Firmware repository for MFP devices
First Claim
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1. A computer system, comprising:
- a computer readable medium including a firmware repository;
and wherein the firmware repository stores at least one Extensible Markup Language (XML) description file employing an XML schema which identifies for a firmware associated with the firmware repository a firmware version, a device supported by the firmware, and a location of the firmware, and wherein the XML schema further identifies for the firmware associated with the firmware repository a version matrix comprising a matrix of version numbers of all the firmware for different components of said device and a set of interdependencies among the different components of said device, and wherein the firmware is contained in a firmware file separate and distinct from the XML description file;
a utility program installed on a computer console to access the firmware repository, read the XML description file, and manage or download firmware files for a given device.
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Abstract
A firmware repository includes an Extensible Markup Language (XML) description file. A system and method for managing the repository is described.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A computer system, comprising:
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a computer readable medium including a firmware repository; and wherein the firmware repository stores at least one Extensible Markup Language (XML) description file employing an XML schema which identifies for a firmware associated with the firmware repository a firmware version, a device supported by the firmware, and a location of the firmware, and wherein the XML schema further identifies for the firmware associated with the firmware repository a version matrix comprising a matrix of version numbers of all the firmware for different components of said device and a set of interdependencies among the different components of said device, and wherein the firmware is contained in a firmware file separate and distinct from the XML description file; a utility program installed on a computer console to access the firmware repository, read the XML description file, and manage or download firmware files for a given device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer system for managing device firmware, comprising:
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a firmware repository and wherein the firmware repository includes at least one Extensible Markup Language (XML) description file which contains the following information for a firmware contained in a firmware file distinct from the XML description file; a firmware version; a device model and family of devices supported by the firmware; a release date of the firmware; a description or release notes for said version; a location of the firmware; and a version matrix comprising a matrix of version designations of all the firmware for different components of said device and a set of interdependencies among the different components of said device; and a utility program installed on a computer to access the firmware repository, read the XML description file, and in dependence on the information in the XML description file, manage or download firmware files for a given device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer-implemented system for managing a firmware repository including a device firmware file for a device having a plurality of components, the device firmware file stored at a device firmware file location;
- the system comprising;
an Extensible Markup Language (XML) firmware description file stored on computer readable media at a firmware repository location, the firmware description file employing an XML schema which identifies for the firmware file a firmware version, a device supported by the firmware, a version matrix comprising a matrix of version numbers of each component firmware for the plurality of components of the device and interdependencies among the plurality of components, and said location of the device firmware file, and wherein the device firmware file is distinct from the XML description file; a software utility on a computer console, the software utility adapted to manage the firmware repository including the XML description file, to access the firmware repository, read the XML description file, and manage or download firmware files for a given device, said software utility including an algorithm for receiving and acting upon an input data set to manage said firmware repository, said input data set including a firmware repository location data element identifying said firmware repository location. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
- the system comprising;
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26. A computer-implemented method for managing a firmware repository, comprising:
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inputting a firmware repository location and user credentials; verifying that the firmware repository location is a valid location and the user credentials provide a valid management permission; if the location is a valid location and the user credentials provide a valid management permission, conducting a computer-implemented management function on an Extensible Markup Language (XML) firmware description file stored on computer readable media at the firmware repository location, the firmware description file including a field defining a device firmware file location at which a device firmware file is located, a device supported by the device firmware file, a version matrix comprising a matrix of version numbers of each component firmware for a plurality of components of the device and interdependencies among the plurality of components, and wherein the device firmware file is distinct from the XML description file. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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Specification