Client Processor Device

Abstract

A client processor including a communications receiver for receiving file fragments for the device, a micro-controller system including a microcontroller and a programmable non-volatile memory system, for building and storing application and data files from the fragments, and executing an application of the device by processing at least one application file and associated data identified by configuration instructions included in at least one of the fragments.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A client processor device, including:
 a communications receiver for receiving fragments of files for said device, without requesting the file fragments;   a microcontroller system for processing said file fragments and receiving and storing multiple files at once, and automatically performing an application defined by said files without any user intervention or interaction.   
     
     
         2 . A client processor device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a new application, as defined by said files, is performed by the device without any user intervention or interaction. 
     
     
         3 . A client processor device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device is reconfigured, as defined by said files, without any user intervention or interaction. 
     
     
         4 . A client processor device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the communications receiver is a wireless communications receiver. 
     
     
         5 . A client processor device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein a new application, as defined by said files, is performed by the device without any user intervention or interaction. 
     
     
         6 . A client processor device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the device is reconfigured, as defined by said files, without any user intervention or interaction. 
     
     
         7 . A client processor device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the received fragments for the device include an initial file defining the remaining files as being of a type of application, configuration or data, and defining reading of the files. 
     
     
         8 . A client processor device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein an operating system of the microcontroller system includes at least one of:
 (i) a clock task for implementing a real time clock and calendar;   (ii) a virtual machine task for initiating a virtual machine, and causing reading of said initial file; and executing of a file;   (iii) a command task for establishing device commands for production testing and initial configuration;   (iv) a file system task for processing said fragments and said files and removing unwanted and redundant files;   (v) a communications interface task for controlling said receiver and processing data received by the receiver; and   (vi) tasks for processing of input and output signals for I/O peripherals, such as input buttons, or a GPS receiver of said client processor device.   
     
     
         9 . A client processor device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the operating system includes a scheduler to allocate each task to be processed by the microcontroller system, and allocates semaphores to resources of said device to allow the microcontroller system to identify resources allocated to a running task.