Method for setting up a program-controlled circuit arrangement and circuit arrangement for execution of the method
View Patent ↗In the case of devices with a program-controlled circuit arrangement operating program instructions are necessary for their operation. In order to reduce the storage space necessary for this, in the case of devices which have a connection to a data transmission network in any case, the operating program instructions are not held in the device, but loaded via the data transmission network. For this purpose the circuit arrangement has a start procedure memory, in which is stored a start procedure set up in such a way that for its execution a processor unit connects up via the data transmission network by means of the interface to an operating program server and from this loads operating program instructions into a main memory connected to the processor unit. The storage space required for the start procedure memory can be further reduced, if the start procedure embedded in it is set up so that the processor unit loads the instructions, which are necessary for connecting to the operating program server and for loading from this the operating program instructions, from a download procedure memory.
1. A method for setting up a program-controlled circuit arrangement with a processor unit, an assigned non-volatile start procedure memory and an interface for connection to a data transmission network, whereby the processor unit is set up in such a way that, after being switched on, it executes a start procedure stored in the start procedure memory, wherein a start procedure is stored in the start procedure memory, wherein the start procedure is set up in such a way that during its execution the processor unit connects up by means of the interface to an operating program server and from this loads operating program instructions into a main memory assigned to the processor unit; wherein the start procedure is set up in such a way that during its execution the processor unit loads and executes a download procedure from a non-volatile download procedure memory into the main memory, and the download procedure is set up in such a way that during its execution the processor unit connects up by means of the interface to the operating program server and from this loads operating program instructions into the main memory assigned to the processor unit; and wherein the main memory storing the download procedure is separate from the start procedure memory but part of the programmed-controlled circuit.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the circuit arrangement has an exchange arrangement for exchanging data packets within the data transmission network.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the circuit arrangement is a circuit for providing a telephone and/or fax service via the data transmission network.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the start procedure memory is integrated with the processor unit on a semiconductor module.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the download procedure memory and the processor unit are integrated in various semiconductor modules and the download procedure is loaded serially from the download procedure memory.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the download procedure memory ( 4 ) is a serial EEPROM.
7. A circuit arrangement with a processor unit, an assigned non-volatile start procedure memory and an interface for connection to a data transmission network, whereby the processor unit is set up in such a way that it executes a start procedure stored in the start procedure memory after being switched on, wherein a start procedure is stored in the start procedure memory, wherein the start procedure is set up in such a way that during its execution the processor unit connects up by means of the interface to an operating program server and from this loads operating program instructions into a main memory assigned to the processor unit; wherein the start procedure is set up in such a way that during its execution the processor unit loads and executes a download procedure from a non-volatile download memory, which is connected to the processor unit, into the main memory, whereby the download procedure is set up in such a way that during its execution the processor unit connects up by means of the interface to the operating program server and from this loads operating program instructions into the main memory assigned to the processor unit; and wherein the main memory storing the download procedure is separate from the start procedure memory but part of the programmed-controlled circuit.
8. The circuit arrangement of claim 7 , wherein the circuit arrangement has an exchange arrangement for exchanging data packets within the data transmission network.
9. The circuit arrangement of claim 7 , wherein the circuit arrangement is a circuit for providing a telephone and/or fax service via the data transmission network.
10. The circuit arrangement of claim 7 , wherein the start procedure memory is integrated with the processor unit on a semiconductor module.
11. The circuit arrangement of claim 7 , wherein the download procedure memory and the processor unit are integrated in various semiconductor modules and the download procedure memory has a serial output for the download procedure.
12. The circuit arrangement of claim 11 , wherein the download procedure memory is a serial EEPROM.