초록 ▼

A microprocessor-controlled device with software files stored in non-volatile memory which can be easily modified by the user by reading or scanning a two-dimensional bar code symbol having program modification information encoded thereon. The symbol can be read by two-dimensional or one-dimensional

A microprocessor-controlled device with software files stored in non-volatile memory which can be easily modified by the user by reading or scanning a two-dimensional bar code symbol having program modification information encoded thereon. The symbol can be read by two-dimensional or one-dimensional laser or CCD based means. Depending on its size, either the entire file can be replaced, selected locations can be replaced, or selected relocatable object files can be linked at the target device in order to effect the program revision.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A system for modifying an original software file resident in a l microprocessor-controlled device comprising:a) a modification data generator for generating file modification data representative of the differences between the original software file and an updated software file incl

[ We claim:] [1.] A system for modifying an original software file resident in a l microprocessor-controlled device comprising:a) a modification data generator for generating file modification data representative of the differences between the original software file and an updated software file including:(i) a difference extractor for comparing the original file with the updated file and for providing a list of addresses where the original file differs from the updated file and the updated bytes of data located at said addresses, and(ii) a record assembler for assembling a list of records representative of the updated byes, the addresses associated with the updated bytes, and an operation function indicative of one of several available modes of merging said updated bytes with the original file;b) an encoder for encoding the file modification data into a two-dimensional bar code symbol:c) a printer for printing the two-dimensional symbol onto a substrate,d) a bar code reader coupled to the microprocessor-controlled device for reading the encoded two-dimensional bar code symbol from the substrate and for decoding said symbol into the file modification data;e) an update controller for providing software update identification and control,f) a merger for merging the file modification data with the original software file resident in the microprocessor-controlled device so as to generate updated portions representative of the differences between the original software file and the updated software file: andg) a replacer for replacing those portions of the original software file resident in the microprocessor-controlled device with the updated portions;whereby the available modes of merging said updated bytes with the original file comprise an assignement operation in which the original byte is completely replaced with the updated byte, an AND operation in which selected bits of the original byte are set to zero, an OR operation in which selected bits of the original by te are set to one, and an EXCLUSIVE OR operation in which selected bits of the original byte are inverted.