Wirelessly Transferring Data To A Packaged Electronic Device

• US 20130109323A1
• Filed: 06/01/2012
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Honkanen, Mauri J., Ollikainen, Jani P.J., Hmlinen, Jyri J., Reunamki, Jukka P., Ruutu, Jussi P.O., Jantunen, Joni J. M., Arponen, Jarmo T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,369,959 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/68
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An electronic device has first and second circuitry. A wireless trigger signal at the first circuitry causes the second circuitry to power up to receive a second wireless signal. The second signal is according to a radio access technology for which the trigger signal is incompatible. In various embodiments the first circuitry (a low power receiver) may autonomously power up upon expiration of a timer. One or more security checks can be performed at various steps, each step conditional on passing the previous security check. The first circuitry operates at a lower power than the second circuitry which comprises a broadband radio. For example, the first circuitry might be a Bluetooth low energy receiver, and a trigger signal there causes a WLAN receiver to power up in order to download software/firmware updates or user content while the device is enroute between the manufacturer and end user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

in response to wirelessly receiving a trigger signal at first circuitry of an electronic device, powering up at least second circuitry of the electronic device; and

wirelessly receiving a second signal at the powered up second circuitry;

wherein the second signal is according to a radio access technology for which the trigger signal is incompatible.

2. The method according to claim 1, the method further comprising an initial step of:

upon expiration of a timer, the electronic device autonomously powering up the first circuitry which comprises a low power receiver for receiving the trigger signal.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

performing a first security check in response to receiving the trigger signal;

where powering up at least the second circuitry of the electronic device is conditional on passing the first security check.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

conditional on passing the first security check, performing a second security check in response to wirelessly receiving an additional signal at the first circuitry of the electronic device,

where powering up at least the second circuitry of the electronic device is conditional on passing both the first and the second security checks.

5. The method according to claim 1, in which at least second circuitry of the electronic device is powered up in response to receiving the trigger signal at the first circuitry and an additional trigger signal at third circuitry of the electronic device, in which the third circuitry is not responsive to the said trigger signal and the first circuitry is not responsive to the additional trigger signal.

6. The method according to claim 1, in which the first circuitry is characterized as operating at a lower power than the second circuitry which comprises a broadband radio.

7. The method according to claim 1, in which the second signal is at least one of a software update and a firmware update and a content update.

8. The method according to claim 7, in which if the software update and/or firmware update and/or the content update is not fully received or not properly loaded after being received, the method comprises:

powering down at least the second circuitry of the electronic device;

re-executing at least one security check before again attempting to receive the said at least one of the software update and the firmware update and the content update.

9. The method according to claim 1, in which the first circuitry comprises one of:

a radio receiver for Bluetooth, near field communications, Zigbee, ANT™

, impulse-ultra wideband or radio frequency identification signals;

a timer,

a receiver of wireless audio or infrared; and

circuitry for wirelessly receiving battery recharging signals.

10. The method according to claim 1, in which the electronic device comprises a user equipment and the method is executed while the user equipment is disposed within packaging for retail sale of the user equipment.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

performing a first security check in response to receiving the trigger signal;

where powering up at least the second circuitry of the apparatus is conditional on passing the first security check.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, in which the memory and computer program code are configured with the processor to cause the apparatus to further perform:

conditional on passing the first security check, performing a second security check in response to wirelessly receiving an additional signal at the first circuitry of the electronic device,

where powering up at least the second circuitry of the electronic device is conditional on passing both the first and the second security checks.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which the first circuitry comprises one of:

a radio receiver for Bluetooth, near field communications, Zigbee, ANT™

, impulse-ultra wideband or radio frequency identification signals;

a timer;

a receiver of wireless audio or infrared; and

circuitry for wirelessly receiving battery recharging signals.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory storing computer program code,

in which the memory and computer program code are configured with the processor to cause the apparatus at least to perform;

in response to wirelessly receiving a trigger signal at first circuitry of the apparatus, powering up at least second circuitry of the apparatus; and

wirelessly receiving a second signal at the powered up second circuitry;

wherein the second signal is according to a radio access technology for which the trigger signal is incompatible.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, in which the memory and computer program code are configured with the processor to cause the apparatus to further perform an initial step of:

upon expiration of a timer, autonomously powering up the low power receiver for receiving the trigger signal.

15. The apparatus according to claim 11, in which the apparatus is configured to power up at least second circuitry in response to receiving the trigger signal at the first circuitry and an additional trigger signal at third circuitry of the apparatus, in which the third circuitry is not responsive to the said trigger signal and the first circuitry is not responsive to the additional trigger signal.

16. The apparatus according to claim 11, in which the first circuitry is characterized as operating at a lower power than the second circuitry which comprises a broadband radio.

17. The apparatus according to claim 11, in which the second signal is at least one of a software update and a firmware update and a content update.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, in which if the software update and/or the firmware update and/or the content update is not fully received or not properly loaded after being received, the memory and computer program code are configured with the processor to cause the apparatus to further perform:

powering down at least the second circuitry of the electronic device;

re-executing at least one security check before again attempting to receive the said at least one of the software update and the firmware update and the content update.

20. A computer-readable memory storing software program instructions, which when executed by at least one data processor results in performance of operations that comprise:

in response to wirelessly receiving a trigger signal at first circuitry of an electronic device, powering up at least second circuitry of the electronic device; and

wirelessly receiving a second signal at the powered up second circuitry;

wherein the second signal is according to a radio access technology for which the trigger signal is incompatible.