Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Programming control
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-19
2001-08-14
Nguyen, Lee (Department: 2683)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Programming control
C455S088000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06275694
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to the field of wireless telecommunications. More specifically, the present invention relates to the field of communication devices within the personal handy phone system.
BACKGROUND ART
Within the field of wireless telecommunications systems, there exists a system referred to as the personal handy phone system, otherwise known as PHS. Within the personal handy phone system, a user of a portable or personal station (PS) device is able to communicate with a user of another telecommunication device by way of a cell station (CS) device. In order for cell stations and portable station to communicate properly, software code is stored and utilized within both types of devices. From time to time, the need arises to update the stored software code within these devices. For instance, software bugs that exist within the stored software code can be corrected by updating the stored software code. Moreover, new and better software code created to improve the performance of portable stations and cell stations gives rise to updating the stored software code. Furthermore, the need may arise to increase or decrease the functionality of a customer's portable station by updating the stored software code.
There are different practices within the prior art for updating the software code stored within a portable station or a cell station of the personal handy phone system. One prior art updating practice involves an engineer or technician of a service provider physically exchanging the read only memory (ROM) chip located within a portable station or a cell station with a new ROM chip containing updated software code. Another prior art practice for updating software code stored within a portable station or a cell station software code involves a technician coupling a computer to the serial interface port of either device. The technician then commences to download the updated software code from the computer into the non-volatile random access memory (RAM) or the flash RAM of the portable station or cell station. Both of these prior art practices for updating software code within portable stations can either be accomplished by burdening each owner to bring their portable station to a central location or by having a technician visit each owner of a portable station. Conversely, to update software code within cell stations, a technician is burdened to visit each cell station wherever it is located.
The previously mentioned prior art practices for updating the software code stored within a portable station or a cell station have some disadvantages associated with them. One of the problems associated with the prior art practices for updating the software code within a portable station or a cell station is that it is a time consuming and burdensome process. Another problem associated with the prior art practices is that it is costly because a large number of technicians are needed to physically perform the updating of the software code within portable stations and cell stations.
Therefore it would be advantageous to provide a method within the personal handy phone system for remotely updating the software code stored within a portable station or a cell station. The present invention provides this advantage.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a method for remotely updating software code stored within personal handy phone system equipment. The present invention enables a remotely located control terminal to update stored software code within a distant portable station or cell station of the personal handy phone system. Specifically, by coupling a control terminal to the existing communication network of a personal handy phone system, the control terminal is able to communicate with portable stations and cell stations.
To update the software code of a specific portable station or cell station, the control terminal first establishes communication with that particular device by sending an unique preparatory signal addressed to it. The addressed device receives the unique preparatory signal and checks the validity of it. If the addressed device determines the unique preparatory signal is valid, it transmits a unique verification signal addressed to the control terminal indicating that it is ready to receive the updated version of the software code. Once the control terminal receives the unique verification signal from the particular portable station or cell station, it proceeds to download an updated version of software code into the flash memory of that device.
One present invention embodiment for remotely updating software code stored within a portable station is described below. A control terminal transmits a first signal to a cell station of the personal handy phone system using a network. In response to the first signal, the cell station transmits the first signal to the portable station of the personal handy phone system using a communication interface. In response to the first signal, the portable station determines if the first signal is valid. In response to the first signal being valid, the portable station transmits a second signal to the cell station using the communication interface.
In response to the second signal, the cell station transmits the second signal to the control terminal using the network. In response to the second signal, the control terminal transmits software code to the cell station using the network. In response to the software code, the cell station transmits the software code to the portable station using the communication interface. In response to the software code, the portable station stores the software code within memory.
One present invention embodiment for remotely updating software code stored within a cell station is described below. A control terminal transmits a first signal to a cell station of the personal handy phone system using a network. In response to the first signal, the cell station determines if the first signal is valid. In response to the first signal being valid, the cell station transmits a second signal to the control terminal using the network. In response to the second signal, the control terminal transmits software code to the cell station using the network. In response to the software code, the cell station stores the software code within memory.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5109403 (1992-04-01), Sutphin
patent: 5884148 (1999-03-01), Bilgic et al.
Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB), “Personal Handy Phone System ARIB Standard”, version 2 RCR STD-28, Dec. 26, 1995.
Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, Japan, “Personal Handy-Phone System (PHS) Guidebook”, Japan.
Archambaud Denis
Feyfant Patrick
Gaglione Philippe
Martin Varenka
Weigelt Oliver
Nguyen Lee
VLSI Technology Inc.
Wagner , Murabito & Hao LLP
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