Methods and arrangements for managing devices

• US 7,143,405 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2001
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Liu, Jun, Parchem, John M., Natarajan, Sureshkumar, Rovinsky, Vladimir, Tjong, Soemin
• Primary Examiner(s): Dam, Tuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): KENDALL, CHUCK O
• Application Number:
  US09/755,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20020092011A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,153 Days
• Field of Search: 717168-178, 709220-221
• US Class Current: 717/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

Improved methods and arrangements are provided for updating software and other data in managed devices. The methods and arrangements provide for a failsafe upgrade to all of the code and any data in the managed device, including any code or data used to provide such upgrades. For example, a method for providing software to a device is provided that includes identifying essential software within the device; essential software including software necessary to operate the device and provide external communications. The method further includes identifying remaining portions of software within the device as non-essential software, and downloading new essential software from an external source to the device and storing the new essential software in memory by overwriting at least a portion of the non-essential software. After downloading the new essential software, the method further includes attempting to operate the device and provide external communications using the new essential software, and upon successfully operating the device and providing external communications, using the new essential software to selectively download new non-essential software and store the new non-essential software in memory by overwriting at least a portion of the old essential software.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing software to a device, the method comprising:

identifying essential software within a device, the essential software including software necessary to operate the device and provide external communications;

identifying remaining portions of software within the device as non-essential software;

downloading new essential software from an external source to the device and storing the new essential software in memory by overwriting at least a portion of the non-essential software; and

upon successfully operating the device and providing external communications using the new essential software, selectively downloading new non-essential software and storing the new non-essential software in memory by overwriting at least a portion of either the essential software or the non-essential software.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

after downloading the new essential software, attempting to operate the device and provide external communications using the new essential software.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

upon unsuccessfully operating the device or unsuccessfully providing external communications, reverting back to the essential software.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the device is a managed device.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the external source includes a server device.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the external source includes a network.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the network includes the Internet.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the essential software includes software selected from a group comprising an operating system, a file system, at least one driver, a communication program, an Internet browser, and an upgrade application.

9. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

identifying essential software within a device, the essential software including software necessary to operate the device and provide external communications;

identifying remaining portions of software within the device as non-essential software;

downloading new essential software from an external source to the device and storing the new essential software in memory by overwriting at least a portion of the non-essential software; and

upon successfully operating the device and providing external communications using the new essential software, selectively downloading new non-essential software and storing the new non-essential software in memory by overwriting at least a portion of either the essential software or the non-essential software.

10. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 9, having further computer- executable instructions for:

after downloading the new essential software, attempting to operate the device and provide external communications using the new essential software.

11. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 10, having further computer-executable instructions for:

upon unsuccessfully operating the device or unsuccessfully providing external communications, reverting back to the essential software.

12. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 9, wherein the device is a managed device.

13. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 9, wherein the external source includes a server device.

14. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 9, wherein the external source includes a network.

15. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14, wherein the network includes the Internet.

16. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 9, wherein the essential software includes software selected from a group comprising an operating system, a file system, at least one driver, a communication program, an Internet browser, and an upgrade application.

17. An apparatus that is operated using software and operatively configured to identify as essential software that software which is necessary to operate the apparatus and provide for external communications, identify remaining portions of software as being non-essential software, download new essential software from an external source and store the new essential software in memory by overwriting at least a portion of the non-essential software;

and upon successfully operating and providing external communications using the new essential software, selectively download new non-essential software and store the new non-essential software in the memory by overwriting at least a portion of either the essential software or the non-essential software.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein the apparatus is further configured to, after downloading the new essential software, attempt to operate and provide external communications using the new essential software.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein the apparatus is further configured to, upon unsuccessfully operating the apparatus or unsuccessfully providing external communications, reverting back to the essential software.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein the apparatus is a managed device.

21. The apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein the essential software includes software selected from a group comprising an operating system, a file system, at least one driver, a communication program, an Internet browser, and an upgrade application.

22. A system comprising:

a network;

a server device operatively coupled to the network; and

a client device operatively coupled to the network and configured to selectively download data from the server client via the network, and wherein the client device includes memory and is further operatively configured to identify as essential software that software which is necessary to operate the client device and provide for external communications via the network, identify remaining portions of software as being non-essential software, download new essential software from the server device over the network and store the new essential software in the memory by overwriting at least a portion of the non-essential software, and upon successfully operating and providing external communications using the new essential software, is further configured to selectively download new non-essential software and store the new non-essential software in the memory by overwriting at least a portion of either the essential software or the non-essential software.

23. The system as recited in claim 22, wherein the client device, after downloading the new essential software, is further configured to attempt to operate and provide external communications using the new essential software.

24. The system as recited in claim 23, wherein the client device is further configured to, upon unsuccessfully operating the client device or unsuccessfully providing external communications, reverting back to the essential software.

25. The system as recited in claim 22, wherein the client device is a managed device.

26. The system as recited in claim 22, wherein the network includes the Internet.

27. The system as recited in claim 22, wherein the essential software includes software selected from a group comprising an operating system, a file system, at least one driver, a communication program, an Internet browser, and an upgrade application.