Method and system for automatic firmware updates in a portable hand-held device

Abstract

Firmware of a hand-held device may be updated automatically dependent on the execution status of an update application resident in the memory of the hand-held device. The execution of the update application is abstracted from the user to provide an enhanced user experience.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation application of application Ser. No. 10 / 871,085, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC FIRMWARE UPDATES IN A PORTABLE HAND-HELD DEVICE,” filed Jun. 18, 2004, which is a continuation application of application Ser. No. 09 / 843,797, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC FIRMWARE UPDATES IN A PORTABLE HAND-HELD DEVICE,” filed Apr. 26, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,754,895, all assigned to the assignee of the present application. The subject matter in the above-identified co-pending and commonly owned application(s) is incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present invention relates to a system and method by which control information for a personal information device (“PID”) may be more easily updated. In particular, the present invention relates to a system and method for reliably updating the firmware of the PID in a manner transparent to the user.BACKGROUND ART[0003]Personal Informati...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]The present invention provides a solution that allows the automatic firmware updates of portable hand-held devices. The present invention is robust and relatively immune to user error or confusion. In addition, the present invention permits the efficient targeted update of particular devices out of an entire number of devices that may have been fabricated. The present invention is efficiently implemented and does not impose an undue processing burden on the devices. The present invention functions in a manner transparent to the user.

[0014]By executing transparently upon a device reset, the update application is robust and relatively immune to user error or confusion. By matching serial numbers, the update application enables the efficient targeted update of particular devices out of an entire number of devices that may have been fabricated. Thus, specific faults with specific batches of hand-held devices can be corrected. By checking flags prior to running its execution, the update application does not impose an undue processing burden on the devices.

Problems solved by technology

There is a problem however, in that at times it may be advantageous to update the firmware of the PID.

For example, there may be occasions where devices exit fabrication with inadvertently built-in faults or defects.

The obvious drawback to this solution is that it requires the user give up the use of the device for a period of time, often several weeks or more, and ties of valuable factory personnel manually updating a possibly large number of devices.

Thus, there are numerous sources of potential error.

Additionally, the widespread distribution of firmware patch routines presents obvious device vulnerabilities (e.g., potential viruses, firmware hacks, malicious exploits, and the like).

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