Radio flash update

• US 6,126,327 A
• Filed: 10/16/1995
• Issued: 10/03/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Warren & Lewis Investment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Packard Bell NEC
• Inventors: Bi, Depeng, Wilson, James Y., Hsiung, Harry
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark H.
• Application Number:
  US08/543,463
• Time in Patent Office: 1,814 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.01, 395/200.1, 395/651, 395/652, 395/653, 395/830, 395/712, 395/200.5, 395/200.51, 395/200.52, 395/185.01, 364/514 C, 364/949.4, 340/825.27, 340/825.44
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A wireless interface device is adapted to be interfaced with a host computer by way of a radio link. A wireless interface device includes one or more flash memory devices that are adapted to be updated by the host computer over the radio link.

Claims

1. A computer system which includes one or more flash memory devices, comprising:

means for enabling said computer system to communicate with a remote computer system by way of a radio link;

means for checking the quality of said radio link; and

means for enabling said flash memory devices to be updated based on the quality of said radio link.

2. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for polling said remote computer system to check whether flash update data is available.

3. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for selecting said remote computer system.

4. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising:

a power management subsystem; and

means for disabling said power management subsystem prior to updating said flash memory devices.

5. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising:

a graphical user interface (GUI) permitting a user to selective update said flash memory devices.

6. A computer including one or more flash memory devices, comprising:

a transceiver for communicating with a host computer via a wireless communications link;

a first software routine enabling said computer to determine the quality of said wireless communications link;

a second software routine enabling said computer to download at least one flash update file from said host computer by way of said wireless link based on the quality of said wireless link;

a first memory for storing said at least one update file; and

a third software routine for transferring said at least one update file from said first memory to said flash memory devices.

7. The computer of claim 6, wherein said third software routine is included in BIOS.

8. The computer of claim 6, further comprising:

means for selecting said host computer from a plurality of host computers that includes said host computer.

9. The computer of claim 8, wherein said selecting means includes:

a graphical user interface (GUI) permitting a user to select said host computer.

10. The computer of claim 6, wherein the first memory includes at least on DRAM.

11. The computer of claim 6, further comprising:

means for reserving a sector of said first memory; and

means for storing said at least one update file in said sector.

12. A method of updating one or more flash memory devices using a wireless link, comprising the following steps:

transmitting data over said wireless link from a first computer to a second computer including said flash memory devices;

disabling a power management subsystem of said second computer prior to transmitting said data; and

updating said flash memory devices based on said transmitted data.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the following steps:

checking the quality of said wireless link; and

enabling said flash memory devices to be updated based on the quality of said wireless link.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the following step:

disabling at least one interrupt within said second computer prior to updating said flash memory devices.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising the following steps:

erasing said flash memory devices;

determining whether an error occurred while erasing said flash memory devices; and

aborting update of said flash memory devices based on the occurrence of said error.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising the following step:

rebooting said second computer subsequent to updating said flash memory devices.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising the following step:

determining whether said second computer is receiving alternating current (AC) power.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising the following step:

reserving at least one sector of non-flash memory for temporarily storing said transmitted data.