Update system for facilitating software update and data conversion in an electronic device

• US 6,996,818 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2003
• Issued: 02/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bitfone Corp. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Rao, Bindu Rama, Jacobi, Sidney Andrew, Pakarinen, Toni
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN BA, HOANG VU A
• Application Number:
  US10/697,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20040226008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 717168-178, 717/136, 717120-122, 719/321, 719/327, 719/319, 711/100, 711102-106, 709/223
• US Class Current: 717/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/658 Incremental updates; Differential updates

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method of updating an electronic device employing a firmware/software update system. The firmware/software may be updated through use of update information retrieved from a server. The server may support conversion of data associated with an updated firmware/software. An update agent may be capable of processing the update information retrieved from the server and updating the firmware/software in the electronic device. The update agent may also be capable of invoking a converter utility to convert data associated with the firmware/software to be compatible with a newer version of the firmware/software. When the firmware/software is updated, corresponding data may also be updated in a single update event by employing an associated converter utility that may be retrieved along with the update information.

Claims

1. A method for updating an electronic device, using an update package comprising update information, the method comprising:

applying the update package to the electronic device by updating a first code version in the electronic device to a second code version, the update information comprising a set of instructions, wherein execution of the instructions transforms the first code version into the second code version; and

invoking at least one converter utility for converting data associated with the first code version to a form compatible with the second code version, based upon the update information and a list of names of converter utilities associated with the update information.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising retrieving the list of names of converter utilities associated with the update information.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising storing update information in at least a portion of memory in the electronic device.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising communicating queries regarding availability of update information from the electronic device to a server.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising retrieving the update information and a list of names of converter utilities in a single retrieval operation.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first code version comprises a plurality of software applications, and each of the plurality of software applications is associated with a corresponding converter utility.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the update information is capable of updating the plurality of software applications in a single update event.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising generating an update package reference, the update package reference at least comprising:

an update package location memory reference; and

a list of names of converter utilities memory reference.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining whether a code update is necessary, wherein if it is determined that an update is not necessary, then performing a reboot operation.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining whether a code update is necessary, wherein if it is determined that an update is necessary, then:

retrieving data from an update package reference;

verifying authenticity of the update information;

updating the first code version;

executing at least one converter utility associated with at least one software application;

communicating an update confirmation to at least one external system; and

performing a reboot operation.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein executing at least one converter utility associated with the at least one software application comprises retrieving and updating associated security information.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein retrieving and updating associated security information comprises retrieving an authorization related object and associating it with the at least one software application.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

retrieving a list of security information associated with the update information; and

installing the security information after updating the first code version.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein executing at least one converter utility associated with the at least one software application comprises converting security information comprising authentication and authorization information.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein executing at least one converter utility associated with the at least one software application comprises converting subscription information.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the first code version comprises a plurality of software applications, and the at least one converter utility comprises a plurality of converter utilities, each converter utility being associated with a corresponding software application.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein each of the software applications for which an update was determined to be necessary is updated in a single update event.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein executing at least one converter utility associated with the at least one software application further comprises converting data associated with each software application in a single conversion event.

19. The method according to claim 1 wherein code comprises firmware.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a mobile handset.

21. A machine-readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform operations for updating an electronic device using an update package comprising update information, the machine-readable storage comprising:

code comprising an update agent, for applying the update package to the electronic device by updating of code in the electronic device, the update information comprising a set of instructions, wherein execution of the instructions transforms the code to an updated code; and

code comprising a converter, for invoking at least one converter utility associated with the code and for converting data associated with the code to a form compatible with an updated version of the code, based upon the update information and a list of names of converter utilities associated with the update information.

22. The machine-readable storage according to claim 21, wherein the electronic device comprises a communication layer for communicating the list of names of converter utilities associated with the update information and communicating queries regarding availability of update information from the electronic device to a server.

23. The machine-readable storage according to claim 22, wherein the communication layer is adapted to communicate the update information and the list of names of converter utilities in a single communication event.

24. The machine-readable storage according to claim 21, wherein the electronic device comprises memory for storing update information.

25. The machine-readable storage according to claim 21, wherein the code comprises a plurality of software applications and each of the software applications is associated with a corresponding converter utility.

26. The machine-readable storage according to claim 25, wherein the update information is adapted to update the plurality of software applications in a single update event.

27. The machine-readable storage according to claim 21, further comprising a placement layout table for mapping a memory location of update information, the placement layout table at least mapping an update information memory location and a list of names of converter utility memory locations.

28. The machine-readable storage according to claim 21, further comprising means for determining whether an update of code is necessary, wherein if it is determined that an update is not necessary, then the electronic device performs a reboot operation.

29. The machine-readable storage according to claim 21, further comprising means for determining whether an update of code is necessary, wherein if it is determined that an update is necessary, then:

the update agent retrieves data from an update package reference, verifies authenticity of the update information, and updates the code;

the converter executes at least one converter utility associated with the code;

a communication layer communicates an update confirmation to at least one external system; and

the electronic device performs a reboot operation.

30. The machine-readable storage according to claim 29, wherein the code comprises a plurality of software applications, and the at least one converter utility comprises a plurality of converter utilities, each converter utility being associated with a corresponding software application.

31. The machine-readable storage according to claim 30, wherein the update agent is adapted to update each of the software applications for which an update was determined to be necessary, in a single update event.

32. The machine-readable storage according to claim 31, wherein the converter executes at least one converter utility associated with each software application and converts data associated with each of the software applications, in a single conversion event.

33. The machine-readable storage according to claim 21, further comprising:

the converter converts security data associated with the code, the converted security data enabling access to the updated version of the code.

34. The machine-readable storage according to claim 21, wherein the electronic device comprises a communication layer, the communication layer communicating converter utilities, the converter utilities adapted to converting security data and access control information associated with the update information, and the communication layer also communicating information associated with the converted security data and access control information from the electronic device to a server.

35. The machine-readable storage according to claim 34, wherein a converter utility invokes downloading of update information and firmware/software update information.

36. The machine-readable storage according to claim 21, wherein security information is updated after a software/firmware update has been performed.

37. The machine-readable storage according to claim 21, wherein a software application is updated when data associated with the software application changes.

38. The machine-readable storage according to claim 21 wherein code comprises firmware.

39. The machine-readable storage according to claim 21, wherein the electronic device comprises a mobile handset.