Chapter 8. Airbeam; Introduction; Airbeam Package Builder - Symbol PDT 8000 Series Product Reference Manual

AirBEAM

Introduction

The AirBEAM product allows specially designed software packages to be transferred
between a host server and Symbol wireless handheld devices. Before transfer, AirBEAM
checks and compares package version, so that only updated packages are loaded.
AirBEAM resides on radio-equipped client devices, and allows them to request, download
and install software, as well as to upload files and status data. Both download and upload
of files can be accomplished in a single communications session. The ability to transfer
software over a radio network can greatly reduce the logistical efforts of client software
management.
In an AirBEAM system, a network-accessible host server acts as the storage point for the
software transfer. The AirBEAM client uses the industry standard FTP or TFTP file transfer
protocols to check the host system for updates, and if necessary, to transfer updated
software.

AirBEAM Package Builder

In a typical distributed AirBEAM system, software to be transferred is organized into
packages. In general, an AirBEAM package is simply a set of files that are assigned
attributes both as an entire package and as individual component files. The package is
assigned a version number, and the transfer occurs when an updated version is available.
An AirBEAM package can optionally contain developer-specified logic to be used to install
the package. Installation logic is typically used to update client device FLASH images or
radio firmware. Examples of common AirBEAM packages would include packages for
custom client application software, radio firmware and AirBEAM client software.
Once these packages are built, they are installed on the host server for retrieval by the
handheld device. The AirBEAM Package Builder is a utility used to define, generate and
install AirBEAM packages to a server. The packages are then loaded from the server onto
a client device equipped with an AirBEAM client executable.
For detailed instructions on how to define, generate and install AirBEAM packages to the
server, refer to the AirBEAM Package Builder Product Reference Guide, p/n 72-55769-xx.
8-3