Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for installing a software upgrade within a memory resource associated with a computer system

US6457175B1 · kind B1 · utility

119Cited by
14References
32Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 9, 1998
Grant dateSep 24, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 9, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F8/654
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method of installing a software application image, for a software upgrade, within a remote and embedded target device includes the step of storing both a current and an upgraded software application image within an EEPROM within the target device. The set of instructions embodied within the current application image is maintained within the target device, while a validation operation is performed with respect to a set of instructions embodied within the upgraded software application image. Only once complete installation and successful execution of the upgraded application image have been validated is the upgraded application image designated as a current application image, and the previously installed application image discarded. Accordingly, the risk of the target device being a rendered unbootable as a result of the installation of a software upgrade is reduced.

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