Patent Document

CROSSREFERENCE  
       [0001]    [ 1000 ] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/146,322, filed on Sep. 2, 1998, entitled “Programmable Hands Free Telephone System,” now allowed.  
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    I. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    [ 1001 ] The present invention is generally related to communications. More particularly the present invention relates to a system and method for programming a hands free telephone system.  
           [0004]    II. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    [ 1002 ] Hands free telephone systems do not require a user to pick up and hold the handset when the user is using the telephone. Thus hands free telephone systems do not restrict the freedom of the user and leave the hands of the user free to perform other functions at the same time. Because of this benefit, these telephones are becoming increasingly popular for use in offices and in cars as mobile telephones.  
           [0006]    [ 1003 ] It is known for hands free telephone equipment to include separate, small sized, detachable and transferable equipment located outside the telephone. Hands free equipment often does not use the internal microphone of the telephone in order to avoid modification of the software within the telephone. It is well known for hands free equipment to contain only a microphone, an amplifier and a loudspeaker along with the amplifier for the loudspeaker outside the telephone. It is also known for hands free equipment to perform telephone functions such as compensating for background noise and recharging the batteries of mobile telephones.  
           [0007]    [ 1004 ] Hands free equipment can also include advanced functions. For example it can perform the operations necessary for making or finishing a call such as off hook, dialing and on hook using voice recognition technology. However, the performance of these functions is subject to high cost, high power consumption and complicated formalities. Accordingly, it is customary for hands free telephone users to use a keypad on the telephone to enable off hook, dialing and on hook by touching the particular keys.  
           [0008]    [ 1005 ] It is also known for hands free telephone equipment to include a controller within the hands free telephone equipment for controlling certain telephone operations of the telephone. The controller can include a controller data processor having a memory for storing data and command input, thereby permitting command data to be applied to the controller data processor and permitting the controller to control telephone operations. Hands free telephone equipment of this type can also include a data communication link for transferring data between the controller data processor and a programming data processor external to the hands free equipment. This permits data stored in the memory of the programming data processor to be copied to the controller memory. It is also known to use wireless communications for transmitting the data between the programming data processor and the controller processor. However, this greatly increases the cost of the equipment.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    [ 1006 ] A hands free telephone system includes a telephone having audio circuits for processing an audio signal and a telephone audio connector for transmitting the audio signal between the audio circuits and the telephone audio connector. A telephone holder has a holder program for instructing the telephone holder to perform telephone functions in accordance with the program. The telephone holder has a holder audio connector for mechanically mating with the telephone audio connector and transmitting the audio signal between the telephone audio connector and the programmable holder. A programming device includes circuitry for storing and transmitting the holder program and the programming device has a programming connector for mechanically mating with the holder audio connector and transmitting the holder program between the programming device and the telephone holder by way of the mated programming connector and the holder audio connector, whereby the holder audio connector is adapted to transmit both the audio signal and the holder program. The telephone audio connector can be disposed upon the telephone holder.  
           [0010]    [ 1007 ] A hands free telephone system includes a telephone having audio circuits, a telephone audio connector, a telephone holder having a stored holder program for instructing the telephone holder, a holder audio connector, and a programming device having a programming connector. Program information is transmitted between the telephone holder and the programming device. Audio signals are processed by the audio circuits within the telephone and transmitted between the audio circuits and the telephone audio connector. The telephone audio connector and the holder device connector are mated and the audio signals are transmitted between the telephone audio connector and the telephone holder. The holder audio connector and the programming connector are mated and program information is transmitted between the programming device and the telephone holder by way of the mated holder audio connector and the programming connector whereby both the audio signal and the program information are transmitted by way of the holder audio connector.  
           [0011]    [ 1008 ] In a hands free telephone system having a telephone, a telephone holder for performing telephone operations in accordance with a program in a holder memory within the telephone holder and a programming device for transmitting the program to the telephone holder, the holder memory is locked to prevent alteration of the holder memory while the holder memory is locked. Programming information is transmitted from the programming device to the telephone holder and a determination is made whether the transmitted programming information includes unlocking information for permitting alteration of the holder memory. The holder memory is altered in accordance with the transmitted programming information depending upon the determination. The holder memory can be relocked after the altering.  
           [0012]    [ 1009 ] In a hands free telephone system having a telephone, a telephone holder for performing telephone operations in accordance with a program in a holder memory within the telephone holder and a programming device for transmitting the program to the telephone holder, a plurality of programming instructions is transmitted between the programming device and the telephone holder, each programming instruction corresponding to a memory location within the holder memory. A determination is made whether the transmitted programming instructions correspond to adjacent memory locations within the telephone holder and an error condition is determined accordingly.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [ 1010 ] The features, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent form the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference characters identify corresponding elements throughout and wherein:  
         [0014]    [ 1011  ] FIG. 1 is a block diagram representation of the hands free telephone system of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [ 1012 ] FIGS. 2A, 2B represent data formats useful in the communication link of the telephone system of FIG. 1;  
         [0016]    [ 1013 ] FIGS.  3 - 5  are timing diagrams illustrating the timing of operations performed by the telephone system of FIG. 1;  
         [0017]    [ 1014 ] FIG. 6 is a flow chart representation of operations performed within the telephone system of FIG. 1;  
         [0018]    [ 1015 ] FIGS. 7A, B are flow chart representations of operations performed within the telephone system FIG. 1; and  
         [0019]    [ 1016 ] FIG. 8 is a representation of an example of a connector suitable for use with the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]    [ 1017 ] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown programmable hands free telephone system  10  of the present invention. Programmable hands free telephone system  10  includes hands free equipment  20  which is a telephone holder having dual purpose connector  32  for receiving and electrically coupling to mobile telephone  38  in order to permit hands free use of mobile telephone  38 . Hands free equipment  20  is programmable and can be programmed to perform a plurality of telephone functions in cooperation with mobile telephone  38  when coupled to it. When mobile telephone  38  is received by hands free equipment  20  it is both electrically and mechanically coupled to hands free equipment  20  by telephone connector  40  and dual purpose connector  32 . Thus audio signals representative of speech during a telephone conversation made using mobile telephone  38  are transmitted between hands free equipment  20  and mobile telephone  38  by way of communication path  42  dual purpose connector  32 .  
         [0021]    [ 1018 ] Programmable hands free telephone system  10  also includes programming computer  12 . Using programming computer  12  a user of hands free telephone system  10  can program and reprogram hands free equipment  20 . In order to program or reprogram hands free equipment  20  programming computer  12  communicates with hands free equipment  20  by way of a pulse code modulated (PCM) link such as PCM link  24  and dual purpose connector  32 . FIG. 8 shows an example of a type of connector that can provide the functions of dual purpose connector  32 . Dual purpose connector  32  both electrically and mechanically couples PCM link  24  and hands free equipment  20 . The data received by way of PCM link  24  and dual purpose connector  32  can be applied by digital signal processor (DSP)  28  by way of buffer memory  26  and, therefrom, to DSP external memory  36  for the purpose of providing operating instructions to DSP  28 . DSP external memory  36  can be flash memory, for example an EPROM. The transfer of data into buffer memory  26  is performed one constant sized page at a time. The transfer of data form buffer memory  26  can occur a segment at a time wherein the segment size can vary.  
         [0022]    [ 1019 ] Using PCM link  24  and dual purpose connector  32  during a PCM sample period a user of hands free telephone system  10  can perform several operations. These operations include transmitting data from programming computer  12  to hands free equipment  20 , receiving data by programming computer  12  from hands free equipment  20 , erasing a sector of DSP memory within hands free equipment  20  by programming computer  12 , reading the ID of a memory device within hands free equipment  20  by programming computer  12 , and reporting the check sum of transmitted blocks of data by hands free equipment  20  to programming computer  12 . Thus PCM link  24  carrying programming information for hands free equipment  20  couples to hands free equipment  20  at the same location used for coupling mobile telephone  38  to hands free equipment  20 , dual purpose connector  32 .  
         [0023]    [ 1020 ] Referring now to FIG. 2A, there is shown forward link data format  100 . The forward link communication from programming computer  12  to DSP  28  by way of PCM link  24  using forward link data format  100  is asynchronous and aperiodic. During forward link communication programming computer  12  controls the communication speed on the forward link. For each PCM sample period any number of bits can be transmitted in the forward link PCM stream. In a preferred embodiment of hands free telephone system  10  sixteen bits are transmitted during a PCM sample period. In the embodiment wherein sixteen bits are transmitted during a sample period, eight bits (e.g. D 0 -D 7 ) of the PCM stream can be allocated as the data segment of the transmission. Three bits (e.g. A 0 -A 2 ) can be allocated as the address segment. Five bits can be reserved as the command segment.  
         [0024]    [ 1021 ] Referring now to FIG. 2B, there is shown reverse link data format  110 . Reverse link communication from DSP  28  to programming computer  12  is performed using reverse link data format  110 . The reverse link communication speed from DSP  28  to programming computer  12  by way of PCM link  24  in hands free telephone system  10  is controlled by programming computer  12 . Hands free equipment  20  sends data to computer  12  only when requested by the user of computer  12 . When such a request is not made the reverse link is idle. As in forward link communications any number of bits can be transmitted in a reverse sample period of the reverse link PCM stream. When sixteen bits are transmitted during a sample period of the reverse link PCM stream, eight bits can be allocated as the data segment. Three bits of the reverse link stream are allocated as the address segment of the reverse link sample period . Bit  7  can be allocated as the ready/busy flag. Bit  6  can be allocated as the error/success flag. Bit  5  can be is allocated as the lock/unlock flag.  
         [0025]    [ 1022 ] DSP  28  can operate in a plurality of modes including differing normal-operating modes collectively referred to as a handset mode, and a maintenance mode. In the handset mode of hands free telephone system  10 , a communication path  42  is established by way of dual-purpose connector  32  between DSP  28  and mobile telephone  38 . DSP  28  can then provide voice service for hands free conversation and voice recognition through dual-purpose connector  32 . In the maintenance mode of hands free telephone system  10  data can be read from or written to hands free equipment  20  by programming computer  12  via PCM link  24 .  
         [0026]    [ 1023 ] In order to place DSP  28  into the maintenance mode, mode transition commands are transmitted to DSP  28  by the user of programming computer  12  using PCM link  24  and dual purpose connector  32 . The commands for putting DSP  28  into the maintenance mode are defined within hands free telephone system  10  only when DSP  28  is in the idle mode. The procedure for putting DSP  28  into the maintenance mode is as follows: DSP  28  is put into the protocol mode, the Go To Idle command is transmitted, the software version number (SVN) inquiry command is sent in order to determine the current software version within hands free equipment  20 , the Go To Maintenance  1  command is transmitted twice; the Go to Maintenance  2  command is transmitted twice. If the commands received by hands free equipment  20  do not follow this sequence, transition to the maintenance mode is prevented in order to protect DSP memory  36  within hands free equipment  20  from being erroneously altered, for example due to a random link error.  
         [0027]    [ 1024 ] DSP memory  36  can be divided into several segments, wherein the segments within DSP memory  36  can have different sizes. For example, one commercially available memory suitable for use as DSP memory  36  has five segments. The first segment of this memory has sixteen kilobytes. The second and third segments each have eight kilobytes. The third and fourth segments have thirty-two kilobytes and sixty-four kilobytes respectively.  
         [0028]    [ 1025 ] The downloader code within the DSP  28  maintains temporary buffer memory  26 . Temporary buffer memory  26  temporarily holds the data transmitted between DSP memory  36  and programming computer  12 . Temporary buffer memory  26  can be any convenient size. For example, temporary buffer memory  26  can contain sixteen kilobytes. Temporary buffer memory  26  can be filled using a command that instructs DSP  28  to read from DSP memory  36  with a specified page number. It can also be filled by the user of hands free telephone system  10  using the download command.  
         [0029]    [ 1026 ] Data stored within temporary buffer memory  26  can be returned to programming computer  12  in order to determine whether it is correct. If the returned contents of temporary buffer  26  are determined to be correct programming computer  12  issues a command to erase the corresponding locations of DSP memory  36  and a command to program DSP memory  36  with the contents of temporary buffer  26 . The user of hands free telephone system  10  repeats this procedure until all the required pages of DSP memory  36  are updated.  
         [0030]    [ 1027 ] DSP  28  indicates to programming computer  12  that it is ready to receive a command by setting a ready/busy flag in the reverse link. After the command is received by DSP  28 , DSP  28  clears the ready/busy flag and takes a variable amount of time to perform the operations indicated by the received command depending on the complexity of the requested operations. Programming computer  12  clears the command by sending a NOP command and waiting until the READY flag is set by DSP  28  before issuing another command.  
         [0031]    [ 1028 ] After a command is executed, DSP  28  determines whether any errors have occurred during execution and provides an error/success report to programming computer  12  using the E flag. If there are any errors during any part of the execution of the received command the E flag is set to one. Otherwise, the E flag is set to zero in order to report a success to the programming computer  12 .  
         [0032]    [ 1029 ] In order to protect DSP memory  36  from erroneous commands, for example, due to an error in PCM link  24 , certain commands from programming computer  12  must be preceded by an Unlock command in order to access DSP memory  36 . These commands include the commands to erase a sector of DSP memory  36  and to program a page of DSP memory  36 . Before an Unlock command is transmitted by programming computer  12 , the lock/unlock flag L is set to one to indicate that DSP  28  will not accept any memory access commands. When the Unlock Memory command is transmitted, DSP  28  clears the L flag and accepts a memory access command. Any command other than Unlock preceding a memory access command causes hands free equipment  20  to remain locked.  
         [0033]    [ 1030 ] The Read Memory command causes DSP  28  to read data from temporary buffer memory  26  at the page number indicated in the forward link [D 7 -D 1 ] in the case of a sixteen bit PCM period. In the case where a page of buffer memory  26  contains sixteen kilobytes of data the Read Memory command results in a read of sixteen kilobytes. After all of the data is read by DSP  28 , a success or error response is transmitted by DSP  28  through the reverse link E flag along with the R flag. If DSP  28  is not unlocked before sending this command an error is reported and no read from buffer memory  26  is performed by DSP  28 .  
         [0034]    [ 1031 ] The Erase Memory Sector command causes DSP  28  to erase the sector of memory at the page number given in the forward link [D 7 -D 1 ] transmission. D 0  of the forward link can be used to select between half page sectors. When the data is erased within DSP  28  a success or error response is transmitted to programming computer  12  using the reverse link E flag along with the R flag. As previously described, if DSP  28  is not unlocked before sending this command an error is reported and no erasing is performed by DSP  28 .  
         [0035]    [ 1032 ] When the Program Memory command is issued DSP  28  writes the contents of temporary buffer memory  26  into DSP memory  36  at the page number given in the forward link [D 7 -D 1 ]. After all sixteen kilobytes are written according to the Program Memory command, a success or error response is transmitted to programming computer  12  by way of the reverse link E flag along with the R flag. If DSP  28  is not unlocked before sending the Program Memory command an error is reported and no programming is performed by DSP  28 .  
         [0036]    [ 1033 ] When the Download Data command is transmitted from programming computer  12  to DSP  28  for the first time, DSP  28  begins reading data from the forward link [D 7 -D 0 ] of PCM link  24  into buffer memory  26  with the address pointer of buffer memory  26  reset to the beginning of buffer memory  26 . The forward link bits [A 2 -A 0 ] serve as an indicator of the lower three address bits in the current location for the storing of data. DSP  28  transmits the same data and address back to programming computer  12  by way of the reverse link [D 7 -D 0 ] and [A 2 -A 0 ]. Programming computer  12  can later transmit the next command to DSP  28  at its own speed. Since [A 2 -A 0 ] change sequentially, DSP  28  can determine whether errors have occurred by determining that each data item is addressed to the address sequentially following the previous address. Programming computer  12  can wait until it receives the data and address by way of the reverse link before sending the next command. However, this is not necessary. After the downloading, if there is no sequential error, a success flag is sent to programming computer  12  along with the R flag.  
         [0037]    [ 1034 ] During the download process an error is determined if the data bits [D 7 -D 0 ] change while the address bits [A 2 -A 0 ] stay the same. If the E flag is set DSP  28  does not change the contents in temporary buffer  26  until data containing different address bits is received. Programming computer  12  can halt processing before all sixteen kilobytes are sent by transmitting a NOP command. This command stops DSP  28  and causes DSP  28  to generate an error message.  
         [0038]    [ 1035 ] When DSP  28  receives the Upload Data command from programming computer  12  it can transmit sixteen kilobytes of data from temporary buffer  26  to programming computer  12  through the reverse link bits [D 7 -D 0 ] with lower three bits of address [A 2 -A 0 ]. Each time a data byte is applied to the reverse link DSP  28  waits for programming computer  12  to increment the address bits [A 2 -A 0 ] on the forward link before advancing to the next byte. If the address bits sent by programming computer  12  are not advanced sequentially, DSP  28  sets the error flag, terminates the command execution process and waits for a NOP from programming computer  12 . After all bytes have been transmitted, DSP  28  waits for a NOP and writes a success/error message back to programming computer  12  along with the R flag. Programming computer  12  can terminate the uploading process by transmitting a NOP command before the contents of buffer memory  26  are entirely uploaded by DSP  28 . This causes DSP  28  to set the error E flag.  
         [0039]    [ 1036 ] The Upload Memory Device ID command causes DSP  28  to read the device ID of hands free equipment  20  and provide it to programming computer  12 . The device ID transmission can contain two bytes of information, the manufacturer ID and the device ID. The E flag and R flag are also transmitted to programming computer  12  along with the device ID. Since data communication protocol within hands free telephone system  10  is specific to the structure of DSP memory  36  programming computer  12  must have this information. Furthermore, programming computer  12  must have access to the current SVN of hands free equipment  20 .  
         [0040]    [ 1037 ] When the Upload Program Version command is issued by programming computer  12 , DSP  28  transmits the current SVN of the downloaded software present in DSP memory  36  to programming computer  12 . The current software version information can contain two bytes. The success/error flag and READY flag are also transmitted to programming computer  12  along with the current version information.  
         [0041]    [ 1038 ] When programming computer  12  transmits the Upload Check Sum command, DSP  28  performs a check sum calculation on buffer memory  26 . The result of the check sum calculation is transmitted by DSP  28  to programming computer  12  by way of PCM link  24  as reverse link bits [D 7 -D 0 ] and address bits [A 2 -A 0 ]. When the check sum information is transmitted to programming computer the E flag and R flag are transmitted as well.  
         [0042]    [ 1039 ] When no operation is requested by programming computer  12  bits [C 4 -C 0 ] of PCM link  24  are placed into the NOP state. During regular command execution DSP  28  does not release the READY flag from BUSY until the NOP command appears on the forward link. This guarantees that the same command is not executed twice.  
         [0043]    [ 1040 ] Referring now to FIGS.  3 - 5 , there are shown timing diagrams of communication operations performed by programming computer  12  and DSP  28  during handshaking between programming computer  12  and DSP  28 . The operations shown in these timing diagrams include read memory, erase sector and program memory operations.  
         [0044]    [ 1041 ] As shown in FIG. 3, programming computer  12  issues a command when DSP  28  indicates it is READY. Programming computer  12  must send the Unlock Memory command to DSP  28  before issuing requests. DSP  28  transmits the unlock flag and then the busy flag when a set of valid commands is received. It takes varying amounts of time for DSP  28  to execute memory related commands. For example, a typical time for erasing a sector of DSP memory  36  can be 1.5 seconds, 0.5 seconds for programming a page of DSP  28  memory  36 , and 0.005 seconds for reading from memory  36 . DSP  28  maintains the flag BUSY until a NOP command and the operation is finished. When this is complete, the error/success E flag is transmitted by DSP  28  on the reverse link along with the ready R flag.  
         [0045]    [ 1042 ] As shown in FIG. 4, every download command transmitted by computer  12  begins with a first byte of the address followed by the lower three bits of the address. After DSP  28  transmits the command it sets the BUSY flag and applies the byte and address in the reverse link bits [D 7 -D 0 ] and [A 2 -A 0 ]. Programming computer  12  can send the next command without waiting for the reverse link confirmation from DSP  28 . DSP  28  eventually transmits all the received bytes and addresses through the reverse link traffic. After all sixteen kilobytes are transmitted, programming computer  12  sends the NOP command as a signal to DSP  28 , and DSP  28  sets the ready R flag and reports the success/error message using the E flag.  
         [0046]    [ 1043 ] In the process of receiving sixteen kilobytes, if even one erroneous address is received by DSP  28  the error message is transmitted. The programmer of hands free telephone system can terminate the downloading process by sending the NOP command before the last byte of download data is transmitted. When this occurs DSP  28  terminates the receiving process and reports the error message. This prevents DSP  28  from being trapped in an unknown state when the programmer stops communication with DSP  28 . Stopping the PCM clocks for more than 0.1 second puts DSP  28  into the NOP state as well.  
         [0047]    [ 1044 ] As shown in FIG. 5, the Upload Data ID, Device, Version and Check Sum commands work in a similar manner. These commands request DSP  28  to send information back to programming computer  12 . The number of bytes varies for these tasks. In one preferred embodiment there can be sixteen kilobytes for the upload buffer command, two bytes for the device ID, two bytes for the version, and three bytes for the check sum. Programming computer  12  uses the address bits [A 0 -A 2 ] on the forward link PCM stream to control the rate of uploading and is responsible for incrementing the address bits [A 2 -A 0 ]. DSP  28  is responsible for applying the data to the reverse link data bits [D 7 -D 0 ] using the address bits to inform programming computer  12  of the correct address index. After all the bytes are sent, DSP  28  waits for a NOP to set the ready R flag. If in the process of sending sequential data, the address bits sent to DSP  28  are not in the ascending order DSP  28  sets the error E flag. Programming computer  12  then terminates the process and waits for the NOP command to restore the ready R flag. Programming computer  12  can terminate the uploading process by sending the NOP command before the uploading process has finished.  
         [0048]    [ 1045 ] Programming computer  12  is responsible for generating the PCM clock for communications sent over the PCM link  24  when operating in the maintenance mode. Additionally, programming computer  12  is responsible for determining whether PCM link  24  between programming computer  12  and DSP  28  is stable. If PCM link  24  between the computer  12  and DSP  28  is broken for more than one-tenth of a second, DSP  28  either terminates or completes the current command depending on what command is issued. For example, in the cases of the Download Buffer and Upload Version, commands DSP  28  can terminate the command. In the case of Erase Sector, DSP  28  can complete the command. DSP  28  then enters a special No Clock state. DSP  28  does not exit the No Clock state unless PCM link  24  is reestablished and a NOP command is received from computer  12 . If PCM link  24  is broken for a period less than one-tenth of a second, DSP  28  ignores the incident and proceeds with the next command received from programming computer  12 .  
         [0049]    [ 1046 ] The Upload Version command informs programming computer  12  what version of maintenance code DSP  28  is currently running. It also serves as an indicator whether DSP  28  has successfully switched from regular voice modes to the maintenance mode. Programming computer  12  uses the R/E/L flags and the version data in bits [D 7 -D 0 ] to determine whether DSP  28  has successfully made the mode transition.  
         [0050]    [ 1047 ] Additionally, before performing any code downloading, programming computer  12  determines the memory device ID number by sending the Upload Device ID command to DSP  28 . If DSP  28  responds with an error flag, the programming process stops because either the hardware or the memory device is not working properly. If the device ID number is not in the database of programming computer  12  the process must be terminated.  
         [0051]    [ 1048 ] Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown memory backup algorithm  180 . Memory backup algorithm  180  can be executed by programming computer  12  to backup the current contents of DSP memory  36 . Saving voice recognition template data is one example of this application. DSP memory  36  is unlocked, as shown in block  182 . DSP memory  36  can then be read into buffer memory  26  as shown in block  186 . Buffer memory  26  can then be uploaded into programming computer  12  as shown in block  190 . The upload can be repeated if an error occurs.  
         [0052]    [ 1049 ] Referring now to FIGS. 7A, B, page programming algorithm  200  is shown. As previously described programming computer  12  must put hands free equipment  20  into the idle mode and determine the SVN. These operations are shown in blocks  204 ,  208  of programming algorithm  200 . Hands free equipment  20  is put into the maintenance mode as shown in block  262  and the maintenance version is checked in block  216 . The flash ID is checked in block  220  and the flash memory is backed up in block  228 . A page of data is then downloaded to buffer memory  26  and the contents of buffer memory  26  are checked as shown in blocks  232 ,  236 . If the check of the contents does not find any errors the page of flash memory can be erased and programmed as shown in blocks  240 ,  244 . The flash contents are then checked as shown in block  248 .  
         [0053]    [ 1050 ] Programming computer  12  uses the Download Buffer command to transmit sixteen kilobytes of data to buffer memory  26 . If the E flag is set by DSP  28  during the transmission programming computer  12  determines that the contents of buffer memory  26  are valid. Either the Upload Buffer or the Upload Check Sum command can be used to verify the validity of the contents of buffer memory  26 . If the contents are not correct, the programmer can repeat the process until the contents of buffer memory  26  contain all valid data before going on to the next step. Once it is determined that the contents of buffer memory  26  are valid, the Erase Memory command can be sent to erase the page or pages in memory  36  that will be programmed. Once the designated page is erased the Program Memory command can be transmitted to put the buffer contents into the designated page. The programmer can then repeat the process.  
         [0054]    [ 1051 ] The previous description of the preferred embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. The various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without the use of the inventive faculty. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Technology Category: 5