Patent ID: 6151450
Filing Date: 2000-11-21
Classification: G03B,G06F

Abstract:
An electronic device, comprising:a read-only memory that stores a control program and a software modification management routine, the control program controlling an operation of the electronic device, at least one predetermined portion of the control program being provided with a calling system that calls a software modification management routine;a rewritable memory that stores modification information that is provided for the at least one modifying program and that associates a position of each of the at least one modifying program with an address where each of the at least one modifying program is added in the control program, the at least one modifying program modifying the control program;an address obtaining system that obtains, according to the software modification routine, a current address indicating a current operating position calling the software management routine in the control program;a detecting system that detects, according to the software modification management routine, whether the modification information stored in the rewritable memory includes an address coincident with the current address obtained by the address obtaining system;a determining system that determines, according to the software modification management routine, that a modifying program to be executed exists only if the modification information includes the address that coincides with the current address, the modifying program to be executed being identified by the position which is associated with the address coincident with the current address; andan executing system that executes the identified modifying program, according to the software modification management routine, when the determining system determines that the modifying program to be executed exists.