Method and apparatus for installing a software upgrade within a memory resource associated with a computer system

• US 6,457,175 B1
• Filed: 11/09/1998
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tut Systems, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lerche, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): DAM, TUAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US09/189,023
• Time in Patent Office: 1,415 Days
• Field of Search: 713/2, 713/100, 709/221, 709/222, 710/74, 710/72, 710/55, 710/64, 710/68, 710/10, 380/251, 463/42, 463/43, 717/168, 717/170, 717/173, 717/174, 717/178
• US Class Current: 717/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1433 during software upgrading
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories

Abstract

A method of installing a software application image, for a software upgrade, within a remote and embedded target device includes the step of storing both a current and an upgraded software application image within an EEPROM within the target device. The set of instructions embodied within the current application image is maintained within the target device, while a validation operation is performed with respect to a set of instructions embodied within the upgraded software application image. Only once complete installation and successful execution of the upgraded application image have been validated is the upgraded application image designated as a current application image, and the previously installed application image discarded. Accordingly, the risk of the target device being a rendered unbootable as a result of the installation of a software upgrade is reduced.

Claims

1. A method of installing a second set of instructions within a machine, the machine including a memory resource storing a first set of instructions, the method including:

executing the first set of instructions;

loading a second set of instructions into the memory resource from a remote device, while maintaining the first set of instructions within the memory resource;

validating the second set of instructions, the validating including determining whether the machine, operating under the direction of the second set of instructions, successfully performs a predetermined function; and

if the second set of instructions is valid, indicating the second set of instructions as executable in place of the first set of instructions,

wherein the predetermined function includes establishing communications between the machine and the remote device under direction of the second set of instructions.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the validating includes determining whether the second set of instructions is completely stored within the memory resource.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the validating includes, subsequent to the determination of whether the second set of instructions is completely stored within the memory resource, resetting the machine for execution of the second set of instructions.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the validating includes determining whether execution of the second set of instructions has been previously attempted.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the machine is a modem, and wherein the validating includes determining whether the modem establishes a communication link with the remote device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein establishing of the communication link includes timing out a communication operation after a predetermined time threshold.

7. The method of claim 1 including, subsequent to the performance of the predetermined function, resetting in the machine for execution of the second set of instructions.

8. The method of claim 1 including loading the second set of instructions into the memory resource subsequent to commencement of the execution of the first set of instructions, while maintaining the first set of instructions within the memory resource.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the loading includes loading an object code image into a read-only memory.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the loading of the object code image includes loading a compressed object code image.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the loading includes downloading the second set of instructions to the memory resource from a remote location.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the executing of the second set of instructions includes decompressing an object code image and transferring the object code image from a read-only memory to a random access memory.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the indicating includes setting a pointer to indicate the second set of instructions for default execution.

14. The method of claim 1 including resetting the machine, and executing the second set of instructions.

15. A machine comprising:

a memory resource to store a first and second set of instructions; and

logic to execute the first set of instructions, to load the second set of instructions into the memory resource from a remote device while maintaining the first set of instructions within the memory resource, to validate the second set of instructions by determining whether the machine, when executing the second set of instructions, successfully performs a predetermined function, and to indicate the second set of instructions as executable in place of the first set of instructions,

wherein the predetermined function includes establishing communications between the machine and the remote device under direction of the second set of instructions.

16. The machine of claim 15 wherein the logic determines whether the second set of instructions was completely written to the memory resource of the machine.

17. The machine of claim 15 wherein the logic determines whether execution of the second set of instructions has previously been attempted.

18. The machine of claim 15 wherein the logic determines whether a communication link is established between the machine and a remote device.

19. The machine of claim 18 wherein the logic determines whether the communication link is established within a predetermined time-out period.

20. The machine of claim 15 including an interface via which the second set of instructions is loaded into the memory resource subsequent to the commencement of execution of the first set of instructions, while maintaining the first set of instructions within the memory resource.

21. The machine of claim 20 wherein the interface facilitates the loading of the second set of instructions into the memory resource from the remote location.

22. The machine of claim 15 wherein the memory resource comprises a read-only memory, and the second set of instructions comprises an object code image.

23. The machine of claim 15 including a pointer to indicate either the first or the second set of instructions as a default set of instructions for execution by the machine.

24. The machine of claim 23 wherein the logic sets the pointer to indicate the second set of instructions for default execution after validating the second set of instructions.

25. The machine of claim 24 wherein the pointer comprises a memory resource storing a flag.

26. A machine-readable medium storing a sequence of instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

load a replacement set of instructions from a remote device, while executing an existing set of instructions;

validate the replacement set of instructions by determining whether the replacement set of instructions executes to establish communications with the remote device; and

if the second set of instructions is valid, then indicate the second set of instructions as executable by the machine in place of the first set of instructions.

27. A method to install replacement software, the method including:

downloading the replacement software from a provider to a target device, the replacement software to replace existing software stored by the target device; and

causing execution of the replacement software by the target device so as to validate the replacement software,

wherein the replacement software is validated upon detection of a successful establishment of communications between the target device, operating under direction of the replacement software, and the provider.

28. The method of claim 27 including downloading the replacement software to the target device subsequent to commencement of execution of the existing software, while maintaining the existing software at the target device.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the downloading of the replacement software includes downloading an object code image into read-only memory of the target device.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the downloading of the object code image includes downloading a compressed code image.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the causing of the execution of the replacement software includes decompressing the object code image, and transferring the object code image from the read-only memory to a random access memory.

32. A machine-readable medium storing a sequence of instructions that, when executed by a source machine, cause the source machine to perform the operations of:

downloading replacement software from a provider to a target device, the replacement software to replace existing software stored by the target device; and

causing execution of the replacement software by the target device so as to validate the replacement software,

wherein the replacement software is validated upon detection of a successful establishment of communications between the target device, operating under the direction of the replacement software, and the provider.