PROVISIONING DEVICE MAKE AND MODEL INFORMATION FOR FIRMWARE OVER-THE-AIR (FOTA)

• US 20090319848A1
• Filed: 06/23/2008
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Corporate Services Group Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: THAPER, Atul
• Granted Patent: US 8,572,599 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/748
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/64 Retargetable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories

Abstract

A device receives identifier, make, and model information associated with a device from a device activation system, and provides the device identifier, make, and model information to a database. The device also determines whether the device qualifies for a software update package based on the device make and model information, and provides, to the device, a notification of the software update package when the device qualifies for the software update package.

Claims

1. A computing device-implemented method, comprising:

receiving identifier, make, and model information associated with a device from a device activation system;

providing the device identifier, make, and model information to a database;

determining whether the device qualifies for a software update package based on the device make and model information; and

providing, to the device, a notification of the software update package when the device qualifies for the software update package.

2. The computing-device implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the device, a request for the software update package based on the notification; and

providing the software update package to the device based on the request.

3. The computing device-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, from the device, a result associated with the provision of the software update package to the device.

4. The computing-device implemented method of claim 1, where receiving identifier, make, and model information associated with a device from a device activation system comprises at least one of:

receiving the device identifier, make, and model information at a time of initial provisioning;

receiving the device identifier, make, and model information via a mobile identification number (MIN) command;

receiving the device identifier, make, and model information via a mobile directory number (MDN) command;

or

receiving the device identifier, make, and model information via an electronic serial number (ESN) command.

5. The computing-device implemented method of claim 1, where determining whether the device qualifies for a software update package comprises:

identifying a group of devices, including the device, from the database based on make and model information associated with a software update;

selecting the software update package for the identified group of devices;

comparing make and model information associated with the software update package with make and model information associated with the identified group of devices; and

determining the device to be qualified for the software update package when the device make and model information matches the make and model information associated with the software update package.

6. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1, where the computing device comprises a software update server.

7. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1, where the device comprises one or more of:

a radiotelephone;

a personal communications system (PCS) terminal;

a personal digital assistant (PDA);

a lap top;

or

a personal computer.

8. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing, to the device activation system, a result associated with provision of the device identifier, make, and model information in the database; and

re-receiving the device identifier, make, and model information from the device activation system when the result indicates that the device identifier, make, and model information was not provided to the database.

9. A computing device-implemented method, comprising:

receiving identifier, make, and model information associated with a device from a billing system;

receiving a command, associated with provisioning of a software update device, from the billing system; and

providing the device identifier, make, and model information to the software update device based on the billing system command.

10. The computing device-implemented method of claim 9, where the computing device comprises an activation server.

11. The computing device-implemented method of claim 9, where the device comprises one or more of:

a radiotelephone;

a personal communications system (PCS) terminal;

a personal digital assistant (PDA);

a lap top;

or

a personal computer.

12. The computing device-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving, from a software update device, a result associated with receipt of the device identifier, make, and model by the software update device; and

re-providing the device identifier, make, and model information to the software update device when the result indicates that the device identifier, make, and model information was not received by the software update device.

13. A device, comprising:

processing logic to;

receive identifier, make, and model information associated with a device from an activation server,

store the device identifier, make, and model information in a database,

determine whether the device qualifies for a software update package based on the device make and model information, and

provide, to the device, a notification of the software update package when the device qualifies for the software update package.

14. The device of claim 13, where the device comprises a software update server.

15. The device of claim 13, where the device identifier information comprises one or more of:

a mobile identification number (MIN) associated with the device,

a mobile directory number (MDN) associated with the device,

an electronic serial number (ESN) associated with the device, or

a mobile equipment identity (MEID) associated with the device.

16. The device of claim 13, where:

the device make information comprises a manufacturer of the device, and

the device model information comprises a model number associated with the device.

17. The device of claim 13, where the software update package comprises firmware over-the-air (FOTA).

18. The device of claim 13, where the processing logic is further configured to:

provide the software update package to the device.

19. The device of claim 18, where the processing logic is further configured to:

receive, from the device, a result associated with the provision of the software update package to the device.

20. The device of claim 13, where the processing logic is further configured to at least one of:

receive the device identifier, make, and model information at a time of initial provisioning,

receive the device identifier, make, and model information via a mobile identification number (MIN) command,

receive the device identifier, make, and model information via a mobile directory number (MDN) command, or

receive the device identifier, make, and model information via an electronic serial number (ESN) command.

21. The device of claim 13, where the processing logic is further configured to:

identify a group of devices, including the device, from the database based on make and model information associated with a software update,

select the software update package for the identified group of devices,

compare make and model information associated with the software update package with make and model information associated with the identified group of devices, and

determine the device to be qualified for the software update package when the device make and model information matches the make and model information associated with the software update package.

22. A system, comprising:

an activation server configured to;

receive identifier, make, and model information associated with a device from a billing system,

receive a command from the billing system, and

transmit the device identifier, make, and model information based on the billing system command; and

a software update server configured to;

receive the device identifier, make, and model information from the activation server,

provide the device identifier, make, and model information to a database,

determine whether the device qualifies for a software update package based on the device make and model information, and

provide, to the device, a notification of the software update package when the device qualifies for the software update package.

23. The system of claim 22, where the software update server is further configured to:

receive, from the device, a request for the software update package based on the notification, and

provide the software update package to the device based on the request.

24. The system of claim 22, where the software update server is further configured to at least one of:

receive the device identifier, make, and model information at a time of initial provisioning,

receive the device identifier, make, and model information via a mobile identification number (MIN) command,

receive the device identifier, make, and model information via a mobile directory number (MDN) command, or

receive the device identifier, make, and model information via an electronic serial number (ESN) command.

25. The system of claim 22, where the software update server is further configured to:

identify a group of devices, including the device, from the database based on make and model information associated with a software update,

select the software update package for the identified group of devices,

compare make and model information associated with the software update package with make and model information associated with the identified group of devices, and

determine the device to be qualified for the software update package when the device make and model information matches the make and model information associated with the software update package.