Method and apparatus for loading a software program from a radio modem into an external computer

• US 5,302,947 A
• Filed: 07/31/1992
• Issued: 04/12/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fuller, Gregory W., Macko, William J., Fennell, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GIUST, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US07/923,056
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.44, 340/311.1, 340/825.46, 340/825.47, 340/825.3, 340/825.34, 375/10, 364/705.01, 364/705.05
• US Class Current: 340/5.42
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4415 Self describing peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/227 with call or message storage means
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/022 Selective call receivers

Abstract

A method and apparatus in a selective call receiver (100) choose and load a software driver program (124) into an external computer (302). The apparatus comprises a data interface (118) for coupling with the external computer (302) and a memory (122) containing pre-programmed data comprising a plurality of executable software driver programs (124). The apparatus further comprises a processor (108) coupled to the memory (122) and to the data interface (118) for controlling interactions between the memory (122) and the data interface (118). The method comprises the steps of: coupling (402) the data interface (118) to the external computer (302); receiving (404) in response a signal comprising an identifier from the external computer (302); accessing (406) the memory (122) to locate a software driver program (124) compatible with the external computer (302) identified by the identifier; and transmitting (412) to the external computer (302) the software driver program (124) in response to locating the software driver program (124).

Claims

1. A method in a selective call receiver of choosing and loading a software driver program into an external computer, the selective call receiver comprising a data interface for coupling with the external computer and a memory containing pre-programmed data comprising a plurality of executable software driver programs, the selective call receiver further comprising a processor coupled to the memory and to the data interface for controlling interactions between the memory and the data interface, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) coupling the data interface to the external computer;

(b) receiving, from the external computer, in response to step (a) a signal comprising an identifier which identifies the external computer;

(c) accessing the memory to locate a software drier program compatible with the external computer identified by the identifier receiver in step (b); and

(d) transmitting to the external computer the software driver program in response to locating the software driver program in step (c).

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(e) generating an alarm in response to failing to locate a compatible software driver program in step (c).

3. A method in a selective call receiver of loading an application program into an external computer and of obtaining compatibility between the external computer and the application program, the selective call receiver comprising a data interface for coupling with the external computer and a memory containing pre-programmed data comprising the application program and a plurality of executable software driver programs, the selective call receiver further comprising a processor coupled to the memory and to the data interface for controlling interactions between the memory and the data interface, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) coupling the data interface to the external computer;

(b) receiving, from the external computer, in response to step (a) a signal comprising an identifier which identifies the external computer;

(c) accessing the memory to locate a software driver program compatible with the external computer identified by the identifier receiver in step (b);

(d) transmitting to the external computer the software driver program in response to locating the software driver program in step (c); and

(e) providing to the external computer the application program, the application program being compatible with the external computer through the software driver program transmitted in step (d).

4. The method in accordance with claim 3, further comprising the step of:

(f) generating an alarm in response to failing to locate a compatible software driver program in step (c).

5. Selective call receiver means for receiving and decoding selective call radio signals comprising information, the selective call receiver means comprising:

data interface means for coupling with an external computer means for transmitting information to the external computer means;

memory means coupled to the data interface means for allowing access to the memory means by the external computer means;

pre-programmed data stored within the memory means, the pre-programmed data comprising a plurality of executable software driver programs, each of the plurality of executable software driver programs for programming at least one specific type of external computer to communicate with the data interface means;

computer recognition means coupled to the data interface means for recognizing one of a plurality of specific types of external computer in response to signals provided to the data interface means by the external computer; and

driver selection means coupled to the computer recognition means for selecting one of the plurality of executable software driver programs compatible with a recognized one of the plurality of specific types of external computer.

6. The selective call receiver means in accordance with claim 5, wherein the pre-programmed data further comprises a single, invariant, high-level application programming interface compatible with all the specific types of external computer that have a corresponding software driver program in the plurality of software driver programs.

7. The selective call receiver means in accordance with claim 5, wherein the pre-programmed data further comprises at least one application program comprising executable code for programming the external computer to perform operations in response to receiving decoded information from the selective call receiver means.

8. The selective call receiver means in accordance with claim 5, wherein the pre-programmed data further comprises at least one application program comprising executable code for programming the external computer to perform operations that are performed in response to stimuli other than receiving decoded information from the selective call receiver means.

9. The selective call receiver means in accordance with claim 5, wherein the data interface means comprises a PCMCIA-type interface.

10. The selective call receiver means in accordance with claim 5, wherein the pre-programmed data further comprises at least one application program comprising executable code for programming the external computer to perform operations that are customized to specific requirements of at least one category of users that have similar information processing requirements.

11. The selective call receiver means in accordance with claim 5, wherein the pre-programmed data further comprises:

a single, invariant, high-level application programming interface compatible with all the specific types of external computer that have a corresponding software driver program in the plurality of software driver programs;

at least one application program comprising executable code for programming the external computer to perform operations in response to receiving decoded information from the selective call receiver means; and

at least one application program comprising executable code for programming the external computer to perform operations that are performed in response to stimuli other than receiving decoded information from the selective call receiver means.

12. A selective call receiver comprising:

a receiver for receiving radio frequency (RF) signals comprising information and for demodulating the RF signals to derive the information;

a decoder coupled to the receiver for decoding the received information and obtaining messages therefrom;

a processor coupled to the decoder for accepting the messages and for generating an alert signal in response thereto;

an alert device coupled to the processor for generating an audible or tactile alert in response to the alert signal;

a data interface for coupling with an external computer for transmitting received messages to the external computer;

a memory coupled to the data interface for allowing access to the memory by the external computer;

pre-programmed data stored within the memory, the pre-programmed data comprising a plurality of executable software driver programs, each of the plurality of executable software driver programs for programming at least one specific type of external computer to communicate with the data interface;

a computer recognition element coupled to the data interface for recognizing one of a plurality of specific types of external computer in response to signals provided to the data interface by the external computer; and

a driver selection element coupled to the computer recognition element for selecting one of the plurality of executable software driver programs compatible with a recognized one of the plurality of specific types of external computer.

13. The selective call receiver in accordance with claim 12, wherein the pre-programmed data further comprises a single, invariant, high-level application programming interface compatible with all the specific types of external computer that have a corresponding software driver program in the plurality of software driver programs.

14. The selective call receiver in accordance with claim 12, wherein the pre-programmed data further comprises at least one application program comprising executable code for programming the external computer to perform operations in response to receiving decoded information from the selective call receiver.

15. The selective call receiver in accordance with claim 12, wherein the pre-programmed data further comprises at least one application program comprising executable code for programming the external computer to perform operations that are performed in response to stimuli other than receiving decoded information from the selective call receiver means.

16. The selective call receiver in accordance with claim 12, wherein the data interface comprises a PCMCIA-type interface.

17. The selective call receiver in accordance with claim 12, wherein the pre-programmed data further comprises at least one application program comprising executable code for programming the external computer to perform operations that are customized to specific requirements of at least one category of users that have similar information processing requirements.

18. The selective call receiver in accordance with claim 12, wherein the pre-programmed data further comprises:

a single, invariant, high-level application programming interface compatible with all the specific types of external computer that have a corresponding software driver program in the plurality of software driver programs;

at least one application program comprising executable code for programming the external computer to perform operations in response to receiving decoded information from the selective call receiver means; and

at least one application program comprising executable code for programming the external computer to perform operations that are performed in response to stimuli other than receiving decoded information from the selective call receiver means.