Utility program backup apparatus

A method for backing up a utility program for a robot controller connected to a system controller, said robot controller comprising a first memory and a first interface, said system controller comprising a second memory, a second interface and an EPROM, said method comprising the steps of:

• transmitting a backup command in series from said second interface of said system controller to said first interface of said robot controller;
• converting a utility program retrieved from said first memory of said robot controller from parallel to series format in said first interface;
• transferring said converted utility program from said first interface to said second interface;
• storing said converted utility program from the second interface to said second memory of said system controller;
• and
• writing said utility program stored in said second memory onto said EPROM.

A process for backing up a utility program of a robot controller, said process comprising the steps of:

• (a) receiving a record signal for storing said utility program in a non-volatile memory;
• (b) determining in a second processing unit if said non-volatile memory is coupled to means for writing to said non-volatile memory;
• (c) if said non-volatile memory is coupled to said means for writing, applying said record signal in series to a second interface by control of said second processing unit;
• (d) sending said record signal in series to a first interface;
• (e) converting said record signal in said first interface to parallel data;
• (f) supplying said parallel data to both a first processing unit and to a first memory;
• (g) determining if said parallel data stored in said first memory is a command for writing into said non-volatile memory;
• (h) if said parallel data stored in said first memory is the command for writing into said non-volatile memory, determining in said first processing unit if said utility program is stored in said memory;
• (i) if said parallel data stored in said first memory is the command for writing into said non-volatile memory and said utility program is stored in said first memory, re-editing said utility program and supplying said re-edited utility program in parallel to said first interface;
• (j) supplying said re-edited utility program form said first interface to said second interface;
• (k) converting in said second interface said re-edited utility program into series format and storing said converted re-edited utility program into a second memory by control of said second processing unit;
• (l) determining in the second processing unit if said non-volatile memory is coupled to said means for writing;
• (m) if said non-volatile memory is coupled to said means for writing, determining if a program stored in said non-volatile memory has a same identification as said converted re-edited utility program stored in said second memory.
• (n) if said program stored in said non-volatile memory has the same identification as said converted re-edited utility program stored in said second memory, providing an error message and ending said process;
• and
• (o) if said program stored in said non-volatile memory has a different said identification from said converted re-edited utility program stored in said second memory, storing by said means for writing said re-edited utility program from said second memory to said non-volatile memory.

A process for backing up a utility program of a robot controller connected to a system controller, said process comprising the steps of:

• applying a record signal in series format to a second interface by control of a second processing unit;
• receiving and converting in a first interface said record signal form said second interface into parallel data;
• storing said parallel data into a first memory;
• determining in a first processing unit if said utility program is stored in said first memory when said stored parallel data is representative of a command for writing;
• re-editing said utility program from said first memory and supplying said re-edited utility program to said first interface;
• receiving and converting in said second interface said re-edited utility program from said first interface into serial format;
• storing said serial converted utility program into a second memory;
• determining if a name of a utility program stored in a non-volatile memory is identical to a name of said utility program stored in said second memory;
• and
• if said name of the utility program stored in the non-volatile memory is not identical to the name of the utility program stored in said second memory, storing said utility program from the second memory into the non-volatile memory.

A utility program backup device, comprising:

• second interfacing means for receiving a series format record signal;
• first interfacing means for providing a parallel format record signal by converting said series format record signal from said second interfacing means;
• first storage means for storing said parallel format record signal;
• means for determining if said utility program is stored in said first storage means when said parallel format record signal stored in said first storage means is a command for writing;
• means for re-editing said utility program of said first storage means, and for supplying said re-edited utility program to said first interfacing means;
• means for converting said re-edited utility program from said first interfacing means into serial format;
• second storage means for storing said serial converted utility program of said means for converting;
• means for determining if a name of a utility program stored in non-volatile memory means is identical to a name of said utility program stored in said second storage means;
• and
• means for storing said utility program from said second storage means into said non-volatile memory means when said name of the utility program stored in the non-volatile memory means is not identical to the name of the utility program stored in said second storage means.

A utility program backup device for a robot controller connected to a system controller, said device comprising:

• means for transmitting a backup command by transmitting the backup command in series from an interface of the system controller to an interface of the robot controller;
• means for converting an utility program retrieved form a memory of the robot controller by converting said utility program from parallel to series format in said robot controller interface;
• means for transferring said converted utility program by transferring said converted utility program from said robot controller interface to said system controller interface;
• means for storing said converted utility program by storing said converted utility program from the system controller interface to a memory of said system controller;
• and
• means for writing by writing said utility program stored in said system controller memory onto an EPROM.