Athletic activity data device firmware update

• US 10,310,836 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2016
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Folske, Keith, Gale, Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Qing
• Application Number:
  US15/163,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20160350100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 717168-173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories

Abstract

Systems and processes for downloading and installing a firmware update on an electronic device are provided. The firmware update may be downloaded on an electronic device while the electronic device is in a usable mode. The electronic device may be placed in an unusable mode, the firmware update may be installed while the electronic device is in the unusable mode, and the electronic device may be returned to the usable mode.

Claims

1. A method for downloading and installing a firmware update on an electronic device, the method comprising:

determining if a firmware update is available for an electronic device;

in response to determining that a firmware update is available for the electronic device, downloading the firmware update while the electronic device is in a usable mode;

upon completion of downloading the firmware update while the electronic device is in the usable mode, notifying a user that the firmware update is available for the electronic device;

receiving an input from the user to initiate the firmware update responsive to a prompt;

in response to receiving the input from the user to initiate the firmware update responsive to the prompt, placing the electronic device in an unusable mode;

installing the firmware update while the electronic device is in the unusable mode; and

upon completion of installing the firmware update while the electronic device is in the unusable mode, returning the electronic device to the usable mode.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein downloading the firmware update comprises downloading discrete packets such that the downloading may be paused and resumed.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the discrete packets of the firmware update are downloaded when resources are available, when the electronic device is connected to a network, and/or when the electronic device is in a powered on mode.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the firmware update is downloaded directly from a server.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the firmware update is downloaded from another electronic device.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein downloading and installing the firmware update is controlled by the other electronic device.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the electronic device sends an indication of a battery level of the electronic device to the other electronic device.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

determining if the battery level of the electronic device meets a threshold level to install the firmware update; and

upon determining that the battery level of the electronic device meets the threshold level, transmitting a prompt to the other electronic device indicating that the firmware update is available.

9. The method according to claim 5, wherein the other electronic device is a mobile device.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is an athletic activity data device.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein notifying the user that the firmware update is available for the electronic device includes:

upon completion of downloading the firmware update while the electronic device is in the usable mode, determining whether the electronic device is in use,

wherein the electronic device is placed in an unusable mode based upon determining that the electronic device is not in use.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein notifying the user that the firmware update is available for the electronic device includes:

determining whether the firmware update has been authorized by the user,

wherein the electronic device is placed in the unusable mode upon determining that the firmware update has been authorized by the user.

13. An athletic activity data device comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer readable medium on which are stored computer-executable instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to;

determine if a firmware update is available for the athletic activity data device;

in response to determining that a firmware update is available for the athletic activity data device, download the firmware update while the athletic activity data device is in a usable mode;

upon completion of downloading the firmware update while the athletic activity data device is in the usable mode, notify a user that the firmware update is available for the athletic activity data device;

receive an input from the user to initiate the firmware update responsive to a prompt;

in response to receiving the input from the user to initiate the firmware update responsive to the prompt, place the athletic activity data device in an unusable mode;

install the firmware update while the athletic activity data device is in the unusable mode; and

upon completion of installing the firmware update while the athletic activity data device is in the unusable mode, return the athletic activity data device to the usable mode.

14. The athletic activity data device according to claim 13, further comprising a sensor, and wherein the non-transitory computer readable medium further stores computer-executable instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to obtain athletic activity data from the sensor.

15. The athletic activity data device according to claim 13, wherein downloading the firmware update comprises downloading discrete packets such that the downloading may be paused and resumed.

16. The athletic activity data device according to claim 13, wherein the firmware update is downloaded from another electronic device.

17. The athletic activity data device according to claim 13, wherein notifying the user that the firmware update is available for the athletic activity data device includes:

upon completion of downloading the firmware update while the athletic activity data device is in the usable mode, determining whether the athletic activity data device is in use,

wherein the athletic activity data device is placed in an unusable mode based upon determining that the athletic activity data device is not in use.

18. The athletic activity data device according to claim 13, wherein notifying the user that the firmware update is available for the athletic activity data device includes:

determining whether the firmware update has been authorized by the user,

wherein the athletic activity data device is placed in the unusable mode upon determining that the firmware update has been authorized by the user.