Network for mass distribution of configuration, firmware and software updates

• US 7,844,964 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2005
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Marolia, Sunil
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhen; Wei Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rampuria; Satish
• Application Number:
  US11/226,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20060010437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,903 Days
• Field of Search: 717168-178, 455418-4221
• US Class Current: 717/172
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• 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: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A network for mass broadcast of update packages to electronic devices makes it possible to efficiently broadcast update packages for configuration, firmware and software updates. A broadcast server in the network employs broadcast means to broadcast update packages. An electronic device capable of receiving these broadcast update packages comprises a listening client that is capable of listening to a broadcast channel and downloading an update package broadcast by the broadcast server. The listening client makes use of a listening parameters that are set by the DM server in order to facilitate the download from the broadcast server.

Claims

1. A server for mass distribution of firmware and software updates to a plurality of mobile devices, the server comprising a processor and computer readable storage, the server further comprising:

a management protocol component stored on the computer readable storage and executable by the processor for device discovery by a first protocol, the server employing the management protocol component to set or replace, as necessary, a listening parameter in at least one of the plurality of mobile devices;

a broadcast protocol component stored on the computer readable storage and executable by the processor for communicating a package and associated metadata via a broadcast mechanism to the plurality of devices, wherein the package and associated metadata are communicated via a mass distribution over the broadcast mechanism from where each of the plurality of devices may receive the package from a single communication;

wherein the associated metadata is such that each of the plurality of devices can accept or reject the package available to each of the plurality of devices via the broadcast mechanism based on the associated metadata; and

wherein the listening parameter enables the at least one of the plurality of mobile devices to determine if the package broadcast by the server is to be stored or consumed.

2. The server for mass distribution in accordance with claim 1 wherein the listening parameter enables the at least one of the plurality of devices to accept or reject the package based on the associated metadata.

3. The server for mass distribution in accordance with claim 2 wherein the listening parameter enables each of the at least one of the plurality of devices to determine whether or not the package is useful and consumable.

4. The server for mass distribution in accordance with claim 3 wherein the package is communicated over a plurality of packets and wherein the plurality of devices can assemble the package after collecting the plurality of packets.

5. The server for mass distribution in accordance with claim 4 wherein each of the plurality of packets comprise a metadata wrapper that identifies the each of the plurality of packets and provides details on how it may be verified and consumed.

6. The server for mass distribution in accordance with claim 1 wherein the server communicates the package to the plurality of mobile devices during an off-peak hour to reduce bandwidth costs.

7. The server for mass distribution in accordance with claim 1 wherein the server reduces congestion by broadcasting the package once and allowing each of the plurality of devices capable of receiving the package to accept the package in order to conduct an update.

8. The server for mass distribution in accordance with claim 7 wherein the broadcast protocol component employs broadcast means based on a multicast IP network protocols to broadcast the package to the plurality of devices.

9. The server for mass distribution in accordance with claim 7 wherein the broadcast protocol component employs an IP broadcast protocols to communicate the package to the plurality of devices.

10. The server for mass distribution in accordance with claim 7 wherein the broadcast protocol component is embodied in broadcast server communicatively coupled to the server, wherein the broadcast server supports directed broadcast in which the package is sent to a specific network associated with the plurality of devices.