International Business Machines Corporation

Wayne P Whitley

Francis James Canova, Jr

David J Allard

Charles S Lanier

Byron K Tiller

Julie F Goodwin

Debra A Johnson

Daniel Ming-Te Hsieh

Brent A Beatty

Thomas T Murakami

Randall Scott Springfield

James Robert Lewis

Jose L Rivero

Raymond L Yee

Bradley J DeBauche

Neal A Osborn

William Villafana

Robert Bedford Ferrier

Roger L Cox

Jean Luter Stout

Connie Yudip Au

James Christian Wulf

Harold D Hudson

Russell Stephen Padgett

Anthony F Corkell

A field programming tool for a personal communications device, provides an automatic, capability to update computer programs stored in the device. The personal communications device includes an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), that stores the operating system programs and the applications programs to be loaded into a random access memory (RAM) for executed by a central processing unit (CPU) in the device. A reprogramming card is provided for the device, containing pre-stored new programs that are to be loaded into the EPROM of the device. A method is provided for automatically loading the new programs from the reprogramming card into the EPROM, in an accurate, foolproof manner. This is accomplished using a sequencing program stored on the reprogramming card and loaded into the RAM of the device, where it is executed. An option attach connector alerts the device that the reprogramming card is connected to the PCMCIA slot of the device. It's presence is a signal to the device to begin the automatic operation of reprogramming the EPROM with the new programs stored in the reprogramming card, using the sequencing program in the reprogramming card.

Field programming apparatus and method for updating programs in a

An option attach connector has a first indicator bit combination that alerts the device that a public switched telephone network connection has been made to it. The presence of the first indicator bit combination is a signal to the device that telephone, FAX, and E-MAIL communications applications are to be conducted over a PSTN link. The presence of the first indicator bit combination invokes a stored computer program to provide appropriate connections between the PSTN link and the telephone, FAX, and modem hardware in the device. The connections are made by an audio multiplexer that receives control signals from the system CPU, while executing the stored computer program. The program determines the communications application selected by the user and selectively configures the PSTN link to be connected to the either the ear piece and microphone for voice communications, or to the FAX/modem for FAX communications, or to the modem alone for E-MAIL communications. The absence of the option attach connector invokes a default indicator bit combination that alerts the device that a cellular telephone network connection is desired by the user. The presence of the default indicator bit combination is a signal to the device that telephone, FAX, and E-mail communications applications are to be conducted over a cellular network.

Selective reconfiguration method and apparatus in a multiple application

A personal communication apparatus includes a digital processor, a memory coupled to the processor, an operating system, stored in the memory and executable by the processor, a touch-screen user interface coupled to the processor and the memory and responsive to file execution commands from the user, and a navigation utility file, executable by the processor, for initiating execution of files and for monitoring the sequence in which file executions occur. The Navigation utility maintains a stack in the memory into which the calling sequences of files are stored according to the order in which files were executed. In one embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a modem and RF transceiver coupled to the processor for receiving and transmitting data. In another embodiment, the communicator further includes a port for receiving an external memory medium containing a plurality of executable files.

Personal communicator apparatus

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Boca Raton, FL, United States of America

Wayne P Whitley