PM0212 Datasheet - STMicroelectronics

Introduction
   This manual describes how to program Flash program memory and data EEPROM on STM8TL5xxx microcontrollers. It applies to STM8TL5xxx devices. It is intended to provide information to the programming tool manufacturers and to the customers who want to implement programming by themselves on their production line.
   The in-circuit programming (ICP) method is used to update the content of Flash program memory and data EEPROM while the user software is not running. It uses the Single wire interface module (SWIM) to communicate between the programming tool and the device.

   In contrast to the ICP method, in-application programming (IAP) can use any communication interface supported by the microcontroller (I/Os, SPI, USART, I2C, USB, CAN...). IAP has been implemented for users who want their application software to update itself by re-programming the Flash program memory during program execution. The main advantage of IAP is its ability to re-program Flash program memory and data EEPROM when the chip has already been soldered on the application board and while the user software is running. Nevertheless, part of the Flash program memory has to be previously programmed using ICP.