Adaptive Firmware Transfer Rate for Faster Payment Reader Updates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Firmware updates for payment readers cause prolonged device downtime, leading to lost revenue and poor customer service, especially in merchant environments, due to transmission errors and electromagnetic interference, which increase the update time and render the device inactive.

Innovation Solution

A method to dynamically adjust the bit rate of firmware data transfer based on error rates during the update process, allowing for higher data transfer speeds when errors are low and reducing errors when they occur, thereby minimizing downtime.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If firmware data is transferred at a high data transfer rate, then the update time is reduced, but transmission errors increase due to electromagnetic interference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefirmware update timeVSAvoidtransmission accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the data transfer rate adjustable rather than fixed. The master device dynamically changes the data transfer rate based on feedback about transmission errors, allowing the system to adapt between speed and reliability depending on current conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of data transfer rate based on error conditions. When errors are detected, the system modifies the transfer rate parameter to reduce errors; when errors are low, it increases the rate to reduce update time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the payment reader is disabled during firmware update, then the update process can proceed, but merchant revenue is lost and customer service deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupdate completionVSAvoidmerchant transaction capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the master device prepare and send the entire firmware update data before the payment reader is fully disabled. This allows the update to complete quickly, minimizing the time the device is unavailable for transactions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If error checking and retransmission are implemented, then transmission accuracy is improved, but update time increases due to retransmissions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer accuracyVSAvoidfirmware update duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies feedback by having the slave device send error information back to the master device, which then adjusts the data transfer rate accordingly. This feedback loop allows the system to maintain reliability while minimizing retransmissions by preventing errors through adaptive rate control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12578957B1Firmware update process

Publication Date: 2026.03.17 BLOCK INC

AI summary

A master device may transfer firmware data for installation on a slave device to the slave device at a data transfer rate. The master device may receive, from the slave device, information indicative of one or more errors in the firmware data received at the slave device. The master device may adjust the data transfer rate responsive to the information indicative of the one or more errors, for instance to increase or decrease the data transfer rate based the information indicative of the one or more errors.