Information processing device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To provide an information processing device capable of switching, in coordination, applications installed in other partitions other than a firmware storage partition when firmware installed in the firmware storage partition fails to be updated.SOLUTION: An information processing device according to one embodiment comprises: a first storage region including a firmware storage partition and an application storage partition; a second storage region for storing flag information; a first startup unit for starting up firmware stored in the firmware storage partition based on the flag information; and a second startup unit for starting up an application stored in the application storage partition on the basis of the flag information after the first startup unit has started up the firmware stored in the firmware storage partition.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] There is a known technology for recovering an information processing device from a state where the system cannot be started when firmware is corrupted. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in which a flash ROM is provided with multiple blocks in which BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) data is stored, and the BIOS is rewritten in a block different from the block where the system was started up. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] An information processing device selects a firmware storage partition based on boot entry information in the UEFI. The firmware storage partition is an area where system components such as the boot loader and kernel are stored. When an information processing device starts up, it first starts the UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface), which then boots the boot loader and kernel, and the kernel starts applications. UEFI is a type of software for starting an operating system (OS), and acts as an interface between the hardware and the OS, initializing the hardware and starting the OS boot loader. UEFI is an extended firmware that serves as the successor to BIOS.

[0004] For this reason, it is only possible to determine the firmware storage partition that will launch the boot loader, which is a process started by UEFI, and it is not possible to select a partition that will launch an application stored in another partition. Therefore, if the firmware storage partition update fails, only the firmware can be restored, and if the application storage partition update fails, only the application can be restored.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device that can perform recovery processing even if an update of either firmware or application fails. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An information processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a memory unit including a first memory area including a plurality of firmware storage partitions for storing firmware to be executed when the device is started, and a plurality of app storage partitions for storing applications; and a second memory area for storing flag information including information for selecting the firmware storage partition from which to start the firmware; a first launch unit that launches the firmware stored in the firmware storage partition based on the flag information; and a second launch unit that, after the first launch unit has launched the firmware stored in the firmware storage partition, launches the application stored in the app storage partition associated with the firmware storage partition based on the flag information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present invention, even if an update of either firmware or application fails, recovery processing can be performed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1]1 is a hardware configuration diagram of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a software configuration diagram of the information processing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a control unit of the information processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a control unit of the information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a method for starting a partition in an information processing device according to a comparative example. [Figure 6A] 10 is a diagram illustrating a partition startup method when flag information indicates a first value in an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 6B] 10 is a diagram illustrating a partition startup method when flag information indicates a second value in the information processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 7] 10 is a diagram for explaining a partition startup method when a firmware update is successful in an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a partition startup method when a firmware update fails in an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is an activity diagram of a first launch unit and a second launch unit in the information processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is an activity diagram of an update unit in the information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is an activity diagram of a notification unit in the information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] 1 is a flowchart illustrating an information processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following describes the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations may be omitted.

[0010] [First embodiment] <Hardware configuration> 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of an information processing device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The information processing device 1 includes a storage unit 2, a control unit 3, an external memory 4, and an operation unit 5. The information processing device 1 is communicably connected to a network server 6 via a network line such as the Internet.

[0011] The storage unit 2 includes a first storage area 21 and a second storage area 22. The storage unit 2 is realized by a program executed by the CPU 101, a hard disk (HD), a hard disk drive (HDD), and the like.

[0012] The first storage area 21 includes a plurality of firmware storage partitions for storing firmware 12 executed at startup of the device itself, and a plurality of application storage partitions for storing applications. When a firmware storage partition is started, an application storage partition associated with the firmware storage partition is also started.

[0013] More specifically, the first storage area 21 includes a first firmware storage partition that stores the boot loader 12a and a second firmware storage partition that stores the second startup unit 12b. The first storage area 21 also includes a first application storage partition that stores a first application associated with the first firmware storage partition. The first storage area 21 also includes a second application storage partition that stores a second application associated with the second firmware storage partition.

[0014] Hereinafter, a configuration including the first firmware storage partition and the second firmware storage partition will be simply referred to as a "firmware storage partition." Also, a configuration including the first application storage partition and the second application storage partition will be simply referred to as an "application storage partition." Also, the firmware storage partition can be referred to as an EFI system partition.

[0015] In the following description, it is assumed that the first firmware storage partition and the first application storage partition are associated with each other, and the second firmware storage partition and the second application storage partition are associated with each other.

[0016] The first storage area 21 is also referred to as, for example, a system startup storage. The first storage area 21 is, for example, an eMMC (embedded Multi Media Card).

[0017] The second storage area 22 stores flag information 10 including information for selecting a partition to be started. The second storage area 22 is also referred to as a boot flag storage, for example. The second storage area 22 may also be provided in external storage. The second storage area 22 is, for example, a non-volatile RAM (NVRAM). The external storage is a storage area that is connected to the information processing device 1 and used.

[0018] The control unit 3 controls the overall operation of the information processing device 1. The control unit 3 starts up the firmware 12 and applications in the firmware storage partition and the application storage partition. Furthermore, the control unit 3 updates the flag information 10 when the update of the firmware 12 is successful. Furthermore, the control unit 3 notifies the operation unit 5 of an error when the update of the firmware 12 fails.

[0019] The external memory 4 is, for example, an SD card, etc. The external memory 4 stores an update file to be newly written to the first storage area 21. The update file may be stored as a compressed file.

[0020] The operation unit 5 may include an input means for receiving input from the user and a display means for presenting information to the user. When the operation unit 5 receives an error notification from the notification unit 14, it can display that fact on the display means. The network server 6 stores an update file to be newly written to the first storage area 21.

[0021] The information processing device 1 may be, for example, an output device such as a PJ (Projector), an IWB (Interactive White Board: an electronic white board with a blackboard function that allows mutual communication), digital signage, a HUD (Head Up Display) device, industrial machinery, an imaging device, a sound collection device, medical equipment, a network home appliance, an automobile (Connected Car), a notebook PC (Personal Computer), a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a game console, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a digital camera, a wearable PC or a desktop PC, etc.

[0022] <Software configuration> 2 is a software configuration diagram of an information processing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information processing device 1 includes flag information 10, a UEFI 11, firmware 12, an update unit 13, a notification unit 14, a firmware update file 15, an application update file 16, an OS 17, and applications 18.

[0023] The flag information 10 includes information for selecting a partition to be started. The flag information 10 indicates a first value or a second value. The first value may be "0" and the second value may be "1", or the values ​​may be reversed, and are not limited to these values. The flag information 10 is stored in the second storage area 22.

[0024] The UEFI 11 reads files in a partition with predetermined specifications called an EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface) system partition in the information processing device 1. Based on the information in the read files, the UEFI 11 boots firmware such as an installed boot loader and kernel.

[0025] The UEFI 11 includes a first boot unit 11a. The first boot unit 11a is configured by, for example, the UEFI 11. When the flag information 10 indicates a first value, the first boot unit 11a boots a boot loader 12a stored in a first firmware storage partition. When the flag information 10 indicates a second value, the first boot unit 11a boots a second boot unit 12b stored in a second firmware storage partition. Hereinafter, the partition to be booted will also be referred to as a "boot partition," and the partition to be updated will also be referred to as an "update partition."

[0026] The firmware 12 includes a boot loader 12a and a second startup unit 12b. The second startup unit 12b is, for example, a kernel. The firmware 12 is included in a first firmware storage partition and a second firmware storage partition. After the firmware storage partitions are started, the boot loader 12a starts the second startup unit 12b.

[0027] After the first launch unit 11a launches the firmware 12 stored in the firmware storage partition, the second launch unit 12b launches the application stored in the application storage partition associated with the firmware storage partition based on the flag information 10.

[0028] The second launch unit 12b launches a first application stored in a partition for storing a first application when the flag information 10 indicates a first value, and launches a second application stored in a partition for storing a second application when the flag information 10 indicates a second value.

[0029] The update unit 13 is also referred to as, for example, a firmware update application. The update unit 13 updates the firmware update file 15 and the application update file 16 that are to be updated. Specifically, if the update of the firmware 12 is successful, the update unit 13 updates the first value to a second value if the flag information 10 indicates a first value, and updates the second value to the first value if the flag information 10 indicates the second value. If the update of the firmware 12 fails, the update unit 13 maintains the flag information 10.

[0030] When the update unit 13 has successfully updated the firmware 12, the first launch unit 11a and the second launch unit 12b launch the firmware and application of the partition based on the updated flag information 10.

[0031] The notification unit 14 is also referred to as, for example, an error notification application. When the update unit 13 fails to update the firmware 12, the notification unit 14 notifies the user of the error.

[0032] The firmware update file 15 and the application update file 16 are files used when updating the firmware 12 .

[0033] The OS 17 controls the entire information processing device 1. Each application 18 indicates an application that is started and executed when the system is started, and there may be one or more applications 18. Each application 18 is a program that is executed in a partition for storing applications.

[0034] The firmware 12 and each application 18 are stored in the first storage area 21. The firmware update file 15 and the application update file 16 may be stored in the external memory 4.

[0035] The network server 6 includes a firmware update file 60, an application update file 61, and an OS 62. The firmware update file 60 and the application update file 61 are downloaded by the information processing device 1. The OS 62 controls the entire network server 6.

[0036] 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a control unit 3 of an information processing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 3 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 103, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 104, and an input / output I / F (Interface) 105. These are electrically connected to one another via a bus 109.

[0037] The CPU 101 controls the operation of the control unit 3. The ROM 102 stores programs and the like executed by the CPU 101. The RAM 103 is used as a work area for the CPU 101. The HDD 104 stores various data such as programs. The input / output I / F 105 is an interface for inputting and outputting various signals and data to and from external devices.

[0038] Some or all of the functions of the CPU 101 may be realized by an electronic circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array).

[0039] 4 is a functional block diagram of the control unit 3 of the information processing device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 3 includes a first launch unit 11a, a second launch unit 12b, an update unit 13, and a notification unit 14. The first launch unit 11a and the second launch unit 12b are stored in a first storage area 21.

[0040] The first launching unit 11a launches firmware based on the flag information 10 in the second storage area 22. When the flag information 10 indicates a first value, the first launching unit 11a launches the boot loader 12a stored in the first firmware storage partition. When the flag information 10 indicates a second value, the first launching unit 11a launches the second launching unit 12b stored in the second firmware storage partition.

[0041] The second launching unit 12b launches an application stored in an application storage partition associated with the launched firmware storage partition, based on the flag information 10 in the second storage area 22.

[0042] The second launch unit 12b launches a first application stored in a partition for storing a first application when the flag information 10 indicates a first value, and launches a second application stored in a partition for storing a second application when the flag information 10 indicates a second value.

[0043] The update unit 13 updates the firmware update file 15 and the application update file 16 to be updated. Specifically, if the update of the firmware 12 is successful, the update unit 13 updates the first value to a second value if the flag information 10 indicates a first value, and updates the second value to the first value if the flag information 10 indicates a second value. If the update of the firmware 12 fails, the update unit 13 maintains the flag information 10.

[0044] The notification unit 14 is also referred to as, for example, an error notification application. When the update of the firmware 12 fails, the notification unit 14 notifies the operation unit 5 of the error.

[0045] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a method for starting partitions in an information processing device 9 according to a comparative example. In the information processing device 9 according to the comparative example, firmware 96 and each partition are stored in the same storage area. Flag information is stored in the firmware 96. The partitions include a first firmware storage partition, a second firmware storage partition, and a first application storage partition. The first firmware storage partition and the first application storage partition are associated with each other.

[0046] In the information processing device 9 according to the comparative example, the firmware 96 reads flag information (step S901), loads the first firmware storage partition, and starts it (step S902). The boot loader of the first firmware storage partition starts the kernel (step S903), and the started kernel mounts r00tfs of the first application storage partition, and r00tfs starts the application (step S904).

[0047] In the partition startup method in the information processing device 9 according to the comparative example, a partition for storing startup firmware in one storage area is determined based on flag information in the firmware 96 in the same storage area. Therefore, the firmware 96 determines the partition for storing startup firmware, which limits the partitions for storing applications to be started. In other words, there is a problem in that it is not possible to switch the partition for starting up an application to be started.

[0048] Furthermore, in the partition startup method in the information processing device 9 according to the comparative example, the two firmware storage partitions are duplicated. However, the application storage partition is not duplicated. Therefore, the information processing device 9 according to the comparative example has a problem in that if the firmware storage partition does not start due to a failure to update the firmware 96, the application stored in the application storage partition cannot be started.

[0049] 6A is a diagram illustrating a partition startup method when flag information 10 indicates a first value in information processing device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. A first firmware storage partition is associated with a first application storage partition, and a second firmware storage partition is associated with a second application storage partition. First startup unit 11a of UEFI 11 reads flag information 10 from second storage area 22 and determines which firmware storage partition to start.

[0050] The firmware 12 reads the flag information 10 (first value) (step S101) and starts the firmware 12 in the first firmware storage partition (step S102). The boot loader in the first firmware storage partition starts the second startup unit 12b (step S103). The started second startup unit 12b reads the flag information 10 in the second memory area 22 (step S104), mounts the r00tfs in the first application storage partition, and the r00tfs starts the application (step S105).

[0051] 6B is a diagram illustrating a partition startup method when flag information 10 indicates a second value in information processing device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of each partition is the same as that in FIG. 6A. As in the case where flag information indicates a first value, UEFI reads flag information 10 from second storage area 22, which is external storage, and determines the firmware storage partition to be started.

[0052] 6A, the UEFI 11 reads the flag information 10 (second value) (step S201), loads the second firmware storage partition, and starts it (step S202). The boot loader of the second firmware storage partition starts the second startup unit 12b (step S203). The started second startup unit 12b reads the flag information 10 in the second storage area 22 (step S204), mounts the r00tfs of the second application storage partition, and the r00tfs starts the application (step S205).

[0053] 6A and 6B, by storing flag information 10 in second storage area 22, which is an area separate from first storage area 21 in which UEFI 11 is stored, second startup unit 12b separate from first startup unit 11a in first storage area 21 can be used. Also, second startup unit 12b in the firmware storage partition reads flag information 10 and starts an application in an application storage partition associated with the firmware storage partition. Therefore, the firmware storage partition and the application storage partition start in conjunction with each other.

[0054] Therefore, if the information processing device 1 fails to update the firmware in the firmware storage partition, it can restore the firmware storage partition. Also, if the information processing device 1 fails to update an application in the application storage partition, it can restore the application storage partition. In other words, recovery is possible even if the update of either the firmware storage partition or the application storage partition fails, and recovery processing is possible by duplication in which the firmware storage partition and the application storage partition are linked.

[0055] 7 is a diagram for explaining a partition startup method when the firmware 12 in the information processing device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention is successfully updated. In FIG. 7, (a) shows the state before the firmware 12 is updated, and (b) shows the state after the firmware 12 is updated.

[0056] 7, the path name of the mount destination for each partition is listed. When flag information 10 indicates a first value, the first firmware storage partition is the boot partition and launches an application in the first application storage partition. When flag information 10 indicates a second value, the second firmware storage partition is the boot partition and launches an application in the second application storage partition.

[0057] In the example of Figure 7, the boot partitions are mounted with the names " / bot" and " / app" so that files can be handled on the software. The following describes the case where flag information 10 indicates the first value. In this case, the first firmware storage partition and the first application storage partition become the boot partitions. Therefore, the first firmware storage partition is mounted as " / bot" and the first application storage partition is mounted as " / app."

[0058] The second firmware storage partition and the second application storage partition are update partitions, so the second firmware storage partition is mounted at " / bot_update" and the second application storage partition is mounted at " / app_update".

[0059] The update unit 13 updates the firmware 12 of the partition to be updated. If the update unit 13 succeeds in updating the firmware 12, it updates the flag information 10 in the storage. At this time, the boot partition and the partition to be updated are switched when booting up next time onwards.

[0060] Next, we will explain the processing after the system is restarted. As shown in Figure 7(b), the mount destination of each partition is switched. Specifically, the second firmware storage partition and the second application storage partition become the boot partitions. Therefore, the mount destination of the second firmware storage partition is set to " / bot", and the mount destination of the second application storage partition is set to " / app".

[0061] The first firmware storage partition and the first application storage partition will be update partitions. Therefore, the mount destination for the first firmware storage partition will be " / bot_update", and the mount destination for the first application storage partition will be " / app_update".

[0062] When the system is restarted, the firmware 12 before the update is temporarily stored in " / bot", which is then switched to the partition to be updated upon restart. After that, the firmware 12 in the partition to be updated is updated. At this point, you may want to save a backup of the firmware 12. After this process, the updated system will start up normally.

[0063] 8 is a diagram illustrating a partition startup method when updating of firmware 12 in an information processing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention fails. In FIG. 8, (a) shows the state before updating of firmware 12, and (b) shows the state after processing has been interrupted. As with the example of FIG. 7, a case will be described where flag information 10 indicates a first value. The state of FIG. 8(a) is the same as the example of FIG. 7(a) in which flag information 10 indicates a first value.

[0064] If the update unit 13 fails to update the firmware 12 of the partition to be updated, it suspends the process. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8(b), even after the system suspends the process and restarts, the mount destination of each partition remains the same as when the system was first started. Even if the update of an application in the application storage partition fails, the flag information 10 is maintained in the same way as when the update of the firmware 12 in the firmware storage partition fails. Therefore, the firmware and the application can each start the update process again, and the system can be restored by performing the update process again.

[0065] 9 is an activity diagram of the first launch unit 11a and the second launch unit 12b in the information processing device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The first launch unit 11a reads flag information 10 from the second storage area 22 (step S301). If the flag information 10 indicates a first value, the first launch unit 11a mounts the first firmware storage partition and the first application storage partition, which are boot partitions, as boot partitions (step S302). If the flag information 10 indicates a second value, the first launch unit 11a mounts the second firmware storage partition and the second application storage partition, which are boot partitions, as boot partitions (step S303).

[0066] In steps 101 and 102, the mount destination for the first firmware storage partition is " / bot", and the mount destination for the second firmware storage partition is " / bot_update". In addition, the mount destination for the first application storage partition is " / app", and the mount destination for the second application storage partition is " / app_update".

[0067] 10 is an activity diagram of the update unit 13 in the information processing device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The update unit 13 reads the firmware update file 15 and the application update file 16 from the external memory 4 (step S401). The update unit 13 updates the firmware update file 15 (step S402).

[0068] If the updating of the firmware update file 15 is successful, the updating unit 13 updates the application update file 16 (step S403). If the updating of the firmware update file 15 fails, the updating unit 13 notifies the notifying unit 14 that an error has occurred (step S404).

[0069] If the update of the application update file 16 is successful, the update unit 13 updates the flag information 10 (step S405). If the update of the application update file 16 fails, the update unit 13 notifies the notification unit 14 that an error has occurred (step S404).

[0070] 11 is an activity diagram of the notification unit 14 in the information processing device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. When the notification unit 14 is notified of an error from the update unit 13, the notification unit 14 notifies the operation unit 5 of the error and causes the operation unit 5 to display an error so that the user is aware of the error (step S501).

[0071] <Information processing method> 12 is a flowchart illustrating an information processing method according to one embodiment of the present invention. The information processing method is executed in an information processing device 1.

[0072] First, the UEFI 11 is started (step S601). Next, the first starting unit 11a starts the firmware stored in the firmware storage partition based on the flag information 10 (step S602).

[0073] The second launching unit 12b launches an application stored in the application storage partition associated with the launched firmware storage partition based on the flag information 10 (step S603). The update unit 13 updates the firmware 12 (step S604).

[0074] If the update of the firmware 12 is successful, the update unit 13 updates the first value to the second value if the flag information 10 indicates the first value, and updates the second value to the first value if the flag information 10 indicates the second value (step S605). If the update of the firmware 12 fails, the notification unit 14 notifies the operation unit 5 of an error (step S606).

[0075] The information processing method according to one embodiment of the present invention is implemented by these processes, but the information processing method according to one embodiment of the present invention may include other processes as appropriate.

[0076] <Action and effect> In the information processing device 1 according to the present embodiment, the flag information 10 is stored in the second storage area 22, which is an area separate from the first storage area 21 in which the UEFI 11 is stored, and therefore a second startup unit 12b separate from the first startup unit 11a in the first storage area 21 can be used. Furthermore, the second startup unit 12b in the firmware storage partition reads the flag information 10 and starts an application in the application storage partition associated with the firmware storage partition, so that the firmware storage partition and the application storage partition start up in conjunction with each other.

[0077] Therefore, if the information processing device 1 fails to update the firmware in the firmware storage partition, it can restore the firmware storage partition. Also, if the information processing device 1 fails to update an application in the application storage partition, it can restore the application storage partition. In other words, recovery is possible even if the update of either the firmware storage partition or the application storage partition fails, and recovery processing is possible by duplication in which the firmware storage partition and the application storage partition are linked.

[0078] Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and improvements are possible within the scope of the present invention.

[0079] Each function of the above-described embodiments can be realized by one or more processing circuits. Here, the term "processing circuit" in this specification includes a processor programmed to perform each function by software, such as a processor implemented by an electronic circuit, as well as devices such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a conventional circuit module designed to perform each function described above.

[0080] For example, aspects of the present invention are as follows. <1> a first storage area including a plurality of firmware storage partitions for storing firmware executed at the start-up of the device itself, and a plurality of application storage partitions for storing applications; a second storage area for storing flag information including information for selecting the firmware storage partition from which the firmware is to be started; a first boot unit that boots the firmware stored in the firmware storage partition based on the flag information; a second launching unit that launches the application stored in the application storage partition associated with the firmware storage partition based on the flag information after the first launching unit has launched the firmware stored in the firmware storage partition; An information processing device comprising: <2> The first storage area of ​​the storage unit is a first firmware storage partition for storing the first firmware, and a second firmware storage partition for storing the second firmware; a first application storage partition that stores a first application associated with the first firmware storage partition, and a second application storage partition that stores a second application associated with the second firmware storage partition; The first startup unit When the flag information indicates a first value, the first firmware stored in the first firmware storage partition is started, and when the flag information indicates a second value, the second firmware stored in the second firmware storage partition is started; The second starting unit is When the flag information indicates the first value, the first application stored in the first application storage partition is started, and when the flag information indicates the second value, the second application stored in the second application storage partition is started. The aforementioned <1> The information processing device described in <3> an update unit configured to, when the firmware update is successful, update the first value to the second value if the flag information indicates the first value, and update the second value to the first value if the flag information indicates the second value; The aforementioned <2> The information processing device described in <4> The first starting unit and the second starting unit are When the update of the firmware by the update unit is successful, the firmware stored in the partition based on the updated flag information is started. The aforementioned <3> The information processing device described in <5> a notification unit that notifies an error when the firmware update by the update unit fails, The aforementioned <3> or the above <4> The information processing device described in <6> The update unit When the firmware update fails, the flag information is maintained. The aforementioned <3> From the above <5> 10. The information processing device according to claim 1, <7> the second storage area of ​​the storage unit is provided in an external storage; The aforementioned <1> From the above <6> 10. The information processing device according to claim 1, <8> a first storage area including a plurality of firmware storage partitions for storing firmware executed at the start-up of the device itself, and a plurality of application storage partitions for storing applications; a second storage area configured to store flag information including information for selecting the firmware storage partition that starts the firmware, a process of starting the firmware stored in the firmware storage partition based on the flag information; a process of starting the firmware stored in the firmware storage partition, and then starting the application stored in the application storage partition associated with the firmware storage partition based on the flag information; An information processing method including: <9> a first storage area including a plurality of firmware storage partitions for storing firmware executed at the start-up of the device itself, and a plurality of application storage partitions for storing applications; a second storage area for storing flag information including information for selecting the firmware storage partition for starting the firmware, a process of starting the firmware stored in the firmware storage partition based on the flag information; a process of starting the firmware stored in the firmware storage partition, and then starting the application stored in the application storage partition associated with the firmware storage partition based on the flag information; A program that executes the following. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 1. Information processing equipment 2 Storage section 3. Control Unit 10 Flag Information 11 UEFI 11a 1st starting part 12 Firmware 12b 2nd starting part 13 Update section 14 Notification Department 21 1st storage area 22 2nd storage area [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0082] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-306007

Claims

1. a first storage area including a plurality of firmware storage partitions for storing firmware executed at the start-up of the device itself, and a plurality of application storage partitions for storing applications; a second storage area for storing flag information including information for selecting the firmware storage partition from which the firmware is to be started; a first boot unit that boots the firmware stored in the firmware storage partition based on the flag information; a second launching unit that, after the first launching unit has launched the firmware stored in the firmware storage partition, launches the application stored in the application storage partition associated with the firmware storage partition based on the flag information; An information processing device comprising:

2. The first storage area of ​​the storage unit a first firmware storage partition for storing the first firmware, and a second firmware storage partition for storing the second firmware; a first application storage partition that stores a first application associated with the first firmware storage partition, and a second application storage partition that stores a second application associated with the second firmware storage partition, The first startup unit When the flag information indicates a first value, the first firmware stored in the first firmware storage partition is started, and when the flag information indicates a second value, the second firmware stored in the second firmware storage partition is started; The second starting unit When the flag information indicates the first value, the first application stored in the first application storage partition is started, and when the flag information indicates the second value, the second application stored in the second application storage partition is started. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. an update unit configured to, when the firmware update is successful, update the first value to the second value if the flag information indicates the first value, and update the second value to the first value if the flag information indicates the second value; The information processing device according to claim 2 .

4. The first starting unit and the second starting unit are When the update of the firmware by the update unit is successful, the firmware stored in the partition based on the updated flag information is started. The information processing device according to claim 3 .

5. a notification unit that notifies an error when the firmware update by the update unit fails, The information processing device according to claim 3 .

6. The update unit When the firmware update fails, the flag information is maintained. The information processing device according to claim 3 .

7. the second storage area of ​​the storage unit is provided in an external storage; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

8. a first storage area including a plurality of firmware storage partitions for storing firmware executed at the start-up of the device itself, and a plurality of application storage partitions for storing applications; a second storage area configured to store flag information including information for selecting the firmware storage partition from which the firmware is to be started, a process of starting the firmware stored in the firmware storage partition based on the flag information; a process of starting the firmware stored in the firmware storage partition, and then starting the application stored in the application storage partition associated with the firmware storage partition based on the flag information; An information processing method including:

9. a first storage area including a plurality of firmware storage partitions for storing firmware executed at the start-up of the device itself, and a plurality of application storage partitions for storing applications; a second storage area for storing flag information including information for selecting the firmware storage partition from which the firmware is to be started, a process of starting the firmware stored in the firmware storage partition based on the flag information; a process of starting the firmware stored in the firmware storage partition, and then starting the application stored in the application storage partition associated with the firmware storage partition based on the flag information; A program that executes the following.

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