System and methods for the automatic discovery, notification and installation of firmware upgrades
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of upgrading firmware on a peripheral computing device comprising:
- determining a current version of firmware installed on the peripheral computing device, wherein the determining is performed by an applet running on the peripheral computing device;
searching a pre-designated location for a firmware upgrade, wherein the searching is preformed by an embedded browser configured to operate without user intervention within the peripheral computing device according to a prescheduled time period, and wherein operation of the browser is initiated and directed by the applet running on the peripheral computing device;
sending an email notification from the peripheral computing device to one or more pre-designated email addresses if the firmware upgrade is found, wherein the email notification is sent by the applet running on the peripheral computing device;
receiving the email notification on a host computer remote from the peripheral computing device, wherein the email notification is rendered for reading by a user logged into the host computer, and wherein the email provides an option of installing the firmware upgrade, an option for a selected time period of installation, and an interface allowing the user to indicate selections by mouse click;
downloading the firmware update, from the pre-designated location, at the selected time period, to the peripheral computing device; and
installing the firmware upgrade onto the peripheral computing device during the selected time period.
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Abstract
The system and methods described herein relate to upgrading firmware and other device specific software such as device drivers on computing devices. An applet or upgrade module on a computing device is configured to periodically search predesignated locations for firmware or driver upgrades, compare available upgrades with the current version on the computing device and send email notifications when an available upgrade is suitable for installation onto the device. The email notifications are configured by the applet with an option that permits an email recipient to have the upgrade automatically installed onto the computing device.
136 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of upgrading firmware on a peripheral computing device comprising:
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determining a current version of firmware installed on the peripheral computing device, wherein the determining is performed by an applet running on the peripheral computing device; searching a pre-designated location for a firmware upgrade, wherein the searching is preformed by an embedded browser configured to operate without user intervention within the peripheral computing device according to a prescheduled time period, and wherein operation of the browser is initiated and directed by the applet running on the peripheral computing device; sending an email notification from the peripheral computing device to one or more pre-designated email addresses if the firmware upgrade is found, wherein the email notification is sent by the applet running on the peripheral computing device; receiving the email notification on a host computer remote from the peripheral computing device, wherein the email notification is rendered for reading by a user logged into the host computer, and wherein the email provides an option of installing the firmware upgrade, an option for a selected time period of installation, and an interface allowing the user to indicate selections by mouse click; downloading the firmware update, from the pre-designated location, at the selected time period, to the peripheral computing device; and installing the firmware upgrade onto the peripheral computing device during the selected time period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer implemented method of upgrading firmware on a peripheral comprising:
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predesignating a server location to be searched for a firmware upgrade; determining a current version of firmware installed on the peripheral device, wherein the determining is performed by an applet running on the peripheral device; searching the pre-designated server for the firmware upgrade, wherein the searching is performed by an embedded browser configured to operate without user intervention, and wherein operation of the browser is initiated and directed by the applet running on the peripheral device; predesignating an email address to which an email notification will be sent when the firmware upgrade is found, wherein the email address for receiving the email notification is accessible from a computing device remote from the peripheral device; sending an email notification from the peripheral device to the pre-designated email address if the firmware upgrade is found, wherein the email notification is sent by the applet running on the peripheral device; receiving the email notification at the email address, wherein the email notification is rendered for reading by a user logged into the computing device remote from the peripheral device, and the email notification comprises a selectable option configured to automatically install the firmware upgrade on the computing device, and an option for a selected time period of installation, and an interface allowing the user to indicate selections by mouse click; downloading the firmware update, from the pre-designated location, at the selected time period, to the peripheral computing device; and installing the firmware upgrade onto the peripheral device during the selected times period. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A peripheral device comprising:
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firmware stored in nonvolatile memory on the peripheral device; and an upgrade applet, operable on the peripheral device and configured to update the firmware on the peripheral device, by; determining a current version of the firmware; searching a pre-designated location for a firmware upgrade, wherein the searching is performed by an embedded browser configured to operate without user intervention within the computing device according to a prescheduled time period, and wherein operation of the browser is initiated and directed by the applet; sending an email notification from the upgrade applet to one or more pre-designated email addresses if the firmware upgrade is found, wherein the email notification is sent by, and the one of the one or more pre-designated email addresses is stored on, the applet running on the computing device, wherein the email notification is configured to be received on a host computer remote from the peripheral computing device, wherein the email notification is suitable for rendering for reading by a user logged into the host computer, and wherein the email notification provides the option of installing the firmware upgrade, an option for a selected time period of installation, and an interface allowing the user to indicate selections by mouse click; downloading the firmware update, from the pre-designated location, at the selected time period, to the peripheral computing device; and installing the firmware upgrade onto the peripheral computing device during the selected time period. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system for upgrading firmware comprising:
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a computing device; a peripheral device, in communication with the computing device; and an upgrade applet configured for operation on the peripheral device, wherein the upgrade applet is configured for; determining a current version of firmware installed on the peripheral device, wherein the determining is performed by the upgrade applet running on the peripheral device; searching a pre-designated location for a firmware upgrade, wherein the searching is performed by an embedded browser configured to operate without user intervention within the peripheral device according to a prescheduled time period, and wherein operation of the browser is initiated and directed by the applet; sending an email notification from the peripheral device to one or more pre-designated email addresses if the firmware upgrade is found, wherein the email notification is sent by, and the one of the one or more pre-designated email addresses is stored on, the applet running on the peripheral device; receiving the email notification on the computing device, wherein the email notification is rendered for reading by a user logged into the computing device, and wherein the email provides the option of installing the firmware upgrade, an option for a selected time period of installation, and an interface allowing the user to indicate selections by mouse click; downloading the firmware update, from the pre-designated location, at the selected time period, to the peripheral device; and installing the firmware upgrade onto the peripheral device during the selected time period.
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Specification