Device and method for the protection of data

p0001The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for backing up data, with effects on an electronic system, such as when a service call or during a power failure etc., the stored until the exposure data may be lost. If it is at all times available data that are stored on an external device, so that data can be re-entered into the system, so that the status quo is restored. However, this measure requires that an external hard disk is immediately available for such a case, and that the operator and the necessary knowledge and skill must carry out the data transfer.

p0002Addition to those conditions, it is also necessary that the necessary device configuration, such as ribbon, tape, diskette readers are available. Last but not least, the manufacturer of the electronic system must provide the user with its software to a sufficient extent available, which is an abuse can not be excluded. An additional disadvantage is the time expended, which is needed for such data transfer. show The above measures that the backup is a high effort is required.

p0003Especially for printing machinery, to which the present subject matter relates mainly, can not be expected that a printer can deal with the problem of data transfer, since this wider Keintnisse of computer science are necessary. Also the service staff is often overwhelmed when services in the field of information technology shall be carried out. therefore would have to be used a highly qualified service technician or specially trained staff for such a service case. This affects adversely on the service costs. There is therefore include dispensing with highly qualified service technicians for cost reasons a general desire for service work.

p0004To mitigate this high cost results from the prior art, the battery back-up. If the power fails, the battery takes over the power supply of the electronic system, so that no instantaneous data loss can occur. The data remains in the provided storage area, and the maintenance of the system operation in the same or lesser extent is possible. The durability of the system operation depends on the duration of the current discharge capability of the battery.

p0005This may mean that in a corresponding dimensioning of the battery system operating for several hours is possible, on the other hand can be designed to the dimensions of the battery, that only short-term power output is given just enough of a hand to the most recent data on an external storage to secure.

p0006When intervening in the electronic system, as it is necessary for example when a service call fails, which belongs to the prior art central battery back-up, if a system board must be replaced or replaced. The data stored on this system map data will be lost after the inevitable by exchanging power interruption.

p0007New, to be introduced into the system System Card would have after the abovementioned state of the art with the current data unless they are at all yet be supplied. This is also very expensive and allows manipulation.

p0008The DE-OS 29 00 955 shows a processor-controlled system that the data to be saved is not stored in two non-volatile memories. The DE-OS 29 00 955 also teaches that an impending loss of data subsequent action to take: when re-starting the system after the exposure to the system data are checked in a memory by means of a test mask. When a discrepancy of the test mask, an Urinitialisierung of the memory is performed and data of a good non-volatile memory to be transferred to the memory.

p0009By the method known from DE-OS 29 00 955 it is not possible to secure that the system state data representing, for the most current data go wherein from DE-OS 29 00 955 prior art system, when an effect on the system ever since they are redundant yet saved him neither continuously in two non-volatile memories during operation and there with him out of the good non-volatile memory only immutable, not current data is loaded into a volatile store.

p0010The object of the invention is therefore to provide an apparatus and a method which make it possible to back up data without having to resort to external media with the appropriate device configuration and without expert knowledge at during the operation of said devices. Furthermore, it is part of the object of the invention to secure the current data.

p0011The object is achieved by the following features. The device consists of more than one system card, wherein a card is provided with at least one processor, the further system cards are equipped with at least one non-volatile memory. On each system card specific memory locations are provided that contain the respective system card status data representing. Among nonvolatile memories among others battery backed memory are understood.

p0012Furthermore, the object is achieved by the following process features. The map data representing state be verified by a test mask. In disagreement with the test mask a Urinitialisierung map and a note regarding the conducted Urinitialisierung to a specific memory location is carried out. System cards are not provided with a UrinitiaLisierungsvermerk be used for plausibility checking of data. The data which were examined and found to be good system card are transferred to the other system cards.

p0013The advantage of the invention is the fact that a backup is ensured both during a power failure as well, especially in a system changing cards without external media to the associated device configuration.

p0014The redundant array of data on various system cards has the advantage that when replacing a card, the other system boards have not saved the current data. When introducing a new card this card is supplied by the other system cards with the current data, without requiring any external measures for a data transfer is required. The electronic system performs the data exchange independently from the basis of a realized by software logic. In this case, when turning on the electronic system, a check of the individual system card is carried out with regard to their condition. These specific property on each card comparison memory locations are provided, which are compared with a test mask. The test mask in this case represents the desired arrangement provided for in the comparison data storage. If there is a cover of the test mask with the comparison memory, then it follows that the tested card is unterlegegen no data loss, and that this tested card comes as a data transmitter for the other system boards in question. If, in checking the other system boards provide no coverage of the test mask with the system board, so it is in each case by a map whose data can not be taken for granted. The memories are in this system maps overwritten with a defined value (eg zero), ie Urinitialisiert. In one particular, provided on each card memory a record of the Urinitialisierung is applied then. The data is not provided with a note on the Urinitialisierung system cards are checked by individually be selected plausibility criteria with regard to their plausibility. After affirmation of plausibility, data transfer takes place on all system cards that have a Urinitialisierungsvermerk. Since these processes run without external media and without manual intervention, a manipulation of the data is almost impossible in advantageously.

p0015The prevention of manipulation is especially important for data, for example for the business concerns as well as the value of the machine are of importance, for example, hour meter, sheet counter, error analysis, machine states.