Update package catalog for update package transfer between generator and content server in a network

• US 7,694,293 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2004
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Rao, Bindu Rama
• Primary Examiner(s): Dam; Tuan Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAO, THUY CHAN
• Application Number:
  US10/950,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20050071385A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,017 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/172
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• 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 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A network wherein a generator is communicatively coupled to an update store or repository employs an update package container or catalog (UPC) that may be used to save information, using an XML format. The UPC may comprise update packages for one or more devices, and one or more transitions of versions for each device. The UPC may also comprise metadata information and security information associated with each the update packages. The complete update packages and associated metadata may be incorporated into an UPC, or external references to the update packages may be provided.

Claims

1. A method for communicating updating information for a plurality of mobile electronic devices, the method comprising:

storing in memory, contents of an update package container comprising plural device update information blocks, wherein each device update information block is associated with at least one of the plurality of mobile electronic devices, and wherein the update information blocks include updates from various generation environments that are generated by different information generators;

associating at least one target information portion with each of the at least one device update information block, each target information portion comprising information identifying a portion of code in the associated mobile electronic device, and at least one transition information portion comprising associated metadata and one of an update package comprising updating information and reference information identifying a location of an update package outside of the update package container;

transmitting the update package container to a system that processes each device update information block contained therein to distribute to associated ones of the plurality of mobile electronic devices updating information for converting code in the associated mobile electronic device from a first version to a second version; and

using an extensible markup language to allow the various generation environments to adopt schema wrappers and metadata supported by the update package container to allow efficient storage and distribution of the updates.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of mobile electronic devices is identified by device identification information.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the device identification information comprises at least one of:

a manufacturer identifier, a model identifier, and a version identifier.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the associated metadata comprises at least one of a size, a description, a creation date, a download time, a re-flash time, a vendor information, and a digital signature of an update package.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the update package container comprises:

a digital signature of each of the at least one device update information block of the update package container.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the reference information identifying the location of an update package outside of the update package container comprises a universal resource locator (URL).

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the set of all update packages contained within the update package container and the update packages referenced by the update package container comprise difference information generated by a plurality of manufacturers and software vendors.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein an update package comprises at least one of:

software, firmware, a java virtual machine, a game engine, a configuration file, and a system file for one of the plurality of mobile electronic devices.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein an update package comprises difference information for updating a first version of code to a second version of code.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the difference information comprises a set of executable instructions for converting the first version of code to the second version of code.

11. A system for distributing update packages to a plurality of mobile electronic devices, the system comprising:

at least one server that acts as an update package repository that stores a plurality of update packages for each of the plurality of mobile electronic devices;

wherein the at least one server receives a plurality of update package containers each comprising one or more device update information blocks each comprising one or more of a reference to an update package and an update package with associated metadata, from each of a plurality of update package container sources to which the system is communicatively coupled;

wherein the at least one server processes the received update package containers to store the update packages and associated metadata contained in the plurality of update package containers in the update package repository;

wherein the update information blocks include updates from various generation environments that are generated by different information generators; and

wherein an extensible markup language is used to allow the various generation environments to adopt schema wrappers and metadata supported by the update package container to allow efficient storage and distribution of the updates.

12. The system according to claim 11 wherein at least one of the plurality of update package container sources comprises a generator of update packages.

13. The system according to claim 11 wherein the plurality of update package container sources comprises a plurality of generators, each of the plurality of generators having an associated data type definition and managed by an associated one of a plurality of manufacturers of the plurality of mobile electronic devices.

14. The system according to claim 13 wherein the plurality of generators employ the same data type definition.

15. The system according to claim 11 wherein the system comprises a wireless network and wherein at least a portion of the plurality of update package container sources are located remote from the update package repository.

16. The system according to claim 11 wherein the update package repository receives update package containers from the plurality of update package container sources and verifies authenticity of update package containers before further processing of update package containers.

17. The system according to claim 11 wherein the update package repository receives update package containers from the plurality of update package container sources and verifies authenticity of update package containers and update packages contained therein before disseminating the update packages.

18. The system according to claim 11 wherein an update package comprises difference information for updating a first version of code to a second version of code.

19. The system according to claim 18 wherein the difference information comprises a set of executable instructions for converting the first version of code to the second version of code.

20. A method of communicating a plurality of update packages from a generator to a repository using an update package container, each of the plurality of update packages associated with a mobile electronic device, the method comprising:

generating the plurality of update packages, wherein the update packages include updates from various generation environments that are generated by different information generators;

digitally signing the plurality of update packages;

gathering metadata associated with the plurality of update packages, the metadata comprising digital signatures for the plurality of update packages;

inserting the plurality of update packages and associated metadata into the update package container;

signing the update package container using digital signing techniques;

delivering the digitally signed update package container to the repository; and

using an extensible markup language to allow the various generation environments to adopt schema wrappers and the metadata supported by the update package container to allow efficient storage and distribution of the updates.

21. The method according to claim 20 wherein inserting comprises:

arranging the plurality of update packages according to at least one of a manufacturer type, a model, a target, and a transition of the associated mobile electronic device.

22. The method according to claim 20 wherein signing the update package container comprises:

computing a World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)-based digital signature; and

inserting the W3C-based digital signature into the update package container.

23. The method according to claim 22 wherein inserting comprises:

incorporating update packages generated for at least one of a firmware, a software, a configuration, and a data.

24. The method according to claim 22 wherein delivering comprises:

establishing secure communication between the generator and the repository; and

depositing the update package container in the repository for processing and storage.