Provisioning device make and model information for firmware over-the-air (FOTA)

• US 8,572,599 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2008
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Thaper, Atul
• Primary Examiner(s): Dao, Thuy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Mongbao
• Application Number:
  US12/144,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20090319848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,954 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/64 Retargetable
• 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

Abstract

A device receives identifier, make, and model information associated with a device from a device activation system, and provides the device identifier, make, and model information to a database. The device also determines whether the device qualifies for a software update package based on the device make and model information, and provides, to the device, a notification of the software update package when the device qualifies for the software update package.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving by a first device and at a first time;

make information identifying a make associated with a second device, and model information identifying a model associated with the second device,

the first device being different than the second device,

the make information and the model information being received from a third device as part of the third device activating the second device,

the third device being different than the first device and the second device;

providing, by the first device and to the third device, a result associated with receiving the make information and the model information at the first time;

receiving, by the first device and from the third device, the make information and the model information at a second time, after providing the result, when the result indicates that the make information and the model information were not stored in a memory of the first device;

storing, by the first device and in the memory of the first device, the make information and the model information received at the first time or at the second time;

determining, by the first device and after storing the make information and the model information, whether the second device qualifies for a software update package based on the make information and the model information,

the software update package being associated with;

particular make information identifying a make associated with one or more devices, and

particular model information identifying a model associated with the one or more devices,

determining whether the second device qualifies for the software update package including;

comparing the particular make information and the particular model information with the make information and the model information;

determining, by the first device, that the second device qualifies for the software update package when the particular make information and the particular model information match the make information and the model information; and

providing, by the first device and to the second device, a notification of the software update package based on determining that the second device qualifies for the software update package.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the second device, a request for the software update package based on the notification; and

providing the software update package to the second device based on the request.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, from the second device, a result associated with providing the software update package to the second device.

4. The method of claim 1, where receiving the make information and the model information comprises at least one of:

receiving, from the third device, identification information of the second device, the make information, and the model information at a time of initial provisioning of the first device;

receiving, from the third device, identification information of the second device, the make information, and the model information via a mobile identification number (MIN) command;

receiving, from the third device, identification information of the second device, the make information, and the model information via a mobile directory number (MDN) command;

or

receiving, from the third device, identification information of the second device, the make information, and the model information via an electronic serial number (ESN) command.

5. The method of claim 1, where determining whether the second device qualifies for the software update package further comprises:

identifying information associated with a group of devices, including the second device, from the memory based on make information and model information associated with a software update,

the software update package being associated with the software update;

selecting the software update package for the group of devices;

comparing the particular make information and the particular model information, associated with the software update package, with make information and model information associated with the group of devices; and

determining that the second device qualifies for the software update package when the make information and the model information, associated with the group of devices, match the particular make information and the particular model information associated with the software update package.

6. The method of claim 1, where the first device comprises a server that updates software, and

where the second device comprises one or more of:

a radiotelephone;

a personal communications system (PCS) terminal;

a personal digital assistant (PDA);

a lap top;

or

a personal computer.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a software package, from a plurality of software packages, based on information identifying a particular make and a particular model of at least one device;

determining that particular devices, of a group of devices, qualify for the software package when information identifying a make and a model, of each of the particular devices, match the information identifying the particular make and the particular model; and

providing, to each of the particular devices, a corresponding one of a plurality of notifications of the software package when the particular devices qualify for the software package.

8. The method of claim 1, where the software update package comprises firmware over-the-air (FOTA),

where the make information comprises information identifying a manufacturer of the second device, and

where the model information comprises information identifying a model number associated with the second device.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, by a server, make information identifying a make associated with a first device and model information identifying a model associated with the first device,

the server being different than the first device,

the make information and the model information being received from a second device that is different than the first device and the server, and

the make information and the model information being received as part of the first device being activated;

receiving, by the server and from the second device, a command to provide the make information and the model information, associated with the first device, to a third device to determine whether the first device qualifies for a software update,

the third device being different than the second device,

the software update being associated with;

particular make information identifying a make associated with one or more devices, and

particular model information identifying a model associated with the one or more devices; and

providing, by the server and to the third device, the make information and the model information, at a first time, based on the command received from the second device

providing, by the server and to the third device, the make information and the model information, at a second time, when the third device indicates that the make information and the model information was not stored in a memory associated with the third device

the third device providing a notification of the software update to the first device when the make information and the model information, associated with the first device, match the particular make information and the particular model information that are associated with the software update.

10. The method of claim 9, where the first device comprises one or more of:

a radiotelephone;

a personal communications system (PCS) terminal;

a personal digital assistant (PDA);

a lap top;

or

a personal computer.

11. The method of claim 9, where providing the make information and the model information to the third device includes:

sending, to the third device, the make information and the model information at a time of initial provisioning of the first device.

12. The method of claim 9, where providing the make information and the model information to the third device includes:

providing, to the third device, the make information and the model information via a mobile identification number (MIN) command;

providing, to the third device, the make information and the model information via a mobile directory number (MDN) command;

or

providing, to the third device, the make information and the model information via an electronic serial number (ESN) command.

13. A device comprising:

a processor to;

receive, at a first time and from a server, make information identifying a make associated with a user device and model information identifying a model associated with the user device,

the device being different than the server and the user device, and

the user device being different than the server,

provide, to the server, a result associated with receiving the make information and the model information at the first time,

receive, after providing the result and from the server, the make information and the model information at a second time, when the result indicates that the make information and the model information were not stored in a memory associated with the device

store the make information and the model information, received from the server at the first time or at the second time, in the memory associated with the device,

determine, after storing the make information and the model information, whether the user device qualifies for a software update package based on the make information and the model information,

the software update package being associated with particular make information and particular model information,

the particular make information identifying a make associated with one or more devices, and

the particular model information identifying a model associated with the one or more devices,

when determining whether the user device qualifies for the software update package, the processor is to;

compare the particular make information and the particular model information with the make information and the model information,

determine that the user device qualifies for the software update package when the particular make information and the particular model information match the make information and the model information, and

provide, to the user device, a notification of the software update package based on determining that the user device qualifies for the software update package.

14. The device of claim 13, where the device comprises a server that updates software associated with devices.

15. The device of claim 13, where the processor is further to receive, from the server, device identifier information associated with the user device,

where the device identifier information comprises one or more of:

a mobile identification number (MIN) associated with the user device,

a mobile directory number (MDN) associated with the user device,

an electronic serial number (ESN) associated with the user device, or

a mobile equipment identity (MEID) associated with the user device.

16. The device of claim 13, where:

the make information comprises information identifying a manufacturer of the user device, and

the model information comprises information identifying a model number associated with the user device.

17. The device of claim 13, where the software update package comprises firmware over-the-air (FOTA).

18. The device of claim 13, where the processor is further to:

provide the software update package to the user device without receiving a request from the user device for the software update package, when the user device qualifies for the software update package.

19. The device of claim 18, where the processor is further to:

receive, from the user device, a result associated with providing the software update package to the user device.

20. The device of claim 13, where the processor is further to at least one of:

receive, from the server, the make information and the model information at a time of initial provisioning of the user device,

receive, from the server, the make information and the model information via a mobile identification number (MIN) command,

receive, from the server, the make information and the model information via a mobile directory number (MDN) command, or

receive, from the server, the make information and the model information via an electronic serial number (ESN) command.

21. The device of claim 13, where the processor is further to:

identify information associated with a group of devices, including the user device, from the memory based on make information and model information associated with a software update,

select the software update package for the group of devices,

the software update package being associated with the software update,

compare the particular make information and the particular model information, associated with the software update package, with make information and model information associated with the group of devices, and

determine that the user device is qualified for the software update package when the make information and the model information, associated with the group of devices, match the particular make information and the particular model information associated with the software update package.

22. A system comprising:

a first server, comprising a processor, to;

receive, at a first time and from a second server, make information identifying a make associated with a device and model information identifying a model associated with the device,

the second server being different than the first server and the device,

the device being different than the first server,

provide, to the second server, a result associated with receiving the make information and the model information at the first time;

receive, after providing the result and from the second server, the make information and the model information at a second time, when the result indicates that the make information and the model information were not stored in a memory of the first server;

store the make information and the model information, received at the first time or at the second time, in the memory of the first server,

determine, and after storing the make information and the model information, whether the device qualifies for software based on the make information and the model information,

the software being associated with particular make information and particular model information,

the particular make information identifying a make associated with one or more devices, and

the particular model information identifying a model associated with the one or more devices,

when determining whether the device qualifies for software, the first server is to compare the particular make information and the particular model information with the make information and the model information,

determine that the device qualifies for the software when the particular make information and the particular model information match the make information and the model information, and

provide, to the device, a notification of the software based on determining that the device qualifies for the software.

23. The system of claim 22, where the first server is further to:

receive, from the device, a request for the software based on the notification, and

provide the software to the device based on the request.

24. The system of claim 22, where the first server is further to at least one of:

receive, from the second server, identification information of the device, the make information, and the model information at a time of initial provisioning of the device,

receive, from the second server, identification information of the device, the make information, and the model information via a mobile identification number (MIN) command,

receive, from the second server, identification information of the device, the make information, and the model information via a mobile directory number (MDN) command, or

receive, from the second server, identification information of the device, the make information, and the model information via an electronic serial number (ESN) command.

25. The system of claim 22, where the first server is further to:

identify information associated with a group of devices, including the device, from the memory based on make information and model information associated with a software update,

select the software for the group of devices,

the software being associated with the software update,

compare the particular make information and the particular model information, associated with the software, with make information and model information associated with the group of devices, and

determine that the device qualifies for the software when the make information and the model information, associated with the group of devices, match the particular make information and the particular model information associated with the software.