Method and apparatus for updating information on an embedded system
First Claim
1. A method of using an external maintenance device to update a target system configured to boot over a network, the method comprising:
- receiving at the external maintenance device via at least one network protocol, communication from the target system that the external maintenance device is electrically connected to the target system; and
sending, in response to the communication, a target-specific application from the external maintenance device to the target system, wherein the target-specific application is an executable stand-alone application isolated from operational software on the target system that, when executed from a volatile memory on the target system, enables the external maintenance device to perform at least one maintenance operation on the target system, wherein the at least one maintenance operation comprises sending at least one command from the external maintenance device to the target-specific application.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A target system is dynamically configured to boot from a network connection upon power-up. A portable data loader connected to the target system may receive communications from the target system that a connection has been established. In response, a copy of a target-specific software data loader (SWDL) application may be transmitted from the portable data loader to the target system. The copy of the SWDL application may be stored in volatile memory on the target system and may be executed to support at least one maintenance operation. A user may invoke a maintenance operation by entering a command into the portable data loader. By isolating the data loader application from the operational software stored on the target system, the disclosed methods and apparatus may allow for reduced development and software certification costs for implementing maintenance operations on an embedded system.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A method of using an external maintenance device to update a target system configured to boot over a network, the method comprising:
-
receiving at the external maintenance device via at least one network protocol, communication from the target system that the external maintenance device is electrically connected to the target system; and sending, in response to the communication, a target-specific application from the external maintenance device to the target system, wherein the target-specific application is an executable stand-alone application isolated from operational software on the target system that, when executed from a volatile memory on the target system, enables the external maintenance device to perform at least one maintenance operation on the target system, wherein the at least one maintenance operation comprises sending at least one command from the external maintenance device to the target-specific application. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 22)
-
-
8. A method of updating a target system, the method comprising:
-
receiving electrical information at the target system, the electrical information dynamically configuring the target system to boot over a network; supplying power to the target system, thereby establishing communication with a portable data loader connected to the target system; receiving at the target system, in response to the establishing communication with the portable data loader, a target-specific application from the portable data loader, wherein the target-specific application is an executable stand-alone application isolated from operational software on the target system that, when executed from a volatile memory on the target system, enables the portable data loader to perform at least one maintenance operation on the target system, wherein the at least one maintenance operation comprises sending at least one command from the portable data loader to the target-specific application; and storing the target-specific application in the volatile memory on the target system. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A software maintenance system, comprising:
-
a target system comprising a first non-volatile memory, a volatile memory, at least one processor, and a first network interface; a portable data loader comprising a second network interface and a second non-volatile memory storing at least one target-specific application that, when executed by the target system, enables the portable data loader to perform at least one maintenance operation on the target system, wherein the target-specific application is an executable stand-alone application isolated from operational software on the target system, wherein the at least one maintenance operation comprises sending at least one command from the portable data loader to the target-specific application; and a maintenance cable connected between the first network interface and the second network interface, configured to facilitate a transfer of information between the portable data loader and the target system, wherein the information includes the target-specific application. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification