Efficient generator of update packages for mobile devices

• US 7,797,695 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2005
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Motta, Giovanni
• Primary Examiner(s): Bullock, Jr.; Lewis A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pan; Hang
• Application Number:
  US11/316,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20060107260A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,728 Days
• Field of Search: 717/168
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/658 Incremental updates; Differential updates

Abstract

An efficient generator of update packages employs a new command SET PTR CACHE to take advantage of a rudimentary caching mechanism that allows exploiting of local patterns in pointer replacements.

Claims

1. A generator, embedded as firmware in non-volatile memory of a mobile device and executable to generate a difference information by comparing a first version of code to a second version of code, the generator comprising:

a matching function that detects matches in code strings between the first version of code and the second version of code;

the matching function allowing for a limited number of mismatches having a mismatch length which is less than or equal to an established mismatch length, wherein the limited number of mismatches is greater than one but fewer than all of the mismatches having a mismatch length which is less than or equal to the established mismatch length;

wherein the matching stops when more than the limited number of mismatches having a mismatch length which is less than or equal to the established mismatch length of consecutive bytes are found not to match, or when more than the established mismatch length of consecutive bytes are found not to match; and

wherein the limited number of mismatches is determined according to a cost function which ensures that a cost to encode a byte of a match is less than each byte of the match.

2. The generator in claim 1 wherein the difference information generated is for a non in-place implementation of an update activity.

3. The generator in claim 1 wherein the established mismatch length is less than one of 4 bytes or 8 bytes.

4. A mobile network that includes a generator to facilitate accuracy of updates to at least one mobile device, the network comprising:

a mobile device;

a delivery server to that is able to facilitate retrieval of an update package by the mobile device;

a generator capable of generating a difference information by comparing a first version of code to a second version of code for providing the update package to the mobile device, wherein the update package is employed to update firmware and/or software in the mobile device, and wherein the generator is embedded as firmware in non-volatile memory of the mobile device to;

detect matches in code strings between the first version of code and the second version of code;

allow for a limited number of mismatches having a mismatch length which is less than or equal to an established mismatch length, wherein the limited number of mismatches is greater than one but fewer than all of the mismatches having a mismatch length which is less than or equal to the established mismatch length;

wherein the matching stops when more than the limited number of mismatches having a mismatch length which is less than or equal to the established mismatch length of consecutive bytes are found not to match or when more than the established mismatch length of consecutive bytes are found not to match; and

wherein the limited number of mismatches is determined according to a cost function which ensures that a cost to encode a byte of a match is less than each byte of the match.

5. The mobile network of claim 4 wherein the difference information generated is for a non in-place implementation

of an update activity.

6. The mobile network of claim 4 wherein the established mismatch length is less than one of 4 bytes or 8 bytes.

7. A mobile network that includes a generator to facilitate accuracy of updates to at least one mobile device, the network comprising:

a mobile device;

a delivery server to that is able to facilitate retrieval of an update package by the mobile device;

a generator capable of generating a difference information by comparing a first version of code to a second version of code for providing the update package to the mobile device in association with encoding and decoding the update package, wherein the update package is employed to update firmware and/or software in the mobile device, and wherein the generator is embedded as firmware in non-volatile memory of the mobile device to;

detect matches in code strings between the first version of code and the second version of code;

allow for a limited number of mismatches having a mismatch length which is less than or equal to an established mismatch;

wherein mismatches of length up to the established mismatch length are tolerated up to the limited number of mismatches and wherein the matching stops when more than the limited number of mismatches having a mismatch length which is less than or equal to the established mismatch length of consecutive bytes are found not to match or when more than the established mismatch length of consecutive bytes are found not to match; and

wherein the limited number of mismatches is determined according to a cost function that ensures a cost of a match to encode a byte of a match is less than each byte of the match.