Activating circuit for modifying or adding a new program to an electronic device
First Claim
1. An activating circuit for an electronic device operating at least partially under program control, said activating circuit comprising:
- (a) a processor;
(b) a memory, coupled to said processor, for storing information;
(c) means for coupling said activating circuit to said electronic device; and
(d) a program stored in said memory, said program comprising;
(i) a first module for setting up a communication with said electronic device; and
(ii) a second module for transmitting information to said electronic device;
wherein, said first module is set up to receive an identification code from said electronic device and to store said identification code in said memory only the first time it receives said identification code, and said first module is further set up to compare any subsequently-received identification code to the stored identification code and to prevent said second module from transmitting data and/or code to said electronic device if the stored and subsequently-received identification codes are not equal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic device such as a medical monitor (1) operates under program control; if the program needs to be updated, or if new programs or test procedures are to be added, an activating circuit (7) containing a microprocessor and non-volatile memory is connected to the electronic device. The microprocessor executes a program which consists of two modules: the first module establishes communication with the electronic device and the second module transmits activating code, program code or a test code to the electronic device. It is possible either to download new programs or to activate programs which already exist in the electronic device.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An activating circuit for an electronic device operating at least partially under program control, said activating circuit comprising:
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(a) a processor; (b) a memory, coupled to said processor, for storing information; (c) means for coupling said activating circuit to said electronic device; and (d) a program stored in said memory, said program comprising; (i) a first module for setting up a communication with said electronic device; and (ii) a second module for transmitting information to said electronic device; wherein, said first module is set up to receive an identification code from said electronic device and to store said identification code in said memory only the first time it receives said identification code, and said first module is further set up to compare any subsequently-received identification code to the stored identification code and to prevent said second module from transmitting data and/or code to said electronic device if the stored and subsequently-received identification codes are not equal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An activating circuit for an electronic device operating at least partially under program control, said activating circuit comprising:
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(a) a processor; (b) a memory, coupled to said processor, for storing information; (c) means for coupling said activating circuit to said electronic device; and (d) a program stored in said memory, said program comprising; (i) a first module for setting up a communication with said electronic device; and (ii) a second module for transmitting information to said electronic device; wherein, said first module is set up to receive an identification code from said electronic device and store said identification code in said memory means only the first time it receives said identification code; and
said second module is set up to encode the transmitted information in accordance with the stored identification code. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for activating or adding new capabilities to an electronic device operating at least partially under program control, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) coupling an activating circuit to said electronic device; (b) setting up a communication between said activating circuit and said electronic device; (c) transmitting an identification code from the electronic device to the activating circuit; (d) storing said identification code in a memory of said activating circuit only the first time said code is received by said activating circuit; and (e) thereafter comparing a received identification code with the stored identification code and activating or adding new capabilities to said electronic device by transmitting data and/or code to said electronic device only if said identification codes are equal. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification