Tibbo Self-Updater App

Release Date:	25-DEC-2018
Project files:	Open GitHub repository
Platforms:
Try it on:	EM2000, EM2001, TPP2(G2), or TPP3(G2)

About This Application

This Tibbo BASIC/C app self-updates the firmware on your EM2000, EM2001, TPP2(G2), or TPP3(G2) device. We call this a self-update because the app is capable of replacing itself with another app, as well as updating TiOS firmware it is running on top of.

The app is meant to be a source of inspiration for application developers working on cloud-connected devices that must be able to self-update using a file received programmatically (for example, from a cloud server).

Note:
You do not need to use this app if you are just looking for a way to upload new firmware or a Tibbo BASIC/C app onto your device. There are easier ways to do this, and they are described in our TIDE, TiOS, Tibbo BASIC, and Tibbo C Manual. Specifically, see these topics: Device Explorer and Monitor/Loader.

.TCU and .TCC Files

This app can handle Tibbo Composite Uncompressed (.TCU) and Tibbo Composite Compressed (.TCC) files.

A single .TCU or a .TCC file may contain any or all items from the following list:

• TiOS firmware;
• Compiled Tibbo BASIC/C application binary;
• Application firmware of the WA2000 Wi-Fi/BLE add-on module;
• Monitor/Loader of the WA2000 Wi-Fi/BLE add-on module.

The only component of your device that this app can't update is the Monitor/Loader (M/L) of your programmable device (do not confuse this with the Monitor/Loader of the WA2000 — these are two separate firmware pieces). To upgrade your M/L, use the M/L upgrader app instead.

.TCU and .TCC files can be generated using our tc_generator utility. Ready-to-use .TCU files are also published in our download section for TiOS files.

Implemented Update Methods

Here are all the modes (ways of receiving .TCU/.TCC files) that this app supports:

• Webpage — input a URL of a file hosted on a web server and the app will download and "deploy" this file;
• Serial — send files via your device's UART;
• Wi-Fi — send files via a TCP connection to your device's Wi-Fi interface;
• Bluetooth — send files through a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) link;
• Ethernet — send files via a TCP connection to your device's Ethernet interface.

Using the App

• This app uses DHCP to configure the IP addresses of the Ethernet and (if the WA2000 module is present) Wi-Fi ports.
• Use the Device Explorer utility (available for download as a standalone utility or as a part of our Tibbo IDE (TIDE) software) to find out the IP address(es) of your device after the DHCP configuration.
• Point your browser to the IP address of your device. You will be presented with a title page as shown in the screenshot above.
• Select the desired mode of receiving a .TCU or a .TCC file and follow the instructions on the screen.
• You may need to prepare additional hardware. This depends on the selected mode of receiving TCU/.TCC files. For example, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modes require the WA2000 Wi-Fi/BLE add-on to be present. Using the serial mode involves connecting your device to the serial port of your PC, and this may involve a USB-to-RS232 cable, RS232 and DB9 Tibbits, and so on.