Baseband firmware updating
OwnerDavid Tupman, Jeff Bush +1inventors
InventorsDavid Tupman, Jeff Bush, Steve Schell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for protecting portable electronic devices against unauthorized or failed firmware update processes are provided, in particular for updating baseband firmware. In one embodiment, the firmware update process may require end-to-end signing, which may require a user to “sign” for a firmware update when receiving if from a source and then sign for it again when updating firmware with the firmware update, thereby providing an extra layer of security. In another embodiment, the media device processor may serve as a buffer between the a firmware update source and a firmware memory such as baseband firmware memory.
Claims28
A method for updating firmware of a portable electronic device comprising a processor and firmware memory, the method comprising:
- updating firmware stored in the firmware memory by routing a firmware update through the processor to the firmware memory;
- and
- using source and target authorization processes prior to performing the updating.
A portable electronic device, comprising:
- baseband circuitry;
- baseband firmware memory electrically coupled to the baseband circuitry;
- a storage device;
- and
- a processor operative to communicate with the baseband circuitry and the storage device, the processor further operative to:
- store a baseband firmware update in the storage circuitry;
- authorize a firmware update process with the baseband circuitry;
- and
- update the baseband firmware stored in the baseband firmware memory with the baseband firmware update when the firmware update process is authorized.
A method for updating software of a telephony media device comprising a processor, baseband circuitry, and baseband firmware memory, the method comprising:
- receiving a software update package comprising a baseband firmware update;
- using the processor to authorize the baseband circuitry to receive the baseband firmware update;
- and
- when authorization is provided, updating the baseband firmware in the baseband firmware memory with the baseband firmware update.
A method for providing a plurality of security checkpoints for a firmware update performed using a telephone media device, the method comprising:
- determining whether a personal media device is authorized to receive software, the software comprising a firmware update;
- receiving the software when the media device is authorized to receive the software;
- and
- determining whether the personal media device is authorized to update firmware with the firmware update.
A system, comprising:
- a host computer for providing a baseband firmware update;
- a telephone device comprising a processor and baseband firmware memory;
- and
- a communications link that electrically couples the host computer to the device,
- the host computer operative to communicate with the processor to provide the baseband firmware update to the device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.