Accessory Booting Over USB Using Host Firmware
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Solution Overview
Problem
Computing device accessories often face software incompatibility issues when trying to interoperate with host devices, leading to impractical requirements for users to ensure all devices have compatible software versions, especially when using multiple accessories with different devices.
Innovation Solution
A method where the host device authenticates an accessory and transmits a suitable accessory firmware image to enable the accessory to boot and interoperate with the host device, eliminating the need for preloaded firmware in the accessory and ensuring compatibility by maintaining firmware images in the host device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If accessories store firmware images locally to enable booting, then accessories can operate independently, but manufacturing costs and memory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the firmware storage requirement from the accessory and relocates it to the host device. The accessory no longer needs to store firmware images locally, which reduces its memory requirements and manufacturing cost. Instead, the host device provides the firmware images when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The host device acts as an intermediary that provides firmware images to accessories during the boot process. This mediator approach allows the accessory to function without embedded firmware storage, as the host device supplies the necessary firmware images on demand.
2Adaptability or versatility
If accessories store multiple firmware images to support different host devices, then compatibility increases, but device complexity and memory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complexity of storing multiple firmware images from the accessory by extracting this responsibility and placing it in the host device. The accessory simply needs to communicate its requirements, while the host device manages the firmware image storage and selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The host device becomes the universal repository for multiple firmware images, serving multiple accessories and host devices. This multi-functional approach consolidates the complexity in the host device rather than distributing it across multiple accessories.
3Reliability
If users manually update software on all devices to ensure compatibility, then software compatibility is maintained, but user effort and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The host device performs preliminary action by pre-storing multiple firmware images and automatically selecting the appropriate one when an accessory connects. This eliminates the need for users to manually check and update software versions on multiple devices to ensure compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the accessory communicates its requirements to the host device, which then automatically selects and provides the appropriate firmware image. This closed-loop feedback ensures compatibility without requiring manual user intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for booting an accessory with an accessory firmware image received from a host device are described. When the host device detects a connection between the accessory and the host device, the host device may send a request for an accessory identifier to the accessory. The accessory may send an accessory identifier to the host device in response. The host device may select an accessory firmware image that is suitable for the accessory, and may transmit the accessory firmware image to the accessory. The accessory firmware image may include information that the accessory can use to enable the accessory to exchange application data with the host device.