Patent · US Expired

Personal information device and method for downloading reprogramming data from a computer to the personal information device via the PCMCIA port or through a docking station with baud rate conversion means

US5978591A · kind A · utility

42Cited by
4References
31Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 24, 1998
Grant dateNov 2, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 24, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02D10/00
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A personal information device is provided in the form of a PCMCIA card and includes a PCMCIA I/O port that is adapted to be coupled to a PCMCIA port of a computer, a first memory that is directly accessible by the computer via the PCMCIA I/O port, second and third memories that are not directly accessible to the computer, and a controller. When the personal information device is inserted into the computer's PCMCIA port, the first memory directly receives and stores therein reprogramming data supplied by the computer. Immediately after the data is downloaded, or alternatively, upon disconnection of the personal information device from the computer, the personal information device's controller transfers to the second memory reprogramming code included in the reprogramming data stored in the first memory, executes the reprogramming code stored in the second memory, and then programs the third memory by utilizing the application code included in the reprogramming data stored in the first memory in accordance with the reprogramming code being executed. The downloaded application code may include organizer application code for the end user, diagnostic code or other types of code. In addi…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.