Method and system for updating or upgrading firmware of a RFID reader
AssigneeElatec GmbH
InventorsAntonio Naibero, Christian Rotzer, Dominik Samson, Stefan Haertel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system for updating or upgrading firmware of a RFID reader installed in an access control system are provided. The reader includes a microcontroller unit that performs method steps automatically, including checking periodically whether an update file is stored in a designated storage location. If the update file is found, the microcontroller unit reads the update file and then performs an update or upgrade process of its firmware based on the update file. The method of this invention improves use of remaining storage capacity in the RFID reader or associated devices.
Claims15
A method for updating or upgrading firmware of a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader installed in an access control system for controlling middleware, wherein the access control system comprises at least one RFID reader, a middleware, an access-controller device, and a server, and wherein the at least one RFID reader has a microcontroller unit, the method comprising:
- the server pushing an update file for the at least one RFID reader in at least one of a memory of the access-controller device and a memory of the middleware, which is provided as a designated storage location, wherein an access address of the designated storage location is predefined in the microcontroller unit;
- the microcontroller unit checking periodically whether the update file is stored in the designated storage location;
- if the update file is found, the microcontroller unit automatically reading, the update file;
- the microcontroller unit automatically performing an update or upgrade process of its firmware based on the update file;
- sending an authentication signal by the at least one RFID reader;
- receiving and checking the authentication signal of the at least one RFID reader by the middleware, the access-controller device or the server;
- and
- only if the received authentication signal fits to a predefined scheme, pushing the update file matching the at least one RFID reader in the designed storage location;
- wherein the authentication signal and the predefined scheme holds information on a use case or application of the at least one RFID reader or a customer using the at least one RFID reader.
A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, comprising:
- a microcontroller unit,
- a radio-frequency front end, and
- a data interface,
- wherein a server pushes an update file for the RFID reader in at least one of a memory of an access-controller device and a memory of a middleware, which is provided as a designated storage location, wherein an access address of the designated storage location is predefined in the microcontroller unit,
- wherein the microcontroller unit is configured to carry out a method comprising:
- checking periodically, via the data interface, whether the update file is stored in the designated storage location;
- if the update file is found, automatically read the update file;
- and
- automatically perform an update process of its firmware based on the update file;
- wherein the at least one RFID reader sends an authentication signal;
- wherein the middleware, the access controller device or the server receives and checks the authentication signal of the at least one RFID reader;
- wherein only if the received authentication signal fits to a predefined scheme, the update file matching the at least one RFID reader is pushed in the designed storage location;
- and
- wherein the authentication signal and the predefined scheme holds information on a use case or application of the at least one RFID reader or a customer using the at least one RFID reader.
An access control system, comprising:
- a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, comprising:
- a microcontroller unit,
- a radio-frequency front end, and
- a data interface,
- wherein a server pushes an update file for the RFID reader in at least one of a memory of an access-controller device and a memory of a middleware, which is provided as a designated storage location, wherein an access address of the designated storage location is predefined in the microcontroller unit,
- wherein the microcontroller unit is configured to carry out a method comprising:
- checking periodically, via the data interface, whether the update file is stored in the designated storage location;
- if the update file is found, automatically read the update file;
- and
- automatically perform an update process of its firmware based on the update file, and
- the middleware in the form of a printer, being controlled by the RFID reader,
- wherein the designated storage location is a memory in an access-controller device or a memory in the middleware,
- wherein the RFID reader sends an authentication signal;
- wherein the middleware, the access controller device or the server receives and checks the authentication signal of the RFID reader;
- wherein only if the received authentication signal fits to a predefined scheme, the update file matching the RFID reader is pushed in the designed storage location;
- and
- wherein the authentication signal and the predefined scheme holds information on a use case or application of the RFID reader or a customer using the RFID reader.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.