Patent ID: 8924953
Filing Date: 2014-12-30
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An information processing apparatus which is used with diverse different devices and used while being incorporated in one of the devices and provides a predetermined function to the device in which the information processing apparatus is incorporated, the information processing apparatus comprising: memory means for storing data; first loading means for loading a general-purpose software which provides a general-purpose function for each of the diverse different devices to an execution environmental area and mounting the general-purpose software in a predetermined directory of the information processing apparatus at the time of starting up a system; second loading means for loading a dedicated software which provides a function intrinsic to the device to the execution environmental area and mounting the dedicated software in a predetermined directory of the information processing apparatus at the time of starting up a system; and integrating means for integrating a first setting file containing general-purpose setting information which is included in the general-purpose software which is loaded by the first loading means and a second setting file containing general-purpose setting information which is included in the dedicated software which is loaded by the second loading means and reflects the presence of the dedicated software, wherein the diverse different devices include an audio/video equipment, a refrigerator, a washing machine, a broadcasting facility, a traffic administration system, and an automobile, and wherein the general-purpose function provided by the general-purpose software remains the same for all of the diverse different devices, wherein constitutions of the general-purpose software remain the same when a dedicated software intrinsic to the device is added or updated, and the general-purpose software further updates the first setting file, wherein the memory means stores product setting information indicating that a dedicated software intrinsic to the device, which is stored in the memory means but is not mounted until a next system start-up time, is made effective at the next system start-up time, the product setting information including the dedicated software's file name that includes a product package name and a version number as setting information, and wherein the second setting file includes a log setting file associated with a system logging function and an account setting file associated with a user account management function, and the second setting file indicates an updating portion of the first setting file, and wherein both the first setting file and the second setting file are stored in a same flash memory of the memory means of the information processing apparatus, and wherein software for receiving manipulations related to a keyboard and a display is excluded from the information processing apparatus and is excluded from the general-purpose software and from the dedicated software, and wherein the information processing apparatus performs addition, deletion, and updating of product packages of the dedicated software without updating an operating system of the information processing apparatus.