Innovative Firmware Update Method to Microcontrollers during Runtime
This article presents a new firmware update paradigm for optimising the procedure in microcontrollers. The aim is to allow updating during program execution, without interruptions or restarts, replacing only specific code segments. The proposed method uses static and absolute addresses to locate and...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Electronics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/13/7/1328 |
| _version_ | 1797212706496839680 |
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| author | Bernardino Pinto Neves Victor D. N. Santos António Valente |
| author_facet | Bernardino Pinto Neves Victor D. N. Santos António Valente |
| author_sort | Bernardino Pinto Neves |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article presents a new firmware update paradigm for optimising the procedure in microcontrollers. The aim is to allow updating during program execution, without interruptions or restarts, replacing only specific code segments. The proposed method uses static and absolute addresses to locate and isolate the code segment to be updated. The work focuses on Microchip’s PIC18F27K42 microcontroller and includes an example of updating functionality without affecting ongoing applications. This approach is ideal for band limited channels, reducing the amount of data transmitted during the update process. It also allows incremental changes to the program code, preserving network capacity, and reduces the costs associated with data transfer, especially in firmware update scenarios using cellular networks. This ability to update the normal operation of the device, avoiding service interruption and minimising downtime, is of remarkable value. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:46:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6ae49db92fe341569ad189b7be24e8e8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-9292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:46:39Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Electronics |
| spelling | doaj.art-6ae49db92fe341569ad189b7be24e8e82024-04-12T13:17:24ZengMDPI AGElectronics2079-92922024-04-01137132810.3390/electronics13071328Innovative Firmware Update Method to Microcontrollers during RuntimeBernardino Pinto Neves0Victor D. N. Santos1António Valente2Engineering Department, School of Sciences and Technology, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, PortugalPolytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Coimbra Institute of Engineering, Rua Pedro Nunes-Quinta da Nora, 3030-199 Coimbra, PortugalEngineering Department, School of Sciences and Technology, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, PortugalThis article presents a new firmware update paradigm for optimising the procedure in microcontrollers. The aim is to allow updating during program execution, without interruptions or restarts, replacing only specific code segments. The proposed method uses static and absolute addresses to locate and isolate the code segment to be updated. The work focuses on Microchip’s PIC18F27K42 microcontroller and includes an example of updating functionality without affecting ongoing applications. This approach is ideal for band limited channels, reducing the amount of data transmitted during the update process. It also allows incremental changes to the program code, preserving network capacity, and reduces the costs associated with data transfer, especially in firmware update scenarios using cellular networks. This ability to update the normal operation of the device, avoiding service interruption and minimising downtime, is of remarkable value.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/13/7/1328firmware updatepartial updateruntimeinternet of thingsmicrocontrollers |
| spellingShingle | Bernardino Pinto Neves Victor D. N. Santos António Valente Innovative Firmware Update Method to Microcontrollers during Runtime Electronics firmware update partial update runtime internet of things microcontrollers |
| title | Innovative Firmware Update Method to Microcontrollers during Runtime |
| title_full | Innovative Firmware Update Method to Microcontrollers during Runtime |
| title_fullStr | Innovative Firmware Update Method to Microcontrollers during Runtime |
| title_full_unstemmed | Innovative Firmware Update Method to Microcontrollers during Runtime |
| title_short | Innovative Firmware Update Method to Microcontrollers during Runtime |
| title_sort | innovative firmware update method to microcontrollers during runtime |
| topic | firmware update partial update runtime internet of things microcontrollers |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/13/7/1328 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT bernardinopintoneves innovativefirmwareupdatemethodtomicrocontrollersduringruntime AT victordnsantos innovativefirmwareupdatemethodtomicrocontrollersduringruntime AT antoniovalente innovativefirmwareupdatemethodtomicrocontrollersduringruntime |