Modem with firmware upgrade feature

• US 6,928,108 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2001
• Issued: 08/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Multi-Tech Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Multi-Tech Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Nelson, Craig A., Johnson, Richard David, Arimilli, Harinarayana
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MADELEINE ANH VINH
• Application Number:
  US09/975,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20020114384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,399 Days
• Field of Search: 375/222, 375/219, 717/168, 717/171, 717/172, 717/173, 717/170
• US Class Current: 375/222
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

Updated operating code and parameters can be reprogrammed into a modem system with no disassembly of the modem hardware. The modem system includes a memory chip in which operating code and parameters are stored. Two control programs control the reprogramming of updated operating code. One of the control programs is designed for manufacturing and testing purposes. The other control program allows remote reprogramming of updated operating code or parameters from a remote location such as a customer site. A user can thus remotely upgrade system firmware with updates, bug fixes, enhancements or other new releases of system operating code by downloading the update over a phone line to a host PC and reprogramming the memory chip of the modem over the serial port from the host PC. The user can also remotely upgrade the modem system firmware by directly programming the memory chip of the modem without the assistance of the host PC. The modem system is portable, obtaining power from a standard 9 volt battery. Therefore, various power saving features are also incorporated into the modem system.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an interface adapted to couple with a communication network;

a controller coupled to the interface;

a boot program executable by the controller;

a first operating code to control the apparatus;

a first memory coupled to the controller and adapted to store the boot program and the first operating code; and

a second memory coupled to the controller, the controller operable for executing the boot program to receive a plurality of packets from a remote computer coupled to the communication network and to check the validity of each packet of the plurality of packets and to store a portion of each packet in a second memory coupled to the controller, and after receiving an upgrade command from the remote computer and after checking the validity, to replace the first operating code with a second operating code based on the portion of each packet stored in the second memory.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a serial line interface coupled to the controller and adapted to couple with a local computer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the interface includes a telephone line coupler.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a data pump coupled to the controller.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second memory includes random access memory (RAM).

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first memory includes programmable read only memory (PROM).

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a modem adapted for communicating with the remote computer.

8. A method comprising:

coupling a modem to a communication network;

executing a boot program of the modem;

executing a first operating code for the modem stored in a first memory of the modem based on an instruction executed by the boot program;

receiving a plurality of packets via the communication network;

checking validity of each packet of the plurality of packets;

storing a portion of each packet of the plurality of packets in a second memory of the modem; and

after receiving an upgrade command via the communication network replacing the first operating code in the first memory with a second operating code based on the portion of each packet of the plurality of packets stored in the second memory.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising executing the boot program after replacing the first operating code in the first memory with the second operating code.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein storing the portion of each packet of the plurality of packets in the second memory includes storing the portion in a location of the second memory based on an address of each packet.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising copying the boot program to a random access memory.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein checking validity includes checking for errors.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising generating a local checksum data byte at the modem.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising receiving a remote checksum via the communication network and comparing the local checksum and the remote checksum.

15. The method of claim 8 further comprising executing a hard boot of the modem.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein executing the hard boot of the modem includes executing the second operating code.

17. The method of claim 8 wherein receiving the plurality of packets includes receiving a plurality of packets each packet having a field containing a packet length and a checksum.

18. A method comprising:

executing a first operating code stored in a first memory;

receiving a plurality of packets via a communication network, each packet having an address field having an address and an operating code field having a portion of program data;

checking each packet of the plurality of packets for validity;

for each packet, storing the portion of program data of the packet at an address of a second memory based on the address of the packet; and

after receiving an upgrade command via the communication network, replacing the first operating code in the first memory with a second operating code based on the program data stored in the second memory.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein checking each packet of the plurality of packets for validity includes comparing a checksum.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising executing the first operating code if a packet of the plurality of packets includes an error.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein replacing the first operating code in the first memory with the second operating code includes reprogramming a flash programmable read only memory (PROM).