Dynamic firmware updating of an embedded system
Kilpeläinen, Heikki (2023)
2023
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202303173785
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202303173785
Tiivistelmä
Software updates are important for maintaining functionality of an embedded systems. For a firmware update to take effect, the system’s memory must be re-programmed, and its execution re-initialized through a power-cycle. However, it is not always a feasibly conductible operation due to the requirements set by the system’s deployment environment. Autonomously and programmatically performed firmware update without external assistance could provide new use cases for systems which do not benefit from the conventional update methods.
The objective of this thesis was to design a method for conducting a dynamic firmware update on an embedded system. It was required to receive and apply updates to the program’s functionality during runtime without a need for a power-cycle. To promote unbiased problem solving, the method was developed in an experimental and explorative research which was based on a progressive literature review and a current state analysis.
The specific topic was found to be rather unprecedented in its existing field of research. Throughout the process the work’s requirements were observed increasing in complexity, which resulted in the time requirements for solving all the problems becoming unknown. Despite that, the essential problems were identified for further development.
As an outcome, the work resulted in a theoretical foundation for the method, which enables continuing development for a possible future implementation. Until a testable implementation the work’s feasibility against the objective can not be reliably evaluated.
The objective of this thesis was to design a method for conducting a dynamic firmware update on an embedded system. It was required to receive and apply updates to the program’s functionality during runtime without a need for a power-cycle. To promote unbiased problem solving, the method was developed in an experimental and explorative research which was based on a progressive literature review and a current state analysis.
The specific topic was found to be rather unprecedented in its existing field of research. Throughout the process the work’s requirements were observed increasing in complexity, which resulted in the time requirements for solving all the problems becoming unknown. Despite that, the essential problems were identified for further development.
As an outcome, the work resulted in a theoretical foundation for the method, which enables continuing development for a possible future implementation. Until a testable implementation the work’s feasibility against the objective can not be reliably evaluated.