Methods and apparatus for updating the software of a mobile terminal using the air interface
First Claim
1. A method for operating a wireless user terminal having a transceiver for conducting bidirectional RF communications with a communications network, comprising the steps of:
- operating the terminal with a first computer program that is stored in a first memory;
the step of operating including a step of receiving a second computer program from the communications network and storing the received second computer program into a second memory; and
after the second computer program is stored in the second memory, operating the terminal with the second computer program;
whereinthe step of receiving includes the step of temporarily terminating the receipt of the second computer program in the event an operator of the mobile terminal requires the use of the transceiver.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless user terminal (10), such as a cellular telephone, includes a transceiver (14, 16) for conducting bidirectional RF communications with a communications network (32) and a data processor (18b) for controlling the operation of the terminal. The terminal further includes (a) a first memory capable of storing a data processor program; (b) a second memory capable of storing a data processor program; (c) a memory device or register for storing a flag for indicating which of the first and second memories is a currently Active memory, that stores a currently active data processor program, and which of the first and second memories is a currently Idle memory; and (d) circuitry for receiving another data processor program from the communications network and for storing the received another data processor program into the Idle memory. The circuitry operates while the data processor executes the data processor program stored in the Active memory.
224 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for operating a wireless user terminal having a transceiver for conducting bidirectional RF communications with a communications network, comprising the steps of:
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operating the terminal with a first computer program that is stored in a first memory; the step of operating including a step of receiving a second computer program from the communications network and storing the received second computer program into a second memory; and after the second computer program is stored in the second memory, operating the terminal with the second computer program;
whereinthe step of receiving includes the step of temporarily terminating the receipt of the second computer program in the event an operator of the mobile terminal requires the use of the transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A wireless user terminal comprising a transceiver for conducting bidirectional RF communications with a communications network and a data processor for controlling the operation of the terminal, said terminal further comprising:
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a first memory capable of storing a data processor program; a second memory capable of storing a data processor program; means for storing a flag for indicating which of the first and second memories is a currently Active memory that stores a currently active data processor program and which of the first and second memories is a currently Idle memory; and means for receiving another data processor program from the communications network and for storing the received another data processor program into the Idle memory, while the data processor executes the data processor program stored in the Active memory said receiving means including means for temporarily terminating the receipt of the another computer program in the event an operator of the mobile terminal requires the use of the transceiver.
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4. In a communications system comprising a communications network and a plurality of wireless user terminals each comprising a transceiver for conducting bidirectional RF communications with the communications network and a data processor for executing a stored program for controlling the operation of the terminal, a method for operating the system comprising the steps of:
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operating each of the plurality of terminals with a first computer program that is stored in a first memory; transmitting a second computer program from the communications network to at least one of the plurality of terminals; and in at least one of the plurality of terminals, receiving the second computer program from the communications network and storing the received second computer program into a second memory;
whereinthe step of receiving includes the step of temporarily terminating the receipt of the second computer program in the event an operator of the mobile terminal requires the use of the transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. In a communications system comprising a communications network and a plurality of wireless user terminals each comprising a transceiver for conducting bidirectional RF communications with the communications network and a data processor for executing a stored program for controlling the operation of the wireless user terminal, a method for operating the system comprising the steps of:
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operating at least some of the plurality of wireless user terminals with a first operating computer program that is stored in a first memory of each of the plurality of wireless user terminals; transmitting a second computer program from the communications network to at least one of the plurality of terminals; and in at least one of the plurality of wireless user terminals, receiving the second computer program from the communications network and storing the received second computer program into a second memory of the at least one wireless user terminal, while continuing to operate with the first operating computer program;
whereinthe steps of transmitting and receiving occur contemporaneously with a call made from or to the at least one of the plurality of wireless user terminals, wherein the call operation of the wireless user terminal is under the control of the first operating computer program. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. In a telecommunications system comprising a network and a plurality of wireless user terminals each comprising a transceiver for conducting bidirectional RF communications with the network, via at least one base station, and a data processor for executing a stored program for controlling the operation of the wireless user terminal, a method comprising the steps of:
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operating at least some of the plurality of wireless user terminals with a first, currently active computer program that is stored in a first memory of each of the plurality of wireless user terminals; transmitting a second, currently inactive computer program from the network to at least one of the plurality of wireless user terminals; and in at least one of the plurality of wireless user terminals, receiving the second, currently inactive computer program from the network and storing the received second, currently inactive computer program into a second memory of the at least one wireless user terminal;
whereinin a first mode of operation the steps of transmitting and receiving occur in a continuous fashion in a dedicated program download mode of operation, while the wireless user terminal is operating under the control of the first, active computer program stored in the first memory;
whereinin a second mode of operation the steps of transmitting and receiving are interruptable upon an occurrence of at least one of a call made from the at least one of the plurality of wireless user terminals or a call made to the at least one of the plurality of wireless user terminals, while the wireless user terminal is operating under the control of the first, active computer program stored in the first memory; and further comprising steps of, changing a status of the first, currently active computer program to be inactive and changing a status of the second, currently inactive computer program to be active, and in response to an inquiry received from the network, transmitting information from at least one of the wireless user terminals, the transmitted information comprising data that is descriptive of an identity of at least one of the currently active computer program or the currently inactive computer program. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification