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Method and apparatus for installing software in mobile communication terminalRelated Patent Categories: Data Processing: Software Development, Installation, And Management, Software InstallationMethod and apparatus for installing software in mobile communication terminal description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060112386, Method and apparatus for installing software in mobile communication terminal. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application claims priority to an application entitled "Method and Apparatus for Installing Software in Mobile Communication Terminal" filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Nov. 20, 2004 and assigned Serial No. 2004-95561, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for installing software in a mobile communication terminal, and more particularly to an apparatus and a method to upgrade or restore software to a mobile communication terminal using an external memory. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Generally, in order to update application programs of a mobile communication terminal (e.g., a portable telephone), a user connects a USB cable to a mobile communication terminal, so that the application programs can be downloaded to the mobile communication terminal from a personal computer (PC) through the USB cable. [0006] However, because the USB cable and a PC program are conventionally the only manner for downloading such application programs, it is inconvenient and cumbersome for the user. [0007] In the meantime, when power is applied to the mobile communication terminal, a booting program must be executed prior to application programs and booting must be successfully achieved in order to enable the execution of the application programs. In a typical booting procedure, the typical booting procedure sets up a central processing unit (CPU) and a clock, initializes a memory (e.g., SDRAM) for an operation, reads a boot program stored in a non-volatile memory into the initialized memory, and then executes the boot program in the initialized memory. [0008] However, if errors have occurred in the boot program, high-priced equipment, such as the Joint Test Access Group (JTAG), is required in order to repair the erroneous boot program. [0009] Herein, the term "boot program" denotes a program performing operations required before application programs are executed. For example, the boot program performs operations required when an application program for upgrading software is downloaded. Accordingly, if errors have occurred in the boot program, it is difficult to perform operations required when an application program for upgrading software is downloaded. In addition, the boot program initializes hardware before application programs are executed and reads and loads the application programs to a random access memory (RAM) from a non-volatile memory such that the application programs can be executed. Therefore, an erroneous boot program may cause serious problems. [0010] In the meantime, equipment such as the JTAG is required in order to repair the erroneous boot program. In addition, the JTAG requires only skilled developers as well as a high price, so general users rarely repair the erroneous boot program using the JTAG. In addition, it is difficult for a service center to obtain the JTAG. Furthermore, the hardware of a mobile communication terminal must be modified in most cases in order to connect the JTAG thereto. For this reason, some times, the repair of the erroneous boot program may be abandoned, and the mobile communication terminal may no longer be used. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for installing software in a mobile communication terminal using an external memory without additional equipment or additional programs. [0012] To accomplish the above objects, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for installing software in a mobile communication terminal, the apparatus including an external memory having software to be installed, a detector of the mobile communication terminal for, if an external memory is plugged in the mobile communication terminal, detecting a plugging state of the external memory, a memory being embedded in the mobile communication terminal, and a controller of the mobile communication terminal for reading the software to be installed from the external memory and storing the software in the memory if connection with the external memory is detected. [0013] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for installing software in a mobile communication terminal using an external memory having the software, the method including the steps of determining if the external memory is plugged in the mobile communication terminal and if software installation is requested, and if so, repeating an operation of reading data from the external memory by a predetermined size and storing the data in a corresponding block of a memory embedded in the mobile communication terminal until all data stored in the external memory are read and stored in the embedded memory. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [0015] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of an apparatus for installing software in a mobile communication terminal using an external memory according to one embodiment of the present invention; [0016] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for upgrading an application program of a mobile communication terminal using an external memory according to one embodiment of the present invention; and [0017] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for restoring a boot program to a mobile communication terminal using the external memory according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0018] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same or similar components in drawings are designated by the same reference numerals as far as possible although they are shown in different drawings. In the following description of the present invention, detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention unclear. [0019] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of an apparatus for installing software in a mobile communication terminal by using an external memory according to one embodiment of the present invention. [0020] A dotted part having reference numeral 100 indicates the mobile communication terminal, and reference numeral 200 indicates the external memory. The mobile communication terminal 100 can detect the plugging state of the external memory 200 through the state of a GPIO (general purpose input/output) pin. The GPIO pin is positioned at a control module 20 of the mobile communication terminal 100. The control module 20 may be realized by using a QualComm MSM (mobile station modem) chip. Continue reading about Method and apparatus for installing software in mobile communication terminal... Full patent description for Method and apparatus for installing software in mobile communication terminal Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method and apparatus for installing software in mobile communication terminal patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Method and apparatus for installing software in mobile communication terminal or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: System and method for updating information Next Patent Application: Updating elements in a data storage facility using a predefined state machine, with parallel activation Industry Class: Data processing: software development, installation, and management ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Method and apparatus for installing software in mobile communication terminal patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.10855 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Daimler Chrysler , DirecTV , Exxonmobil Chemical Company , Goodyear , Intel , Kyocera Wireless , 174 |
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