1.2 OTA Bootloader - External Memory

This example application shows how to use the OTA Bootloader Library to bootload an application on board having external memory using RNBD.

OTA Bootloader and Applications Block Diagram

ota_btl_block_ext_mem_diagram

OTA Bootloader

  • This is a OTA bootloader which resides from

    • The starting location of the flash memory region for SAM devices

    • The starting location of the Boot flash memory region for PIC32M devices

      • Uses a Custom linker script btl.ld to place it in Boot flash memory

Performs Below Operation:

  1. Read the control block stored in the last sector of external memory

  2. Checks if blockUpdated field is set to 1, then it will update the application binary

    • If blockUpdated field is set to 0 then it jumps to Step 6

  3. If application update is required then it

    • Reads the OTA application binary stored from loadAddress in the external memory
    • Programs the read binary to programAddress in the Internal Flash

  4. Once programming is done it generates a CRC32 value over programmed space and verifies it against the CRC32 stored in external memory control block

  5. If verification is successful then set blockUpdated field to 0 and then update the control block in the external memory and trigger reset.

  6. Run OTA application as below

    • Calls the SYS_Deinitialize() function which releases the resources used. This Function is device specific and has to be implemented based on application requirement

    • Jumps to application space to run the OTA application

OTA Application

  • This is a OTA application which resides from

    • The end of bootloader size in device flash memory for SAM devices

    • The start of Program Flash memory for PIC32M devices

      • Uses a Custom linker script app_mz.ld/app_mk.ld to place it in Program flash memory

  • It blinks an LED and provides console output

  • It calls the OTA_SERVICE_Tasks() function which receives the binary over OTA to be programmed into the external memory

  • Once the binary is received and programmed into the external memory, it generates a CRC32 value over programmed external memory space and verifies it against the received CRC32

  • If verification is successful then it updates the control block and trigger reset to run new application binary through OTA bootloader

Development Kits The following table provides links to documentation on how to build and run OTA bootloader and application on different development kits