Apparatus and method of updating data of an embedded system, and apparatus for updating data of memory

• US 7,278,140 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2004
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autotools Group Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Autotools Group Company Limited
• Inventors: Huang, C. J. Jason, Deng, Jong-Min
• Primary Examiner(s): PEIKARI, BEHZAD
• Application Number:
  US10/844,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20040230969A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/171
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for updating data in an embedded system are provided. The apparatus includes a processor for retrieving new data and a transmission line. The transmission line connects to the processor to receive the new data and transmits the new data to the embedded system. The data of a data area has a end address for the data and a plurality of application programs arranged in order, and the new data includes an application program update. The embedded system executes the following steps: searching for an application program corresponding to the application program update; if the corresponding application program is found, retrieving a first address and a second address of the corresponding application program; obtaining a length value of the corresponding application program from the second address and the end address; writing contents of the data area from the second address to the end address into the data area beginning from the first address; adding the first address to the length value to obtain a third address; and writing the application program update into the data area beginning from the third address.

Claims

1. An apparatus for updating data of an embedded system, the apparatus comprising:

a processor for retrieving a new data;

a transmission line, having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the processor to receive the new data, the second end communicating with the embedded system to transmit the new data to the embedded system;

wherein the data of a data area has a end address for the data and a plurality of application programs arranged in order, and the new data includes an application program update, and the embedded system executes steps as follows;

searching for an application program, within the plurality of application programs, corresponding to the application program update;

if the corresponding application program is found, retrieving a first address and a second address of the corresponding application program;

obtaining a length value of the corresponding application program from the second address and the end address;

writing contents of the data area from the second address to the end address into the data area beginning from the first address;

adding the first address to the length value to obtain a third address; and

writing the application program update into the data area beginning from the third address.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second end of the transmission line is connected to the embedded system.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a peripheral device connected to the second end of the transmission line to receive the new data, the peripheral device assisting the second end in communicating with the embedded system to transmit the new data to the embedded system.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the peripheral device includes a power charger.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission line includes an RS232 transmission line.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission line includes a USB transmission line.

7. A method for updating a data of a data area of an embedded system, the data having an end address for the data, the data having a plurality of application programs arranged in order, the method comprising:

retrieving an application program update by a processor;

transmitting the application program update to the embedded system by a transmission line;

searching for an application program, within the plurality of application programs, corresponding to the application program update;

if the corresponding application program is found, retrieving a first address and a second address of the corresponding application program;

obtaining a length value of the corresponding application program from the second address and the end address;

writing contents of the data area from the second address to the end address into the data area beginning from the first address;

adding the first address to the length value to obtain a third address; and

writing the application program update into the data area beginning from the third address.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

if the corresponding application program is not found, writing the application program update into the data area beginning from the end address.

9. An apparatus for updating data of a memory, the apparatus comprising:

a first processor for retrieving a new data;

a transmission line, having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the first processor; and

a second processor for communicating with the second end of the transmission line, the second processor being connected to the memory;

wherein the transmission line receives the new data from the processor and transmits the new data to the second processor to write the new data into the memory;

and wherein the data of a data area has a end address for the data and a plurality of application programs arranged in order, and the new data includes an application program update, and the second processor executes steps as follows;

searching for an application program, within the plurality of application programs, corresponding to the application program update;

if the corresponding application program is found, retrieving a first address and a second address of the corresponding application program;

obtaining a length value of the corresponding application program from the second address and the end address;

writing contents of the data area from the second address to the end address into the data area beginning from the first address;

adding the first address to the length value to obtain a third address; and

writing the application program update into the data area beginning from the third address.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the second end of the transmission line is connected to the second processor.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a peripheral device connected to the second end of the transmission line to receive the new data, the peripheral device assisting the second end in communicating with the second processor to transmit the new data to the second processor.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the peripheral device includes a power charger.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the transmission line includes an RS232 transmission line.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the transmission line includes a USB transmission line.

15. The data updating apparatus according to claim 9, wherein if the corresponding application program is not found, write the application program update into the data area beginning from the end address.