Updateable memory module
First Claim
1. A method for providing data to an electronic device, comprising the steps of:
- reading a random access memory to determine a location of said data;
reading a nonvolatile reprogrammable memory, if said data is located in said nonvolatile reprogrammable memory;
reading a read only memory, if said data is not located in said nonvolatile reprogramable memory; and
providing said data to said electronic device;
wherein said nonvolatile reprogrammable memory contains updated data corresponding to fixed data contained in said read only memory, said data thus provided to said electronic device being most recent data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A memory module is provided using read only memory, nonvolatile reprogrammable memory, and random access memory. Initially, data is stored in the mask ROM. Updates to the data, including software or data updates or corrections, are stored in the nonvolatile reprogrammable memory. Locations of the data and the updated data are stored in the random access memory. To read the data, a controller first reads the random access memory to determine the location of the desired data and then reads the data from the location specified in the random access memory. The memory module can be used in consumer electronics, in which minor software updates are historically required, or where product enhancements can be easily implemented using revised software code or data.
26 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method for providing data to an electronic device, comprising the steps of:
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reading a random access memory to determine a location of said data;
reading a nonvolatile reprogrammable memory, if said data is located in said nonvolatile reprogrammable memory;
reading a read only memory, if said data is not located in said nonvolatile reprogramable memory; and
providing said data to said electronic device;
wherein said nonvolatile reprogrammable memory contains updated data corresponding to fixed data contained in said read only memory, said data thus provided to said electronic device being most recent data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for providing data to an electronic device, comprising the steps of:
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reading a random access memory to select a desired version of said data from among a plurality of versions of said data stored in a nonvolatile reprogrammable memory and a read only memory;
reading said desired version from said nonvolatile reprogrammable memory or said read only memory in accordance with the selection; and
providing said desired version to said electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for storing a software program in a memory module, comprising the steps of:
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creating a read only memory containing a first set of software modules;
storing in a nonvolatile reprogrammable memory a second set of software modules, at least one module in said second set corresponding to a module in said first set;
storing in a random access memory location information corresponding to said modules in said first and second sets;
storing in said random access memory a sequence of execution of selected ones of said modules in said first and second sets. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A memory module, comprising:
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a read only memory for storing fixed data;
a nonvolatile reprogrammable memory for storing updated data corresponding to said fixed data;
a random access memory for storing location data corresponding to said updated data; and
a controller for controlling access to said memory module by use of said location data, said controller adapted to provide said updated data if said updated data is available, and to provide said fixed data if said updated data is not available. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A memory module, comprising:
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a read only memory;
a nonvolatile reprogrammable memory;
a random access memory for storing location data corresponding to a desired version of data from among a plurality of versions of said data stored in said nonvolatile reprogrammable memory and said read only memory; and
a controller for controlling access to said memory module by use of said location data, said controller adapted to provide said desired version from said nonvolatile reprogrammable memory or said read only memory. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A memory module, comprising:
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a first memory subsystem, including;
a mask read only memory for storing fixed data;
a random access memory for storing a location of said fixed data; and
a first microprocessor for controlling access to said memory module;
a second memory subsystem, including;
a nonvolatile reprogrammable memory for storing updated data, wherein a location of said updated data is stored in said random access memory; and
a second microprocessor for controlling a flow of said updated data to and from said nonvolatile reprogrammable memory;
wherein said first microprocessor is adapted to read said random access memory to determine a location of a desired one of said fixed and updated data, said first microprocessor being adapted to communicate with said second microprocessor to receive said updated data therefrom if the desired data is said updated data and to read said mask read only memory if said desired data is said fixed data. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A communication system, comprising:
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a base subsystem, including;
a nonvolatile reprogrammable memory for storing updated data;
a base microprocessor for controlling a flow of said updated data to and from said nonvolatile reprogrammable memory;
a communication subsystem, including;
a mask read only memory for storing fixed data;
a random access memory for storing locations of said fixed and updated data;
a communications microprocessor for processing said fixed and updated data;
a display for displaying at least one of said fixed and updated data;
a data entry device for modifying said at least one of said fixed and updated data thus displayed; and
a data link for transporting said updated data between said communication subsystem and said base subsystem;
wherein said communications microprocessor is adapted to read said random access memory to determine a location of a desired one of said fixed and updated data, said communications microprocessor being adapted to communicate with said base microprocessor via said data link to receive said updated data if the desired data is said updated data and to read said mask read only memory if said desired data is said fixed data. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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39. A wireless telephone, comprising:
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a base unit, including;
a nonvolatile reprogrammable memory for storing updated data;
a base microprocessor for controlling a flow of said updated data to and from said nonvolatile reprogrammable memory;
a wireless module for communicating with a wireless base station;
a cordless handset, including;
a mask read only memory for storing fixed data;
a random access memory for storing locations of said fixed and updated data;
a communications microprocessor for processing said fixed and updated data;
a cordless module for communicating with a corresponding cordless module of said base unit;
wherein said communications microprocessor is adapted to read said random access memory to determine a location of a desired one of said fixed and updated data, said communications microprocessor being adapted to communicate with said base microprocessor via said cordless module to receive said updated data if the desired data is said updated data and to read said mask read only memory if said desired data is said fixed data. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41)
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Specification