Embedded device update service

• US 20060230395A1
• Filed: 03/16/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Paul, Jeffrey Michael, Park, Donghoon, Liu, Yuguo, O'Brien, Raymond Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,716,661 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A method and system for updating an OS of an embedded device. The embedded device provides its current OS version information to a mobile operation network via a SMS message. The embedded device can provide its current OS version information to a mobile operation network in response to a request from a mobile operator network that has implemented the SyncML specifications promulgated by the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA). The mobile operator network interacts with the datacenter to provide the embedded device'"'"'s current OS version and get the address of the image update. The mobile operator service sends the address to the embedded device via another SMS message. The embedded device downloads the image update using the RF link via a global packet radio service (GPRS) connection.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for updating an operating system (OS) of an embedded device, the method comprising:

receiving OS version information from the embedded device via a mobile operator network;

generating an image update based on the received OS version information;

sending an address of the generated-image update to the embedded device via the mobile operator network; and

downloading the generated image update to the embedded device in response to the embedded device accessing the address.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the address is a download uniform resource locator (URL).

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the OS version information is received in response to a SyncML message sent by the mobile operator network.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the OS version information is received by the mobile operator network from the embedded device via a short message service (SMS) message.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving OS version information comprises receiving the OS information via a web services interface.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein generating an image update comprises determining a canonical update.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein generating an image update comprises determining a difference update.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein downloading the generated image update comprises downloading the generated image update using a global packet radio service (GPRS) connection.

9. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that when executed by an embedded device perform operations implementing the method of claim 1.

10. A system for updating an operating system (OS) of an embedded device, the system comprising:

means for receiving OS version information from the embedded device via a mobile operator network;

means for generating an image update based on the received OS version information;

means for sending an address of the generated image update to the embedded device via the mobile operator network; and

means for downloading the generated image update to the embedded device in response to the embedded device accessing the address.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the OS version information is received by the mobile operator network from the embedded device via a short message service (SMS) message.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the means for receiving OS version information receives the OS information via a web services interface.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the means for generating an image update comprises means for determining a canonical update and a difference update.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the means for downloading the generated image update downloads the generated image update using a global packet radio service (GPRS) connection.

15. A system for updating an operating system (OS) of an embedded device, the system comprising:

a package definer to determine an image update in response to a determination of the embedded device'"'"'s OS version and stored image update information, wherein OS version information provided by the embedded device via a short message service (SMS) message;

a package generator to build an update package containing binary files of the determined image update;

a file publisher to store the generated package at an address that is accessible by the embedded device; and

a notifier to notify the embedded device of the address via a SMS message.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a web services interface to support communication between a mobile operator network and the system, the mobile operator network to provide SMS services for the embedded device.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the SMS message sent by the embedded device is a message according to an Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) SyncML standard.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the package generator is to determine a canonical update.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the package generator is to determine a difference update.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the package is downloadable to the embedded device using a global packet radio service (GPRS) connection.