Data update system, data update method, data update program, and robot system

A robot apparatus comprising:

• a data storage unit that stores a program of performing a predetermined function;
• an execution unit that executes said program;
• a communication unit including at least one of a sound generator and an image display unit;
• an update unit that stores expansion data received by said receiving unit in said data storage unit thus to add a new program or modify said program;
• a decision unit that decides whether a condition that permits accepting said expansion data is satisfied;
• a password storage unit that stores a password associated with a plurality of said expansion data acquirable under each such condition, to be used when receiving said expansion data from a data supply device;
• and a password acquisition unit that makes access to said password storage unit and obtains said password for said expansion data corresponding to said decided condition;
• wherein said password obtained by said password acquisition unit is output to a user via said communication unit;
• a receiving unit that receives said expansion data together with said password that expands said predetermined function from said data supply device.

A data supply device comprising:

• a connector for connection via a network to an apparatus that executes a program of performing a predetermined function;
• an expansion data storage unit that stores a plurality of expansion data that expands a function of said apparatus;
• a table storage unit that stores a table on which said plurality of expansion data and said password are associated with each other;
• a password acceptance unit that accepts an input of said password by a user;
• a presentation unit that makes access to said table storage unit to obtain said plurality of expansion data corresponding to said password accepted by said password acceptance unit, and presents said expansion data to said user;
• a selection acceptance unit that accepts said expansion data selected by said user out of said plurality of expansion data presented by said presentation unit;
• and
• a transmission unit that reads out said expansion data accepted by said selection acceptance unit from said expansion data storage unit, and transmits said expansion data together with said password to said apparatus via said network.

A data update method of controlling a data structure of an apparatus by transmitting, via a network, expansion data from a data supply device including an expansion data storage unit that stores a plurality of expansion data, to said apparatus including a data storage unit that stores a program that performs a predetermined function and an execution unit that executes said program, comprising:

• deciding, in said apparatus including a password storage unit that stores a password, associated with said plurality of expansion data acquirable under each condition that permits accepting said expansion data and to be used when receiving said expansion data from said data supply device, whether said condition is satisfied;
• making access to said password storage unit and obtaining said password for said expansion data corresponding to said decided condition;
• and
• outputting to a user said password obtained at said step of obtaining said password;
• in said data supply device including a table storage unit that stores a table on which said plurality of expansion data and said password are associated with each other;
• accepting an input of said password by said user;
• making access to said table storage unit and obtaining said plurality of expansion data corresponding to said password accepted by said password acceptance unit;
• presenting said plurality of expansion data to said user;
• accepting said expansion data selected by said user out of said presented plurality of expansion data;
• and
• reading out said accepted expansion data from said expansion data storage unit, and transmitting said expansion data to said apparatus via said network;
• receiving, in said apparatus, said expansion data together with said password that expands said function from said data supply device;
• and
• storing said received expansion data in said data storage unit, thus adding a new program or updating said program.

A robot system comprising:

• a robot apparatus that executes a program of performing a predetermined function;
• and
• a data supply device connected to said robot apparatus via a network, that possesses a plurality of expansion data that expands a function of said robot apparatus and transmits said expansion data to said robot apparatus;
• wherein said robot apparatus includes:
• a data storage unit that stores a program of performing a predetermined function;
• an execution unit that executes said program;
• a communication unit including at least one of a sound generator and an image display unit;
• a receiving unit that receives expansion data that expands said function from a data supply device;
• an update unit that stores said expansion data received by said receiving unit in said data storage unit thus to add a new program or update said program;
• a decision unit that decides whether a condition that permits accepting said expansion data is satisfied;
• a password storage unit that stores a password associated with said plurality of expansion data acquirable under each such condition, to be used when receiving said expansion data from said data supply device;
• a password acquisition unit that makes access to said password storage unit and obtains said password for said expansion data corresponding to said decided condition;
• and
• a password output unit that outputs said password obtained by said password acquisition unit to said user via said communication unit;
• and
• said data supply device includes:
• a table storage unit that stores a table on which said plurality of expansion data and said password are associated with each other;
• a password acceptance unit that accepts an input of said password by a user;
• a presentation unit that makes access to said table storage unit to obtain said plurality of expansion data corresponding to said password accepted by said password acceptance unit, and presents said expansion data to said user;
• a selection acceptance unit that accepts said expansion data selected by said user out of said plurality of expansion data presented by said presentation unit;
• and
• a transmission unit that reads out said expansion data accepted by said selection acceptance unit from said expansion data storage unit, and transmits said expansion data together with said password to said robot apparatus via said network.

A data update program for updating data of an apparatus by transmitting, via a network, expansion data from a data supply device possessing a plurality of expansion data that expands a function of said apparatus, to said apparatus including a data storage unit that stores a program that performs a predetermined function and an execution unit that executes said program,

• said data update program including:
• a program that allows said apparatus including a password storage unit that stores a password, associated with said plurality of expansion data acquirable under each condition that permits accepting said expansion data and to be used when receiving said expansion data from said data supply device, to execute steps of:
• deciding whether said condition is satisfied;
• making access to said password storage unit to obtain said password for said expansion data corresponding to said decided condition;
• and
• outputting to a user said password obtained in the obtaining step,
• a program that allows said data supply device including a table storage unit that stores a table on which said plurality of expansion data and said password are associated, to execute steps of:
• accepting an input of said password by said user;
• making access to said table storage unit to obtain said plurality of expansion data corresponding to said password accepted in the accepting step;
• presenting said plurality of expansion data to said user;
• accepting said expansion data selected by said user out of said presented plurality of expansion data;
• and
• reading out said accepted expansion data from said expansion data storage unit, to transmit said expansion data together with said password to said apparatus via said network, and
• a program that allows said apparatus to execute steps of:
• receiving said expansion data that expands said function from said data supply device;
• and
• storing said received expansion data in said data storage unit, thus to add a new program or update said program.