System and Method for Updating Device Drivers

• US 20080127165A1
• Filed: 08/15/2007
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Elcan, Philip, Mullis, Samuel L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,010,959 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: G06F 9/4415 Self describing peripheral devices

Abstract

A host connects to a peripheral device having upgraded firmware. The host also includes a device driver to communicate with the peripheral device. If the device drivers currently installed on the host are not compatible with the upgraded firmware, upgraded device drivers are automatically downloaded to the host from the peripheral device. Once installed on the host, the peripheral device is reset and the upgraded device drivers are used to communicate with the peripheral device.

Claims

1. A method of updating a device driver on a host device comprising:

determining whether a currently installed device driver on a host device is compatible with upgraded firmware of a peripheral device; and

downloading an upgraded device driver from the peripheral device to the host if the currently installed device driver is not compatible with the upgraded firmware.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether a currently installed device driver on a host device is compatible with upgraded firmware of a peripheral device comprises determining a minimum driver version for the upgraded firmware.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein determining whether a currently installed device driver on a host device is compatible with upgraded firmware of a peripheral device further comprises comparing a current driver version for the currently installed driver with the minimum driver version for the upgraded firmware.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the upgraded device driver is downloaded if the current driver version is less than the minimum driver version for the firmware.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein determining a minimum driver version for the upgraded firmware comprises reading the minimum driver version from a file stored in memory of the peripheral device.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein determining a minimum driver version for the upgraded firmware comprises interrogating the firmware for the minimum driver version.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising installing the upgraded device driver at the host.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising generating a signal to reset the peripheral device after the upgraded device drivers have been installed at the host.

9. A host device comprising:

an interface to connect the host device to a peripheral device; and

a host processor configured to;

determine the compatibility of a currently installed device driver on the host device with upgraded firmware of the peripheral device; and

download an upgraded device driver from the peripheral device to the host device if the currently installed device driver is not compatible with the upgraded firmware.

10. The host device of claim 9 wherein the host processor is configured to determine compatibility of the currently installed device driver by comparing a current driver version to a minimum driver version for the upgraded firmware.

11. The host device of claim 10 wherein the host processor is further configured to download the upgraded device driver from the peripheral device if the current driver version is less than the minimum driver version for the upgraded firmware.

12. The host device of claim 10 wherein the host processor is configured to determine the minimum driver version for the upgraded firmware by reading the minimum driver version for the upgraded firmware from a predetermined file stored in memory of the peripheral device:

13. The host device of claim 10 wherein the host processor is configured to determine the minimum driver version for the upgraded firmware by interrogating the upgraded firmware.

14. The host device of claim 9 wherein the host processor is further configured to install the upgraded device driver on the host device.

15. The host device of claim 14 wherein the host processor is further configured to generate a signal to reset the peripheral device after installing the upgraded device driver.

16. A peripheral device comprising:

an interface to connect the peripheral device to a host device;

peripheral device firmware for controlling operation of said peripheral device; and

memory accessible to a host device and including a predetermined file containing a minimum driver version for said firmware.

17. A peripheral device comprising:

an interface to connect the peripheral device to a host device;

peripheral device firmware for controlling operation of said peripheral device, said peripheral device firmware including code containing a minimum driver version for said firmware and code for reporting said minimum driver version to a host device.