Mobile handset capable of updating its update agent

• US 20040243991A1
• Filed: 01/13/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, Shao-Chun, Hammerberg, Karl W., Marolia, Sunil, Gustafson, James P., Pakarinen, Toni, Nguyen, Do P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,725,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1433 during software upgrading
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4401 Bootstrapping security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A mobile handset in a mobile services network, with access to a plurality of services including a firmware / software update service, is also capable of updating its update agent using an appropriate update package. The update package is retrieved from an update package repository via a management server. In one embodiment, the existing update agent is copied to a backup section before the update agent itself is updated. On the subsequent reboot, the new update agent is employed unless it is determined that it is corrupted or ineffective, in which case the old update agent is reactivated.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates the updating of at least one of firmware and updating software in an electronic device, using updating information received via a communication network, the system comprising:

a non-volatile memory comprising;

firmware;

loading software for loading the updating information via the communication network;

updating software for applying the loaded updating information to the at least one of firmware and updating software; and

initializing software for initializing the electronic device;

a RAM; and

security services for verifying the loaded updating information.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the updating software is capable of updating itself.

4. The system according to claim 3 wherein the updating software saves a back up copy of the updating software in the non-volatile memory before updating itself.

5. The system according to claim 3 wherein the updating software saves a back up copy the updating software in the RAM before updating itself.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the updating software uses a fault tolerant technique in the updating process.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the verifying utilizes cyclic redundancy code.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the communication network comprises a wireless network.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein the initialization software determines if the applying of the loaded updating information is successful.

10. The system according to claim 9 wherein the initialization software uses a back up copy of the at least one of firmware and updating software if the applying of the loaded updating information is not successful.

2. The system according to claim I wherein the loading software receives the updating information via the communication network.

11. The system according to claim I wherein the initialization software continues an interrupted applying of the loaded updating information.

12. A method for updating at least one of firmware and updating software in an electronic device, using updating information received via a communication network, the method comprising:

initializing the electronic device; and

determining whether at least one of the firmware and the updating software is to be updated.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein, if it is determined that no updating needs to be done, the method further comprises performing a normal start up of the electronic device.

14. The method according to claim 12 wherein, if it is determined at least one of the firmware and the updating software needs to be updated, the method further comprises determining whether the updating software needs to be updated.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein, if it is determined that the updating software does not need updating and the firmware needs updating, the method further comprises:

updating the firmware using the updating information; and

initializing the electronic device.

16. The method according to claim 14 wherein, if it is determined that the updating software needs to be updated, the method further comprises:

backing up the updating software;

updating the updating software using the updating information to produce a new updating software;

initializing the electronic device; and

determining whether the updating of the updating software was successful.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the backing up of the updating software is done by storing the updating software in a non-volatile memory in the electronic device.

18. The method according to claim 16 wherein the backing up of the updating software is done by storing the updating software in a RAM in the electronic device.

19. The method according to claim 16 wherein, if it is determined that updating the updating software was successful, the method further comprises:

enabling use of the new updating software; and

initializing the electronic device.

20. The method according to claim 16 wherein, if it is determined that updating the updating software was not successful, the method further comprises:

enabling use of the backed up updating software; and

initializing the electronic device.

21. The method according to claim 12 wherein the communication network is wireless.