Firmware upgrade method for wireless communications device, and method for supporting firmware upgrade by base station

• US 6,198,946 B1
• Filed: 11/20/1998
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Shin, Seung-Kee, Lee, Ju-Heon
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Duc
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US09/196,763
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/419, 455/572, 455/561, 455/573, 455/556, 455/557, 455/38.3, 455/343
• US Class Current: 455/561
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42178 by downloading data to substation equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A method for upgrading firmware (F/W) of a wireless communications device is capable of updating F/W at all times through a simple process by transferring, directly and wirelessly, new firmware required for the wireless communications device from a base station. In the F/W upgrade method, a user'"'"'s identification of the wireless communications device and information required for F/W upgrade are transferred to the corresponding base station, and the current mode of the wireless communications device is converted into an F/W upgrade mode according to whether or not the corresponding base station allows the upgrade, which is determined based on the transferred information. Then, F/W of the wireless communications device is wirelessly upgraded by the corresponding base station.

Claims

1. A firmware (F/W) upgrade method for a wireless communications device, comprising the steps of:

(a) transferring an identification of a user of the wireless communications device, and information required for an F/W upgrade, to a corresponding base station;

(b) converting a current mode of the wireless communications device into an F/W upgrade mode according to whether the corresponding base station allows the F/W upgrade, which is determined based on the transferred information; and

(c) upgrading an F/W of the wireless communications device wirelessly by means of the corresponding base station;

wherein the information required for the F/W upgrade includes at least F/W update information and information about a level of a battery of the wireless communications device and wherein step (b) is performed only when the level of the battery is above a predetermined level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) comprises the sub-steps of:

(c1) reporting a delay message, indicating a delay in use of the wireless communications device in the F/W upgrade mode, to the user from the corresponding base station; and

(c2) performing the F/W upgrade in the F/W upgrade mode;

wherein the F/W upgrade mode is provided by at least one of the corresponding base station without payment, a manufacturer of the wireless communications device, and a network management company as required.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) comprises the sub-steps of:

(c1) reporting a service charge, required for receiving the F/W upgrade, to the user from the corresponding base station; and

(c2) determining whether the user consents to the service charge, and performing the F/W upgrade when the user consents to the service charge;

wherein the F/W upgrade mode is provided for the service charge by the corresponding base station according to the need of the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein steps (a) thru (c) are performed before the wireless communications device is switched to a normal mode after power to the wireless communications device is turned on.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) thru (c) are performed as the wireless communications device is placed in the F/W upgrade mode from the normal mode by one of the user and the corresponding base station.

6. A method for supporting firmware (F/W) upgrade for a sending station by a base station, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a pilot signal;

(b) identifying a user and F/W upgrade update information of the sending station with respect to the pilot signal;

(c) determining whether the F/W upgrade is required for the sending station according to the F/W upgrade update information, and switching the sending station into one of two F/W upgrade modes as required; and

(d) upgrading the F/W of the sending station wirelessly by means of the base station according to whether the sending station allows said one of the two F/W upgrade modes; and

wherein said two F/W upgrade modes comprise a first upgrade mode for upgrading the F/W of the sending station on a no-charge basis and a second upgrade mode for upgrading the F/W of the sending station on a charge basis.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein step (b) comprises the step (b1) of checking a level of a battery of the sending station, and wherein step (c) is performed when the level of the battery satisfies a predetermined level, and wherein the predetermined level is a level sufficient for the sending station to be subjected to the F/W upgrade.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein step (d) comprises the step of determining whether the sending station allows the first upgrade mode and transferring data for the F/W upgrade wirelessly when the sending station consents to the first upgrade mode.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the data for the F/W upgrade is provided by the base station without payment by the sending station in the first upgrade mode.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the data for the F/W upgrade is provided according to the requirement of one of a manufacturer of the station and a network management company.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein step (d) comprises the step of determining whether the sending station allows the second upgrade mode and transferring data for the F/W upgrade wirelessly.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the data for F/W upgrade is provided by the base station for a service charge paid by the sending station.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the data for the F/W upgrade is provided according to the requirement of the sending station.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein steps (a) thru (d) are performed in an early stage after receiving the pilot signal from the sending station.

15. The method of claim 6, wherein steps (a) thru (d) are performed when one of the sending station and the base station requires the F/W upgrade.

16. A method of upgrading firmware (F/W) of a wireless communication device in a system which includes a base station, comprising the steps of:

(a) enabling an F/W upgrade mode of the wireless communication device;

(b) transferring upgrade information from the wireless communication device to the base station;

(c) determining at the wireless communication device whether the base station will allow an F/W upgrade;

(d) switching the wireless communication device to an F/W upgrade mode when it is determined in step (c) that the base station will allow the F/W upgrade; and

(e) wirelessly upgrading the F/W of the wireless communication device;

wherein step (d) comprises switching the wireless communication device to one of a first F/W upgrade mode wherein the F/W upgrade is at no monetary charge to the wireless communication device and a second F/W upgrade mode wherein the F/W upgrade is at a monetary charge to the wireless communication device; and

wherein step (e) comprises the sub-steps of;

(e1) reporting a service charges required for receiving the F/W upgrade, to the user from the base station; and

(e2) determining whether the user consents to the service charge, and performing the F/W upgrade in the second F/W upgrade mode when the user consents to the service charge.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein step (b) comprises transferring a user identification of the wireless communication device and information required for the F/W upgrade to the base station.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the information required for the F/W upgrade includes at least F/W update information and information about a level of a battery of the wireless communication device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein step (e) comprises the sub-steps of:

(e1) reporting a delay message, indicating a delay in use of the wireless communication device in the F/W upgrade mode, to the user from the base station; and

(e2) performing an upgrade mode;

wherein the upgrade mode is provided by at least one of the base station, a manufacturer of the wireless communication device, and a network management company.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein step (a) is performed before the wireless communication device is switched to a normal mode after power of the wireless communication device is turned on.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein step (a) comprises switching the wireless communication device from a normal mode to the F/W upgrade mode by one of the user and the base station.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein step (e) comprises the sub-steps of:

(e1) reporting an F/W upgrade message to the user; and

(e2) performing the F/W upgrade in accordance with one of the first and second F/W upgrade modes.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein step (e) further comprises the sub-steps of:

(e3) determining whether there is a wait mode; and

(e4) when there is await mode, informing the user of upgrade information as to upgrading in the second F/W upgrade mode.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein step (e) further comprises the sub-steps of:

(e5) determining whether the user consents to the F/W upgrade in accordance with the second F/W up(rade mode; and

(e6) when the user consents to the F/W upgrade in accordance with the second F/W upgrade mode, performing the F/W upgrade in accordance with the second F/W upgrade mode.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein step (e) further comprises the sub-steps of:

(e3) determining whether the user consents to the F/W upgrade in accordance with the second F/W upgrade mode; and

(e4) when the user consents to the F/W upgrade in accordance with the second F/W upgrade mode, performing the F/W upgrade in accordance with the second F/W upgrade mode.