Modification of software files in a microprocessor-controlled device via two-dimensional bar code symbols

• US 5,837,986 A
• Filed: 10/09/1996
• Issued: 11/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Swartz, Jerome, Barile, John, Chew, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRECH, KARL D
• Application Number:
  US08/728,397
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462, 235/472, 235/494, 235/487
• US Class Current: 235/462.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/002 Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 other optical apparatus G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/658 Incremental updates; Differential updates

Abstract

A microprocessor-controlled device with software files stored in non-volatile memory which can be easily modified by the user by reading or scanning a two-dimensional bar code symbol having program modification information encoded thereon. The symbol can be read by two-dimensional or one-dimensional laser or CCD based means. Depending on its size, either the entire file can be replaced, selected locations can be replaced, or selected relocatable object files can be linked at the target device in order to effect the program revision.

Claims

1. A system for modifying an original software file resident in a l microprocessor-controlled device comprising:

a) a modification data generator for generating file modification data representative of the differences between the original software file and an updated software file including;

(i) a difference extractor for comparing the original file with the updated file and for providing a list of addresses where the original file differs from the updated file and the updated bytes of data located at said addresses, and

(ii) a record assembler for assembling a list of records representative of the updated byes, the addresses associated with the updated bytes, and an operation function indicative of one of several available modes of merging said updated bytes with the original file;

b) an encoder for encoding the file modification data into a two-dimensional bar code symbol;

c) a printer for printing the two-dimensional symbol onto a substrate,

d) a bar code reader coupled to the microprocessor-controlled device for reading the encoded two-dimensional bar code symbol from the substrate and for decoding said symbol into the file modification data;

e) an update controller for providing software update identification and control,

f) a merger for merging the file modification data with the original software file resident in the microprocessor-controlled device so as to generate updated portions representative of the differences between the original software file and the updated software file; and

g) a replacer for replacing those portions of the original software file resident in the microprocessor-controlled device with the updated portions;

whereby the available modes of merging said updated bytes with the original file comprise an assignement operation in which the original byte is completely replaced with the updated byte, an AND operation in which selected bits of the original byte are set to zero, an OR operation in which selected bits of the original by te are set to one, and an EXCLUSIVE OR operation in which selected bits of the original byte are inverted.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein

a) the two-dimensional bar code symbol includes at least two rows of codewords, with one row adjacent to and beneath another row, wherein each said codeword represents at least one information-bearing character and is selected from among a set of detectable mark/space patterns, wherein each said mark/space pattern has a determinable discriminator function value and comprises a pattern of marks and spaces, each said mark and space being representative of one of a plurality of different states, and wherein the codewords in each said row have codewords selected from one of a plurality of subsets of said mark/space patterns, each said subset comprising-mark/space patterns having discriminator function values that are mutually exclusive of discriminator values corresponding to the mark/space patterns comprising any other subset, and wherein

b) said decoder comprises

(i) a value determination for computing the discriminator function value for each of the scanned codewords;

(ii) a row determinator, from the value of the computed discriminator function, the row containing each of the scanned codewords;

(iii) a decoding section for decoding each of the scanned codewords to obtain a plurality of corresponding symbolic values; and

(iv) a generator for generating a signal representative of the presence of each of said corresponding symbolic values in the determined row.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the bar code further comprises a two-dimensional rastering laser-based scanner.

4. In a microprocessor-controlled device in which an original software file is located in a non-volatile memory, an apparatus for modifying the original software file comprising:

a) a bar code reader for reading a two-dimensional bar code symbol from a substrate, wherein said two-dimensional bar code symbol is encoded with the file modification data representative of data byte differences between the original software file and an updated software file including a number of records, each of said records comprising an address where the original file differs from the updated file, the updated data byes located at said address, and an operation function indicative of one of several available modes of merging said updated data bytes with the original file;

b) a decoder for decoding said symbol into the file modification data;

c) an update controller for providing software update modification and control;

d) a merger for merging the file modification data with the original software file resident in the microprocessor-controlled device so as to generate updated portions representative of the differences between the original software file resident in the microprocessor-controlled device with the updated portions, said merger including a function determinator for determining the indicated operation function;

whereby the available modes of merging said updated data bytes with the original file comprise an assignment operation in which the original data byte is completely replaced with the updated data byte, an AND operation in which selected bits of the original data byte are set to zero, an OR operation in which selected bits of the original data byte are set to one, and an EXCLUSIVE OR operation in which selected bits of the original data byte are inverted.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein

a) the two-dimensional bar code symbol includes at least two rows of codewords, with one row adjacent to and beneath another row, wherein each said codeword represents at least one information-bearing character and is selected from among a set of detectable mark/space patterns, wherein each said mark/space pattern has a determinable discriminator function value and comprises a pattern of marks and spaces, each said mark and space being representative of one of a plurality of different states, and wherein the codewords in each said row have codewords selected from one of a plurality of subsets of said mark/space patterns, each said subset comprising-mark/space patterns having discriminator function values that are mutually exclusive of discriminator values corresponding to the mark/space patterns comprising any other subset, and wherein

b) said decoding means comprises

(i) a value determinator for computing the discriminator function value for each of the scanned codewords;

(ii) a row determinator, from the value of the computed discriminator function, the row containing each of the scanned codewords;

(iii) a decoding section for decoding each of the scanned codewords to obtain a plurality of corresponding symbolic values; and

(iv) a signal generator for generating a signal representative of the presence of each of said corresponding symbolic values in the determined row.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the bar code reader further comprises a two-dimensional rastering laser-based scanner.

7. An apparatus for generating a two-dimensional bar code symbol encoded with data indicative of revisions to be made to an original software file resident in a microprocessor-controlled device, said apparatus comprising:

a) a modification data generator for generating a file modification data representative of the differences between the original software file and an updated software file, said modification data generator including;

(i) difference extractor for comparing the original file with the updated file and for providing a list of addresses where the original file differs from the updated file and the updated bytes of data located at said addresses, and

(ii) an assembler for assembling a list of records representative of the updated bytes, the addresses associated with the updated bytes, and an operation function indicative of one of several available modes of merging said updated bytes with the original file;

b) an encoder for encoding the file modification data into a two-dimensional bar code symbol; and

c) a printer for printing the two-dimensional symbol onto a substrate;

whereby the available modes of merging said updated bytes with the original file comprise an assignment operation in which the original byte is completely replaced with the updated byte, an AND operation in which selected bits of the original byte are set to zero, an OR operation in which selected bits of the original byte are set to one, and a n EXCLUSIVE OR operation in which selected bits of the original byte are inverted.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the two-dimensional bar code symbol includes at least two rows of codewords, with one row adjacent to and beneath another row, wherein each said codeword represents at least one information-bearing character and is selected from among a set of detectable mark/space patterns, wherein each said mark/space pattern has a determinable discriminator function value and comprises a pattern of marks and spaces, each said mark and space being representative of one of a plurality of different states, and wherein the codewords in each said row have codewords selected from one of a plurality of subsets of said mark/space patterns, each said subset comprising mark/space patterns having discriminator function values that are mutually exclusive of discriminator values corresponding to the mark/space patterns comprising any other subset.

9. A two-dimensional bar code symbol encoded with file modification data representative of the differences between an original software file resident in a microprocessor-controlled device and an updated software file, in which said file modification data comprises a list of records representative of the addresses where data bytes have been updated, the updated data bytes associated therewith, and an operation function indicative of one of several available modes of merging said updated bytes with the original file;

whereby the available modes of merging said updated bytes with the original file comprise an assignment operation in which the original byte is completely replaced with the updated byte, an AND operation in which selected bits of the original byte are set to zero, an OR operation in which selected bits of the original byte are set to one, and an EXCLUSIVE OR operation in which selected bits of the original byte are inverted.

10. A two-dimensional bar code symbol encoded with file modification data representative of the differences between an original software file resident in a microprocessor-controlled device and an updated software file, said said file modification data comprising a list of records representative of the addresses where data bytes have been updated, the updated data byes associated therewith, and an operation function indicative of one of several available modes of merging said updated bytes with the original file;

wherein the two-dimensional bar code symbol includes at least two rows of codewords, with one row adjacent to and beneath another row wherein each said codeword represents at least one information-bearing character and is selected from among a set of detectable mark/space patterns, wherein each said mark/space pattern has a determinable discriminator function value and comprises a pattern of marks and spaces, each said mark and space being representative of one of a plurality of different states, and wherein the codewords in each said row have codewords selected from one of a plurality of subsets of said mark/space patterns, each said subset comprising mark/space patterns having discriminator function values that are mutually exclusive of discriminator values corresponding to the mark/space patterns comprising any other subset;

wherein the available modes of merging said updated bytes with the original file comprise an assignment operation in which the original byte is completely replaced with the updated byte, an AND operation in which selected bits of the original byte are set to zero, an OR operation in which selected bits of the original byte are set to one, and an EXCLUSIVE OR operation in which selected bits of the original byte are inverted.