium should be replaced; and means for recording the control program read out of said rewritable memory onto the memory medium.

Claim 21

An information processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the memory medium comprises a magneto-optical disk.

Claim 22

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for effecting at least one of information recording and reproduction by instruction from a host computer, said apparatus effecting at least one of recording of information on and reproduction of information from a memory medium having a control program stored therein and being removably mounted in said apparatus, the control program stored in the memory medium including a region for storing information indicative of its version, said apparatus comprising: a rewritable memory for storing a control program for controlling said apparatus, the control program stored in said rewritable memory including a region for storing information indicative of its version; discriminating means for discriminating whether the control program stored in the memory medium is a control program of the same type as, and replaceable with, the control program stored in said rewritable memory, Wherein when said discriminating means discriminates that the control program stored in the memory medium is not a control program of the same type as the control program stored in said rewritable memory, the control program stored in the memory medium is not rewritten into the control program of said rewritable memory; judging means for reading the version information from the control program stored in said rewritable memory and the version information from the control program stored in the memory medium, and for comparing the version information to judge whether the control program stored in the memory medium should be replaced with the control program stored in said rewritable memory, which is when the version of the control program stored in the memory medium is older than the version of the control program stored in said rewritable memory; means for reading the control program out of said rewritable memory when said discriminating means discriminates that the control program stored in the memory medium is a control program of the same type as, and replaceable with, the control program stored in said rewritable memory and said judging means judges that the control program stored in the memory medium should be replaced; and means for rewriting the control program stored in the memory medium into the control program read out of said rewritable memory.

Claim 23

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for effecting at least one of information recording and reproduction by instruction from a host computer, said apparatus effecting at least one of recording of information on and reproduction of information from a memory medium having a control program stored therein and being removably mounted in said apparatus, the control program stored in the memory medium including a region for storing information indicative of its version, said apparatus comprising: a rewritable memory for storing a control program for controlling said apparatus, the control program stored in said rewritable memory including a region for storing information indicative of its version; discriminating means for discriminating whether the control program stored in the memory medium is a control program of the same type as, and replaceable with, the control program stored in said rewritable memory, Wherein when said discriminating means discriminates that the control program stored in the memory medium is not a control program of the same type as the control program stored in said rewritable memory, the control program stored in the memory medium is not rewritten into the control program of said rewritable memory; judging means for reading the version information from the control program stored in said rewritable memory and the version information from the control program stored in the memory medium, and for comparing the version information to judge whether the control program stored in the memory medium should be replaced with the control program stored in said rewritable memory, which is when the version of the control program stored in the memory medium is older than the version of the control program stored in said rewritable memory; means for reading the control program out of said rewritable memory when said discriminating means discriminates that the control program stored in the memory medium is a control program of the same type as, and replaceable with, the control program stored in said rewritable memory and said judging means judges that the control program stored in the memory medium should be replaced; and means for rewriting the control program stored in the memory medium into the control program read out of said rewritable memory.

Claim 24

An information processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the memory medium comprises a magneto-optical disk.

Claim 27

A method according to claim 19, wherein the memory medium comprises a magneto-optical disk.

Claim 28

An information processing system comprising: a removable memory medium for storing a control program that includes a region for storing information indicative of its version; and an apparatus for effecting at least one of recording of information on and reproduction of information from said memory medium, said apparatus comprising: a rewritable memory for storing a control program for controlling said apparatus, the control program stored in said rewritable memory including a region for storing information indicative of its version; discriminating means for discriminating whether the control program stored in said memory medium is a control program of the same type as, and replaceable with, the control program stored in said rewritable memory, wherein when said discriminating means discriminates that the control program stored in the memory medium is not a control program of the same type as the control program stored in said rewritable memory, the control program stored in said rewritable memory is not replaced with the control program from said memory medium; judging means for reading the version information from the control program stored in said rewritable memory and the version information from the control program stored in said memory medium, and for comparing the version information to judge whether the control program stored in said rewritable memory should be replaced with the control program stored in said memory medium, which is when the version of the control program stored in said rewritable memory is older than the version of the control program stored in said memory medium; means for reading out the control program from said memory medium when said discriminating means discriminates that the control program stored in the memory medium is a control program of the same type as, and replaceable with, the control program stored in said rewritable memory and said judging means judges that the control program stored in said rewritable memory should be replaced; and means for replacing the control program stored in said rewritable memory with the control program read out from said memory medium.

Claim 29

An information processing system comprising: a removable memory medium for storing a control program that includes a region for storing information indicative of its version; and an apparatus for effecting at least one of recording of information on and reproduction of information from said memory medium, said apparatus comprising: a rewritable memory for storing a control program for controlling said apparatus, the control program stored in said rewritable memory including a region for storing information indicative of its version; discriminating means for discriminating whether the control program stored in said memory medium is a control program of the same type as, and replaceable with, the control program stored in said rewritable memory, wherein when said discriminating means discriminates that the control program stored in the memory medium is not a control program of the same type as the control program stored in said rewritable memory, the control program stored in said rewritable memory is not replaced with the control program from said memory medium; judging means for reading the version information from the control program stored in said rewritable memory and the version information from the control program stored in said memory medium, and for comparing the version information to judge whether the control program stored in said rewritable memory should be replaced with the control program stored in said memory medium, which is when the version of the control program stored in said rewritable memory is older than the version of the control program stored in said memory medium; means for reading out the control program from said memory medium when said discriminating means discriminates that the control program stored in the memory medium is a control program of the same type as, and replaceable with, the control program stored in said rewritable memory and said judging means judges that the control program stored in said rewritable memory should be replaced; and means for replacing the control program stored in said rewritable memory with the control program read out from said memory medium.

Claim 30

An information processing system according to claim 21, wherein said apparatus further comprises second judging means for judging whether the control program stored in said memory medium should be replaced with the control program stored in said rewritable memory, means for reading the control program out of said memory when said second judging means judges that the control program stored in said memory medium should be replaced, and means for recording the control program read out of said memory onto said medium.

Claim 31

An information processing system according to claim 22 wherein said second judging means compares the version information of the control program stored in said rewritable memory with the version information of the control program stored in said memory medium and said second judging means judges that the control program stored in said memory medium should be replaced when the version of the control program stored in said memory medium is older than the control program stored in said rewritable memory.

Claim 32

An information processing system according to claim 21, wherein the control program stored in said memory medium and the control program stored in said rewritable memory include discrimination codes indicative of the types of the respective programs, and said discriminating means comprises means for comparing the respective discrimination codes.

Claim 33

An information processing system according to claim 21, wherein said memory medium comprises a magneto-optical disk.

Claim 34

An information processing system comprising: a removable memory medium for storing a control program that includes a region for storing information indicative of its version; and an apparatus for effecting recording of information onto said removable memory medium, said apparatus comprising: a memory for storing a control program for controlling said apparatus, the control program stored in said memory including a region for storing information indicative of its version; discriminating means for discriminating whether the control program stored in said memory medium is a control program of the same type as, and replaceable with, the control program stored in said memory, wherein when said discriminating means discriminates that the control program stored in said memory medium is not a control program of the same type as the control program stored in said memory, the control program of said memory is not recorded onto said memory medium; judging means for reading the version information from the control program stored in said memory and the version information from the control program stored in said memory medium, and for comparing the version information to judge whether the control program stored in said memory medium should be replaced with the control program stored in said memory, which is when the version of the control program stored in said memory medium is older than the version of the control program stored in said memory; means for reading the control program out of said memory when said discriminating means discriminates that the control program stored in said memory medium is a control program of the same type as, and replaceable with, the control program stored in said memory and said judging means judges that the control program stored in said memory medium should be replaced; and means for recording the control program read out of said memory onto said memory medium.

Claim 35

An information processing system comprising: a removable memory medium for storing a control program that includes a region for storing information indicative of its version; and an apparatus for effecting recording of information onto said removable memory medium, said apparatus comprising: a memory for storing a control program for controlling said apparatus, the control program stored in said memory including a region for storing information indicative of its version; discriminating means for discriminating whether the control program stored in said memory medium is a control program of the same type as, and replaceable with, the control program stored in said memory, wherein when said discriminating means discriminates that the control program stored in said memory medium is not a control program of the same type as the control program stored in said memory, the control program of said memory is not recorded onto said memory medium; judging means for reading the version information from the control program stored in said memory and the version information from the control program stored in said memory medium, and for comparing the version information to judge whether the control program stored in said memory medium should be replaced with the control program stored in said memory, which is when the version of the control program stored in said memory medium is older than the version of the control program stored in said memory; means for reading the control program out of said memory when said discriminating means discriminates that the control program stored in said memory medium is a control program of the same type as, and replaceable with, the control program stored in said memory and said judging means judges that the control program stored in said memory medium should be replaced; and means for recording the control program read out of said memory onto said memory medium.

Claim 36

An information processing system according to claim 26, wherein said memory medium comprises a magneto-optical disk.

Claim 37

An information processing system comprising: a removable memory medium capable of rewriting information and having a control program stored therein, the control program stored in said memory medium including a region for storing information indicative of its version; and an apparatus for effecting recording of information onto said removable memory medium, said apparatus comprising: a memory for storing a control program for controlling said apparatus, the control program stored in said memory including a region for storing information indicative of its version; discriminating means for discriminating whether the control program stored in said memory medium is a control program of the same type as, and replaceable with, the control program stored in said memory, wherein when said discriminating means discriminates that the control program stored in said memory medium is not a control program of the same type as the control program stored in said memory, the control program stored in said memory medium is not replaced with the control program of said memory; judging means for reading the version information from the control program stored in said memory and the version information from the control program stored in said memory medium, and for comparing the version information to judge whether the control program stored in said memory medium should be replaced with the control program stored in said memory, which is when the version of the control program stored in said memory medium is older than the version of the control program stored in said memory; means for reading the control program out of said memory when said discriminating means discriminates that the control program stored in said memory medium is a control program of the same type as, and replaceable with, the control program stored in said memory and said judging means judges that the control program stored in said memory medium should be replaced; and means for replacing the control program stored in said memory medium with the control program read out of said memory.

Claim 38

An information processing system comprising: a removable memory medium capable of rewriting information and having a control program stored therein, the control program stored in said memory medium including a region for storing information indicative of its version; and an apparatus for effecting recording of information onto said removable memory medium, said apparatus comprising: a memory for storing a control program for controlling said apparatus, the control program stored in said memory including a region for storing information indicative of its version; discriminating means for discriminating whether the control program stored in said memory medium is a control program of the same type as, and replaceable with, the control program stored in said memory, wherein when said discriminating means discriminates that the control program stored in said memory medium is not a control program of the same type as the control program stored in said memory, the control program stored in said memory medium is not replaced with the control program of said memory; judging means for reading the version information from the control program stored in said memory and the version information from the control program stored in said memory medium, and for comparing the version information to judge whether the control program stored in said memory medium should be replaced with the control program stored in said memory, which is when the version of the control program stored in said memory medium is older than the version of the control program stored in said memory; means for reading the control program out of said memory when said discriminating means discriminates that the control program stored in said memory medium is a control program of the same type as, and replaceable with, the control program stored in said memory and said judging means judges that the control program stored in said memory medium should be replaced; and means for replacing the control program stored in said memory medium with the control program read out of said memory.

Claim 39

An information processing system according to claim 28, wherein said memory medium comprises a magneto-optical disk.

Claim 40

An information processing system comprising: a removable memory medium for storing a control program that includes a region for storing information indicative of its version; and an apparatus for effecting at least one of recording of information on and reproduction of information from said removable memory medium, said apparatus comprising: a rewritable memory for storing a control program for controlling said apparatus, the control program stored in said memory including a region for storing information indicative of its version; discriminating means for discriminating whether the control program stored in said memory medium is a control program of the same type as, and replaceable with, the control program stored in said rewritable memory, wherein when said discriminating means discriminates that the control program stored in said memory medium is not a control program of the same type as the control program stored in said rewritable memory, a control program of an older version is not replaced with a control program of a newer version; comparing means for comparing the version of the control program stored in said rewritable memory with the version of the control program stored in said memory medium; and means for replacing a control program of an older version with a control program of a newer version, in conformity with the discrimination made by said discriminating means and the comparison made by said comparing means.

Claim 41

An information processing system comprising: a removable memory medium for storing a control program that includes a region for storing information indicative of its version; and an apparatus for effecting at least one of recording of information on and reproduction of information from said removable memory medium, said apparatus comprising: a rewritable memory for storing a control program for controlling said apparatus, the control program stored in said memory including a region for storing information indicative of its version; discriminating means for discriminating whether the control program stored in said memory medium is a control program of the same type as, and replaceable with, the control program stored in said rewritable memory, wherein when said discriminating means discriminates that the control program stored in said memory medium is not a control program of the same type as the control program stored in said rewritable memory, a control program of an older version is not replaced with a control program of a newer version; comparing means for comparing the version of the control program stored in said rewritable memory with the version of the control program stored in said memory medium; and means for replacing a control program of an older version with a control program of a newer version, in conformity with the discrimination made by said discriminating means and the comparison made by said comparing means.

Claim 42

An information processing system according to claim 30, wherein said memory medium comprises a magneto-optical disk.