Method and system for automatic firmware updates in a portable hand-held device

• US 6,754,895 B1
• Filed: 04/26/2001
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Access Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Inventors: Johnson, Ken, Skinner, Craig, Elliott, Katherine, Bartel, Mark Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): ZHEN, WEI Y
• Application Number:
  US09/843,797
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 717/168-178, 709/200-253, 709/310-319
• US Class Current: 717/171
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/656 while running
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading

Abstract

A method for automatically updating firmware of a hand-held device. To initiate the automatic update, a reset of the hand-held device is detected. Once a reset is detected, an update application is executed, wherein the update application performs the required updating steps. The update application determines whether a flag has been set in a nonvolatile memory area of the hand-held device. The flag is used to indicate a previous execution of the update application. If the flag is set, the update application terminates, otherwise, the update application performs an identification test by determining whether a device ID of the device matches a device ID stored in a table of the update application. If the device ID does not match, the update application terminates and the flag is set. If the device ID matches, the update application updates the firmware of the hand-held device, sets the flag, and terminates. In so doing, the firmware of the hand-held device to be updated without requiring user intervention or interaction. A parameter can be checked against a predetermined value or range in the same manner as the device ID, in implementing the identification test. The update application can be distributed to the hand-held device from a supply server via the Internet. Alternatively, the update application can be distributed to the hand-held device wirelessly from another hand-held device, or as an undocumented part of a separate upgrade. The execution of the update application can be hidden, such that the update application executes transparently to user.

Claims

1. A method for automatically updating firmware of a hand-held device, the method comprising the steps of:

a) detecting a reset of the hand-held device; and

b) once a reset is- detected, executing an update application, wherein the update application performs the steps of;

b1) determining whether a flag has been set in a nonvolatile memory area of the hand-held device, the flag indicating a previous execution of the update application;

b2) terminating the update application if the flag is set;

b3) determining whether a device ID of the device matches a device ID stored in a table of the update application;

b4) terminating the update application if the device ID of the device does not match the device ID stored in the table;

b5) updating firmware of the hand-held device if the device ID of the device matches the device ID stored in the table; and

b6) setting the flag and terminating the update application.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of downloading the update application from a centralized server via the Internet.

3. The method of claim 1 further including the step of wirelessly receiving the update application from a second hand-held device.

4. The method of claim 1 further including the step of receiving the update application from a removable computer readable memory.

5. The method of claim 1 further including the step of transmitting status information from the hand-held device to a centralized server regarding the execution of the update application via the Internet.

6. The method of claim 1 executing the update application wherein the update application is hidden so that the execution is not viewable by the user.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the device ID is a serial number of the hand-held device.

8. A computer readable media having computer readable instructions for implementing a method for automatically updating firmware of a hand-held device, the instructions when executed by a computer system within the hand-held device cause the hand-held device to perform the steps of:

a) detecting a reset of the hand-held device; and

b) once a reset is detected, executing an update application, wherein the update application performs the steps of;

b1) determining whether a flag has been set in a nonvolatile memory area of the hand-held device, the flag indicating a previous execution of the update application;

b2) terminating the update application if the flag is set;

b3) determining whether a device ID of the device matches a device ID stored in a table of the update application;

b4) terminating the update application if the device ID of the device does not match the device ID stored in the table;

b5) updating firmware of the hand-held device if the device ID of the device matches the device ID stored in the table; and

b6) setting the flag and terminating the update application.

9. The computer readable media of claim 8, wherein the hand-held device further performs the step of downloading the update application from a centralized server via the Internet.

10. The computer readable media of claim 8, wherein the hand-held device further performs the step of wirelessly receiving the update application from a second hand-held device.

11. The computer readable media of claim 8, wherein the hand-held device further performs the step of transmitting status information from the hand-held device to a centralized server regarding the execution of the update application via the Internet.

12. The computer readable media of claim 8, wherein the update application is hidden so that the execution is not viewable by the user.

13. The computer readable media of claim 8, wherein the device ID is a serial number of the hand-held device.

14. A portable hand-held device configured for automatically firmware updates, comprising:

a computer system having a processor coupled to a memory via a bus, the memory having computer readable instructions stored therein, which would executed by the computer system, cause the hand-held device to perform the steps of;

a) detecting a reset of the hand-held device;

b) determining whether a flag has been set in a nonvolatile memory area of the hand-held device, the flag indicating a previous execution of an update;

c) terminating the update if the flag is set;

d) determining whether a device ID of the device matches a device ID stored in a table;

e) terminating the update if the device ID of the device does not match the device ID stored in the table;

f) updating firmware of the hand-held device if the device ID of the device matches the device ID stored in the table; and

g) setting the flag and terminating the update.

15. The hand-held device of claim 14, wherein the update is downloaded from a centralized server via the Internet.

16. The hand-held device of claim 14, wherein the update is received wirelessly from a second hand-held device.

17. The hand-held device of claim 14, wherein the hand-held device is further configured to transmit status information from the hand-held device to a centralized server regarding the execution of the update application via the Internet.

18. The hand-held device of claim 14, wherein the update application is hidden so that the execution is not viewable by the user.

19. The hand-held device of claim 14, wherein the device ID is a serial number of the hand-held device.

20. A method for automatically updating firmware of a hand-held device, the method comprising the steps of:

a) detecting a reset of the hand-held device; and

b) once a reset is detected, executing an update application, wherein the update application performs the steps of;

b1) determining whether a flag has been set in a nonvolatile memory area of the hand-held device, the flag indicating a previous execution of the update application;

b2) terminating the update application if the flag is set;

b3) determining whether a parameter of the device matches a predetermined range;

b4) terminating the update application if the parameter of the device does not match the predetermined range;

b5) updating firmware of the hand-held device if the parameter of the device matches the predetermined range; and

b6) setting the flag and terminating the update application.