Electronic device that uses a communications network for remote reprogramming of the device

• US 20050272404A1
• Filed: 07/07/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Michael L. Howard, William R. Harper Jr
• Inventors: Harper, William R. Jr., Howard, Michael L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,181,606 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/403
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 370/913 Wireless or radio

Abstract

A portable electronic device is disclosed that is reprogrammable through a pager network. The device includes a communications port. The device also includes a data transceiver for transmitting send data and receiving receive data from a pager network. In addition, the device has a processor. The processor is in electronic communication with the communications port for communicating through the communications port. The processor is also in electronic communication with the data transceiver for communications with the pager network. The device also includes reprogrammable memory programmed with instructions to cause the device to receive new program code from the pager network and to reprogram the reprogrammable memory with the new program code.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device that is reprogrammable through a communications network, the device comprising:

a communications port;

a data transceiver for transmitting send data and receiving receive data from a communications network;

a processor in electronic communication with the communications port for communicating through the communications port, the processor also being in electronic communication with the data transceiver for communications with the communications network; and

reprogrammable memory programmed with instructions to cause the device to receive new program code from the communications network and to reprogram the reprogrammable memory with the new program code.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the communications port comprises a serial communications port for electronically connecting the device to another electronic device.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 enclosed in a plastic snap-fit enclosure.

4. The device as defined in claim 1 further comprising a single-board computer, the single board computer including the processor and the memory.

5. The device as defined in claim 4 wherein the single-board computer and the data transceiver are connected by a serial connection.

6. A portable and handheld electronic device capable of communications over a communications network, the device being remotely reprogrammable through the communications network to acquire new functionality:

a substantially closed housing;

a data transceiver board for transmitting send data and receiving receive data from a communications network, the data transceiver board located substantially inside the housing;

an antenna extending from the housing, the antenna being in electronic communication with the data transceiver board;

a single-board computer the single-board computer being located substantially inside the housing and being substantially parallel With the data transceiver board, the single board computer comprising;

a microcontroller that includes a processor, RAM and flash memory;

a serial communications port for electronically connecting the device to another electronic device, the serial communications port being accessible through a port opening in the housing;

a serial transceiver for use with the serial communications port, the microcontroller being in electronic communication with the serial communications port through the serial transceiver for communicating with the other electronic device;

a serial connection for electronically connecting the single-board computer to the data transceiver board such that the microcontroller is in electronic communication with the data transceiver for communications with the communications network; and

instructions stored in the flash memory to cause the single-board computer to receive new program code from the communications network through the data transceiver board and to reprogram the flash memory with the new program code such that once reprogrammed the device has new functionality.

7. The device as defined in claim 6 wherein the housing is plastic and snap-fit.

8. The device as defined in claim 6 wherein the microcontroller is a 16-bit microcontroller.

9. The device as defined in claim 6 wherein the microcontroller is an 8-bit microcontroller.

10. A method for reprogramming an electronic device through use of a communications network comprising:

providing an electronic device comprising;

a communications port;

a data transceiver for transmitting send data and receiving receive data from a communications network;

a processor in electronic communication with the communications port for communicating through the communications port, the processor also being in electronic communication with the data transceiver for communications with the communications network; and

flash memory;

providing power to the electronic device;

establishing communications with the communications network;

receiving receive data from the communications network that includes new instructions; and

storing the new instructions in the flash memory of the device thereby reprogramming the device to add new capability to the electronic device.

11. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein the communications port comprises a serial communications port for electronically connecting the device to another electronic device.

12. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein the electronic device is enclosed in a plastic snap-fit enclosure.

13. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein the electronic device further comprises a single-board computer, the single board computer including the processor and the flash memory.

14. The method as defined in claim 13 wherein the single-board computer and the data transceiver are connected by a serial connection.

15. A portable electronic device that is reprogrammable through a communications network, the device comprising:

means for processing;

means for storing data;

means for communicating with the communications network; and

means for causing the device to receive new program code from the communications network through the means for communicating with the communications network and to reprogram the means for storing data with the new program code to give the device new functionality.

16. The device as defined in claim 15 further comprising a plastic snap-fit enclosure.

17. The device as defined in claim 15 further comprising a single-board computer, the single board computer including the means for processing and the means for storing.

18. The device as defined in claim 15 wherein the means for processing comprises a microcontroller.

19. The device as defined in claim 18 wherein the microcontroller is a 16-bit microcontroller.

20. The device as defined in claim 18 wherein the microcontroller is an 8-bit microcontroller.