Client processor device for building application files from file fragments for different versions of an application

• US 8,041,792 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2005
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freestyle Technology Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Freestyle Technology Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: McDonald, Ian Kenneth Francis, Beard, David Lewis, Donaghey, Andrew Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): LUU, LE HIEN
• Application Number:
  US11/571,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20070288553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,307 Days
• Field of Search: 717/168, 717/169, 717/170, 717/172, 717/173, 717/174, 717/175, 717/176, 717/177, 717/178, 709/220, 709/223, 709/227, 709/218, 709/221, 709/222, 709/219, 370/394, 370/464, 711/153
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/063 related to remote communication
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/10 using digital techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/091 Traffic information broadcasting broadcasting communication H04H
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/092 Coding or decoding of the information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A client processor including a communications receiver for receiving file fragments for the device, a micro-controller system including a microcontroller and a programmable non-volatile memory system, for building and storing application and data files from the fragments, and executing an application of the device by processing at least one application file and associated data identified by configuration instructions included in at least one of the fragments.

Claims

1. A client processor device including:

a communications receiver for receiving file fragments for said device;

a microcontroller system including a microcontroller and a programmable non-volatile memory system, for building and storing application and data files from said fragments, and executing an application of said device by processing at least one application file and associated data identified by configuration instructions included in at least one of said fragments;

wherein the device stores application and data files for different versions of an application, and said configuration instructions select said versions for execution by said device.

2. A client processor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said configuration instructions instruct said device to quit execution of a current application and commence execution of a new application immediately.

3. A client processor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fragments include new operating system components for said device, and said configuration instructions cause said device to reboot.

4. A client processor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communications receiver uses a wireless communications protocol, such as POCSAG, Bluetooth, or GSM/SMS, to receive said file fragments, configuration data and commands.

5. A client processor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said file fragments are broadcast by a transmission system.

6. A client processor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communications receiver receives commands and configuration data for said device, in addition to said file fragments, for direct processing by said microcontroller.

7. A client processor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said device is remotely configured by a user accessing a server, such as a web server, and defining the application, configuration and/or data files to be sent to said device in said fragments.

8. A client processor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said microcontroller system provides a file system structure, having directory and allocation units, for managing, storing, deletion and use of said files based on said configuration instructions.

9. A client processor device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said boot routine substitutes firmware components.

10. A client processor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said microcontroller includes a boot routine adapted to install firmware components received by said communications receiver.

11. A client processor device as claimed in claim 1, having a footprint less than 20 cm .

12. A client processor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said microcontroller comprises an eight bit processor.

13. A client processor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is connected to customer premises equipment, and said application includes processing at least part of the destination address of a telecommunications terminal selected on customer premises equipment to select a communications service to use for connecting to the destination terminal.

14. A client processor device as claimed in claim 13, including an interface to said telecommunications terminal for receiving call setup signals from said terminal and processing said signals to access said destination address and insert an override code in said signals to select said communications service.

15. A client processor device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said files include charge rate data for communications services, and said communications service is selected based on said charge rate data.

16. A client processor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communications receiver is wireless and said microcontroller system automatically performs an application defined by said files without any user intervention or interaction.

17. A client processor device as claimed in claim 16, wherein a new application, as defined by said files, is performed by the device without any user intervention or interaction.

18. A client processor device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the device and the device is reconfigured, as defined by said files, without any user intervention or interaction.

19. A client processor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said microcontroller system includes an operating system (OS) for controlling the device to identify fragments for said device, build files from said fragments, store said files in said memory system, and process the files as including application, configuration or data code.

20. A client processor device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the received fragments for the device include an initial file defining the remaining files as being of a type of application, configuration or data, and defining reading of the files.

21. A client processor device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the operating system includes a number of tasks to control basic processes performed by the microcontroller and the tasks include at least one of:

(i) A clock task for implementing a real time clock and calendar,

(ii) A virtual machine task for initiating a virtual machine, and causing reading of said initial file; and

executing of a file,

(iii) A command task for establishing device commands for production testing and initial configuration,

(iv) A file system task for processing said fragments and said files and removing unwanted and redundant files,

(v) A communications interface task for controlling said receiver and processing data received by the receiver,

(vi) Tasks for processing of input and output signals for I/O peripherals, such as input buttons, or a GPS receiver of said client processor device.

22. A client processor device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the operating system includes a scheduler to allocate each task to be processed by the microcontroller, and allocates semaphores to resources of said device to allow the microcontroller to identify resources allocated to a running task.

23. A server transmission system for generating and transmitting said file fragments for a device as claimed in claim 1 or 19.

24. A server transmission system as claimed in claim 23, including a web server for providing a user interface allowing a user to submit instructions used to determine the application, configuration, and data files, to be sent to said device in said fragments.

25. A server transmission system as claimed in claim 23, wherein said fragments are broadcast to a plurality of said device.

26. A communications device for transmitting said file fragments to a device as claimed in claim 1 or 19.

27. A communications device as claimed in claim 26, wherein said fragments are received by said communications device from a server transmission system prior to transmission to said client processor device.