Method for Carrying out an Update in a Program-Controlled Device, Program-Controlled Device, and Program Code that can be Executed in a Web Browser

• US 20040122919A1
• Filed: 08/20/2003
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wiesemann + Theis GmbH
• Original Assignee: Wiesemann + Theis GmbH
• Inventors: Theis, Rudiger
• Application Number:
  US10/604,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20040122919A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

In an update method for a program in a program-controlled device, having a network connector, Web server functions, and being accessible via a Web browser, the device requests update information for a program update from a Web server. The update information is downloaded from the Web server on the device and transferred by the device to the Web browser. The update information is cached by a program code executable in the Web browser and then programmed into the device by the program code. The program-controlled device has a network connector to a Web server, an interface to a Web browser, and Web functions for downloading update information from the Web server and transferring it to the Web browser. A stored program code executable in the connected Web browser and at least one program changeable by the program code with the update information transferred to the Web browser are provided.

Claims

1. A method for performing an update of a program in a program-controlled device that comprises a network connector and has Web server functions and is accessible via a Web browser, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

requesting with the device, initiated by the Web browser, update information for an update of a program of the program-controlled device from a Web server;

downloading the update information from the Web server on the program-controlled device;

transferring the update information downloaded on the program-controlled device by the program-controlled device to the Web browser;

caching the update information by a program code executable in the Web browser; and

programming the update information into the program-controlled device by the program code executable in the web browser.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the program code executable in the Web browser is a Java applet.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of storing the program code executable in the Web browser in the program-controlled device and making available the program code to the Web browser by the program-controlled device for a duration of an update that is performed.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of storing the program code executable in the Web browser in a Web server and making available the program code to the Web browser by the program-controlled device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein trivial file transfer protocol (TFTP) is employed in the step of programming.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of checking with at least one of the program code executable in the Web browser and the program-controlled device at least one of completeness or error-freeness of the update information before the step of programming the update information into the program-controlled device and, when an error is detected, carrying out error elimination with at least one of the program code executable in the Web browser and the program-controlled device.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the step of programming the update information into the program-controlled device, a user inputthe scope of the program code executable in the Web browser is enabled.

8. A program-controlled device comprising:

a network connector for providing a connection to a Web server;

an interface for providing a connection with a Web browser;

Web functions enabling, upon request by a connected Web browser, downloading of update information from a connected Web server and transferring the update information downloaded from the connected Web server to the connected Web browser;

a stored program code executable in the connected Web browser; and

at least one program changeable by the program code executable in the connected Web browser with the update information transferred to the Web browser.

9. The program-controlled device according to claim 8, wherein the stored program code executable in the Web browser is made available to the connected Web browser for carrying out an update of the at least one program.

10. The program-controlled device according to claim 8, wherein the stored program code executable in the Web browser is a Java applet.

11. The program-controlled device according to claim 8, comprising means for checking at least one of completeness and error-freeness of the update information downloaded from the connected Web server before transferring the update information to the connected Web browser and for performing error elimination, when an error has been found, before transferring the update information to the connected Web browser.

12. A program code executable in a Web browser and configured to cache update information received via a program-controlled device and to program the update information that has been cached into the program-controlled device.

13. The program code according to claim 12 in the form of a Java applet.

14. The program code according to claim 12, configured to check the update information received via the program-controlled device for at least one of completeness and error-freeness and configured to perform error elimination, when an error has been found, before programming the update information into the program-controlled device.