WO1999019800A2 - Method for copying software into a flash disk on an embedded pc - Google Patents

Method for copying software into a flash disk on an embedded pc Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1999019800A2
WO1999019800A2 PCT/NO1998/000293 NO9800293W WO9919800A2 WO 1999019800 A2 WO1999019800 A2 WO 1999019800A2 NO 9800293 W NO9800293 W NO 9800293W WO 9919800 A2 WO9919800 A2 WO 9919800A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
dos
embedded
target
programme
flash disk
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NO1998/000293
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO1999019800A3 (en
Inventor
Per Erik Nissen
Henrik Vedeler
Original Assignee
Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson filed Critical Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson
Priority to AU12645/99A priority Critical patent/AU1264599A/en
Publication of WO1999019800A2 publication Critical patent/WO1999019800A2/en
Publication of WO1999019800A3 publication Critical patent/WO1999019800A3/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F8/00—Arrangements for software engineering
    • G06F8/60—Software deployment
    • G06F8/61—Installation
    • G06F8/63—Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method for making an exact replica of software contained in an embedded master PC on a flash disk and to download this copied software to a flash disk on an embedded target PC.
  • the method is espe- cially well suited for making large numbers of PCs with flash disks where the application programmes as well as BIOS extensions and operating system are installed in the production process.
  • This process can be carried out by means of the BIOS in the target PC and a PC104/PC-CARD/etc .
  • a manually process like this has several disadvantages like high costs for installing PC104 boards for formatting the C: ⁇ drive on every produced target PC, it uses long time and has high risk for errors due to the high number of manual steps.
  • US 5 519 843 and US 5 535 357 relates to a flash memory system having a controller and a flash memory device for providing BIOS, operating system and user storage capabilities, said system being designed as integrated circuit packages compatible with conventional ROM BIOS chips for readily upgrading of existing systems.
  • the present invention describes a method for copying application software and DOS into the flash disk on a embedded target PC in mass production.
  • the method is cost effective and has a very low possibility for errors.
  • the method is comprised by the following steps:
  • Figure 1 illustrates the process for establishing a DOS master file in the development department, the transfer of the DOS master file to the factory, and the target PC with the flash disk and the embedded test programme.
  • Figure 2 is a functional block diagram, illustrating how the developed DOS . exe programme establishes the DOS master file by reading the flash memory byte for byte, converts the read data to ascii, and appends this to the DOS master file, followed by a comparation to ensure that the read and converted file contains the same data as the original flash memory, and how a CRC32 of the whole flash memory is calculated and appended to the master file.
  • the present invention is developed to be able to produce embedded PCs with all necessary software installed for the preferred embodiment for the PC.
  • the software is stored in a flash disk instead of an ordinary hard disk.
  • the present invention describes a method for establishing a master file containing all this necessary software by means of a first embedded (master) PC (A) , standard purchased software and a special software developed to read out the stored software in the flash disk (F) on the first embedded (master) PC (A) , and then make a DOS master file (2) which can easily be downloaded to a second embedded (target) PC (B) , containing an exactly similar flash disk (f) as the first embedded (master) PC (A).
  • the first step in the process is to format the flash disk (F) in the first embedded (master) PC (A) to a C: ⁇ drive and install the right software in said first embedded (master) PC (A) .
  • This is done by means of BIOS, an exter- nal floppy disk drive and a PC104/PC-CARD/etc .
  • the software installed in the flash disk (F) on the first embedded (master) PC (A) contains DOS, file system, BIOS extensions and application software.
  • This first step is standard procedure, described by the supplier of the purchased software developed for installing software on flash disks.
  • the new invented DOS programme, copy.exe, (1) is used to scan the flash disk (F) on the first embedded (master) PC (A) and to read out the contents from the flash array address space, byte for byte, by the software stored in the flash disk (F) on the first embedded (master) PC (A) .
  • Each byte is converted to ascii characters, and address information as well as checksums are added and stored in a data file, the DOS master file (2), with standard S-record format.
  • a CRC32 of the whole flash array address space is calculated, converted to ascii, and appended to the S-record data in the DOS master file (2) .
  • the DOS master file (2) contains now all the information stored in the flash disk (F) , the data and its location in the flash array on the first embedded (master) PC (A) .
  • the BIST Busilt In Self Test
  • PROM Binary In Self Test
  • a strap (B.l) is set in the connector. This strap (B.l) forces the CPU reset vector at power up to jump to the embedded test programme (3) stored in the PROM.
  • the embedded test programme (3) will then start to read the DOS master file (2) over the serial port, using a simple ascii transfer protocol between the second embedded (target) PC (B) , and the factory test PC (C) .
  • the embedded test programme (3) converts the ascii data from the DOS master file (2), and stores the data in the flash disk (f), according to the address information in the DOS master file (2).
  • the embedded test programme (3) calculates the CRC32 check of the entire flash array (f) and compares it with the CRC32 information from the DOS master file (2) .
  • the second embedded (target) PC (B) When the strap (B.l) is removed, the second embedded (target) PC (B) will boot from the flash disk (f) at power-on.
  • the flash disk (f) in the second embedded (target) PC (f) is now an exact replica of the flash disk (F) in the first embedded (master) PC (A) , containing DOS, file system, flash disk drives, BIOS extension that hooks the BIOS Int 13H (Fixed disk DSR) , application programme and other files that were copied to the first embedded (mas- ter) PC (A) from the external drives (D: ⁇ ,A: ⁇ , etc.)
  • the method is described in relation to a preferred embodiment, the copying of the contents in a flash disk in an embedded master PC and the downloading of this in a second embedded PC to make a replica of the flash disk. It is not meant to restrict the use of the method to only this application.
  • the method can also be used to copy software from controllers, and Flash EEPROMS for making replicas thereof.

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for copying application software and DOS into the flash disk on a embedded target PC in mass production. The method is cost effective and has a very low possibility for errors. The method is comprised by the following steps: installing application software and DOS in a flash disk (F) on a first embedded (master) PC (A); copying the contents byte for byte of the said flash disk by means of an invented DOS programme, copy.exe, (1); storing this copied data in a DOS master file (2); and downloading the data to the flash disk (f) in a second embedded (target) PC (B), by means of an embedded test programme (3) in the second embedded (target) PC (B) and a strap (B.1).

Description

FAST REPLICA OF EMBEDDED PC FLASH DISK
Technical field
The invention relates to a method for making an exact replica of software contained in an embedded master PC on a flash disk and to download this copied software to a flash disk on an embedded target PC. The method is espe- cially well suited for making large numbers of PCs with flash disks where the application programmes as well as BIOS extensions and operating system are installed in the production process.
Prior Art
Today the user or the manufacturer has to install application software and make a set up for the PC when it is taken into use, or manually perform this operation in the production process for the embedded target PC with the flash disk or so called PC C:\ drive. This process can be carried out by means of the BIOS in the target PC and a PC104/PC-CARD/etc . A manually process like this has several disadvantages like high costs for installing PC104 boards for formatting the C:\ drive on every produced target PC, it uses long time and has high risk for errors due to the high number of manual steps.
From US 5 537 531 there is known a portable computer wherein the DOS and the application programmes are respectively stored in a DOS ROM and an application ROM, so that the DOS or the application can be quickly executed without installing processing from floppy disks.
US 5 519 843 and US 5 535 357 relates to a flash memory system having a controller and a flash memory device for providing BIOS, operating system and user storage capabilities, said system being designed as integrated circuit packages compatible with conventional ROM BIOS chips for readily upgrading of existing systems.
However, the cited publications are silent about how to make an exact replica of software contained in an embed- ded master PC on a flash disk thereof, and are also silent about how to download such copied software to a flash disk in an embedded target PC in a rapid, cost- saving and safe manner .
Summary of the invention
The present invention describes a method for copying application software and DOS into the flash disk on a embedded target PC in mass production. The method is cost effective and has a very low possibility for errors. The method is comprised by the following steps:
- installing application software and DOS in a flash disk on a first embedded (master) PC, - copying the contents byte for byte of said flash disk by means of a special DOS programme,
- storing the copied data in a DOS master file, and
- downloading the data to the flash disk in a second embedded (target) PC, by means of an embedded test programme in the second embedded (target) PC and a strap .
Further features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the enclosed drawings, as well as from the enclosed patent claims .
Brief description of the drawings
Figure 1 illustrates the process for establishing a DOS master file in the development department, the transfer of the DOS master file to the factory, and the target PC with the flash disk and the embedded test programme. Figure 2 is a functional block diagram, illustrating how the developed DOS . exe programme establishes the DOS master file by reading the flash memory byte for byte, converts the read data to ascii, and appends this to the DOS master file, followed by a comparation to ensure that the read and converted file contains the same data as the original flash memory, and how a CRC32 of the whole flash memory is calculated and appended to the master file.
Description of the invention and preferred embodiments
The present invention is developed to be able to produce embedded PCs with all necessary software installed for the preferred embodiment for the PC. The software is stored in a flash disk instead of an ordinary hard disk. The present invention describes a method for establishing a master file containing all this necessary software by means of a first embedded (master) PC (A) , standard purchased software and a special software developed to read out the stored software in the flash disk (F) on the first embedded (master) PC (A) , and then make a DOS master file (2) which can easily be downloaded to a second embedded (target) PC (B) , containing an exactly similar flash disk (f) as the first embedded (master) PC (A).
The first step in the process is to format the flash disk (F) in the first embedded (master) PC (A) to a C:\ drive and install the right software in said first embedded (master) PC (A) . This is done by means of BIOS, an exter- nal floppy disk drive and a PC104/PC-CARD/etc . The software installed in the flash disk (F) on the first embedded (master) PC (A) , contains DOS, file system, BIOS extensions and application software. This first step is standard procedure, described by the supplier of the purchased software developed for installing software on flash disks. However, this procedure takes a long time, has many manual steps, and has high costs, due to installing the PC104 board for formatting of the C:\ drive, and it is therefore not suited for mass production. When the first (master) PC (A) is installed with all needed software, the new invented DOS programme, copy.exe, (1) is used to scan the flash disk (F) on the first embedded (master) PC (A) and to read out the contents from the flash array address space, byte for byte, by the software stored in the flash disk (F) on the first embedded (master) PC (A) . Each byte is converted to ascii characters, and address information as well as checksums are added and stored in a data file, the DOS master file (2), with standard S-record format. A CRC32 of the whole flash array address space is calculated, converted to ascii, and appended to the S-record data in the DOS master file (2) . To run the invented DOS programme, copy.exe, (1), and create the DOS master file (2), it is not necessary to know how the data was located in the flash disk (F) on the first embedded PC. The DOS master file (2) contains now all the information stored in the flash disk (F) , the data and its location in the flash array on the first embedded (master) PC (A) .
During the production of the second embedded (target) PC (B) , there is included in the BIST (Built In Self Test) programme (3), stored in a PROM, a function for copying the DOS master file (2) into the flash disk (f). This is done in the factory by connecting the second embedded (target) PC (B) via a serial interface (RS232) to an external test PC (C) in the factory for test and downloading of the DOS master file (2) . When the second em- bedded (target) PC (B) is connected to the factory test
PC (C) , a strap (B.l) is set in the connector. This strap (B.l) forces the CPU reset vector at power up to jump to the embedded test programme (3) stored in the PROM. The embedded test programme (3) will then start to read the DOS master file (2) over the serial port, using a simple ascii transfer protocol between the second embedded (target) PC (B) , and the factory test PC (C) . The embedded test programme (3) converts the ascii data from the DOS master file (2), and stores the data in the flash disk (f), according to the address information in the DOS master file (2). Finally, the embedded test programme (3) calculates the CRC32 check of the entire flash array (f) and compares it with the CRC32 information from the DOS master file (2) .
When the strap (B.l) is removed, the second embedded (target) PC (B) will boot from the flash disk (f) at power-on. The flash disk (f) in the second embedded (target) PC (f) is now an exact replica of the flash disk (F) in the first embedded (master) PC (A) , containing DOS, file system, flash disk drives, BIOS extension that hooks the BIOS Int 13H (Fixed disk DSR) , application programme and other files that were copied to the first embedded (mas- ter) PC (A) from the external drives (D:\,A:\, etc.)
In this description the method is described in relation to a preferred embodiment, the copying of the contents in a flash disk in an embedded master PC and the downloading of this in a second embedded PC to make a replica of the flash disk. It is not meant to restrict the use of the method to only this application. The method can also be used to copy software from controllers, and Flash EEPROMS for making replicas thereof.

Claims

P a t e n t c l a i m s
1. A method for making exact copies of the software contained in a flash disk on an embedded master PC to an embedded target PC comprising a similar flash disk, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by the following steps:
- formating and installing application software and DOS in a flash disk on a first embedded (master) PC,
- copying the contents byte for byte of said flash disk by means of a special DOS programme,
- storing the copied data in a DOS master file, and
- downloading the data to the flash disk in a second embedded (target) PC, by means of an embedded test programme in the second embedded (target) PC and a strap.
2. Method as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that when reading byte for byte, by means of said special DOS programme, copy.exe, (1), the contents from the flash array address space, each byte is converted to ascii characters, and address information as well as checksums are added and scored in a DOS master file (2), wherein the formatting of data is standard S-record format.
3. Method as claimed in claims 1 or 2 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d by the further steps : - calculate a CRC32 of the whole flash array address space, convert said CRC32 to ascii, and append to the S-record data in the DOS master file (2)
4. Method as claimed in claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by the further steps:
- transfer the copied DOS master file (2), containing exact information about the data and its location in the flash array to the factory as a master DOS file for replication of the entire C:\ drive (f) on the manufactured target PC (B)
5. Method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by the further steps: - connect the target PC (B) in the production line to the test equipment PC (C) for test and download of the flash array contents from the DOS master file (2) over a serial line (RS232) .
6. Method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by the further steps :
- set a strap (B.l) when powerup on the target PC to make the CPU reset vector in the PROM memorised test programme jump to the embedded test programme (3) , and
- use the target embedded test programme (3) to read the DOS master file (2) over the serial port, using for example a simple ascii transfer protocol between target (B) and test equipment (C) .
7. Method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by the further steps:
- convert, by means of the target embedded test programme (3), ascii data from the DOS master file (2) and programme the data into the flash array
(f) of the target PC according to the address information in the DOS master file (2),
- calculate check sums on each S-record and compare it with the check sum information from the DOS master file, and
- calculate the CRC32 check for the entire flash array (f) , by means of the target programme, and compare it with CRC32 information from the DOS master file (2) .
8. Method as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the special DOS programme, copy.exe, (1), is run from a physical hard disk (D:\drive), to copy the contents of the whole said flash array into said DOS master file (2) that is readable by a PC.
9. Method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by the further steps :
- using standard procedure described by flash disk software vendor to "format" and "sys" the flash array on a first embedded PC (master) (A) , a purchased software interfacing the flash array hardware and emulating a hard disk (C:\) drive to the DOS (Disk Operating System) , and copying application and other necessary files from a floppy drive to the first embedded PC (A) flash disk (C:\drive) (F) , as well as starting up the application when the flash disk is bootable at power up, i.e. when all software, drivers and BIOS extensions are installed according to the vendors Developer's Guide.
10. A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the target PC is an embedded controller.
PCT/NO1998/000293 1997-10-15 1998-10-01 Method for copying software into a flash disk on an embedded pc WO1999019800A2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU12645/99A AU1264599A (en) 1997-10-15 1998-10-01 Fast replica of embedded pc flash disk

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NO974761 1997-10-15
NO974761A NO974761L (en) 1997-10-15 1997-10-15 Procedure for copying software

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1999019800A2 true WO1999019800A2 (en) 1999-04-22
WO1999019800A3 WO1999019800A3 (en) 1999-07-29

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Family Applications (1)

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PCT/NO1998/000293 WO1999019800A2 (en) 1997-10-15 1998-10-01 Method for copying software into a flash disk on an embedded pc

Country Status (3)

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AU (1) AU1264599A (en)
NO (1) NO974761L (en)
WO (1) WO1999019800A2 (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0489204A1 (en) * 1990-12-04 1992-06-10 Hewlett-Packard Limited Reprogrammable data storage device
US5471674A (en) * 1992-02-07 1995-11-28 Dell Usa, L.P. Computer system with plug-in override of system ROM
US5487161A (en) * 1992-11-25 1996-01-23 Norand Corp. Computerized data terminal with switchable memory address for start-up and system control instructions
US5590373A (en) * 1994-07-25 1996-12-31 International Business Machines Corporation Field programming apparatus and method for updating programs in a personal communications device

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0489204A1 (en) * 1990-12-04 1992-06-10 Hewlett-Packard Limited Reprogrammable data storage device
US5471674A (en) * 1992-02-07 1995-11-28 Dell Usa, L.P. Computer system with plug-in override of system ROM
US5487161A (en) * 1992-11-25 1996-01-23 Norand Corp. Computerized data terminal with switchable memory address for start-up and system control instructions
US5590373A (en) * 1994-07-25 1996-12-31 International Business Machines Corporation Field programming apparatus and method for updating programs in a personal communications device

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
EMBEDDED SYSTEMS PROGRAMMING, Volume 9, No. 2, February 1996, LINN J., "Boot and Application Software Design Tips", pages 78-80, 82, 84-85. *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO974761D0 (en) 1997-10-15
NO974761L (en) 1999-04-16
AU1264599A (en) 1999-05-03
WO1999019800A3 (en) 1999-07-29

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