System for downloading software

• US 6,047,128 A
• Filed: 12/09/1997
• Issued: 04/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Zander, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafiz, Tariq R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): INGBERG, TODD D
• Application Number:
  US08/987,696
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 395/712
• US Class Current: 717/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for downloading software with a module, which includes a control circuit and a storage device for storing software, and with a loading device for delivering software to the module whose control circuit is arranged to download software to be stored in the storage device in response to an appropriate instruction. The software comprises system software, at least consisting of operating system software and downloading software, and application software for controlling at least one component coupled to the module. A first part of the storage device is arranged to store the system software and a second part of the storage device is arranged to store the application software. During the downloading of system software, the control circuit is arranged to erase the first part of the storage device, after storage of the new system software in the second part of the storage device, and to transfer subsequently the new system software from the second to the first part of the storage device.

Claims

1. A system for downloading new software, the system having a module which includes a control circuit and a storage device for storing the new software, and the system having a loading device for delivering the new software to the module whose control circuit is arranged to store the new software in the storage device, after reception of an appropriate instruction, wherein the new software comprises system software, at least consisting of operating software and downloading software, and also comprises new application software for controlling at least one component coupled to the module, wherein during operational use of the at least one component a first part of the storage device is arranged to store the new system software and a second part of the storage device is arranged to store the new application software, and wherein during the downloading of the new system software the control circuit is arranged to erase the first part of the storage device, after the storage of the new system software in the second part of the storage device, and to transfer subsequently the new system software from the second part to the first part of the storage device.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein after the storage of the new system software, the control circuit is arranged to fetch a utility program from the storage device in order to erase old system software in the first part of the storage device and to program the new system software in the first part of the storage device.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein after an instruction for the downloading of the new application software from the loading device the control circuit is arranged to erase the software in the second part of the storage device and to program the new application delivered by the loading device in the second part storage device.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein

storage device is constructed as a Flash EEPROM comprising a plurality of parts which can be individually erased and rewritten.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that

the system comprises a plurality of modules which are constructed as computer components for at least one video technical apparatus, said components being coupled to the loading device, constructed as a personal computer, via network connections.

6. A method for downloading new software using a module, which includes a control circuit and a storage device for storing the new software, and using a loading device for delivering the new software to the module whose control circuit is arranged to download the new software, to be stored in the storage device, after reception of an appropriate instruction, wherein the new software comprises system software, at least consisting of operating system software and downloading software, and application software for controlling at least one component coupled to the module, wherein during operational use of the at least one component the system software is stored in the first part of the storage device and the application software is stored in the second part of the storage device, and wherein during the downloading first the new system software is stored in the second part of the storage device, after which the first part of the storage device is erased and the new system software is transferred from the second part to the first part of the storage device.

7. A module for use in a system for downloading new software, wherein the module includes a control circuit and a storage device for the software, the module being capable of receiving the new software from a loading device, and the circuit is arranged to download software to be stored in the storage device after reception of an appropriate instruction, wherein the new software comprises system software, at least consisting of operating system software and downloading software, and application software for controlling at least one component coupled to the module, wherein during operational use of the at least one component a first part of the storage device is arranged to store the system software and a second part of the storage device is arranged to store the application software, and wherein during the downloading of system software the control circuit is arranged to erase the first part of the storage device, after the storage of the new system software in the second part of the storage device, and to transfer subsequently the new system software from the second part to the first part of the storage device.