Efficient system and method for updating a memory device

• US 20070192532A1
• Filed: 01/16/2007
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Insignia Solutions Plc (America's Suppliers, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Insignia Solutions Plc (America's Suppliers, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ogle, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,200,886 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/658 Incremental updates; Differential updates
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/3001 Arithmetic instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/30032 Movement instructions, e.g. MOVE, SHIFT, ROTATE, SHUFFLE
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/3004 to perform operations on memory
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

A system and method for updating a binary image stored across a block-structured memory device, such as a flash memory device. From comparison of original and new images, an update package is generated which includes an encoded instruction set comprising COPY and ADD operations instructing the copying of source data from locations in the memory device and adding other data provided in the update package. The instruction set comprises SETBLOCK operations that direct updating of the memory blocks in an order that optimizes the COPY and ADD operations required and resulting update package size. The instruction set further comprises SETCOPYOFFSET operations to toggle between copy-offset modes thereby allowing for improved efficient encoding of COPY operations. The update package further includes an array of status bits corresponding to the memory blocks to be updated, thereby allowing for reliable restarting of the update process following power loss or other interruption.

Claims

1-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A method for updating a first data image stored across multiple memory blocks of a block-structured non-volatile memory device, comprising:

creating an instruction set based on comparing the first data image and a second data image, said instruction set forming an update package;

communicating said update package to a client device containing said memory device;

applying said update package by interpreting the instruction set to direct the updating of specific first data image memory blocks in said client device to create the second data image, said applying employing a series of status identifiers configured to track update product status and resume updating the first data image memory blocks in the event of an interruption.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the update package contains a plurality of SETBLOCK, COPY and ADD operations and a status array for each of the memory blocks.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the instruction set contains at least one SETBLOCK operation for each of the memory blocks to be updated.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the instruction set is applied in an order specified by the SETBLOCK operation to non-sequentially update the memory blocks in said client device.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein said status array stores at least two switchable status identifiers associated with each memory block to be updated as instructed by the instruction set contained in the update package.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the instruction set further comprises a plurality of COPYADD operations in lieu of at least a portion of the plurality of COPY operations.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

maintaining a first copy-offset value and a second copy-offset value in scratch memory on said client device; and

setting the copy-offset value according to a plurality of COPYOFFSET values provided in the update package.

26. A system for updating a first data image on a client device, comprising:

an update generator that creates an instruction set based on comparing the first data image and a second data image to create an update package; and

an update decoder resident on the client device, configured to interpret the instruction set to direct the updating of specific first data image memory blocks in said client device to create the second data image, said update encoder employing a series of status identifiers configured to track update product status and resume updating the first data image in the event of a client device interruption.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the update package contains a plurality of SETBLOCK, COPY and ADD operations for each of the memory blocks.

28. The system of claim 26, further comprising a communications network and a host server that comprises the update generator, whereby the update package is delivered from the host server to the client device via the communications network.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the instruction set contains at least one SETBLOCK operation for each of the memory blocks to be updated.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the instruction set further comprises a plurality of COPYADD operations in lieu of at least a portion of the plurality of COPY operations.

31. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

maintaining a first copy-offset value and a second copy-offset value in scratch memory on said client device; and

setting the copy-offset value according to a plurality of COPYOFFSET values provided in the update package.

32. The system of claim 26, wherein the instruction set direct applying the update package to toggle a copy-offset value maintained in the client device between a current value and a non-current value.

33. A method for providing an update package delivery for modifying functionality in a client device, comprising:

creating an instruction set in an update package based on comparing a first data image and a second data image;

communicating said update package over-the-air to the client device; and

applying said update package by interpreting the instruction set to direct the updating of specific memory blocks in said mobile client device to replicate the second data image, said applying employing a status array comprising a plurality of switchable status identifiers that enable selectively restarting applying the update package and subsequently continuing to replicate the second data image from a point associated with one switchable status identifier.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the instruction set contains at least one SETBLOCK operation for each of the memory blocks to be updated.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the instruction set is applied in an order specified by the SETBLOCK operation to non-sequentially update the memory blocks in said client device.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein said specific first data image memory blocks involve each memory block.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein said status array stores at least two switchable status identifiers associated with each memory block to be updated as instructed by the instruction set contained in the update package.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the instruction set further comprises a plurality of COPYADD operations in lieu of at least a portion of a plurality of COPY operations.