Two-stage flash programming for embedded systems
Disclosed are devices and methods for improving the initialization of devices housing memories. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed comprising writing a test program to a first region of a memory device during production of the memory device; executing a self-test program in response to detecting a first power up of the memory device, the self-test program stored within the test program; and retrieving and installing an image from a remote data source in response to detecting a subsequent power up of the memory device, the retrieving performed by the test program.
1. A method comprising: writing a test program to a first region of a memory device during production of the memory device; executing a self-test program in response to detecting a first power up of the memory device, the self-test program stored within the test program; and retrieving and installing an image from a remote data source in response to detecting a subsequent power up, during an installation process of the memory device, the retrieving performed by the test program.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting that the memory device is connected to a bus upon detecting the subsequent power up.
3. The method of claim 1 , the retrieving the image comprising establishing communications with a production line server, the production line server storing one or more images including the image.
4. The method of claim 1 , the writing a test program comprising writing the test program after soldering the memory device to a printed circuit board.
5. The method of claim 1 , the writing a test program including one or more communications drivers and self-programming software.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising running an integrity test on the installed image.
7. The method of claim 1 , the retrieving the image comprising retrieving the image using an over-the-air network.
8. A device comprising: a microcontroller; and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for tangibly storing thereon program instructions for execution by the processor, the stored program instructions comprising a test program written to a first region of a memory device during production of the memory device, the test program configured to: execute a self-test program stored within the test program in response to detecting a first power up of the memory device; and retrieve and install an image from a remote data source in response to detecting a subsequent power up, during an installation process of the memory device, the retrieving performed by the test program.
9. The device of claim 8 , the test program further configured to detect that the device is connected to a bus upon detecting the subsequent power up.
10. The device of claim 8 , the retrieving the image comprising establishing communications with a production line server, the production line server storing one or more images including the image.
11. The device of claim 8 , the writing a test program comprising writing the test program after soldering the memory device to a printed circuit board.
12. The device of claim 8 , the writing a test program including one or more communications drivers and self-programming software.
13. The device of claim 8 , the test program further configured to run an integrity test on the installed image.
14. The device of claim 8 , the retrieving the image comprising retrieving the image using an over-the-air network.
15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium for tangibly storing computer program instructions capable of being executed by a computer processor, the computer program instructions defining the steps of: writing a test program to a first region of a memory device during production of the memory device; executing a self-test program in response to detecting a first power up of the memory device, the self-test program stored within the test program; and retrieving and installing an image from a remote data source in response to detecting a subsequent power up, during an installation process of the memory device, the retrieving performed by the test program.
16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , the computer program instructions further defining the step of detecting that the memory device is connected to a bus upon detecting the subsequent power up.
17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , the retrieving the image comprising establishing communications with a production line server, the production line server storing one or more images including the image.
18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , the writing a test program comprising writing the test program after soldering the memory device to a printed circuit board.
19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , the writing a test program including one or more communications drivers and self-programming software.
20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , the computer program instructions further defining the step of running an integrity test on the installed image.
21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , the retrieving the image comprising retrieving the image using an over-the-air network.