Telecommunications – Transmitter and receiver at same station – Radiotelephone equipment detail
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-20
2001-03-06
Nguyen, Duc (Department: 2745)
Telecommunications
Transmitter and receiver at same station
Radiotelephone equipment detail
C455S418000, C455S561000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06198946
ABSTRACT:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 from an application for FIRMWARE UPGRADE METHOD OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR SUPPORTING FIRMWARE UPGRADE BY BASE STATION earlier filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on the 20
th
of November 1997 and there duly assigned Serial No. 61598/1997.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a wireless communications system and, more particularly, to a firmware upgrade method for a wireless communications device, and a method for supporting firmware (F/W) upgrade in a base station.
Related Art
In general, as a user requires the newest function for a cellular phone or for upgrading firmware for a specific reason, the user must personally visit an agent or a repair shop. Upgrading the firmware of a cellular phone is achieved by replacing a chip, and that is why the personal visit is required to the user. However, such a personal visit is very inconvenient for the user. Accordingly, a new method for upgrading firmware without inconvenience is required.
It is noted that U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,955 to Kaewell Jr. et al., discloses a compatible analog channel unit for a digital cellular telephone system. As disclosed therein, an analog channel unit for a digital cellular telephone system services both analog and digital mode subscribers on the same system hardware. All analog system functions required of an analog cellular base station are provided by firmware executed by digital signal processors (DSPs) located in the analog channel unit(s) of the base station. The system operator can, in accordance with the patent remotely reconfigure the channel unit for digital operation by downloading appropriate firmware to the channel unit(s).
Nevertheless, the patent does not relate to or disclose a method for upgrading the firmware of a wireless communication device itself, as disclosed and claimed herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To solve the above problem, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for upgrading firmware (F/W) of a wireless communications device, thus providing the newest version of F/W at all times through a simple process. The method involves receiving new firmware required for the wireless communications device from a base station directly and wirelessly.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for supporting F/W upgrade of a wireless communications device in a base station.
To achieve the first object of the present invention, there is provided an F/W upgrade method for a wireless communications device, comprising the steps of: (a) transferring a user's identification for the wireless communications device, and information required for F/W upgrade, to the corresponding base station; (b) converting the current mode of the wireless communications device into an F/W upgrade mode according to whether or not the corresponding base station allows the upgrade, which is determined based on the transferred information; and (c) upgrading F/W of the wireless communications device wirelessly in the corresponding base station.
To achieve the second object of the present invention, there is provided a method for supporting firmware (F/W) upgrade of a sending station in a base station, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a pilot signal; (b) identifying a user and F/W upgrade update information for the sending station with respect to the pilot signal; (c) determining whether or not the F/W update is required for the sending station according to the F/W upgrade update information, and transferring the F/W upgrade mode to the sending station if required; and (d) upgrading the F/W of the sending station wirelessly by means of the base station according to whether or not the sending station allows the F/W upgrade mode.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5726636 (1998-03-01), Hayes, Jr.
patent: 5771354 (1998-06-01), Crawford
patent: 5854978 (1998-12-01), Heidari
Lee Ju-heon
Shin Seung-Kee
Bushnell , Esq. Robert E.
Nguyen Duc
Ramakrishnaiah Melur
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
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