FIRMWARE UPDATE SYSTEM AND UPDATE IMAGE GENERATION/DISTRIBUTION SERVER APPARATUS

• US 20110173603A1
• Filed: 08/21/2009
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Solutions Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Solutions Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Yuichi, Ohama, Nobuyuki
• Application Number:
  US13/063,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20110173603A1
• 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 8/66 of program code stored in read-only memory [ROM]

Abstract

There is provided a high-speed firmware update method which reduces the burden on a firmware developer. A server is installed which is provided with a function of receiving an image of new-version firmware (a new firmware image), comparing it with an image of old-version firmware (an old firmware image), taking out only updated files, and creating a procedure for updating the old firmware image to the new firmware image and an update image configured by update data.

Claims

1. A firmware update system which updates the image of firmware including software for an apparatus and the configuration data thereof, the system comprising:

an apparatus which operates on the firmware, and an update image generation/distribution server which generates an update image for updating the firmware and transmits the update image to the apparatus;

wherein

the update image generation/distribution server comprises an update image generation section which generates an update image which is data required for updating a firmware image of the version being used by the apparatus (a first firmware image) to a firmware image of a new version (a second firmware image), and a data communication section which transmits the update image to the apparatus; and

the apparatus updates the firmware image of the version being used on the basis of the update image.

2. The firmware update system according to claim 1, wherein

the update image generation/distribution server further comprises an update image storage section which stores update images each of which is for two consecutive versions, which are update images each of which is for two consecutive versions between the oldest-version firmware image and the newest-version firmware image;

and

the update image generation section acquires data required for updating the first firmware image to the second firmware image, from the update image storage section to generate the update image.

3. The firmware update system according to claim 2, wherein

if an update image for two consecutive versions directly corresponding to an update from the first firmware image to the second firmware image exists in the update image storage section, the update image generation section sets the update image for the two consecutive versions as the update image;

and

if the update image for the two consecutive versions directly corresponding to the update from the first firmware image to the second firmware image does not exist in the update image storage section, the update image generation section generates the update image by acquiring and merging all of update images each of which is for two consecutive versions and which are required for updating the first firmware image to the second firmware image.

4. The firmware update system according to claim 3, wherein the update image generation/distribution server further comprises an update image cache section which stores a predetermined number of update images with high use frequency.

5. The firmware update system according to claim 1, wherein

the update image generation/distribution server further comprises a reactivation instruction DB which stores information indicating which file update requires which service reactivation;

and

the update image generation section refers to the reactivation instruction DB to insert a service reactivation instruction into the update image to be transmitted.

6. The firmware update system according to claim 5, wherein

the reactivation instruction DB stores information indicating necessity of service reactivation in association with a library used by the file;

and

the update image generation section further inserts an instruction to reactivate a service corresponding to the library, into the update image to be transmitted.

7. An update image generation/distribution server apparatus which operates in a firmware update system which updates the image of firmware including software for an apparatus and the configuration data thereof, generates an update image for updating the firmware, and transmits the update image to the apparatus, the server apparatus comprising:

an update image generation section which generates an update image which is data required for updating a firmware image of the version being used by the apparatus (a first firmware image) to a firmware image of a new version (a second firmware image); and

a data communication section which transmits the update image to the apparatus using the firmware.

8. The update image generation/distribution server apparatus according to claim 7, comprising:

an update image storage section which stores update images each of which is for two consecutive versions, which are update images each of which is for two consecutive versions between the oldest-version firmware image and the newest-version firmware image;

wherein

the update image generation section acquires data required for updating the first firmware image to the second firmware image, from the update image storage section to generate the update image.

9. The update image generation/distribution server apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

if an update image for two consecutive versions directly corresponding to an update from the first firmware image to the second firmware image exists in the update image storage section, the update image generation section sets the update image for the two consecutive versions as the update image;

and

if the update image for the two consecutive versions directly corresponding to the update from the first firmware image to the second firmware image does not exist in the update image storage section, the update image generation section generates the update image by acquiring and merging all of update images each of which is for two consecutive versions and which are required for updating the first firmware image to the second firmware image.

10. The update image generation/distribution server apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising an update image cache section which stores a predetermined number of update images with high use frequency.

11. The update image generation/distribution server apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a reactivation instruction DB which stores information indicating which file update requires which service reactivation;

wherein

the update image generation section refers to the reactivation instruction DB to insert a service reactivation instruction into the update image to be transmitted.

12. The update image generation/distribution server apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

the reactivation instruction DB stores information indicating necessity of service reactivation in association with a library used by the file;

and

the update image generation section further inserts an instruction to reactivate a service corresponding to the library, into the update image to be transmitted.