Method and apparatus for broadcasting software update information to mobile phones over a wireless communications network

• US 20070243900A1
• Filed: 04/18/2006
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spectralink Corporation (Mobile Devices Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Spec Tralink
• Inventors: Durand, Christophe, Colvin, Gerald, Edwards, Bryan
• Granted Patent: US 7,542,759 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/554.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading

Abstract

A local area wireless communications network includes an MCU which generally operates to manage the placement of audio and other information into frames that are transmitted to a base station which serves to convert the frames from one signal format to another signal format and broadcast the frames over a wireless medium to associated mobile communications devices. The wireless communications system operates in a way that permits the broadcasting of new software files from the base stations to associated mobile communications devices in a parallel manner without having a detrimental affect on the operation of the communications system. The MCU operates to place download alert information and download payload information into the frames in such a format and into certain positions in the frame that this information can be recognized and stored by the mobile phones which use it to update their current software.

Claims

1. In a wireless communications network including an MCU, a base station and a plurality:

of mobile communications devices associated with the base station, a method of replacing a current software file in the plural mobile communications devices with a new software file comprising the steps of;

the MCU placing broadcast download alert information into an alert TS;

the MCU placing broadcast download payload information into an idle time slot and transmitting the frame to the base station;

the base station receiving the frame from the MCU and broadcasting the frame to all of the plural mobile communications devices associated with the base station;

at least one of the plural mobile communications devices receiving the frame broadcast by the base station and comparing a new file version alert characteristic contained in the alert TS of the frame with a current file version characteristic stored in a first memory of the mobile communications device;

the mobile communications device storing a new software file fragment, contained in the idle TS of the frame, in a second memory of the mobile communications device at a location specified by an address characteristic if the file version alert characteristic and the current file version characteristic not the same;

the mobile communications device comparing the file size alert characteristic contained in the alert TS of the frame to be the same as the current file size characteristic stored in the first memory of the mobile communications device;

the mobile communications device going out of service, deleting the current software file in the first memory of the mobile communications device, and replacing it with the new software file stored in the second memory of the mobile communications device; and

the mobile communications device placing itself back into service after the accuracy of the new software file stored in the first memory of the mobile communications device has been verified.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the broadcast download alert information is comprised of at least one or more alert characteristics.

3. The alert characteristics of claim 2 are a download operation code, file version information, and file size information.

4. The file version information of claim 3 is a version number.

5. The file size information of claim 3 is the number of file fragments contained in a complete new software file.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the broadcast download payload information is comprised of at least one or more payload characteristics.

7. The payload characteristics of claim 6 are a fragment address, new file fragment, and CRC information.

8. The mobile communications devices of claim 1 are mobile phones.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of the mobile communications device storing a new software file fragment in a memory location specified by an address characteristic if the current version alert characteristic and the new version characteristic contained in the frame sent by the base station are not the same, further comprises:

and the CRC payload characteristic and a CRC calculated for the new software file fragment by the wireless communications device are the same.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step verifying the accuracy of the new software file comprises:

the mobile communications device determining that the CRC stored in the last new file fragment and the CRC for the entire new software file that is calculated by the mobile communications device are the same.

11. The alert TS of claim 1 is a TS that contains a ring channel.

12. The idle TS of claim 1 is a TS that contains no audio or data payload information.

13. In a wireless communications network including an MCU, a base station and a plurality of mobile communications devices associated with the base station, a method of replacing a current software file in the plural mobile communications devices with a new software file comprising the steps of:

the MCU placing broadcast download alert information into an first portion of an idle TS of a frame;

the MCU placing broadcast download payload information into a second portion of the idle time slot of the frame and transmitting the frame to the base station;

the base station receiving the frame from the MCU and broadcasting the frame to all of the plural mobile communications devices associated with the base station;

at least one of the plural mobile communications devices receiving the frame broadcast by the base station and comparing a file version alert characteristic contained in the first portion of the frame with a current file version characteristic stored in a first memory of the mobile communications device;

the mobile communications device storing a new software file fragment, contained in the second portion of the idle TS of the frame, in a second memory of the mobile communications device at a location specified by an address characteristic if the file version alert characteristic and the current file version characteristic are not the same;

the mobile communications device comparing the new file size alert characteristic contained in the first portion of the idle TS of the frame to be the same as the current file size characteristic stored in the first memory of the mobile communications device;

the mobile communications device going out of service, deleting the current software file stored in the first memory of the mobile communications device and replacing it with the new software file stored in the second memory of the mobile communications device; and

the mobile communications device placing itself back into service after the accuracy of the new software file has been verified.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the broadcast download alert information is comprised of at least one or more alert characteristics.

15. The alert characteristics of claim 14 are a download operation code, file version information, and file size information.

16. The file version information of claim 15 is a version number.

17. The file size information of claim 15 is the number of file fragments contained in a complete new software file.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the broadcast download payload information is comprised of at least one or more payload characteristics.

19. The payload characteristics of claim 18 are a fragment address, new file fragment, and CRC information.

20. The mobile communications devices of claim 13 are mobile phones.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of the mobile communications device storing a new software file fragment in a memory location specified by an address characteristic if the current version alert characteristic and the new version characteristic contained in the frame sent by the base station are not the same, further comprises:

and the CRC payload characteristic and a CRC calculated for the new software file fragment by the wireless communications device are the same.

22. The method of claim 13 wherein the step verifying the accuracy of the new software file comprises:

the mobile communications device determining that the CRC stored in the last new file fragment and the CRC for the entire new software file that is calculated by the mobile communications device are the same.

23. The alert TS of claim 13 is a TS that contains a ring channel.

24. The idle TS of claim 13 is a TS that contains no audio or data payload information.

25. In a wireless communications network including an MCU, a base station and a plurality of mobile communications devices associated with the base station, a method of replacing a 25 current software file in the plural mobile communications devices with a new software file comprising the steps of:

at least one of the plural mobile communications devices receiving the frame broadcast by the base station and comparing a new file version alert characteristic contained in an alert TS of a frame with a current file version characteristic stored in a first memory of the mobile communications device;

the mobile communications device storing a new software file fragment, contained in an idle TS of the frame, in a second memory of the mobile communications device at a location specified by an address characteristic if the file version alert characteristic and the current file version characteristic not the same;

the mobile communications device comparing a file size alert characteristic contained in the alert TS of the frame to be the same as a current file size characteristic stored in the first memory of the mobile communications device;

the mobile communications device going out of service, deleting the current software file in the first memory of the mobile communications device, and replacing it with the new software file stored in the second memory of the mobile communications device; and

the mobile communications device placing itself back into service after the accuracy of the new software file stored in the first memory of the mobile communications device has been verified.