Firmware updating method and application utilizing the same

• US 20050144612A1
• Filed: 08/19/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
• Inventors: Lai, Sheng, Wang, Shin-Ping
• Application Number:
  US10/921,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20050144612A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A firmware updating method, implemented in a server and a client computer. The client computer comprises an application and at least a peripheral device comprising a first firmware program and identification information. The server stores at least a second firmware program. An auto-execution program is initiated through a shortcut on a menu of the application. The auto-execution program directs the client computer to automatically connect to the server, determine the identification information of the peripheral device, determine whether the second firmware version is newer than the first firmware version, display a list indicating the second firmware program if the second firmware version is newer than the first firmware version, download the second firmware program from the server to the client computer when the second firmware program is selected, and replace the first firmware program with the second firmware program.

Claims

1. A firmware updating method, implemented in a server and a client computer comprising an application and at least a peripheral device comprising a first firmware program and identification information, wherein the server stores at least a second firmware program, comprising the steps of:

initiating an auto-execution program through a shortcut user interface on a menu of the application, wherein the auto-execution program directs the client computer to execute the steps of;

connecting the client computer to the server;

identifying the identification information of the peripheral device;

determining whether the second firmware version is newer than the first firmware version;

displaying a list indicating the second firmware program if the second firmware version is newer than the first firmware version;

downloading the second firmware program from the server to the client computer when the second firmware program is selected; and

replacing the first firmware program with the second firmware program.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the application comprises a disc recording program.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the peripheral device comprises a disc drive.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identification information comprises vendor ID.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first firmware program comprises a first date code, the second firmware program comprises a second date code, and the determination step further comprises the step of comparing the first date code and the second date code.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first firmware program comprises a first version code, the second firmware program comprises a second version code, and the determination step further comprises the step of comparing the first version code and the second version code.

7. An application, implemented in a computer comprising at least a peripheral device comprising an identification information, comprising:

a first menu; and

a second menu;

wherein the application switches between the first menu and the second menu and displays the first menu or the second menu based on the identification information.

8. The application as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first menu provides a user interface for initiating a firmware updating program.

9. The application as claimed in claim 8, wherein the peripheral device comprises a first firmware program, and the firmware updating program executes the steps of:

connecting the computer to a server comprising a second firmware program;

identifying the identification information of the peripheral device;

determining whether the second firmware version is newer than the first firmware version;

displaying a list indicating the second firmware program when the second firmware version is newer than the first firmware version;

downloading the second firmware program to the computer when the second firmware program is selected; and

replacing the first firmware program with the second firmware program.

10. The application as claimed in claim 9, wherein the determination step further comprises the step of comparing a first date code of the first firmware program and a second date code of the second firmware program.

11. The application as claimed in claim 9, wherein the determination step further comprises the step of comparing a first version code of the first firmware program and a second version code of the second firmware program.

12. The application as claimed in claim 7, wherein the application comprises a disc recording program.

13. The application as claimed in claim 7, wherein the peripheral device comprises a disc drive.

14. A firmware updating method, implemented in a computer comprising at least a peripheral device comprising a first firmware program, comprising the steps of:

connecting the computer to a server;

displaying an interface for initiating an auto- execution program;

when the auto-execution program is initiated, executing the steps of;

determining whether the server comprises any firmware program suitable for the peripheral device and version of which is newer than the first firmware version; and

displaying a list indicating a new firmware program suitable for the peripheral device when the server comprises the new firmware program with newer version than the first firmware version.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the peripheral device comprises a disc drive.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising the step of acquiring identification information of the peripheral device, on which the determining step of claim 14 depends.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the list is displayed based on the identification information.

18. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein before the displaying step the method further comprises the steps of:

downloading an index file comprising information related to at least a second firmware program stored on the server and the identification information of the peripheral device; and

searching the index file for information related to any firmware program corresponding to the identification information of the peripheral device required by the determining step of claim 14, wherein the list comprises the search result.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the index file comprises at least version code or date code, and the searching step further comprises the step of searching the index file for information, as the content of the list, of any firmware program suitable for the peripheral device and version of which is newer than the first firmware version based on the version code or date code.

20. The method as claimed in claim 18, after the displaying step, further comprising the steps of:

acquiring an address, recorded in the index file, of the new firmware program indicated by the list; and

downloading the new firmware program from a second server to the computer based on the acquired address of the new firmware program.