Bootloader that can load using SPI or RS-232 without using a computer

I searched the forums and found a little bit of information but nothing that fits exactly what I need. Is there a way to load a hex file into an 18F without the use of a computer using SPI or RS-232? Not concerned about security or the smaller details at the moment - just curious if it can be done.

So you DON'T want to use either a computer, SPI or RS-232, is that correct? Or do you mean that you DO want to use SPI or RS-232 just NOT from a computer?

This isn't actually bootloading but the result, I think, is what you're after: One way to do it is to get a PICKit3 and use its Programmer-To-Go feature. You download the firmware file into the PICKit3, in the field you connect the PICKit3 to the programming header on your board and press the button - done. You do need to supply power the PICKit3 thru its USB connector but its just power, no data.

/Henrik

To add to Henrik's remarks. A PicKit2 will do the same job and the USB supply can come from either a USB "brick" or a USB power bank.

George

A PicKit2 wouldn't work. If another IC had SPI, RS-232 or some other communication protocol that would work, could that IC load the HEX file onto the PIC without human intervention?

You're being quite vague IMHO, secret government project? :-)
You say no human intervention....so who's deciding when to load the new firmware?

Abyway, in theory yes. As long as the PIC can program its own memory you can create a bootloader that reads the .hex file from "anywhere" (USB, SPI, RS232, I2C, parallel bus, whatever using whatever protocol). But remember that it's actually the PIC itself that is loading/programming itself with "information" from the other device - its not the other device that is "programming" the PIC.

There are, for example, bootloaders available which reads the code from a memory card (CF, SD, MMC etc). I don't know of any written in PBP though.

/Henrik.

a winbond flash chip (w25q32bv or similar) mounted in a sd shell would be nice . you could have the utility of a sd card slot without all the overhead of a sd fat-16 file system .

I don't have any experience with memory cards outside of my digital camera etc but can't you use it basically as a "raw" memory simply by NOT formatting as FAT or whatever. I mean the protocol is likely (haven't looked it up) different than a simple SPI flash IC and without a "proper" file system you won't be able to read/write it from the PC but you can't really do that (easily in this context) with a "raw" SPI flash IC either so what's the difference?

/Henrik.

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You say no human intervention....so who's deciding when to load the new firmware?

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I meant there wouldn't be anyone physically at the device. The device has internet connectivity so the HEX files can be transferred that way.

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There are, for example, bootloaders available which reads the code from a memory card (CF, SD, MMC etc). I don't know of any written in PBP though.

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This would be a good kickstarter project. Any takers?

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I don't have any experience with memory cards outside of my digital camera etc but can't you use it basically as a "raw" memory simply by NOT formatting as FAT or whatever. I mean the protocol is likely (haven't looked it up) different than a simple SPI flash IC and without a "proper" file system you won't be able to read/write it from the PC but you can't really do that (easily in this context) with a "raw" SPI flash IC either so what's the difference?

/Henrik.

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only code size , simplicity and 8 bit mcu friendliness . plus I already know how to talk to a spi flash chip a quick look a sd protocol looks involved

http://alumni.cs.ucr.edu/~amitra/sdc...note_foust.pdf

http://www.microchip.com/forums/m530149.a