Device software update transport and download

• US 7,200,390 B1
• Filed: 12/30/2004
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: McDermott Will & Emery LLP
• Original Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, Xuming, Clare, Varsha, Henager, Justin
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Danh Cong
• Application Number:
  US11/024,485
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 455/419, 455/412.1, 455/418, 715/542, 707/205, 707/203, 709/250
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99954 Version management

Abstract

A mobile station update client facilitates downloading of updated software. This client interacts through a data communication client, using a standard interface. The data client wakes up the update client, in response to a notification from a download server. The update client interacts with the server, to identify resident software for checking against update(s) available from the server. The server does not need to be pre-provisioned with information as to the software or firmware in the mobile station, as this data can be provided by the update client. Also, there is no need for transmission of sensitive subscriber information over the air once a connection is established, because the download client provides the minimal data needed to facilitate the checking and updating of the software. An update is downloaded and stored in dedicated memory in the mobile station. The update client installs the updated software and activates that software for future use.

Claims

1. A method for downloading updated software to a mobile station over-the-air through a wireless mobile communication network, comprising:

identifying the mobile station from among stations served through the wireless mobile communication network;

sending a push notification through the wireless mobile communication network to a data communication client resident in the mobile station;

activating an update client resident in the mobile station, in response to the push notification;

initiating a data communication session from the data communication client resident in the mobile station, through the wireless mobile communication network;

sending a software identifier from the update client, indicative of software currently resident in the mobile station, via the data communication session;

selecting an update of software for the mobile station, based on the identifier;

downloading the selected update software for the mobile station to the data communication client resident in the mobile station, via the data communication session; and

transferring the downloaded updated software to the update client for installation and activation thereof within the mobile station.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the step of transferring comprises storing received updated software in a location in memory of the mobile station dedicated to software updating, and

when downloading and storing are complete, the update client installs the downloaded updated software from the dedicated location in memory.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying of the mobile station comprises receiving a command containing identification of the mobile station from a data processing system on the network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying of the mobile station comprises receiving a user message containing identification of the mobile station, from the mobile station, through the wireless mobile communication network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data communication client comprises one or more of the following:

a mobile multimedia service (MMS) client, a short message service (SMS) client and a wireless access protocol (WAP) client.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data communication session is a broadband packet data communication session through the wireless mobile communication network.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the wireless mobile communication network comprises a 1x or EVDO type network.

8. A method of updating software in a mobile station over-the-air through a wireless mobile communication network, comprising:

receiving a push notification over-the-air through the wireless mobile communication network at a data communication client resident in the mobile station;

activating an update client resident in the mobile station, in response to the received push notification;

initiating a data communication session from the data communication client resident in the mobile station, over-the-air through the wireless mobile communication network;

sending a software identifier from the update client, indicative of software currently resident in the mobile station, via the data communication session;

receiving updated software for the mobile station at the data communication client resident in the mobile station, via the data communication session;

storing the received updated software in a dedicated location in memory within the mobile station;

when the storing is complete, processing the updated software in the dedicated location in memory within the mobile station with the update client, to install the updated software; and

activating the installed updated software within the mobile station, to control at least one aspect of future operations of the mobile station via the network.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the mobile station comprises a digital cellular telephone.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the data communication session is a broadband packet data communication session through the wireless mobile communication network.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the wireless mobile communication network comprises a 1x or EVDO type network.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the data communication client comprises one or more of the following:

a mobile multimedia service (MMS) client, a short message service (SMS) client and a wireless access protocol (WAP) client.