Initialization and update of software and/or firmware in electronic devices

• US 7,409,685 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2003
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, Shao-Chun, Jacobi, Sidney Andrew, O'Neill, Patrick, Lim, Jeong M., Sotos, Peter L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dam; Tuan Q.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUTTEN, JAMES D
• Application Number:
  US10/411,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20050102660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,943 Days
• Field of Search: 717168-173
• US Class Current: 717/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A system and method to effectively and efficiently update a version of firmware resident in a device memory is provided. A method of identifying one or more versions of firmware is provided by way of initializing a device memory with a known pattern. In addition, the amount of free unused memory space may be identified and calculated in a device memory. The system and method generates software update packages that are minimal in size providing cost benefit to a manufacturer and convenience to a user.

Claims

1. A system for initializing a memory and updating software in an electronic device comprising:

a generator for generating a software update package for incorporation into a device memory of said electronic device;

a binary image creator for generating a binary pattern for initializing said device memory of said electronic device before loading of software onto said device memory, said binary pattern representative of version information of said software;

a layout preprocessor for implementing a memory layout specification into software code, mapping configuration parameters associated with said layout specification, and incorporating reserved buffer space for use by said generator;

a software repository for storing at least one of said software update package and said binary pattern;

a user interface for inputting said layout specification directly into said layout preprocessor; and

wherein said software is overlayed on said binary pattern to form a binary image used to update said device memory, by one of said binary image creator or said electronic device.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an external computer system for providing a layout specification to said layout preprocessor.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the software repository comprises one or more computer storage devices.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said layout preprocessor is configured to insert reserved buffer space adjacent an associated software module for subsequent processing by said generator.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said reserved buffer spaces are of equal size.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said reserved buffer space comprises a size proportional to its associated software module.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said layout preprocessor is configured to assign one or more software modules to one or more predefined slots of memory for subsequent processing by said generator.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said one or more software modules comprise software objects.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein said layout preprocessor assigns one or more software modules to one or more predefined slots of memory based on a probability of change of said one or more software modules.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said probability of change is specified by a numeric value.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein sizes of said predefined slots is based on a probability of change of said one or more software modules.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein sizes of said predefined slots is based on a weighting factor correlated to probability of change and an average reserved buffer size.

13. The system of claim 7 wherein the first two slots of said one or more predefined slots of memory provide no buffer space and the remaining slots provide buffer spaces of equivalent sizes.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein said generator identifies versions of software modules residing in said device memory and generates a suitable software update package for processing by an update agent in said electronic device into said device memory in said electronic device.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein said mapping of software modules by said preprocessor minimizes the size of said software update packages.

16. A method of updating software in a device memory of an electronic device, the method comprising:

obtaining a memory layout specification;

processing said layout specification;

creating a binary image for initializing said device memory with at least one predetermined binary pattern before loading of software onto said device memory, based upon said layout specification, said predetermined binary pattern representing version information for said software;

generating a software update package for loading said software into said electronic device after the initialization;

transmitting said software update package for processing within said electronic device; and

wherein processing comprises incorporating said software into said binary image in said device memory.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said generating a software update package comprises:

assessing an image provided by a device memory of an electronic device;

comparing said image to one or more images stored in a software repository;

subtracting said two images to produce a difference image; and

generating an image for said software update package based on said difference image.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said obtaining layout specification is performed by way of input of data from a user through a user interface.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein said obtaining layout specification is performed by accessing said layout specification data from an external computer system.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein said obtaining layout specification is performed by accessing said layout specification data from one or more electronic devices.

21. A method of identifying free space within a device memory of an electronic device, the method comprising:

obtaining a memory layout specification;

generating one or more predetermined binary pattern(s) based on said memory layout specification, and wherein said one or more predetermined binary pattern(s) are representative of version information;

initializing said device memory with said one or more predetermined binary pattern(s), before loading software corresponding to said version information into said device memory; and

identifying as free space one or more portions of said device memory matching at least one of said one or more predetermined binary pattern(s).

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said initializing is performed by an update agent located within said electronic device.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein said obtaining memory layout specification is performed by way of input of data from a user through a user interface.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein said obtaining memory layout specification is performed by accessing said layout specification data from an external computer system.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein said obtaining memory layout specification is performed by accessing said layout specification data from one or more electronic devices.

26. A method of differentiating versions of one or more software modules stored in memory of a plurality of electronic devices, the method comprising:

before loading software, initializing a device memory image with one or more predetermined binary patterns, each of the one or more predetermined binary patterns selected using version information for a corresponding one of the one or more software modules;

after initializing, loading the one or more software modules onto said device memory image;

storing said device memory image resulting from said initializing and loading, into a software repository; and

determining a version difference based upon the one or more predetermined binary patterns in stored device memory images.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

providing free space for one or more software modules in said device memory.