Update package generation and distribution network
OwnerPatrick O'Neill, Bindu Raoinventors
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Abstract
An update package generation and distribution network facilitates the generation of update packages and the download of update packages to mobile devices employing pull-mode or push-mode mechanisms. The update packages may be created by a manufacturer or by the carrier employing a generation environment. Specifically, the update package generation and distribution network makes it possible to conduct over-the-air (OTA) updates to firmware and software on the mobile device by accessing update packages that are generated by the generation environment or by the manufacturer's generation environment and distributed by the update environment.
Claims34
An updateable electronic device communicatively coupled to a carrier network, the device comprising:
- at least one of a firmware and a software;
- and
- at least one identifying characteristic, wherein the updateable electronic device communicates the at least one identifying characteristic to the carrier network and receives an indication sent by the carrier network of the need to update at least one of the firmware and the software.
A method of operating a carrier network, the carrier network communicatively coupled to at least one updateable electronic device comprising a code and at least one identifying characteristic, the method comprising:
- receiving from the at least one updateable electronic device the at least one identifying characteristic;
- and
- sending to the at least one updateable electronic device a signal indicating a need to perform an update of the code based upon the at least one identifying characteristic.
An update network comprising at least one updateable electronic device communicatively coupled to a server, the server having stored thereon at least one update package, the updateable electronic device comprising an update agent for retrieving the at least one update package and a download agent for verifying that the at least one update package is appropriate for the at least one updateable electronic device.
A method of operating an update network, the update network comprising at least one updateable electronic device communicatively coupled to a server, the updateable electronic device comprising at least one of a software and a firmware and being characterized by its manufacturer, the server for storing at least one update package, the method comprising:
- under control of the server,
- receiving the at least one update package;
- storing the at least one update package on the server if the at least one update package was generated by the manufacturer of the at least one updateable electronic device;
- determining that the at least one updateable electronic device needs to be updated;
- and
- notifying the at least one updateable electronic device that an update is needed;
- under control of the at least one updateable electronic device,
- receiving a notification the update is needed;
- requesting from the server the at least one update package;
- accepting the at least one update package;
- verifying the at least one update package;
- and
- updating at least one of the software and the firmware of the updateable electronic device using the at least one update package.
An update network comprising at least one updateable electronic device communicatively coupled to a plurality of servers, each of the plurality of servers comprising a propagation layer for propagating a plurality of update packages from at least one of the plurality of servers to the others of the plurality of servers, the update network managing the propagation of the plurality of update packages.
A carrier network for updating a plurality of updateable electronic devices from a first operating code to a second operating code in an over-the-air mode, each of the plurality of updateable electronic devices comprising a memory containing a copy of the first operating code and at least one identifying characteristic, wherein the updating to the same second operating code of those of the plurality of updateable electronic devices having the same at least one identifying characteristic results in identical memory contents.
A carrier network for updating at least one updateable electronic device using at least one update package, the carrier network comprising:
- an update store for storing the at least one update package;
- and
- at least one update server for selectively retrieving and downloading the at least one update package.
A generator for generating at least one of an update package and a signature from a first code version and a second code version, the update package being applicable to an updateable electronic device and comprising a set of instructions for describing in a compressed form any differences between the first code version and the second code version.
A method of operating an update server for updating at least one updateable electronic device from a current code version to a latest updated code version, the updateable electronic device comprising at least one identifying characteristic, the method comprising:
- receiving an update request from the at least one updateable electronic device, the request comprising the at least one identifying characteristic;
- selecting an update package corresponding to the latest updated code version using the at least one identifying characteristic;
- and
- dispensing the selected update package to the at least one updateable electronic device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.