Patent ID: 7185191

Claim:
A processor system for a processor controlled embedded device, said embedded device comprising at least one operational element, said processor system comprising: a computer processor for controlling said at least one operational element; and an updatable firmware memory storing computer readable program code for operating said computer processor, said computer readable program code comprising: application computer readable program code for causing said computer processor to control said at least one operational element; primary communication computer readable program code for causing said computer processor to communicate externally with respect to said processor controlled embedded device; backup communication computer readable program code capable of causing said computer processor to communicate externally with respect to said processor controlled embedded device; said backup communication computer readable program code having copy code for causing said computer processor to copy computer readable program code from one portion of said updatable firmware memory to another portion of said updatable firmware memory; and primary boot computer readable program code for causing said computer processor to boot said processor system; said primary boot computer readable program code having check code causing said computer processor to determine whether said primary communication computer readable program code is corrupted; and if said primary communication computer readable program code is determined to be uncorrupted, to determine whether said application computer readable program code is corrupted; else, if said primary communication computer readable program code is determined to be corrupted, to employ said copy code of said backup communication computer readable program code to cause said computer processor to copy at least a portion of said backup communication computer readable program code to, and overwrite, at least a portion of said primary communication computer readable program code.