EP0583077A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Reprogramming methods and apparatus
Assignee: Ericsson Mobile Communication UK Ltd
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Filing: 1993-07-14
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-07-14
Abstract
Abstract Two mobile communications handset terminals A and B for a cellular telephone system each incorporate a microprocessor (5) for controlling the operating components (6) of the terminal. Each microprocessor operates under control of software stored in a FLASH Eprom (10). When the two units are interconnected by a special cable loom (C), a 12 volt supply (18A) of one of the units is applied to the FLASH Eprom (10A) of that unit, switching it into a reprogramming mode. This 12 volt supply is also applied via an output terminal (26B) to the FLASH Eprom (10B) of the other unit which is thus likewise switched into a reprogramming mode. Via the cable loom (C), each handset (A,B) compares the grade of the software stored in its FLASH Eprom (10A,10B) with the grade of software stored in the other's FLASH Eprom. The handset storing the higher grade software then assumes a MASTER mode and the other one assumes a SLAVE mode. The lower grade software in the SLAVE handset is erased from its FLASH Eprom and replaced with the higher grade software from the MASTER hand set. In this way, once a handset has been re-programmed with the latest update of software, it can itself be used to reprogram other handsets.
Inventors
- 👤 Rowan Naylor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:23
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W8/00; H04W8/22; H04W8/24; G; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/60; G06F8/65; G11; G11C; G11C16/00; G11C16/02; G11C16/06; G11C16/30; H04W92/00; H04W92/16; H04W92/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A method of reprogramming a computer-controlled unit (A,B) so as to upgrade software stored in reprogrammable memory means (10A,10B) in the unit, comprising the steps of interconnecting the unit (A) with a second, similar, unit (B), comparing the grades of the software respectively stored in the memory means (10A,10B) of the two units (A,B) to determine which (if either) of them is storing the software of the higher grade, and using the unit (A or B) which is storing the software of the higher grade to replace or revise the software of the other unit (A or B) so that it also is of the higher grade, characterised in that each reprogrammable memory means (10A,10B) is switchable between a normal operating mode in which its said software is used for controlling the unit (A,B) and is not reprogrammable and a reprogrammable mode in which its software can be reprogrammed, and in that the step of interconnecting the first-mentioned unit (A) with the second unit (B) includes the step of switching each memory means (10A,10B) into the reprogrammable mode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the comparing step includes the step of causing each unit (A,B) to transmit data to the other (A,B) representing the grade of the software stored in its memory means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised by the step of responding to interruption of the reprogramming step before its completion by storing, in the memory means (10A,10B) , data signifying storage of corrupt software.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 3, characterised in that the said data indicates the lowest grade of software.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
90 words
A method according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the step of using the unit (A or B) which is storing the software of the higher grade to replace or revise the software of the other unit (A or B) comprises the steps of erasing the software of the lower grade from the memory means (10A,10B) of the said other unit (A,B) and loading into that memory means (10A,10B) software of the higher grade from the memory means of the unit (A,B) storing the software of the higher grade.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
33 words
A method according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the step of switching each reprogrammable memory means (10A,10B) into the reprogrammable mode comprises the step of applying a predetermined electrical voltage thereto.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
18 words
A method according to any preceding claim, characterised in that each unit (A,B) is a mobile communications terminal.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
18 words
A method according to any preceding claim, characterised in that each reprogrammable memory means comprises a FLASH Eprom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
189 words
Apparatus for upgrading software stored in reprogrammable memory means (10A,10B) in a computer-controlled unit (A,B), comprising interconnecting means (C) for interconnecting the unit (A,B) with another, similar, unit (A,B), comparing means (8A,8B) in each unit which is responsive to such interconnection (C) to compare the grade of software stored in its memory means (10A,10B) with the grade of software stored in the memory means (10A,10B) of the other unit (A,B), and reprogramming means (8A,8B) in each unit (A,B) and operative when the comparing means (8A,8B) of that unit (A,B) determines that the grade of software stored in that unit (A,B) is higher than the grade of software stored in the other unit (A,B) to upgrade the software stored in the other unit (A,B), characterised in that each reprogrammable memory means (10A,10B) is switchable between a normal operating mode in which its said software is used for controlling the unit (A,B) and is not reprogrammable and a reprogrammable mode in which its software can be reprogrammed, and in that the interconnection means (C) includes means (15A,15B,26A,26B,30A,30B) operative to cause each memory means (10A,10B) to be switched into the reprogrammable mode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, characterised in that each memory means (10A,10B) is switched into the reprogramming mode by applying a predetermined voltage thereto, and in that the interconnection means comprises means for applying that predetermined voltage to the memory means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, characterised in that each unit (A,B) includes a source of the predetermined voltage (18A,18B), and the interconnection includes a source of the predetermined voltage (18A,18B), and the interconnection means (C) comprises means (46) for applying that voltage as produced by one of the units (A) to the reprogrammable memory means (10A) of that unit (A) and means (44) for applying the predetermined voltage of that unit (A) to the memory means (10B) of the other unit (B).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterised in that each reprogrammable memory means is a FLASH Eprom (10A,10B).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterised by means (8A,8B) operative in response to interruption of the reprogramming means to enter data in the unit (A,B) whose software is being upgraded to indicate corruption of the software therein and to block operation of the reprogramming means (10A,10B) of that unit (A,B).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, characterised in that the said data represents the lowest grade of software.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 14, characterised in that each unit (A,B) is a mobile communications terminal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
147 words
A mobile communications terminal (e.g. A) for use in a cellular telephone system, comprising microprocessor means (e.g. 5A) for controlling the operation of the terminal (A) in dependence on software stored in reprogrammable memory means (10A) in the terminal (A), characterised in that the memory means (10A) is switchable from a normal operating mode to a reprogramming mode by the application of a predetermined voltage thereto, and by a source of the predetermined voltage within the terminal (18A); whereby application of the predetermined voltage to the memory means (10A) enables the software in the memory means (10A) to be loaded into the memory means (10B), in another, similar, unit (B) so as to upgrade the software therein and/or to enable the software which it (A) stores to be upgraded by loading into its memory means (10A) software from the memory means (10B) of another, similar, unit (B).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
148 words
A cable loom (C) for interconnecting two mobile communications terminals (A,B) each of which incorporates a microprocessor (5A,5B,8A,8B) for controlling its operation and reprogrammable memory means (10A,10B) storing software for controlling the microprocessor (5A,5B,8A,8B), the memory means (10A,10B) being switchable from a normal operating mode to a reprogramming mode by the application of a predetermined voltage thereto, characterised in that the cable loom comprises means (46,44) for applying the predetermined voltage to both memory means (10A,10B) so as to switch them into the reprogramming mode whereby the microprocessor means (5A,5B,8A,8B) of the units (A,B) compare the grades of the software respectively stored in the two memory means (10A,10B) to determine which (if either) has the higher grade and thereafter cooperate such that software of the higher grade is passed via the cable loom (C) into and is stored in the memory means (10A,10B) of the other unit (A,B).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A cable loom according to claim 17, characterised in that it incorporates a source of the predetermined voltage.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A terminal or a cable loom according to any one of claims 16 to 18, characterised in that each memory means is a FLASH Eprom (10A,10B).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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