Client Terminal Firmware Acquisition and Update Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Related art digital cameras experience delayed firmware updates as they are not designed to be frequently connected to cradle devices, leading to delayed firmware rewriting.
Innovation Solution
An information processing system that includes an electronic apparatus with firmware and a client terminal capable of communicating with a server to quickly update the firmware by switching between network connections to the server and the electronic apparatus, utilizing a firmware acquisition control unit to store and update the firmware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the digital camera is connected to the cradle device only when needed (image data transfer), then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the firmware update speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system downloads firmware updates to the client terminal in advance when connected to the network, before the actual update is needed. This preliminary action allows the firmware to be ready and stored locally, enabling rapid update transfer to the digital camera when connected, thus resolving the contradiction between infrequent connection and fast update speed
Solution Approach 2:
The client terminal acts as an intermediary between the network and the digital camera. It receives firmware from the network, stores it locally, and then transfers it to the camera when connected. This intermediary approach allows the camera to update quickly without needing frequent network connections, solving the contradiction
2Productivity
If the digital camera is connected frequently to update firmware, then the firmware update speed is improved, but the device complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The client terminal performs preliminary firmware download and storage actions when connected to the network, so that when the digital camera needs updating, the firmware is already ready. This eliminates the need for frequent camera-network connections while maintaining fast update capability
Solution Approach 2:
By introducing the client terminal as an intermediary that caches firmware locally, the system enables fast firmware transfer to the camera without requiring the camera itself to connect frequently to the network, thus improving update speed without increasing camera complexity
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing system includes an electronic apparatus having firmware installed therein, and a client terminal configured to be communicably coupled to the electronic apparatus or to a server configured to provide the firmware through switching between the electronic apparatus and a network to a coupling destination. The client terminal includes a firmware acquisition control unit configured to acquire firmware from the server apparatus to store the acquired firmware in a firmware storage in response to the client terminal being communicably coupled to the server apparatus, and a firmware update control unit configured to update the firmware installed in the electronic apparatus to the firmware stored in the firmware storage in response to the client terminal being communicably coupled to the electronic apparatus.