SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES EMBEDDED SOFTWARE TO AN EMBEDDED SYSTEM

• US 20110289493A1
• Filed: 05/21/2010
• Published: 11/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: QNX Software Systems Limited (Canada) (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Keefe, Derrick, Cardamore, Dan
• Granted Patent: US 8,386,589 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A system automates the provision of embedded software to an embedded system. The system may include a portable device having a portable device application that provides the embedded software to the embedded system, a communication link coupling the portable device to the embedded system, and an embedded software manager that accesses one or more embedded software components through the communication link.

Claims

1. A system that provides embedded software to an embedded system comprising:

a portable device having a portable device application programmed to provide an embedded software component to the embedded system;

a communication link connecting the portable digital device to the embedded system; and

a embedded software manager resident to the embedded system for accessing the embedded software component through the communication link.

2. The system of claim 1, where the embedded software component is transferred to the embedded system for execution by a processor.

3. The system of claim 1, where the embedded software component is cached on the embedded system.

4. The system of claim 1, where the embedded software component is accessed from the portable digital device for execution by a processor in the embedded system.

5. The system of claim 1, where the embedded software component, when executed by a processor in the embedded system, provides interoperability between the embedded system and the portable digital device.

6. The system of claim 1, where the embedded software component, when executed by the processor in the embedded system, maintains compatibility between the embedded system and the portable digital device.

7. The system of claim 1, where the embedded software component comprises an update to existing embedded software installed on the embedded system.

8. The system of claim 1, where the embedded software component is appended to a portable device application for execution by a processor in the portable device.

9. The system of claim 1, where the embedded software component comprises any of:

a plug-in, one or more files, and binary code.

10. The system of claim 1, where the embedded software component comprises portable code that is independent of the embedded system architecture.

11. The system of claim 1, where the embedded software component comprises machine code for execution by a processor in the embedded system.

12. The system of claim 1, where the embedded software manager verifies the publisher or the integrity of the embedded software component prior to execution of the embedded software component.

13. The system of claim 1, where the embedded software manager verifies compatibility of the embedded software component with the embedded system prior to execution of the embedded software component.

14. The system of claim 1, where the portable device obtains the embedded software component from an embedded software component server, through a communication connection, responsive to identification indicia or credentials obtained from the embedded system.

15. The system of claim 1, where the portable device obtains the embedded software component from a local or remote computer, through a communication connection, responsive to identification indicia obtained from the embedded system.

16. The system of claim 1, where the portable digital device is configured to obtain the embedded software component from an application store, in the form of the portable device application, responsive to indicia or credentials obtained from the embedded system.

17. The system of claim 1, where the embedded software component comprises a pre-configured component in the portable device.

18. The method of claim 1, where the embedded system comprises an in-vehicle infotainment system.

19. The method of claim 1, where the portable device comprises a smart phone, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, or a portable media player.

20. A method that provides embedded software to an embedded system comprising:

storing on a portable device an embedded software component;

connecting the portable device to the embedded system;

accessing, from the embedded system, the embedded software component stored on the portable device responsive to an identifying indicia; and

executing the embedded software component on a processor in the embedded system.

21. The method of claim 20, where the embedded software component is transferred to the embedded system for execution by the processor in the embedded system.

22. The method of claim 20, where the embedded software component is cached on the embedded system for execution by the processor in the embedded system.

23. The method of claim 20, where the embedded software component is accessed from the portable device for execution by the processor in the embedded system.

24. The method of claim 20, where the embedded software component when executed by the processor in the embedded system provides interoperability between the embedded system and the portable device.

25. The method of claim 20, where the embedded software component when executed by the processor in the embedded system maintains compatibility between the embedded system and the portable device.

26. The method of claim 20, where the embedded software component is an update to pre-existing embedded software on the embedded system.

27. The method of claim 20, where the embedded software component is appended to a portable device application for execution by a processor in the portable device.

28. The method of claim 20, where the embedded software component comprises any of:

a plug-in, one or more files, and binary code.

29. The method of claim 20, where the embedded software component comprises portable code that is independent of the embedded system architecture.

30. The method of claim 20, where the embedded software component comprises machine code for execution by the processor in the embedded system.

31. The method of claim 20, where the embedded software manager verifies the publisher or the integrity of the embedded software component prior to execution of the embedded software component.

32. The method of claim 20, where the embedded system verifies compatibility of the embedded software component with the embedded system prior to execution of the embedded software component.

33. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

obtaining, by the portable device, the embedded software component from an embedded software component server or remote cluster, through a communication connection, responsive to identification indicia or credentials obtained from the embedded system.

34. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

obtaining, by the portable device, the embedded software component from a local or remote computer, through a data communication connection, responsive to identification information or credentials obtained from the embedded system.

35. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

obtaining, by the portable device, the embedded software component from an application store, in the form of the portable device application, responsive to identification data obtained from the embedded system.

36. The method of claim 20, where the embedded software component is pre-configured on the portable device.

37. The method of claim 20, where the embedded system comprises an in-vehicle infotainment system.

38. The method of claim 20, where the portable device comprises one of a smart phone, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a portable media player.

39. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

obtaining from the embedded system identifying information or credentials;

disconnecting the portable device from the embedded system after obtaining the identification information;

obtaining the embedded software component after disconnecting the portable device from the embedded system; and

reconnecting the portable device to the embedded system before accessing the embedded software component from the embedded system.