Method for remotely upgrading the firmware of a target device using wireless technology

• US 8,589,908 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2006
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ST-Ericcson SA (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Gupta, Naresh Kumar, Kashivasi, Mohan, Subbakrishna, Sriharsha Mysore
• Primary Examiner(s): Das, Chameli
• Application Number:
  US11/606,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20080040713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,547 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention provides a system and method for remotely upgrading the firmware of a target device using wireless technology from the Bluetooth-enabled PC or Laptop to another Bluetooth device e.g., mouse, Keyboard, headset, mobile phone etc. Existing solutions either may not have upgrade capabilities, or may require the use of proprietary cables. An embodiment of the solution proposed here extends the “Connecting without cables” concept of Bluetooth to firmware upgrades. The system comprises a host device for sending the firmware required for upgradation; and a target device containing a first code and a second code wherein said first code identifies details of the firmware; and said second code identifies the completion of the download operation when the firmware is successfully downloaded.

Claims

1. A method implemented in a target device for upgrading a firmware in the target device, said method comprising:

establishing a connection with a host device;

sending a first code from the target device to the host device, said first code identifying firmware for the target device;

downloading an updated firmware image for the identified firmware from the host device to the target device;

sending, from the target device to the host device, a checksum computed from the downloaded firmware image;

if the a correct checksum was sent , receiving from the host device a message containing a second code, said second code indicating to the target device that the download was successful; and

writing the second code to a predetermined location in non-volatile memory of the target device and resetting the firmware in the target device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein downloading an updated firmware image for the identified firmware from the host device to the target device comprises receiving a download command from the host device at the target device;

and sending a download response to the host device from the target device to confirm acceptance by the target device of the download.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein downloading an updated firmware image for the identified firmware from the host device to the target device comprises downloading the updated firmware image to the target device over a wireless interface.

4. A target device containing firmware, said target device comprising:

a communication interface for communicating with a host device;

a processor configured to;

establish a connection with the host device;

send a first code from the target device to the host device, said first code identifying firmware for the target device;

download an updated firmware image for the identified firmware from the host device to the target device over the communication interface;

send a checksum computed from the downloaded firmware image from the target device to the host device over the communication interface;

if a correct checksum is sent, receive a message containing a second code to the target device over the communication interface, said second code indicating to the target device that the download was successful; and

write the second code to a predetermined location in a non-volatile memory of the target device and resetting the firmware in the target device.

5. The target device of claim 4 wherein the processor is further configured to download receive a download command from the host device;

and

send a download response to the host device to confirm acceptance by the target device of the download.

6. The target device of claim 4 wherein the communication interface comprises a wireless interface.