Remote firmware management for electronic devices
First Claim
1. A method for firmware updating for a plurality of electronic devices each connected on a user intranet behind a firewall, each of the plurality of electronic devices including firmware stored on device memory, the method comprising:
- maintaining a management gateway connected on the intranet behind a firewall and to the Internet through the firewall, the management gateway configured to control all firmware update activity for each of said plurality of electronic devices;
maintaining an electronically accessible firmware repository for storing firmware updates, including firmware updates for said plurality of electronic devices;
accessing the management gateway to establish a firmware update activity schedule for each of said plurality of electronic devices, said firmware update activity schedule including a location of firmware in the firmware repository, and a time schedule for conducting the firmware update activity;
conducting a firmware update activity for each of said plurality of electronic devices in accordance with said time schedule;
monitoring said firmware activity by the management gateway to determine whether the firmware update activity results in a successful firmware update for each of said plurality of electronic devices; and
wherein said accessing the management gateway comprises receiving authorized electronic instructions at the management gateway through the firewall from a remote management console connected to the Internet at a remote site outside the firewall regarding updating the firmware of the plurality of electronic devices, and further comprising limiting access of the remote management console to only the management gateway while preventing access to the plurality of electronic devices and other devices installed on the network behind the firewall.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for firmware updating for one or more electronic devices connected on a user network. A management gateway may be connected on the network, configured to control all firmware update activity for the one or more electronic devices. In an exemplary application, the electronic devices may be multifunction peripheral devices. An electronically accessible firmware repository for storing firmware updates is maintained. The management gateway may establish a firmware update activity schedule for each electronic device.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for firmware updating for a plurality of electronic devices each connected on a user intranet behind a firewall, each of the plurality of electronic devices including firmware stored on device memory, the method comprising:
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maintaining a management gateway connected on the intranet behind a firewall and to the Internet through the firewall, the management gateway configured to control all firmware update activity for each of said plurality of electronic devices; maintaining an electronically accessible firmware repository for storing firmware updates, including firmware updates for said plurality of electronic devices; accessing the management gateway to establish a firmware update activity schedule for each of said plurality of electronic devices, said firmware update activity schedule including a location of firmware in the firmware repository, and a time schedule for conducting the firmware update activity; conducting a firmware update activity for each of said plurality of electronic devices in accordance with said time schedule; monitoring said firmware activity by the management gateway to determine whether the firmware update activity results in a successful firmware update for each of said plurality of electronic devices; and wherein said accessing the management gateway comprises receiving authorized electronic instructions at the management gateway through the firewall from a remote management console connected to the Internet at a remote site outside the firewall regarding updating the firmware of the plurality of electronic devices, and further comprising limiting access of the remote management console to only the management gateway while preventing access to the plurality of electronic devices and other devices installed on the network behind the firewall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 23)
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13. A method for firmware updating for a plurality of multifunction printing (MFP) devices connected on a user intranet, each of the plurality of MFP devices including firmware stored on device memory, the method comprising:
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maintaining a management gateway connected on the intranet behind a firewall and to the Internet through the firewall, the management gateway configured to control all firmware update activity for said plurality of MFP devices; maintaining an electronically accessible firmware repository for storing firmware updates, including firmware updates for said plurality of MFP devices; accessing the management gateway to establish a firmware update activity schedule for each of said plurality of MFP devices, said firmware update activity schedule including a location of firmware in the firmware repository, and a time schedule for conducting the firmware update activity; the management gateway initiating a firmware update activity of said plurality of MFP devices according to said firmware update activity schedule; checking a version matrix associated with a firmware update for one device of said plurality of MFP devices to determine if said firmware update is compatible with said electronic device prior to conducting said firmware update activity, said 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 conducting said firmware update activity for said one device only if said firmware update is compatible with said one device; and wherein said accessing the management gateway comprises; receiving electronic instructions at the management gateway from an Internet-connected remote management console through the firewall, said instructions regarding updating the firmware of the plurality of MFP devices, and limiting access of the remote management console to only the management gateway while preventing access of the remote management console to the plurality of MFP devices and other devices installed on the network. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification