Portable information terminal/method for renewing programs using PC card with utility programs on PC card displayed for selection according to control signal from controller

• US 6,085,268 A
• Filed: 03/10/1998
• Issued: 07/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Je-hyoung, Lee, Jin-chul, Won, Chae-hee
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TANH Q
• Application Number:
  US09/037,877
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 710/1-19, 710/62, 710/72, 710/102, 710/103, 395/712, 395/821, 395/822, 395/833, 395/882, 395/892, 395/282, 395/283, 395/442, 395/427, 395/651, 395/652, 395/653, 711/100, 711/115, 707/200, 707/203, 707/500, 707/511, 713/1, 713/2, 713/100, 364/222.81, 364/222.82, 364/238.3, 364/963, 364/962.1, 364/962.4, 364/968
• US Class Current: 710/72
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A portable information terminal capable of updating a program using a PC card, and a method for updating a program using the same, are provided. The portable information terminal is capable of updating a pre-stored program using a card in which a new program to be updated and a utility program for performing an updating operation are stored. The terminal includes a card unit for reading or writing the new program and the utility program stored in the card, a program storage unit for replacing the pre-stored program with the new program stored in the card and storing the new program, a memory for temporarily storing the new program and the utility program read by the card unit, and a controller for controlling the execution of the utility program stored in the memory so that the new program stored in the memory can be stored in the program storage unit. Thus, a program is correctly updated without an additional special device.

Claims

1. A portable information terminal capable of updating a pre-stored program using a card in which a new program for updating said pre-stored program and a utility program for performing an updating operation are stored, said terminal comprising:

a card unit for reading and writing said new program and said utility program stored in said card;

a program storage unit for replacing said pre-stored program with said new program stored in said card and storing said new program;

a memory for temporarily storing said new program and said utility program read by said card unit;

a controller for controlling the execution of said utility program stored in said memory, so as to enable said new program stored in said memory to be stored in said program storage unit;

a display for displaying information concerning said utility program stored in said card according to a control signal from said controller; and

an input unit for selecting said utility program from said display.

2. The portable information terminal capable of updating a program, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a power supply for providing power to replace said pre-stored program stored in said program storage unit with said new program and for storing the same.

3. An updating method for use in a portable information terminal wherein a program pre-stored in a program storage unit is replaced with a new program, said portable information terminal includes a card unit for reading or writing data stored in an externally insertable card, a controller, a display for displaying a plurality of utility programs read by said card unit, a memory for temporarily storing said new program and said plurality of utility programs read by said card unit, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a desired utility program from said plurality of utility programs displayed on said display, displaying information concerning at least said selected utility program according to a control signal from the controller, and storing said selected utility program in said memory;

(b) reading said new program stored in said card by executing said selected utility program stored in said memory and storing the same in said memory, thereafter checking the size and contents of said new program stored in said memory;

(c) stopping the execution of said pre-stored program by executing said selected utility program, and converting said program storage unit from a read-only state to enable writing and deletion;

(d) deleting said pre-stored program from said program storage unit, transferring said new program stored in said memory to said program storage unit, and storing said transferred new program therein by executing said selected utility program;

(e) converting said program storage unit to a read-only state by executing said selected utility program;

(f) determining whether said new program stored in said program storage unit is the same as said new program stored in said memory by executing said selected utility program; and

(g) initializing said new program stored in said program storage unit by executing said selected utility program.

4. The program updating method in a portable information terminal as claimed in claim 3, wherein step (a) further includes checking whether a power supply supplying power to said memory is able to supply a voltage and a current necessary for updating said pre-stored program in said memory with said new program by executing said selected utility program.

5. A portable information terminal capable of updating a pre-stored program using a card in which at least one new program for updating said pre-stored program and at least one utility program for performing an updating operation are stored, said terminal comprising:

a card unit for reading and writing said at least one new program and said at least one utility program stored in said card;

a program storage unit for replacing said pre-stored program with said at least one new program stored in said card and storing said at least one new program;

a memory for temporarily storing said at least one new program and said at least one utility program read by said card unit;

a controller for controlling the execution of said at least one utility program stored in said memory so that said at least one new program stored in said memory can be stored in said program storage unit;

a display for displaying information concerning said at least one utility program stored in said card according to a control signal from said controller; and

an input unit for selecting any number of said at least one utility program from said display.

6. The portable information terminal capable of updating a program, as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

a power supply for providing power to replace said pre-stored program stored in said program storage unit with said at least one new program and for storing the same.

7. An updating method for use in a portable information terminal wherein at least one program pre-stored in a program storage unit is replaced with at least one new program, said portable information terminal includes a card unit for reading or writing data stored in an externally insertable card, a controller, a display for displaying all utility programs read by said card unit, a memory for temporarily storing said new programs and said utility programs read by said card unit, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a desired utility program from among said utility programs displayed on said display, displaying information concerning at least said selected utility program according to a control signal from the controller, and storing said selected utility program in said memory;

(b) reading said new programs stored in said card by executing said selected utility program and storing the same in said memory, thereafter checking the size and contents of each of said new programs stored in said memory;

(c) stopping the execution of said pre-stored program by executing said selected utility program, and converting said program storage unit from a read-only state to enable writing and deletion;

(d) deleting said pre-stored program from said program storage unit, transferring said new programs stored in said memory to said program storage unit, and storing said transferred new programs therein by executing said selected utility program;

(e) converting said program storage unit to a read-only state by executing said selected utility program;

(f) determining whether said new programs stored in said program storage unit are the same as those stored in said memory by executing said selected utility program; and

(g) initializing said new programs stored in the program storage unit by executing said selected utility program.

8. The program updating method for a portable information terminal as claimed in claim 7, wherein in said step (b) all of said new programs stored in said card are read and stored in said memory.

9. The program updating method in a portable information terminal as claimed in claim 7, wherein in said step (b) a portion of said new programs stored in said card are sequentially read and stored in said memory.

10. The program updating method for a portable information terminal as claimed in claim 7, wherein in said step (d) all of said new programs stored in said memory are read and stored in said program storage unit.

11. The program updating method for a portable information terminal as claimed in claim 7, wherein in said step (d) a portion of said new programs stored in said memory are sequentially read and stored in said program storage unit.

12. The program updating method for a portable information terminal as claimed in claim 7, wherein step (a) includes checking whether a power supply supplying power to said memory is able to supply a voltage and a current necessary for updating said pre-stored program with said new programs.