Apparatus and method for managing firmware of removable media device
First Claim
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1. A method for managing firmware of a removable media device, the method comprising:
- determining, via an interface device, if the removable media device is connected to a computer;
detecting, by the computer, a key value of the removable media device when the determining step determines the removable media device is connected to the computer;
checking, by the computer, whether or not the detected key value is stored on the computer;
if the key value is stored on the computer, performing the steps of;
searching, by the computer, a table stored on the computer for the key value of the removable media device;
identifying, by the computer, a version of firmware stored on a server connected to the computer that is later than a version of firmware on the removable media device,wherein information about the version of the firmware on the removable media device is stored as a separate file in a portion of a memory of the removable media device; and
installing, by the computer, the firmware stored on the server whose version is later than the version of the firmware on the removable media device onto the removable media device,wherein the installing step further includes determining if the optimum version corresponds with the version of the firmware stored on the server, first deleting the firmware on the removable media device, installing the firmware stored on the server onto the removable media device, and restarting the removable media device using the newly installed firmware, if the optimum version does not correspond with the later version of the firmware stored on the server and the later version is not installed onto the removable media device.
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Abstract
A method for managing firmware of a removable media device, which includes detecting a key value of the removable media device, checking whether or not the detected key value is stored on a computer that the removable media device is connected to, determining if a version of firmware stored on a server connected to the computer is later than a version of firmware on the removable media device, if the detected key value is stored on the computer, and installing the version of the firmware stored on the server onto the removable media device when the determining step determines the version of the firmware on the server is the later version.
58 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for managing firmware of a removable media device, the method comprising:
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determining, via an interface device, if the removable media device is connected to a computer; detecting, by the computer, a key value of the removable media device when the determining step determines the removable media device is connected to the computer; checking, by the computer, whether or not the detected key value is stored on the computer; if the key value is stored on the computer, performing the steps of; searching, by the computer, a table stored on the computer for the key value of the removable media device; identifying, by the computer, a version of firmware stored on a server connected to the computer that is later than a version of firmware on the removable media device, wherein information about the version of the firmware on the removable media device is stored as a separate file in a portion of a memory of the removable media device; and installing, by the computer, the firmware stored on the server whose version is later than the version of the firmware on the removable media device onto the removable media device, wherein the installing step further includes determining if the optimum version corresponds with the version of the firmware stored on the server, first deleting the firmware on the removable media device, installing the firmware stored on the server onto the removable media device, and restarting the removable media device using the newly installed firmware, if the optimum version does not correspond with the later version of the firmware stored on the server and the later version is not installed onto the removable media device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer program product on at least one recordable medium for managing firmware of a removable media device, said computer program product comprising:
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a first computer code configured to determine if the removable media device is connected to a computer, and to detect a key value of the removable media device when the removable device is connected to the computer; a second computer code configured to check whether or not the detected key value is stored on a computer that the removable media device is connected to; if the key value is stored on the computer, a third computer code configured to search a table stored on the computer for the key value of the removable media device; a fourth computer code configured to identify a version of firmware stored on a server connected to the computer that is later than a version of firmware on the removable media device, wherein information about the version of the firmware on the removable media device is stored as a separate file in a portion of a memory of the removable media device; and a fifth computer code configured to install the firmware stored on the server whose version is later than the version of the firmware on the removable device onto the removable media device when the third computer code determines the version of the firmware on the server is the later version, wherein the fifth computer code is further configured to determine if the optimum version corresponds with the version of the firmware stored on the server, first delete the firmware on the removable media device, install the firmware stored on the server onto the removable media device, and restart the removable media device using the newly installed firmware, if the optimum version does not correspond with the later version of the firmware stored on the server and the later version is not installed onto the removable media device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification