ENABLING A WIRELESS DEVICE TO ACT AS A RELAY FOR UPGRADING AN ACCESSORY COUPLED TO THE WIRELESS DEVICE

• US 20140068592A1
• Filed: 08/31/2012
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: CHITRE, Monica, Rajala, Yoganand
• Granted Patent: US 9,128,796 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/171
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

A system and method for updating an accessory device is described. A software upgrade for upgrading an accessory device is received from a wireless network at a wireless device. In response whether the accessory device is in communication with the wireless device is automatically determined at the wireless device. Upon determining the accessory device is in communication with the wireless device, the software upgrade is forwarded from the wireless device to the accessory device to enable upgrade of the accessory device according to the software upgrade.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a wireless device and from a wireless network, a software upgrade for upgrading an accessory device;

in response to receiving the software upgrade, automatically determining, at the wireless device, whether the accessory device is in communication with the wireless device; and

upon determining the accessory device is in communication with the wireless device, forwarding, from the wireless device and to the accessory device, the software upgrade to enable upgrade of the accessory device according to the software upgrade.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the wireless device and from the accessory device, a notification of an upgrade success or an upgrade failure; and

forwarding the notification of the upgrade success or the upgrade failure from the wireless device to the wireless network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the software upgrade includes a first software upgrade for the wireless device and a second software upgrade for the accessory device, the method further comprising upgrading the wireless device in accordance with the first software upgrade.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein:

forwarding the software upgrade to the accessory device includes forwarding the second software upgrade to the accessory device,

receiving the notification of the upgrade success or the upgrade failure includes receiving the notification of the upgrade success, and

forwarding the notification of the upgrade success or the upgrade failure includes forwarding the notification of the upgrade success to a FOTA server at the wireless network.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein:

forwarding the software upgrade to the accessory device includes forwarding the second software upgrade to the accessory device,

receiving the notification of the upgrade success or the upgrade failure includes receiving the notification of the upgrade failure, and

forwarding the notification of the upgrade success or the upgrade failure includes forwarding the notification of the upgrade failure to a FOTA server at the wireless network.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

in response to the notification of the upgrade failure, receiving, from the FOTA server and at the wireless device, a third software upgrade for the accessory device;

forwarding the third software upgrade to the accessory device;

responsive to forwarding the third software upgrade to the accessory device, receiving, from the accessory device and at the wireless device, a notification of an upgrade success; and

forwarding the notification of the upgrade success to the FOTA server.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the accessory device includes a Bluetooth enabled device in communication with the wireless device over Bluetooth or a wired device in communication with the wireless device over a physical connection.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the software upgrade includes a software upgrade for multiple accessories having a similar function.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the software upgrade includes first software upgrade for a first accessory device and a second software upgrade for a second accessory device,

automatically determining step includes automatically determining whether the first and second accessory devices are in communication with the wireless device, and

upon determining that the first and second accessory devices are in communication with the wireless device, automatically forwarding, from the wireless device, the first software upgrade to the first accessory device to enable upgrade of the first accessory device according to the first software upgrade and the second software upgrade to the second accessory device to enable upgrade of the second accessory device according to the second software upgrade.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the software upgrade includes receiving the software upgrade from a Mobile Service Provider or from a manufacturer of the wireless device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless network includes a mobile communication network and the wireless device includes a mobile phone.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the wireless device includes a CDMA module for enabling the wireless device to communicate with the wireless network and a dock module for enabling the wireless device to communicate with a docking station configured to connect the wireless device with an accessory device, and

the software upgrade received at the wireless device includes a CDMA software upgrade, a dock software upgrade, and an accessory software upgrade.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising upgrading the CDMA module in accordance with the CDMA software upgrade, the dock module in accordance with the dock software upgrade and the accessory device in accordance with the accessory software upgrade.

14. A wireless device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing executable instructions for causing the processor to;

receive, from a wireless network, a software upgrade for upgrading an accessory device;

responsive to receiving the software upgrade, automatically determine whether the accessory device is in communication with the wireless device; and

upon determining the accessory device is in communication with the wireless device, forward to the accessory device the software upgrade to enable upgrade of the accessory device according to the software upgrade.

15. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein the software upgrade includes a first software upgrade for the wireless device and a second software upgrade for the accessory device.

16. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the memory further stores executable instructions for causing the processor to:

receive from the accessory device a notification of an upgrade success or an upgrade failure;

forward the notification of the upgrade success or the upgrade failure to the wireless network; and

upgrade the wireless device in accordance with the first software upgrade.

17. The wireless device of claim 16, wherein the memory further stores executable instructions for causing the processor to:

forward the second software upgrade to the accessory device,

receive the notification of the upgrade success, and

forward the notification of the upgrade success to a FOTA server at the wireless network.

18. The wireless device of claim 16, wherein the memory further stores executable instructions for causing the processor to:

forward the second software upgrade to the accessory device,

receive the notification of the upgrade failure, and

forward the notification of the upgrade failure to a FOTA server at the wireless network.

19. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein the accessory device includes a Bluetooth enabled device in communication with the wireless device over Bluetooth or a wired device in communication with the wireless device over a physical connection.

20. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein the software upgrade includes a software upgrade for multiple accessories having a similar function.