Electronic device that uses a communications network for remote reprogramming of the device

• US 7,181,606 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2005
• Issued: 02/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Asahi Matsushita Electric Works Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Harper, William R. Jr., Howard, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perveen; Rehana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel; Nitin C.
• Application Number:
  US11/176,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20050272404A1
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/2, 713/100, 370/277, 370/310, 370/913, 370/9, 375/219, 375/220, 455/426.01, 705/18, 705/26, 710/8, 710/10, 710/62, 710/72, 717/168
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 370/913 Wireless or radio

Abstract

A portable electronic device is disclosed that is reprogrammable through a pager network. The device includes a communications port. The device also includes a data transceiver for transmitting send data and receiving receive data from a pager network. In addition, the device has a processor. The processor is in electronic communication with the communications port for communicating through the communications port. The processor is also in electronic communication with the data transceiver for communications with the pager network. The device also includes reprogrammable memory programmed with instructions to cause the device to receive new program code from the pager network and to reprogram the reprogrammable memory with the new program code.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device that is remotely reprogrammable through a communications network, the portable electronic device comprising:

a communications port for electronically connecting the portable electronic device to a first electronic device that is separate and distinct from the portable electronic device, wherein communication between the portable electronic device and the first electronic device is accomplished through a first communication path;

a data transceiver for transmitting send data to and receiving receive data from a second electronic device over a communications network, wherein the second electronic device is remote from the portable electronic device, wherein communication between the portable electronic device and the second electronic device is accomplished through a second communication path and wherein the first communication path is distinct from the second communication path;

a processor in electronic communication with the communications port for communicating through the communications port with the first electronic device, the processor also being in electronic communication with the data transceiver for communications with the remote second electronic device over the communications network; and

reprogrammable memory programmed with instructions to cause the portable electronic device to receive new program code from the remote second electronic device over the communications network and to reprogram the reprogrammable memory with the new program code for communicating with the first electronic device through the communications port and through the first communication path and not through the second communication path.

2. The portable electronic device as defined in claim 1 wherein the communications port comprises a serial communications port for electronically connecting the portable electronic device to another electronic device.

3. The portable electronic device as defined in claim 1 enclosed in a plastic snap-fit enclosure.

4. The portable electronic device as defined in claim 1 further comprising a single-board computer, the single board computer including the processor and the memory.

5. The portable electronic device as defined in claim 4 wherein the single-board computer and the data transceiver are connected by a serial connection.

6. A portable and handheld electronic device capable of communications over a communications network, the portable and handheld electronic device being remotely reprogrammable through the communications network to acquire new functionality:

a substantially closed housing;

a data transceiver board for transmitting send data and receiving receive data over a communications network, the data transceiver board located substantially inside the housing;

an antenna extending from the housing, the antenna being in electronic communication with the data transceiver board;

a single-board computer the single-board computer being located substantially inside the housing and being substantially parallel with the data transceiver board, the single board computer comprising;

a microcontroller that includes a processor, random access memory and flash memory;

a serial communications port for electronically connecting the portable and handheld electronic device to a second electronic device, the serial communications port being accessible through a port opening in the housing;

a serial transceiver for use with the serial communications port, the microcontroller being in electronic communication with the serial communications port through the serial transceiver for communicating with the second electronic device;

a serial connection for electronically connecting the single-board computer to the data transceiver board such that the microcontroller is in electronic communication with the data transceiver for communications with the communications network; and

instructions stored in the flash memory to cause the single-board computer to receive new program code from the communications network through the data transceiver board and to reprogram the flash memory with the new program code such that once reprogrammed the portable and handheld electronic device has new functionality for communicating with the second electronic device through the serial communications port.

7. The portable and handheld electronic device as defined in claim 6 wherein the housing is plastic and snap-fit.

8. The portable and handheld electronic device as defined in claim 6 wherein the microcontroller is a 16-bit microcontroller.

9. The portable and handheld electronic device as defined in claim 6 wherein the microcontroller is an 8-bit microcontroller.

10. A method for remotely reprogramming a first electronic device through use of a communications network comprising:

providing a first electronic device comprising;

a communications port for electronically connecting the first electronic device to a second electronic device that is separate and distinct from the first electronic device, wherein communication between the first electronic device and the second electronic device is accomplished through a first communication path;

a data transceiver for transmitting send data to and receiving receive data from a third electronic device over a communications network, wherein the third electronic device is remote from the first electronic device, wherein communication between the portable electronic device and the third electronic device is accomplished through a second communication path and wherein the first communication path is distinct from the second communication path;

a processor in electronic communication with the communications port for communicating through the communications port with the second electronic device, the processor also being in electronic communication with the data transceiver for communications with the remote third electronic device over the communications network; and

flash memory;

establishing communications with the remote third electronic device over the communications network;

receiving receive data from the remote third electronic device over the communications network that includes new instructions; and

storing the new instructions in the flash memory of the first electronic device thereby reprogramming the first electronic device to add new capability to the first electronic device for communicating with the second electronic device through the communications port and through the first communication path and not through the second communication path.

11. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein the communications port comprises a serial communications port for electronically connecting the first electronic device to another electronic device.

12. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein the first electronic device is enclosed in a plastic snap-fit enclosure.

13. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein the first electronic device further comprises a single-board computer, the single board computer including the processor and the flash memory.

14. The method as defined in claim 13 wherein the single-board computer and the data transceiver are connected by a serial connection.

15. A portable electronic device that is remotely reprogrammable through a communications network, the portable electronic device comprising:

means for processing;

a first means for communicating with a first electronic device that is separate and distinct from the portable electronic device, wherein communication between the portable electronic device and the first electronic device is accomplished through a first communication path;

means for storing data;

a second means for communicating with a second electronic device over the communications network, wherein the second electronic device is remote from the portable electronic device, wherein communication between the portable electronic device and the second electronic device is accomplished through a second communication path and wherein the first communication path is distinct from the second communication path; and

means for causing the portable electronic device to receive new program code from the remote second electronic device over the communications network through the means for communicating over the communications network and to reprogram the means for storing data with the new program code to give the portable electronic device new functionality for communicating with the first electronic device through the first means for communicating with the first electronic device and through the first communication path and not through the second communication path.

16. The portable electronic device as defined in claim 15 further comprising a plastic snap-fit enclosure.

17. The portable electronic device as defined in claim 15 further comprising a single-board computer, the single board computer including the means for processing and the means for storing.

18. The portable electronic device as defined in claim 15 wherein the means for processing comprises a microcontroller.

19. The portable electronic device as defined in claim 18 wherein the microcontroller is a 16-bit microcontroller.

20. The portable electronic device as defined in claim 18 wherein the microcontroller is an 8-bit microcontroller.