Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PT0 07 0 8UP0 1
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APPARAT~S FOR OVER-TE~E-AIR UPGR~DI~G OF RADIO MOD1511q ~: -
APPLI~A~IO~ SOFq~WARE~
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~iela o~ the Invention
This invention relates in general to selective call
receivers, and more specifically to selective call receivers~
having application software bundled therein.
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Bac~karou~a o:E the Invelltion
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The "radio modem," i.e., a selective call receiver
having a data interface for communicating with an external
computer, is well known in the art. An example is the
NewsStream~ Advanced Data Receiver manufactured by
Motorola,~Inc. of Schaumburg, Illinois. This radio modem is ~-
intended for use with'computers having an RS-232 port and a
25 telecommunications pxogram that supports a popular file -
transfer~protocol called "XMODEM." Coupling the data ' ;' -
interface of the conventional radio modem with such a ~ ~-
computer allows the computer to receive information
transmitted by radio and addressed to the radio modem and to '~
store the received information in a file. Additional file
access or other software is required when a user then wishes ~ -'
- to examine or work with the information in the file. ~
While the conventional radio modem provides an excellent ' '
method of receiving information in a po~table computer, the ''
35 application software available for most portable computers -'~
does little beyond displaying information received and '
perhaps doing a name or telephone number look-up based on
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PT00708UP01
information received through the radio modem. Application
software for providing vertical services that are custom
tailored to the needs of various users is becoming -
available. As the pace of availability of application
software increases, many software vendors create improved
versions of application software and issue update software
which, when installed, converts the application software to
a more recent version.
An obstacle to improving software is the need for a user
to be able to purchase a machine-readable copy of the
_ upgrade software and to load the upgrade software to install
the new version of the application software. Especially
with a radio modem having limited direct interface ability,
loading the upgrade software is problematic. One solution
would be to purchase the upgrade software on a diskette and
load the upqrade software from the diskette to a computer,
then lpadinst the upgrade from the computer to the radio
modem via the interface therebetween. Such a solution
re~uires a large amount of user tasking and is therefore not
20 preferable. Also, a system provider who wishes to update -
service accessing application software cannot guarantee that
all users will upgrade the software. This could result in
substantial outlay of repair and maintenance time for the ;
service provider to perform upgrading of the software.
Thus, what is needed is a method and apparatus for
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upgrading application software via a radio modem, and
particularly for upgrading application software bundled
within a radio modem. -
Summary of the Invention ~ ;
.. . . .
A selective call receiver includes a receiver for receiving radio
frequency (RF) signals comprising information and for demodulating ~-
the RF signals to derive the information. The selective call -~
.
35 receiver further includes a decoder coupled to the receiver for -
decoding the received information and obtaining messages therefrom,
and a processor coupled to the decoder for accepting the messages and
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PT0 07 0 8UP0 1
for generating an alert signal in response thereto. The selective
call receiver further includes an alert device coupled to the
processor for generating an audible or tactile alert in response to
the alert signal, and a data interface for coupling with an external
5 computèr for transmitting received messages to the external computer.
The selective call receiver further includes a memory coupled to the
data interface for allowing access to the memory by the external
computer, and pre-programmed data stored within the memory, the pre-
programmed data comprising a plurality of executable software diiver
10 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. The selective call
receiver furt:her includes a computer recognition element coupled to
the data interface for recognizing one of a plurality of specific
15 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 o~ external
20 computer. ;
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Brief ~escription oi~ the Drawirlcrs, .
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a radio modem in accordance
with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the radio modem in
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 3 is an orthographic top view of the radio modem
installed in an external computer in accordance with the
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a radio modem
100 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the
present lnvention comprises an antenna 102 for intercepting
RF signals. The antenna 102 is coupled to a receiver 104
for receiving and demodulating the RF signals intercepted.
A decoder 106 is coupled to the receiver 104 for decoding
demodulated information. A microprocessor 108 receives the
decoded information from the decoder 106 and processes the
information to recover messages. The microprocessor 108 is
coupled to a volatile memory 110 for storing the messages
recovered, and the microprocessor 108 controls the storing
and recalling of the messages. An alert generator 112 is
coupled to the microprocessor 108 for providing an audible
or tactile alert to a user when the microprocessor 108 has a
message ready for presentation.
~l output device 114 comprises a visual display or a -
speaker or both, the output device 114 also being controlled
2S by the microprocessor 108. A control section 116 comprises
user accessible controls for allowing the user to command
the microprocessor 108 to perform the selective call
receiver operations well known to those skilled in the art
and typically includes control switches such as an on/off
control button, a function control, etc.
The microprocessor 108 is coupled to a non-volatile. ~-
memory 122, such as an Electrically Erasable Programmable
Read Only Memory ~EEPROM), and a data interface 118 for ~-~
controlling and communicating with the non-volatile memory -~
122 and the data interface 118, in accordance with the
present invention. The non-volatile memory 122 and the dat~
lnterface 118 are also coupled to each other for providing ~-
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^~W094/03~79 2 ~ ~ ~ 3 ~ ~ PCT/US93/06538
direct communication between the non-volatile memory 122 and
the data interface 118. The data interface 118 is
constructed and controlled in a manner that me~ts the
standards set forth in two documents entitled "PC Card
S Standard," Release 2.0, and "Socket Services Interface
Specification," Release 1.01, both published by the Personal
Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA), in
September 1991. These two documents together will be
referred to hereinafter as the "PCMCIA Standard." The data
interface 118 couples with external equipment, e g., an
external computer, by a PCMCIA bus 120.
The non-volatile memory 122 is pre-programmed with a
plurality of software driver programs 124, each identified
by an identifier 126 that identifies an external computer
15 with which the software driver program 124 is compatible. `~
The non-volatile memory 122 also is pre-programmed with at ;
least one application program 128. The function of the
software driver programs 124 is to compensate for the
differences among external computers such that the interface
20 between each application program 128 and the external
computer when loaded with a compatible software driver
program 124 is a viable interface. That is, a single
application program 128 will function correctly with any of
the external computers for which there exists a compatible
25 software driver program 124.
The microprocessor 108 comprises a computer recognition
element 109 for recognizing one of a plurality of specific
types of external computer in response to identifier signals
provided to the data interface 118 by the external computer.
30 The microprocessor 108 further comprises a driver selector
element 111 for selecting one of the plurality of software
driver programs I24 compatible with a recognized one of a
plurality of specific types of external computer whose s
identifier signals match a corresponding one of the
35 identifiers 126.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, an isometric view of the
radio modem 100 and an orthographic top view of the radio
WQ94/03879 PCT/US93/06C~'
3 ~ ~ 6
modem 100 installed in an external computer 302 in
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present
invention shows a connector comprising the PCMCIA bus 120 at
one end of the radio modem 100. When the radio modem 100 is
inserted into a PCMCIA slot 304 of the external computer
302, as shown in FIG. 3, the radio modem 100 and the
external computer 302 are electrically collpled by the PCMCIA
bus 120, allowing communication to take place between the
radio modem 100 and the external computer 302.
It is important to note here that the function of the ,,
software driver program 124 (FIG. 1~ is to present a ~,
consistent interface to the application program 128 (FIG.
1). The consistent interface allows each of the application
programs 128 to operate compatibly with all types of
15 externa:L computer 302 (FIG. 3) for which there exists a , -
software driver program 124 (FIG. 1) in the radio modem 100. ' ~'
This means that the application program 128 does not have to
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be modified in any way to make the applicatio~ program 128 ,~
function with different external computexs 302. The same
20 statement applies to application programs that may reside in ', ~'
the external computer 302 itself., That is, once an
application program has been developed for one type of ''' ~',
external computer 302 that is compatible with one of the -
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software driver programs 124 of the radio modem 100, the '~ ~'
25 same application program will also function correctly with '
other types of éxternal computer 302 that are compatible '~
with one of the software driver programs 124 of the radio
modem 100. The result is a tremendous reduction'in effort
required to build appl'ication support for the radio modem
100 compatible with many types of external computer 302. ~ ,
Because the software driver programs 124 (FIG. 1) are -,
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part of the radio modem 100, the software driver programs -~'
124 can be modified at the same time that future --;~
m,odifications are made to the radio modem 100, e.g., to add
new features to the radio modem 100, etc. Such future
modifications to the software driver programs 124 will be
done to malntain a consistent and invariant interface for
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W094/03879 PCTtUSg3/06538
the application program 128 (FIG. 1~ internal to the radio
modem 100 and for any other application programs that may
have been developed for external use with the radio modem
100. The maintenance of the consistent and invariant
application program interface allows an increase of
functionality between the application programs and the radio
modem, because changing characteristics internal to the
radio modem, e.g., real-time clock setting commands, message
storage locations, message labels, type of microprocessor
used, etc., will not affect the interface to the application
programs. As a consequence, it will be possible to allow -
greater control of the internal features of the radio modem
100 by the application programs without the risk of massive
required future modifications to the application software as ~`
a result of necessary future radio modem redesigns.
There will of course be application programs that
perform operations in response to receiving decoded - ;~
information from the radio modem, e.g., an application
program that displays the decoded information as it is
received. Greater control by application programs of
internal features of the radio modem 100, however, will
advantageously make it possible to provide application
programs that perform operations in response to stimuli
other than receiving a page, e.g., a search program for
searching the memory llO (FIG. 1) of the radio modem 100 to
find a certain cateyory of received information, the search
being started in response to a user command entered from a
keyboard, for example.
Furthermore, the cost savings provided by the ability to
create a single application program that will operate on a
plurality of external computers 302 (FIG. 3) while not
requiring major modification for many years makes it
feasible to develop custom-tailored application programs.
For example, it will be possible to develop a special
application program custom-tailored for the real estate
market that would allow keyed searches of multiple listing
information received by the radio modem 100.
W094/03879 PCT/US93/06~-~
2.~ 8
Additionally, the updating of the application software
128 and the software driver programs 124 via over-the-air
selective call messages sent to the radio modem allow
control of updating to be in the hands of the selective call ~;~
system provider. A consistent and across-the-board updating
of application software allows the system provider a quicker
time frame for making modifications to the system.
Additionally, since the radio modem receives selective call ~ `
messages, the updating can be controlled as to which radio
10 modems have software updated and which do not. ` ;
Referring to FIG. 4, a flow chart of a method of
updating the application software 128 (FIG. 1) in accordance
with the preferred embodiment of the present invention
begins with the powering up of the radio modem 400. ~ -
Following power up, processing awaits reception of upgrade
information 402 over-the-air. The upgrade information is
received 402 as a selective call message and stored in the
radio modem volatile memory 110 (FIG. 1). A selective call
message may be identified by a unique selective call address
reserved for the purpose or information in the siqnaling
protocol may indicate that the message comprises upgrade
information.
Included within the selective call upgrade message is `
installation software which can be used by the
microprocessor 108 to upgrade the application software 128
(FIG. 1) and upgrade data. The upgrade installation
software is retrieved from the memory 110 and compiled 404
by the microprocessor 108. The microprocessor 108 then
upgrades 406 the application software 128 in accordance with `
the installation software compiled in the microprocessor 108
and utilizing the upgrade data stored in the memory 110.
When the upgrading of the application software 128 is
completed 408, the upgrade software in the microprocessor
108 and the upgrade data in the memory 110 are deleted 410
35 and processing returns to perform normal radio modem ~ ~ ~
operations until the next upgrade information is received ~ ~-
402.
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W094/03879 PCT/~S93/06538
Alternatively, the present method could allow for
updating application software in the computer 302 (FIG. 3).
The radio modem is coupled to the computer to allow for
communication therebetween. The upgrade information could -
be forwarded to the computer for use thereby to upgrade
application software stored therein. For example, the radio
modem provides the upgrade information to the computer for
storing in the random access memory (RAM) thereof. The
operation would be the same as shown in the flow chart of
FIG. 4, where the compilation 404 takes place in the
computer's 302 Central Processing ~nit (CPV).
By now it should be appreciated that there has been
provided a method and apparatus for upgrading application
software via a radio modem, and particularly for upgrading
application software bundled within a radio modem. The
method and apparatus in accordance with the present
invention allows a selective call service provider to
control software upgrading in either the radio modem 100 or
the coupled computer 302 by over-the-air selective
signaling. The service provider can thereby upgrade
application software selectively and transparently to the
user.
I claim:
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