System and method for remotely flashing a wireless device

• US 10,387,135 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2012
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fedex Supply Chain Logistics & Electronics, Inc. (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fedex Supply Chain Logistics & Electronics, Inc. (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Partee, Jimmie Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailu, Tadesse
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hope, Darrin
• Application Number:
  US13/587,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20120317649A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,560 Days
• Field of Search: 715735
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A system and method for flashing an electronic device. An electronic device is received for remote flashing. The electronic device is in direct communication with a remote device. The identifying information is received for the electronic device. User instructions associated with the electronic device are displayed for flashing the electronic device. The electronic device is flashed in response to the identifying information.

Claims

1. A method for remotely flashing an electronic device, the method comprising:

establishing, over a communication network, communication between a flashing device and a managing device;

establishing communication between the flashing device and a plurality of electronic devices;

receiving, at the flashing device, identifying information for the plurality of electronic devices for performing remote flashing of the electronic device;

based on the identifying information of the plurality of electronic devices, receiving in real-time, by the flashing device, instructions from the managing device for performing the remote flashing of the plurality of electronic devices;

executing, by the flashing device, the instructions received from the managing device for performing the remote flashing of the plurality of electronic devices concurrently, wherein executing the instructions received from the managing device comprises flashing using a separate flashing application, executed on separate partitions of the flashing device, for each of the plurality of electronic devices, wherein the separate flashing application is customized based on the identifying information associated with each of the plurality of electronic devices, wherein flashing the plurality of electronic devices further comprises;

clearing memories and customer private information from the plurality of electronic devices;

restoring default content;

wherein the restoring comprises reinstalling the default content or an updated version of the default content on the electronic device;

updating the firmware of the electronic device; and

updating the software of the electronic device;

verifying the flashing process has occurred by memory mapping; and

saving a memory map verifying the flashing process has occurred and that no customer private information is available on the electronic device.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying, on the plurality of electronic devices, user instructions for flashing the plurality of electronic devices.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication between the flashing device and the plurality of electronic devices is a wireline communication.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the identifying information includes:

receiving a selection of a make and model associated with the plurality of electronic devices.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electronic devices are identified automatically and, wherein user input verifies the identification.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication between the flashing device and the plurality of electronic devices is a wireless communication.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying one or more images confirming the identifying information.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the flashing further comprises:

downloading updates on the flashing device; and

installing the updates on the plurality of electronic devices, wherein the updates include updated firmware, software versions, and default content.

9. A system for flashing electronic devices, the system comprising:

a remote flashing device;

a managing device for managing a flashing application utilized by the remote flashing device to flash a plurality of electronic devices, the remote flashing device is operable to;

establish, over a communication network, communication between the remote flashing device and the managing device;

establish communication between the remote flashing device and the plurality of electronic devices for remote flashing, wherein the plurality of electronic devices are in direct communication with the remote flashing device that is configured to utilize the managing device for remotely flashing;

receive, at the remote flashing device, identifying information for the plurality of electronic devices;

based on the identifying information of the plurality of electronic devices, receive in real-time, by the remote flashing device, instructions from the managing device for performing the remote flashing of the plurality of electronic devices; and

executing, by the remote flashing device, the instructions received from the managing device for performing the remote flashing of the plurality of electronic devices concurrently, wherein executing the instructions received from the managing device comprises flashing using a separate flashing application, executed on separate partitions of the remote flashing device, for each of the plurality of electronic devices, wherein the separate flashing application is customized based on the identifying information associated with the plurality of electronic devices, wherein flashing the plurality of electronic devices further comprises;

clearing memories and customer private information from the plurality of electronic devices;

restoring default content;

wherein the restoring comprises reinstalling the default content or an updated version of the default content on the electronic device;

updating the firmware of the electronic device; and

updating the software of the electronic device;

verifying the flashing process has occurred by memory mapping; and

saving a memory map verifying the flashing process has occurred and that no customer private information is available on the electronic device.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the managing device is configured to manage a plurality of remote flashing devices operating at the same time.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the remote flashing device is a personal computing or communications device.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein the managing device is a server.

13. A flashing device for testing electronic devices comprising:

a processor for executing one or more flashing applications; and

a memory configured to store the one or more flashing applications, wherein the one or more flashing applications are operable to;

receive a plurality of electronic devices for remote flashing, wherein the plurality of electronic devices are in direct communication with the flashing device that is configured to utilize a managing device for remotely flashing;

receive, at the flashing device, identifying information for the plurality of electronic devices;

based on the identifying information of the plurality of electronic devices, receive, by the flashing device in real-time, instructions from the managing device for performing the remote flashing of the plurality of electronic devices; and

execute, by the flashing device, the instructions received from the managing device for performing the remote flashing of the plurality of electronic devices concurrently, wherein executing the instructions received from the managing device comprises flashing using a separate instance of the flashing application of the one or more flashing applications, executed on separate partitions of the flashing device, for each of the plurality of electronic devices, wherein flashing the plurality of electronic devices further comprises;

clearing memories and customer private information from the plurality of electronic devices;

restoring default content;

wherein the restoring comprises reinstalling the default content or an updated version of the default content on the electronic device;

updating the firmware of the electronic device; and

updating the software of the electronic device;

verify the flashing process has occurred by memory mapping; and

save a memory map verifying the flashing process has occurred and that no customer private information is available on the electronic device.

14. The flashing device according to claim 13, wherein the one or more flashing applications are configured to flash any of the plurality of electronic devices from a plurality of OEMs.

15. The flashing device according to claim 13, wherein the one or more flashing applications include a user interface for receiving the identifying information and providing user instructions for flashing the plurality of electronic devices.

16. The flashing device according to claim 13, wherein the identifying information includes at least a manufacturer and model associated with the plurality of electronic devices.

17. The flashing device according to claim 13, wherein the flashing device communicates with the managing device of a communications service provider to perform the flashing, and wherein the managing device includes one or more databases for flashing the electronic device utilizing the identifying information.