Encryption lock device and firmware updating method thereof

Abstract

The invention provides an encryption lock device and a firmware updating method thereof, and relates to an encryption lock device which comprises a connector, a communication module, a storage module and a control module. The storage module is used for storing a device identification code and a first mirror image file. The control module is electrically connected to the connector, the communication module and the storage module. The control module is used for outputting an update command to the electronic device through the connector, scanning and receiving a broadcast data packet sent by the electronic device through the communication module, establishing a wireless connection with the electronic device through the communication module according to the broadcast data packet, and updating firmware of the electronic device by using the first mirror image file through the wireless connection; wherein the update command and the broadcast data packet have the same device identification code.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a firmware update technology, and in particular to a dongle device and a firmware update method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Currently, there are two ways to update the software of electronic products on the production line: Phone OTA tool and Windows OTA tool. Phone OTA tool requires manual intervention on the production line, so it is difficult to automatically update the software of electronic products in batches. In contrast, Windows OTA tool is more dependent on the PC on the production line and the setting up of the PC environment. However, if the software of electronic products is to be updated in batches, Windows OTA tool has the problem of wireless misconnection, which in turn affects the work efficiency of the production line. Summary of the invention

[0003] In view of this, the present invention proposes a dongle device and a firmware update method thereof, wherein a firmware image file corresponding to the firmware of an electronic device is stored in the dongle device. The dongle device can work with or without connecting to a PC to provide functions such as offline upgrade (without connecting to a PC) or online upgrade (connecting to a PC and dynamically obtaining additional information when updating software). There is a unique identification code between the dongle device and the electronic device, wherein the unique identification code is used to avoid mutual interference when multiple sets of electronic devices are updating software at the same time.

[0004] In some embodiments, a firmware update method suitable for a dongle device includes: establishing a wired connection with an electronic device; outputting an update command to the electronic device via the wired connection, wherein the update command has a device identification code of the dongle device; scanning and wirelessly receiving a broadcast data packet broadcast by the electronic device, wherein the broadcast data packet has a device identification code; establishing a wireless connection with the electronic device based on the broadcast data packet; and updating the firmware of the electronic device using a first image file via the wireless connection, wherein the first image file is stored in a storage module of the dongle device.

[0005] In some embodiments, the firmware updating method further includes: displaying the execution result of updating the firmware of the electronic device.

[0006] In some embodiments, the firmware updating method further includes: after the step of updating the firmware of the electronic device, sending an end command to the electronic device via a wireless connection to turn off the power of the electronic device.

[0007] In some embodiments, the firmware update method further includes: establishing another wired connection with an external host; receiving a first image file from the external host through the other wired connection; and storing the received first image file.

[0008] In some embodiments, the firmware update method further includes: after the step of receiving the first image file, receiving a startup command from an external host via another wired connection, wherein the step of outputting the update command via the wired connection is performed in response to the startup command.

[0009] In some embodiments, the firmware updating method further includes: after the step of updating the firmware of the electronic device, outputting the execution result of updating the firmware of the electronic device to an external host via another wired connection.

[0010] In some embodiments, the firmware update method further includes: receiving a second image file from an external host via another wired connection; and updating the firmware of the dongle device using the second image file.

[0011] In some embodiments, the step of outputting the update command via the wired connection is performed in response to an update triggering event of at least one button of the dongle device.

[0012] In some embodiments, a dongle device includes a connector, a communication module, a storage module, and a control module. The storage module is used to store a device identification code and a first image file. The control module is electrically connected to the connector, the communication module, and the storage module. The control module is used to output an update command to an electronic device through the connector, scan and receive a broadcast data packet sent by the electronic device through the communication module, establish a wireless connection with the electronic device through the communication module according to the broadcast data packet, and update the firmware of the electronic device using the first image file through the wireless connection, wherein the update command and the broadcast data packet have the same device identification code.

[0013] In some embodiments, the encryption lock device further includes a display module which is electrically connected to the control module and is used to display the execution result of updating the firmware of the electronic device.

[0014] In some embodiments, the encryption lock device further includes a housing and at least one button. The connector, the display module and the at least one button are embedded in the housing, and the communication module, the storage module and the control module are disposed in the housing. The control module is also used to power on in response to a power-on trigger event of the at least one button.

[0015] In some embodiments, the control module is further configured to output an update command to the electronic device via the connector in response to an update trigger event of at least one button.

[0016] In some embodiments, the encryption lock device further includes another connector for establishing another wired connection with an external host, wherein the control module is further used to receive the first image file from the external host through the other connector and store the first image file in the storage module.

[0017] In some embodiments, the control module is further configured to receive a startup command from an external host via another connector, and the control module outputs an update command to the electronic device via the connector in response to the startup command.

[0018] In some embodiments, the control module is further configured to output the execution result of updating the firmware of the electronic device to an external host via another connector.

[0019] In some embodiments, the control module is further configured to receive a second image file from an external host via another connector and use the second image file to update the firmware of the dongle device.

[0020] In some embodiments, the connector is used to establish a wired connection with the electronic device, and to establish another wired connection with an external host. The control module is also used to receive a first image file from the external host through the connector when the connector is connected to the external host and store the first image file in the storage module. The control module outputs an update command to the electronic device through the connector when the connector is connected to the electronic device.

[0021] In summary, according to any embodiment, the user can download the firmware image file of the electronic device from the external host to the dongle device in advance, so that the dongle device or its firmware update method can support both offline update and online update functions. In this way, the user can update the firmware of the electronic device through the dongle device in an offline update or online update manner, thereby improving the convenience of updating the firmware of the electronic device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 It is a module diagram of a module of an embodiment of a dongle device;

[0023] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic top plan view of a first embodiment of the encryption lock device;

[0024] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a first embodiment of the encryption lock device;

[0025] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 An operation flow chart of an embodiment of the encryption lock device;

[0026] Figure 5 yes Figure 2 A schematic top plan view of an embodiment of a dongle device and an electronic device;

[0027] Figure 6 yes Figure 4The operation flow chart of the first embodiment following step S140;

[0028] Figure 7 yes Figure 5 The encryption lock device passes Figure 6 A schematic diagram of an example mode after processing in step S150;

[0029] Figure 8 yes Figure 4 The operation flow chart of the second embodiment following step S140;

[0030] Fig. 9 yes Figure 4 An operation flow chart of an embodiment of the steps followed by step S100;

[0031] Fig.10 yes Figure 2 A schematic top plan view of an embodiment of the encryption lock device and the external device;

[0032] Fig.11 yes Figure 1 A perspective schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the encryption lock device;

[0033] Fig.12 yes Figure 1 A schematic top plan view of a second embodiment of the encryption lock device;

[0034] Fig.13 Fig.12 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of an embodiment of the encryption lock device;

[0035] Fig.14 yes Figure 1 A schematic top plan view of an embodiment of a dongle device, an electronic device and an external host;

[0036] Fig.15 yes Figure 4 The operation flow chart of the third embodiment following step S140;

[0037] Fig.16 yes Fig. 9 An operation flow chart of an embodiment following step S70;

[0038] Fig.17 yes Figure 4 An operation flow chart of an embodiment following step S100;

[0039] Fig.18 yes Figure 1 An operation flow chart of an embodiment of updating the firmware of an electronic device by an offline update method in a dongle device;

[0040] Fig.19 yes Fig. 9 An operation flow chart of an embodiment following step S90;

[0041] Fig. 20 yes Figure 1 FIG. 1 is an operation flow chart of an embodiment of a dongle device updating the firmware of an electronic device through an online update method.

[0042] Description of reference numerals:

[0043]

[0044] S70, S71, S72: Steps S80, S90, S91: Steps S100-S170: Steps

[0045] S105: Steps DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] See also Figure 1 , a dongle device 10 is used for updating the firmware of an electronic device. The dongle device 10 includes a connector 100, a communication module 110, a storage module 120 and a control module 130. The control module 130 is electrically connected to the connector 100, the communication module 110 and the storage module 120. In some embodiments, the dongle device 10 further includes a display module 140, and the display module 140 is electrically connected to the control module 130.

[0047] See also Figures 1 to 3 In some embodiments, the encryption lock device 10 further includes a housing 150 and at least one button 160. The connector 100, the display module 140 and the at least one button 160 are embedded in the housing 150 (eg Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown), the communication module 110, the storage module 120 and the control module 130 are disposed in the housing 150 (not shown).

[0048] In some embodiments, the display module 140 and at least one button 160 may be embedded in the front side of the housing 150 (eg, Figure 2 As shown), and the connector 100 can be embedded in the side of the housing 150 (as shown Figure 3 In some other embodiments, the display module 140 and the at least one button 160 may also be embedded in the side of the housing 150, and the connector 100 may also be embedded in the side of the housing 150 (not shown). In some embodiments, the at least one button 160 includes a plurality of buttons 161-163. The plurality of buttons 161-163 may all be embedded in the front of the housing 150 (e.g. Figure 2 and Figure 3Some buttons 160 are embedded in the front of the housing 150 and other buttons 160 are embedded in the side of the housing 150 (not shown).

[0049] In some embodiments, the dongle device 10 is powered on by the control module 130 in response to a power-on trigger event of at least one button 160, wherein the power-on trigger event may be a long press, such as but not limited to pressing for more than 3 seconds. Taking button 161 as an example, when the button 161 of the dongle device 10 is pressed for more than 3 seconds, the dongle device 10 will be powered on.

[0050] See also Figures 1 to 5 When the dongle device 10 starts to update the firmware of the electronic device 20, the dongle device 10 establishes a wired connection C1 with the electronic device 20 via the connector 100 (step S100).

[0051] In some embodiments, the connector 100 may be an interface socket, such as but not limited to a USB socket (eg, Figure 3 ), a Micro-USB socket, a USB Type-C socket or a Lightning socket. The wired connection C1 may be a transmission line (hereinafter referred to as a first transmission line) corresponding to the connector 100, one end of the first transmission line may be plugged into the connector 100 of the encryption lock device 10, and the other end of the first transmission line may be plugged into the electronic device 20.

[0052] In other embodiments, the connector 100 may be an interface plug, such as but not limited to a USB plug, a Micro-USB plug, a USB Type-C plug, or a Lightning plug, wherein the dongle device 10 is plugged into a corresponding socket (not shown) on the electronic device 20 via the interface plug.

[0053] In some embodiments, the electronic device 20 may be a consumer electronic product with wireless communication function, such as but not limited to Bluetooth earphones (Buds), handheld game consoles, hand controllers, tablet computers, smart phones or smart TVs. The electronic device 20 needs to install or update the corresponding firmware to operate normally.

[0054] After step S100, the control module 130 of the dongle device 10 outputs an update command to the electronic device 20 via the wired connection C1, wherein the update command has a device identification code of the dongle device 10 (step S110), and the device identification code is stored in the storage module 120. In some embodiments, the device identification code can be at least one of the manufacturer identification code, product identification code, product name, or product model of the dongle device 10, but is not limited thereto. In other words, the user can identify the corresponding dongle device 10 through the device identification code.

[0055] After step S110, the control module 130 scans and wirelessly receives a broadcast data packet broadcasted by the electronic device 20 through the communication module 110 (step S120), and the control module 130 establishes a wireless connection with the electronic device 20 through the communication module 110 according to the broadcast data packet (step S130), wherein the update command and the broadcast data packet have the same device identification code. In some embodiments, when the dongle device 10 outputs the update command to the electronic device 20 through the wired connection C1, the electronic device 20 boots up according to the update command and receives the device identification code of the dongle device 10. Subsequently, the electronic device 20 generates the broadcast data packet with the device identification code and broadcasts the broadcast data packet.

[0056] In some embodiments, the communication module 110 is, for example, a Wi-Fi chip, a Bluetooth chip, or a two-in-one wireless chip having both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth functions, but is not limited thereto. The wireless connection is a channel (not shown) between the communication module 110 and the electronic device 20, such as, but not limited to, a Wi-Fi channel or a Bluetooth channel.

[0057] After step S130, the control module 130 updates the firmware of the electronic device 20 through the wireless connection using a first image file, wherein the first image file is an update program for the firmware of the electronic device 20, and the first image file is stored in the storage module 120 of the dongle device 10 (step S140). In some embodiments, the storage module 120 may be a hardware component with read, write and storage functions, such as but not limited to a non-volatile memory or a flash memory.

[0058] In some embodiments, since the dongle device 10 can only establish a wired connection C1 with one electronic device 20 at a time, the user can ensure that the dongle device 10 outputs the update command to the correct electronic device 20. Furthermore, when the dongle device 10 receives a broadcast data packet broadcasted by the electronic device 20, the dongle device 10 can further confirm whether it has established the wireless connection with the correct electronic device 20 based on the device identification code in the broadcast data packet.

[0059] In some embodiments, the control module 130 outputs the update command to the electronic device 20 via the wired connection C1 in response to an update trigger event of at least one button 160 of the dongle device 10, wherein the update trigger event may be a short press, such as but not limited to a single press or a press and release within 1 second. Taking button 162 as an example, when the button 161 of the dongle device 10 is pressed once, the dongle device 10 will output the update command to the electronic device 20 via the wired connection C1.

[0060] See also Figures 1 to 7 In some embodiments, after step S140, the dongle device 10 displays the execution result of updating the firmware of the electronic device 20 through the display module 140 (step S150). In some embodiments, the display module 140 can be a hardware component with a display function, such as but not limited to an LCD display panel, an LED display panel, or an LED indicator light. For example, if the display module 140 is an LCD display panel and the electronic device 20 is a Bluetooth headset, when the execution result of the dongle device 10 updating the firmware of the electronic device 20 is successful, the display module 140 displays "Bluetooth headset update successful" to indicate that the firmware of the electronic device 20 has been successfully updated (e.g. Figure 7 When the execution result of the encryption lock device 10 updating the firmware of the electronic device 20 is a failure, the display module 140 displays "Update Bluetooth headset failed" to indicate that the firmware update of the electronic device 20 has failed (not shown).

[0061] See also Figures 1 to 5 and Figure 8 In some embodiments, after step S140, the dongle device 10 sends an end command to the electronic device 20 via the wireless connection to turn off the power of the electronic device 20 (step S160). In other words, when the firmware of the electronic device 20 is updated, the user can turn off the power of the electronic device 20 through the dongle device 10 to prevent the electronic device 20 from continuously consuming standby power after the firmware is updated.

[0062] In some embodiments, the control module 130 outputs the end command to the electronic device 20 via the wireless connection in response to an end trigger event of at least one button 160 of the dongle device 10, wherein the end trigger event may be a short press, such as but not limited to a single press or a press and release within 1 second. Taking button 163 as an example, when the button 163 of the dongle device 10 is pressed once, the dongle device 10 will output the end command to the electronic device 20 via the wireless connection to turn off the power of the electronic device 20.

[0063] In some embodiments, when the storage module 120 does not store the first image file corresponding to the firmware of the electronic device 20, the user needs to receive and store the first image file from an external host 30 in advance. Figures 1 to 4 , Fig. 9 and Fig.10 In some embodiments, before step S100, the dongle device 10 establishes another wired connection C2 with an external host 30 (step S70). Subsequently, the control module 130 receives the first image file from the external host 30 through the other wired connection C2 (step S80). Finally, the control module 130 stores the first image file in the storage module 120 (step S90).

[0064] In some embodiments, the external host 30 may be a device with a network connection function, such as but not limited to a desktop, a laptop, a server, a smart phone, or a tablet computer. In some embodiments, the external host 30 may store the first image file in advance, so that the external host 30 can directly transmit the first image file to the encryption lock device 10. In other embodiments, even if the external host 30 does not store the first image file, the external host 30 can also download the first image file from a cloud database, a remote server, or a data center through the network connection function, and transmit the first image file to the encryption lock device 10.

[0065] In some embodiments, the dongle device 10 establishes another wired connection C2 (eg, Figure 3 and Fig.10). Therefore, the control module 130 receives the first image file through the connector 100. In other words, the dongle device 10 first establishes a wired connection C2 with the external host 30 through the same connector 100, then receives the first image file from the external host 30 through the wired connection C2 and the connector 100 and stores the received first image file in the storage module 120. Then, the dongle device 10 disconnects the wired connection C2 with the external host 30, and establishes a wired connection C1 with the electronic device 20 instead, and then provides an update command with the device identification code of the dongle device 10 to the electronic device 20 through the wired connection C1 and the connector 100, thereby triggering the firmware update procedure of the electronic device 20.

[0066] See also Figure 1 , Figure 4 , Figures 11 to 14 In some embodiments, the dongle device 10 further includes another connector 170, wherein the other connector 170 is used to establish another wired connection C2 with the external host 30. Therefore, the control module 130 receives the first image file through the other connector 170. In other words, the dongle device 10 has a plurality of connectors 100, 170. At this time, these connectors 100, 170 can be connected to the electronic device 20 and the external host 30 separately at the same time, or the connector 170 can be used to connect the external host 30 first to obtain the first image file and then the connector 100 can be used to connect the electronic device 20 to send the update command to the electronic device 20.

[0067] In some embodiments, the other connector 170 may be an interface socket, such as but not limited to a USB socket (eg, Fig.11 The wired connection C2 may be another transmission line (hereinafter referred to as the second transmission line) corresponding to the other connector 170, one end of the second transmission line may be plugged into the other connector 170 of the encryption lock device 10, and the other end of the second transmission line may be plugged into the external host 30.

[0068] In other embodiments, the other connector 170 may be an interface plug, such as but not limited to a USB plug (eg, Fig.12 and Fig.13 The dongle 10 is plugged into a corresponding socket (not shown) on the external host 30 through the interface plug.

[0069] See also Figures 1 to 5 and Figures 9 to 15In some embodiments, after step S140, the control module 130 is further configured to output the execution result of updating the firmware of the electronic device 20 to the external host 30 through another connector 170. Taking the external host 30 as a laptop and the electronic device 20 as a Bluetooth headset as an example, when the execution result of the dongle device 10 updating the firmware of the electronic device 20 is successful, the screen of the external host 30 displays "update Bluetooth headset successfully" to indicate that the firmware update of the electronic device 20 is successful; when the execution result of the dongle device 10 updating the firmware of the electronic device 20 is failed, the screen of the external host 30 displays "update Bluetooth headset failed" to indicate that the firmware update of the electronic device 20 has failed (not shown).

[0070] See also Figures 1 to 5 , Figures 9 to 14 and Fig.16 In some embodiments, after step S70, the dongle device 10 receives a second image file from the external host 30 through another wired connection C2 (step S71), and uses the second image file to update the firmware of the dongle device 10 (step S72), wherein the second image file is an update program for the firmware of the dongle device 10. In some embodiments, the dongle device 10 needs to install the corresponding firmware to operate normally. Therefore, in some embodiments, the external host 30 can store the second image file in advance, so that the external host 30 can directly transmit the second image file to the dongle device 10, and then the dongle device 10 uses the second image file to update its firmware. In other embodiments, even if the external host 30 does not store the second image file, the external host 30 can also download the second image file from a cloud database, a remote server or a data center through the network connection function, and transmit the second image file to the dongle device 10.

[0071] See also Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Fig.17 In some embodiments, after step S100, the dongle device 10 receives a start-up command from the external host 30 via another wired connection C2 (step S105). The step of outputting the update command via the wired connection C1 (step S110) is performed in response to the start-up command. In some embodiments, when the dongle device 10 establishes a wired connection C1 with the electronic device 20 and simultaneously establishes another wired connection C2 with the external host 30, the user can generate the start-up command via the external host 30 to control the dongle device 10 to output the update command to the electronic device 20.

[0072] In some embodiments, the dongle device 10 can update the firmware of the electronic device 20 by offline updating or online updating. “Offline updating” means that the dongle device 10 does not simultaneously establish a wired connection C1 with the electronic device 20 and another wired connection C2 with the external host 30 when updating the firmware of the electronic device 20; conversely, “wired updating” means that the dongle device 10 simultaneously establishes a wired connection C1 with the electronic device 20 and another wired connection C2 with the external host 30 when updating the firmware of the electronic device 20.

[0073] See also Figures 1 to 5 , Fig. 9 , Fig.10 , Fig.18 and Fig.19 In some embodiments, when the dongle device 10 updates the firmware of the electronic device 20 in an offline update manner, the dongle device 10 establishes another wired connection C2 with the external host 30 to receive and store the first image file (steps S70-S90). In this embodiment, after the dongle device 10 receives and stores the first image file, the dongle device 10 first disconnects the other wired connection C2 with the external host 30 (step S91, as shown in FIG. Fig.18 and Fig.19 As shown), a wired connection C1 is established with the electronic device 20 to update the firmware of the electronic device 20 (steps S100-S140). It should be noted that in some embodiments, Fig.18 The steps S100-S140 shown can be executed after a period of time following step S91. For example, the user can download the first image file corresponding to the electronic device 20 from the external host 30 to the dongle device 10 in advance (steps S70-S91), and the dongle device 10 stores the first image file. When the firmware of the electronic device 20 needs to be updated, the user can update the firmware of the electronic device 20 through the first image file stored in the dongle device 10 (steps S100-S140).

[0074] See also Figure 1 , Fig. 9 , Figures 11 to 14 and Fig. 20In some embodiments, when the dongle device 10 updates the firmware of the electronic device 20 in an online update manner, the dongle device 10 establishes another wired connection C2 with the external host 30 to receive and store the first image file (steps S70-S90). In this embodiment, after the dongle device 10 receives and stores the first image file, the dongle device 10 establishes a wired connection C1 with the electronic device 20 (step S100). In other words, the wired connection C1 between the dongle device 10 and the electronic device 20 and the other wired connection C2 between the dongle device 10 and the external host 30 can exist at the same time (e.g. Fig.14 When the dongle device 10 receives the start command from the external host 30 via another wired connection C2 (step S105), the dongle device 10 starts to update the firmware of the electronic device 20 (steps S110-S140).

[0075] In some embodiments, when the dongle device 10 updates the firmware of the electronic device 20 in an offline update manner, the dongle device 10 may respectively establish a wired connection C1 and another wired connection C2 with the electronic device 20 and the external host 30 through the same connector, or may respectively establish a wired connection C1 and another wired connection C2 with the electronic device 20 and the external host 30 through different connectors.

[0076] In this embodiment, when the dongle device 10 respectively establishes a wired connection C1 and another wired connection C2 with the electronic device 20 and the external host 30 through the same connector, the dongle device 10 first establishes another wired connection C2 with the external host 30 through the connector 100 (for example, inserting two ends of a second transmission line into the connector 100 of the dongle device 10 and the external host 30 respectively) to receive the first image file transmitted by the external host 30. After the dongle device 10 receives the first image file, the dongle device 10 interrupts the other wired connection C2 (for example, unplugging the second transmission line from the connector 100), and establishes a wired connection C1 with the electronic device 20 through the connector 100 (for example, inserting two ends of a first transmission line into the connector 100 of the dongle device 10 and the electronic device 20 respectively), thereby updating the firmware of the electronic device 20. In other words, in this embodiment, the control module 130 outputs the update command to the electronic device 20 through the connector 100 when the connector 100 is connected to the electronic device 20 (corresponding to step S110 ).

[0077] In this embodiment, when the dongle device 10 establishes a wired connection C1 and another wired connection C2 with the electronic device 20 and the external host 30 respectively through different connectors, the dongle device 10 establishes a wired connection C1 with the electronic device 20 through the connector 100 and another wired connection C2 with the external host 30 through another connector 170 (for example, two ends of a first transmission line are respectively plugged into the connector 100 of the dongle device 10 and the electronic device 20, and two ends of a second transmission line are respectively plugged into another connector 170 of the dongle device 10 and the external host 30). After the dongle device 10 receives the first image file, the user can interrupt the other wired connection C2 between the dongle device 10 and the external host 30 (for example, unplug the second transmission line from another connector 170).

[0078] In some embodiments, when the dongle device 10 updates the firmware of the electronic device 20 in an online update manner, the dongle device 10 can only establish a wired connection C1 and another wired connection C2 with the electronic device 20 and the external host 30 through different connectors. At this time, the dongle device 10 establishes a wired connection C1 with the electronic device 20 through the connector 100 and another wired connection C2 with the external host 30 through another connector 170 (for example, the two ends of a first transmission line are respectively plugged into the connector 100 of the dongle device 10 and the electronic device 20, and the two ends of a second transmission line are respectively plugged into the other connector 170 of the dongle device 10 and the external host 30). In other words, in this embodiment, the control module 130 receives this startup command from the external host 30 through the other connector 170 (corresponding to step S105). In addition, the control module 130 outputs the execution result of updating the firmware of the electronic device 20 to the external host 30 through another connector 170 (corresponding to step S170), and the control module 130 receives a second image file from the external host 30 through another connector 170 and uses this second image file to update the firmware of the encryption lock device 10 (corresponding to step S71).

[0079] In some embodiments, the dongle device 10 can update the firmware of the electronic device 20 by online updating through Over-the-air (OTA) technology. OTA technology is a technology that uses wireless networks or telecommunications networks to implement remote management functions, wherein OTA technology must be implemented in an environment with an Internet network, and this remote management function includes a firmware update function, a system debugging function, or a system reporting function, etc., but is not limited to this. In some embodiments, OTA technology is often used in various types of electronic products or smart cars. Taking the electric car "Model 3" launched by Tesla as an example (hereinafter referred to as Model 3), when the Model 3 tablet has a problem, the user can connect to Tesla's online customer service center through the fourth generation mobile communication (4G) network or communication module (such as Wi-Fi chip) built into the Model 3, so that Tesla's customer service staff can remotely debug the system, and the problems that occur in the Model 3 can also be sent back to Tesla's online customer service center for further analysis.

[0080] In some embodiments, the control module 130 can be a hardware element with control functions, such as but not limited to a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor (Microprocessor), a digital signal processor (Digital Signal Processor, DSP), a complex programmable logic device (Complex Programmable Logic Device, CPLD), a field programmable gate array (Field Programmable Gate Array, FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (Application Specific Integrated Circuits, ASIC) or a microcontroller unit (Microcontroller Unit, MCU).

[0081] In some embodiments, the term "dongle" itself may refer to an adapter, connector or transmitter with communication functions, such as but not limited to a network port (RJ45) adapter, a wireless universal serial bus (USB) connector or a Bluetooth transmitter. In other embodiments, the term "dongle" itself may also refer to a computer hardware device with an operating system, such as but not limited to an Android TV stick or an Apple TV stick. Therefore, in some embodiments, the encryption lock device 10 disclosed in the present application may also be regarded as a "dongle".

[0082] In summary, according to any embodiment, the user can download the firmware image file of the electronic device from the external host to the dongle device in advance, so that the dongle device or its firmware update method can support both offline update and online update functions. In this way, the user can update the firmware of the electronic device through the dongle device in an offline update or online update manner, thereby improving the convenience of updating the firmware of the electronic device.

[0083] Although the present application has been disclosed as above with embodiments, this is not intended to limit the present invention. Any technician with ordinary knowledge in the field may make some modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, but these modifications and changes still fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A firmware update method, characterized in that: Applicable to a dongle device, the firmware update method includes: Establishing a wired connection with an electronic device; Outputting an update command to the electronic device via the wired connection, wherein the update command has a device identification code of the dongle device; Scanning and wirelessly receiving a broadcast data packet broadcast by the electronic device, wherein the broadcast data packet has the device identification code; Establishing a wireless connection with the electronic device according to the broadcast data packet; and The firmware of the electronic device is updated by using a first image file through the wireless connection, wherein the first image file is stored in a storage module of the dongle device.

2. The firmware update method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: The execution result of updating the firmware of the electronic device is displayed.

3. The firmware update method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: After the step of updating the firmware of the electronic device, an end command is sent to the electronic device via the wireless connection to turn off the power of the electronic device.

4. The firmware update method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: establishing another wired connection with an external host; Receiving the first image file from the external host through the other wired connection; as well as The received first image file is stored.

5. The firmware update method according to claim 4, characterized in that: Also includes: After the step of receiving the first image file, a startup command is received from the external host through the other wired connection, wherein the step of outputting the update command through the wired connection is performed in response to the startup command.

6. The firmware update method according to claim 4, characterized in that: Also includes: After the step of updating the firmware of the electronic device, the execution result of updating the firmware of the electronic device is output to the external host through the other wired connection.

7. The firmware update method according to claim 4, characterized in that: Also includes: Receiving a second image file from the external host through the other wired connection; as well as The firmware of the encryption lock device is updated using the second image file.

8. The firmware update method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The step of outputting the update command via the wired connection is performed in response to an update triggering event of at least one button of the dongle device.

9. A dongle lock device, characterized in that: include: a connector; a communication module; a storage module, used for storing a device identification code and a first image file; as well as A control module is electrically connected to the connector, the communication module and the storage module, and is used to output an update command to an electronic device through the connector, scan and receive a broadcast data packet sent by the electronic device through the communication module, establish a wireless connection with the electronic device through the communication module according to the broadcast data packet, and update the firmware of the electronic device using the first image file through the wireless connection, wherein the update command and the broadcast data packet have the same device identification code.

10. The encryption lock device according to claim 9, characterized in that: The connector is used to establish a wired connection with the electronic device and to establish another wired connection with an external host. The control module is also used to receive the first image file from the external host through the connector when the connector is connected to the external host and store the first image file in the storage module. The control module outputs the update command to the electronic device through the connector when the connector is connected to the electronic device.

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