Firmware update in electronic devices employing update agent in a flash memory card

• US 7,904,895 B1
• Filed: 04/21/2005
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Cassapakis, Chris, Rao, Bindu Rama
• Primary Examiner(s): Kang; Insun
• Application Number:
  US11/111,276
• Time in Patent Office: 2,147 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories

Abstract

A controller in a removable memory card operatively coupled to an electronic device is employed by the electronic device to create a newer/updated version of firmware/software in the non-volatile memory of the electronic device. Update agent code in the removable memory card may use an old/original version of firmware/software in the electronic device to create the newer/updated version of firmware/software. During the creation of the newer/updated version of firmware/software in the flash memory card, the electronic device may be operational. A separate update agent in the electronic device may subsequently update the old/original version of firmware/software in the non-volatile memory of the electronic device using contents of the removable memory card, after a reboot or power-up of the electronic device.

Claims

1. A method of updating an electronic device comprising at least one of:

firmware and software stored in a non-volatile memory of the electronic device, the electronic device capable of operatively coupling to a removable memory card, the method comprising;

retrieving update information of the least one of;

firmware and software at the removable memory card;

authenticating the update information in the removable memory card;

creating an updated version in the removable memory card of the at least one of;

firmware and software using update agent code resident in the removable memory card based upon the update information retrieved at the removable memory card by accessing the at least one of;

firmware and software from the non-volatile memory of the electronic device, and updating the at least one of;

firmware and software in the removable memory card;

copying by the update agent code resident in the removable memory card the updated version of the at least one of firmware and software from the removable memory card to the non-volatile memory of the electronic device; and

updating in the non-volatile memory by a different update agent code resident in the non-volatile memory the at least one of;

firmware and software stored in the non-volatile memory of the electronic device using the copied updated version.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein creating an updated version comprises executing the update agent code on a controller in the removable memory card, thereby consuming the update information to upgrade in the removable memory card at least a portion of the at least one of:

firmware and software in the non-volatile memory of the electronic device.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein executing the update agent code comprises:

initializing parameters of the update agent code;

referencing at least a portion of the at least one of;

firmware and software, in a bank-by-bank fashion according to a bank order;

accessing at least a portion of the update information;

sequentially updating in a bank-by-bank fashion according to the bank order, the at least a portion of the at least one of;

firmware and software in the removable memory card; and

storing, in the removable memory card in a bank-by-bank fashion according to the bank order, the sequentially updated at least a portion of the firmware and software.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein retrieving comprises:

receiving update information from a server, and

transferring the update information to the removable memory card.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the update information is resident in the removable memory card before the removable memory card is operatively coupled to the electronic device.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the removable memory card comprises a controller capable of executing the update agent code in the removable memory card.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the removable memory card comprises the update agent code and the update information, the update agent code executable by the controller to cause updating of the at least one of:

firmware and software, using the update information.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the controller performs initialization as part of an initial bootstrap following operative coupling of the removable memory card to the electronic device and prior to the retrieving, and wherein the controller establishes access for the update agent code to the at least one of:

firmware and software of the electronic device.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the copying comprises:

determining that the update agent code has successfully completed creating the updated version of the at least one of;

firmware and software;

soliciting user approval for updating the at least one of;

firmware and software; and

transferring, upon obtaining user approval, the updated version of the at least one of;

firmware and software from the removable memory card to the non-volatile memory of the electronic device.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the removable memory card comprises one of a Multi-Media Card (MMC), a Compact Flash (CF) card, a Secure Digital (SD) card, a memory stick, an integrated circuit card, and a smart card.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the electronic device comprises one of:

a mobile handset, a cellular telephone, a pager, and a personal digital assistant (PDA).

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the update information comprises a set of executable instructions for converting a first version of code to an updated version of code.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein a ready status flag indicates to the electronic device that a new version of firmware is available in the removable memory before transferring.

14. An electronic device comprising:

non-volatile memory containing firmware; and

a removable memory card having stored therein update agent code and update information of the firmware, the update information authenticated in the removable memory card, the update agent code executable on the removable memory card to create an updated version in the removable memory card of the firmware based upon the update information by accessing the firmware from the non-volatile memory, and copy the updated version of the firmware from the removable memory card to the non-volatile memory; and

cause a different update agent code resident in the non-volatile memory to update in the non-volatile memory the firmware using the copied updated version.

15. The electronic device according to claim 14 wherein a controller in the removable memory card is capable of updating in the removable memory card at least a portion of the firmware of the electronic device employing the update agent code.

16. The electronic device according to claim 14 wherein the electronic device comprises one of:

a mobile handset, a cellular telephone, a pager, and a personal digital assistant (PDA).

17. The electronic device according to claim 14 wherein update information comprises a set of executable instructions for converting a first version of code to an updated version of code.

18. The electronic device according to claim 14 wherein the removable memory card comprises one of:

a Multi-Media Card (MMC), a Compact Flash (CF) card, a Secure Digital (SD) card, a memory stick, an integrated circuit card, and a smart card.

19. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the controller is a configurable microprocessor configured to execute in the removable memory card the update agent and firmware for content protection and verification of update packages during an update activity.

20. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the controller is a configurable microprocessor configured to manage communication with the electronic device.