System and method for automating firmware maintenance

• US 20040034861A1
• Filed: 08/19/2002
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Ballai, Philip N.
• Application Number:
  US10/224,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20040034861A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/321
• 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

Described is a system and method for automatically updating a firmware program. During an initialization process of a portable card (e.g., a wireless radio card), a first version of the firmware program is determined. The first version is a version which is currently stored in a non-volatile memory of the card that is connected with a computing device. The first version is compared with a second version of the firmware program. The first version is automatically updated with the second version in the non-volatile memory if the second version is a subsequent verison of the firmware program. After the firmware is updated, the card is activated using the second version.

Claims

1. A method for automatically updating a firmware program, comprising the steps of:

(a) determining, during an initialization process of a portable card, a first version of the firmware program, the first version being currently stored in a non-volatile memory of the card, the card being connected to a computing device;

(b) comparing the first version with a second version of the firmware program;

(c) automatically updating the first version with the second version in the non-volatile memory if the second version is a subsequent version of the firmware program; and

(d) after step (c), activating the card using the second version.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

powering on the computing device; and

detecting a presence of the card.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the card is a plug-and-play card, and the method further comprises the step of:

before step (a), detecting the card after the computing device has completed an initialization procedure.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second version is situated in at least one of (a) the computing device and (b) a further computing device, the further computing device communicating with the computing device via a communication network.

5. The method according claim 4, wherein the further computing device periodically uploads the second version to the computing device.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein in step (b), the first and second versions are compared as a function of at least one of (a) a corresponding date of creation and (b) a corresponding version number.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the portable card includes is a radio card.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the radio card is a wireless radio card.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (c) includes the following sub-steps:

erasing the first version from the non-volatile memory of the card, and

copying the second version into the non-volatile memory.

10. A system for automatically updating a firmware program, comprising:

a computing device; and

a portable card including a non-volatile memory, the memory storing a first version of the firmware program, the card being attached to the computing device,

wherein during an initialization process of the card, the first version is determined and compared with a second version of the firmware program,

wherein the first version is automatically updated with the second version in the non-volatile memory if the second version is a subsequent version of the firmware program, and

wherein the card is activated using the second version.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the computing device includes a slot which is adapted to accept the card.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein a presence of the card is detected when the computing device is powered on.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein the card is a plug-and-play card and is attached to the computing device after the computing device has completed an initiation procedure.

14. The system according to claim 10, wherein the second version is stored on at least one of (a) the computing device and (b) a further computing device, the further computing device communicating with the computing device via a communication network.

15. The system according claim 14, wherein the further computing device periodically uploads the second version to the computing device.

16. The system according to claim 10, wherein the first and second versions are compared as a function of at least one of (a) a corresponding date of creation and (b) a corresponding version number.

17. The system according to claim 10, wherein the portable card includes is a radio card.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the radio card includes is a wireless radio card.

19. The system according to claim 10, wherein the firmware is updated by (i) erasing the first version from the non-volatile memory of the card, and then (ii) copying the second version into the non-volatile memory.