INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USING OTP MEMORY

Abstract

In an OTP memory, initially, a file A is recorded. When modification of the file A is needed, a modification file B is additionally written into the OTP memory. Storage information on the modification file B is also additionally written into a FAT area and a directory entry. When an application program issues a read request for the file A, a file system refers to the FAT area and the directory entry to recognize the existence of the modification file B and reads the file A and the modification file B out from a data area. Then, the file system modifies the file A on the basis of the modification file B and stores a modified file into a RAM. The application program accesses the file which is stored in the RAM.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an information processing apparatus in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view showing a storage image of a modification file in an OTP memory in accordance with a first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a view showing a storage image of files to be modified;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a storage image of the modification file;

FIG. 5 is an image view showing application procedures of a patch;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an application process of the patch;

FIG. 7 is a view showing a storage image of the modification file in an OTP memory in accordance with a second preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 8 is a view showing a storage image of the modification file in an OTP memory in accordance with a third preferred embodiment.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus using an OTP (One Time Programmable) memory, comprising: a control part for executing a program; anda file system,wherein said OTP memory comprisesa data memory area in which the substance of data is stored; anda file management information memory area in which storage information on a file stored in said data memory area is recorded,and wherein after a first file is recorded in said data memory area and storage information on said first file is recorded in said file management information memory area, when modification of said first file is needed, a second file in which modification information on said first file is recorded is additionally written into said data memory area and storage information on said second file is additionally written into said file management information memory area,said file system comprises modification means which reads out said first file and said second file by referring to said file management information memory area when said program issues an access request for said first file, for modifying said first file on the basis of said second file, andsaid program accesses a file modified by said file system.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said file system does not disclose information on said second file to said program.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if said second file is a replacement file for said first file, said modification means does not modify said first file but replaces said first file with said second file.

4. An information processing apparatus using an OTP (One Time Programmable) memory, comprising: a control part for executing a program; anda file system,wherein said OTP memory comprisesa data memory area in which the substance of data is stored;a file management information memory area in which storage information on a file stored in said data memory area is recorded; anda modification information memory area which is a predetermined area in said data memory area, in which storage information on modification data is recorded,and wherein after a first file is recorded in said data memory area and storage information on said first file is recorded in said file management information memory area, when modification of said first file is needed, a second file in which modification information on said first file is recorded is additionally written into said data memory area and storage information on said second file is additionally written into said modification information memory area,said file system comprises modification means which reads out said first file and the second file by referring to said file management information memory area and said modification information memory area when said program issues an access request for said first file, for modifying said first file on the basis of said second file, andsaid program accesses a file modified by said file system.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said file system does not disclose information on said second file to said program.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein if said second file is a replacement file for said first file, said modification means does not modify said first file but replaces said first file with said second file.

7. An information processing apparatus using an OTP (One Time Programmable) memory, comprising: a control part for executing a program; anda file system,wherein said OTP memory comprisesa data memory area in which the substance of data is stored;a file management information memory area in which storage information on a file stored in said data memory area is recorded; anda modification data memory area which is a predetermined area in said data memory area, in which modification data is stored,and wherein after a first file is recorded in said data memory area and storage information on said first file is recorded in said file management information memory area, when modification of said first file is needed, a second file in which modification information on said first file is recorded is additionally written into said modification data memory area,said file system comprises modification means which reads out said first file and said second file by referring to said file management information memory area and said modification data memory area when said program issues an access request for said first file, for modifying said first file on the basis of said second file, andsaid program accesses a file modified by said file system.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said file system does not disclose information on said second file to said program.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein if said second file is a replacement file for said first file, said modification means does not modify said first file but replaces said first file with said second file.

10. A method of using an OTP (One Time Programmable) memory, wherein a first file to be modified is stored in said OTP memory, said method comprising: a step of additionally writing a second file in which modification information on said first file is recorded into a data memory area of said OTP memory;a step of additionally writing storage information on said second file into a file management information memory area of said OTP memory;a step of referring to said file management information memory area to recognize the existence of said second file when a program issues an access request for said first file, and reading out said first file and said second file as well;a modification step of modifying said first file on the basis of said second file which is read out; anda step of allowing said program to access a modified file.

11. The method of using an OTP memory according to claim 10, wherein if said second file is a replacement file for said first file, in said modification step, said first file is not modified but replaced with said second file.

12. A method of using an OTP (One Time Programmable) memory, wherein a first file to be modified is stored in said OTP memory, said method comprising: a step of additionally writing a second file in which modification information on said first file is recorded into a data memory area of said OTP memory;a step of additionally writing storage information on said second file into a modification information memory area which is reserved in said data memory area of said OTP memory;a step of referring to said modification information memory area to recognize the existence of said second file when a program issues an access request for said first file, and reading out said first file and said second file as well;a modification step of modifying said first file on the basis of said second file which is read out; anda step of allowing said program to access a modified file.

13. The method of using an OTP memory according to claim 12, wherein if said second file is a replacement file for said first file, in said modification step, said first file is not modified but replaced with said second file.

14. A method of using an OTP (One Time Programmable) memory, wherein a first file to be modified is stored in said OTP memory, said method comprising: a step of additionally writing a second file in which modification information on said first file is recorded into a modification data memory area which is reserved in a data memory area of said OTP memory;a step of referring to said modification data memory area to recognize the existence of said second file when a program issues an access request for said first file, and reading out said first file and said second file as well;a modification step of modifying said first file on the basis of said second file which is read out; anda step of allowing said program to access a modified file.

15. The method of using an OTP memory according to claim 14, wherein if said second file is a replacement file for said first file, in said modification step, said first file is not modified but replaced with said second file.