Updating firmware in a hybrid computing environment

• US 8,972,966 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2012
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kelso, Scott E., Li, Jian, Perrin, Steven R., Roper, Matthew P., Strazisar, Bradley P., Zhang, Jianbang
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rivera, Anibal
• Application Number:
  US13/343,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20130179870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• US Class Current: 717/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

Systems, methods and products directed toward facilitating firmware updates in a hybrid computing environment. One aspect includes providing a primary operating environment and a secondary operating environment in an information handling device; downloading one or more firmware update packages appropriate for the secondary operating environment to the primary operating environment; and executing a firmware update tool from the primary operating environment, the firmware update tool being configured to install the one or more firmware update packages on the secondary operating environment. Other embodiments are described herein.

Claims

1. An information handling device comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more memories storing program instructions accessible by the one or more processors; and

wherein, responsive to execution of program instructions accessible to the one or more processors, the one or more processors;

provide a primary user operating system environment and a secondary user operating system environment, wherein the primary user operating system environment and the secondary user operating system environment are supported by separate hardware platforms, the primary user operating system environment has a power state operating independently of a power state of the secondary user operating system environment;

download one or more firmware update packages appropriate for the secondary user operating system environment to the primary user operating system environment; and

execute a firmware update tool from the primary user operating system environment, wherein the firmware update tool installs the one or more firmware update packages on the secondary user operating system environment; and

further wherein the information handling device comprises a trigger to switch between the primary user operating system environment and the secondary user operating system environment.

2. The information handling device according to claim 1, wherein the firmware update tool is executed responsive to a trigger to switch from the primary user operating system environment to the secondary user operating system environment.

3. The information handling device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more processors query versions of one or more firmware applications resident on the secondary user operating system environment.

4. The information handling device according to claim 3, wherein the versions of the one or more firmware applications are stored in one or more registry files of the primary user operating system environment.

5. The information handling device according to claim 1, wherein one or more flags indicate that one or more firmware update packages are available.

6. The information handling device according to claim 1, further comprising a primary user operating system environment installer tool which stages the one or more firmware update packages.

7. The information handling device according to claim 6, wherein the primary user operating system environment installer tool is activated responsive to the downloading of one or more firmware update packages.

8. The information handling device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more firmware update packages are installed on the secondary user operating system environment responsive to one or more information handling device conditions.

9. The information handling device according to claim 8, wherein the one or more information handling device conditions comprise a power level of a battery being above a predetermined threshold.

10. The information handling device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more processors provide progress information of the one or more firmware update packages being installed on the secondary user operating system environment.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein one or more flags indicate that one or more firmware update packages are available.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a primary user operating system environment installer tool which stages the one or more firmware update packages.

11. A method comprising:

providing, in a hybrid computing device, a primary user operating system environment and a secondary user operating system environment, wherein the primary user operating system environment and the secondary user operating system environment are supported by separate hardware platforms, the primary user operating system environment has a power state operating independently of a power state of the secondary user operating system environment;

downloading one or more firmware update packages appropriate for the secondary user operating system environment to the primary user operating system environment; and

executing a firmware update tool from the primary user operating system environment, wherein the firmware update tool installs the one or more firmware update packages on the secondary user operating system environment; and

further wherein the information handling device comprises a trigger to switch between the primary user operating system environment and the secondary user operating system environment.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the firmware update tool is executed responsive to a trigger to switch from the primary user operating system environment to the secondary user operating system environment.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising querying versions of one or more firmware applications resident on the secondary user operating system environment.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the versions of the one or more firmware applications are stored in one or more registry files of the primary user operating system environment.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the one or more firmware update packages are installed on the secondary user operating system environment responsive to one or more device conditions.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the one or more device conditions comprise a power level of a battery being above a predetermined threshold.

19. The method according to claim 11, further comprising providing progress information for the one or more firmware update packages being installed on the secondary user operating system environment.

20. A program product comprising:

a non-signal storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code comprising;

program code that provides a primary user operating system environment and a secondary user operating system environment in an information handling device, wherein the primary user operating system environment and the secondary user operating system environment are supported by separate hardware platforms, the primary user operating system environment has a power state operating independently of a power state of the secondary user operating system environment;

program code that downloads one or more firmware update packages appropriate for the secondary user operating system environment to the primary user operating system environment; and

program code that executes a firmware update tool from the primary user operating system environment, wherein the firmware update tool installs the one or more firmware update packages on the secondary user operating system environment; and

wherein the information handling device comprises a trigger to switch between the primary user operating system environment and the secondary user operating system environment.