Patent ID: 12014165

Abstract:
A microcontroller comprises a processor and a memory. The memory comprises a first-stage bootloader, a first second-stage bootloader, a second second-stage bootloader region, and an application region for storing an application. The processor is configured to execute instructions from the first-stage bootloader when the microcontroller is reset. The first-stage bootloader comprises instructions for transferring execution from the first-stage bootloader to the active second-stage bootloader, which comprises instructions for transferring execution to an address in the application region, and for causing the processor to write a replacement second-stage bootloader to whichever of the first and second second-stage bootloader regions is not the active region. The first-stage bootloader comprises instructions for detecting the replacement second-stage bootloader in whichever of the first and second second-stage bootloader regions is not the active region and for transferring execution to the replacement second-stage bootloader when the microcontroller is next reset.