Method and device for upgrading firmware

• US 9,886,264 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2015
• Issued: 02/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xiaomi Inc. (Xiaomi Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xiaomi Inc. (Xiaomi Corp.)
• Inventors: Meng, Deguo, Liu, Xin, Hou, Enxing
• Primary Examiner(s): APONTE, FRANCISCO JAVIER
• Application Number:
  US14/841,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20160162284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 717168-178
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories

Abstract

A method for upgrading firmware in a device, includes: when firmware of a first chip in the device needs to be upgraded, identifying a first partition of a flash memory in a second chip in the device, the first partition being a backup partition for downloading firmware of the second chip; downloading new firmware of the first chip to the first partition of the flash memory in the second chip; and copying the new firmware of the first chip from the first partition of the flash memory in the second chip to an effective region in the first chip.

Claims

1. A method for upgrading firmware in a device, wherein the device includes a first chip and a second chip independent from the first chip, the first chip being a WiFi chip or a Bluetooth chip, and the second chip being a Micro Control Unit chip, the method comprising:

when firmware used by the first chip needs to be upgraded;

identifying a first partition of a flash memory in the second chip, the first partition being a backup partition for downloading firmware used by the second chip;

downloading new firmware to be used by the first chip to the first partition of the flash memory in the second chip; and

copying the new firmware to be used by the first chip from the first partition of the flash memory in the second chip to the first chip; and

when firmware used by the second chip needs to be upgraded;

downloading new firmware to be used by the second chip to the first partition of the flash memory in the second chip;

activating the first partition to be an active partition for storing firmware used by the second chip; and

setting a second partition of the flash memory to be the backup partition.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identifying of the first partition of the flash memory in the second chip comprises:

acquiring partition information regarding the flash memory; and

identifying the first partition according to the partition information.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising verifying the downloaded new firmware to be used by the first chip.

4. A device including a first chip and a second chip independent from the first chip, the first chip being a WiFi chip or a Bluetooth chip, and the second chip being a Micro Control Unit chip, the device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory for storing instructions executable by the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to;

when firmware used by the first chip needs to be upgraded;

identify a first partition of a flash memory in the second chip, the first partition being a backup partition for downloading firmware used by the second chip;

download new firmware to be used by the first chip to the first partition of the flash memory in the second chip; and

copy the new firmware to be used by the first chip from the first partition of the flash memory in the second chip to the first chip; and

when firmware used by the second chip needs to be upgraded;

download new firmware to be used by the second chip to the first partition of the flash memory in the second chip;

activate the first partition to be an active partition for storing firmware used by the second chip; and

set a second partition of the flash memory to be the backup partition.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to:

acquire partition information regarding the flash memory; and

identify the first partition according to the partition information.

6. The device according to claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to verify the downloaded new firmware to be used by the first chip.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a device, cause the device to perform a method for upgrading firmware, wherein the device includes a first chip and a second chip independent from the first chip, the first chip being a WiFi chip or a Bluetooth chip, and the second chip being a Micro Control Unit chip, the method comprising:

when firmware used by the first chip needs to be upgraded;

identifying a first partition of a flash memory in the second chip, the first partition being a backup partition for downloading firmware used by the second chip;

downloading new firmware to be used by the first chip to the first partition of the flash memory in the second chip; and

copying the new firmware to be used by the first chip from the first partition of the flash memory in the second chip to the first chip; and

when firmware used by the second chip needs to be upgraded;

downloading new firmware to be used by the second chip to the first partition of the flash memory in the second chip;

activating the first partition to be an active partition for storing firmware used by the second chip; and

setting a second partition of the flash memory to be the backup partition.

8. The storage medium according to claim 7, wherein the identifying of the first partition of the flash memory in the second chip comprises:

acquiring partition information regarding the flash memory; and

identifying the first partition according to the partition information.

9. The storage medium according to claim 7, wherein the method further comprises verifying the downloaded new firmware to be used by the first chip.