IP Library Granted Patent US 9,292,411
Granted Patent B2
US 9,292,411 · App. 13/789,153 · Granted Mar 22, 2016

Wireless debugging and updating of firmware

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,292,411
App. No.
13/789,153
Granted
Mar 22, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A debug control system and method thereof which includes a debug device and a wireless communication module. The debug device is configured to communicate electrical data with a target device via a first signal transmission interface. The wireless communication module is configured to communicate electrical data with the debug device via a second communication interface, and is configured to communicate electrical data with a host device. Electrical data exchanged between the debug control system and the target device is configured to debug or update firmware residing on the target device.

Claims (46)

1. A debug control system, comprising:

a debug device configured to exchange electrical data with a target device via a first signal transmission interface; and

a wireless communication module configured to exchange electrical data with the debug control device via a second signal transmission interface and to exchange electrical data with a host machine via a wireless communication protocol,

wherein the electrical data exchanged between the debug control system and the target device is configured to update firmware residing on the target device by performing:

upon the debug device determining that the firmware on the target device is up-to-date, the debug device establishing a wireless data exchange tunnel over which the host machine debugs the firmware on the target device via a wireless data exchange tunnel,

wherein the host machine debugs the firmware on the target device without installing a new version of the firmware on the target device.

2. The debug control system of claim 1 , wherein the debug device further comprises:

a first micro-control unit, which further comprises:

a data decoding module;

a first data receiving module; and

a first data transmission module; and

a second micro-control unit, which further comprises:

a data processing module;

a second data receiving module; and

a second data transmission module.

3. The debug control system of claim 1 , wherein the debug device comprises a core module, wherein the core module comprises the firmware of the wireless communication module.

4. The debug control system of claim 3 , wherein the firmware comprises a BIOS (Basic Input/Output System).

5. The debug control system of claim 1 , wherein the first signal transmission interface comprises a USB (Universal Serial Bus).

6. The debug control system of claim 1 , wherein the first signal transmission interface comprises an I 2 C (Inter-Integrated Circuit).

7. The debug control system of claim 1 , wherein the first signal transmission interface comprises a UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter).

8. The debug control system of claim 1 , wherein the first signal transmission interface comprises an SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface).

9. The debug control system of claim 1 , wherein the first signal transmission interface comprises a PS/2.

10. The debug control system of claim 1 , wherein the second signal transmission interface comprises an I 2 C.

11. The debug control system of claim 1 , wherein the second signal transmission interface comprises a UART.

12. The debug control system of claim 1 , wherein the second signal transmission interface comprises an SPI.

13. The debug control system of claim 1 , wherein the host machine comprises a portable electronic device.

14. The debug control system of claim 13 , wherein the portable electronic device comprises a PDA, a laptop, a tablet PC or a smart phone.

15. The debug control system of claim 1 , wherein the host machine comprises a desktop.

16. The debug control system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication protocol comprises Bluetooth.

17. The debug control system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication protocol comprises IEEE 802.11.

18. The debug control system of claim 1 , wherein the target device comprises an electronic device having firmware.

19. A method of a debug control, comprising the steps of:

generating a first probing signal to detect a protocol-type of a wireless communication module;

broadcasting a handshake signal;

establishing a wireless data exchange tunnel; and

debugging a firmware of a target device via the wireless communication tunnel without installing a new version of the firmware on the target device;

wherein the wireless communication tunnel is established between a host machine and a debug device.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the step of establishing a wireless data exchange tunnel further comprises generating an acknowledge signal.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the step of generating a first probing signal to detect a protocol-type of a wireless communication module further comprises determining a version of a firmware of the wireless communication module.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the step of determining a version of the wireless communication module further comprises:

entering a crisis mode, when the firmware of the wireless communication module is not up-to-date; and

updating the firmware of the wireless communication module;

wherein the step of entering a crisis mode further comprises stopping all work in operation.

23. The method of claim 19 , wherein the host machine comprises a portable electronic device.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the portable electronic device comprises a PDA, a laptop, a tablet PC or a smart phone.

25. The method of claim 19 , wherein the host machine comprises a desktop.

Assignments (6)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 17, 2021
From: SANTERA EMEA LTD.
To: PHOENIX TECHNOLOGIES EMEA LIMITED
Reel/Frame 057199/0594 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2021
From: CERBERUS BUSINESS FINANCE, LLC
To: PHOENIX TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
Reel/Frame 054891/0928 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2021
From: PHOENIX TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
To: SANTERA EMEA LTD.
Reel/Frame 054893/0734 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 030497 FRAME 0152. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT OF ENTIRE INTEREST. Recorded Jun 20, 2019
From: PHOENIX TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
To: PHOENIX TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
Reel/Frame 049550/0936 →
IP SECURITY AGREEMENT - PATENTS Recorded Sep 30, 2013
From: PHOENIX TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
To: CERBERUS BUSINESS FINANCE, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031315/0700 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 28, 2013
From: CHUANG, CHIA CHIEN
To: PHOENIX TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
Reel/Frame 030497/0152 →