KR102145608B1 - Method of updating firmware in a Wi-Fi device system - Google Patents

Abstract

The firmware update method of the Wi-Fi device system includes receiving URL information from a first server through a terminal, transmitting the received URL information to at least one Wi-Fi device, and transmitting the RUL through at least one Wi-Fi device. The firmware of the Wi-Fi device system may be updated from the second server by using the information.
The firmware of the second server is provided by the first server, and the URL information of the first server may be generated by the second server in response to the firmware provided by the first server.

Description

Method of updating firmware in a Wi-Fi device system}

The embodiment relates to a method for updating firmware of a Wi-Fi device system.

Recently, technologies for managing and controlling a device through a router by embedding a Wi-Fi function in a device have been actively developed. In order to smoothly manage and control these devices, it is necessary to update the firmware from time to time.

As a typical firmware update method, after the device is registered on a manufacturer server operated by the manufacturer, new firmware is updated through the manufacturer server. Therefore, in the related art, it is difficult to update the firmware for devices that are not registered in the server of the manufacturer.

The embodiment aims to solve the above-described and other problems.

Another object of the embodiment is to provide a new method of updating firmware of a Wi-Fi device system.

Another object of the embodiment is to provide a method for updating a firmware of a Wi-Fi device system in which firmware can be easily updated regardless of pre-registration.

Another object of the embodiment is to provide a firmware update method of a Wi-Fi device system in which a firmware update operation method is improved.

According to an aspect of the embodiment to achieve the above or other objects, a method of updating a firmware of a Wi-Fi device system includes: receiving URL information from a first server through a terminal; Transmitting the received URL information to at least one Wi-Fi device through the terminal; And updating the firmware of the Wi-Fi device system from the second server by using the transmitted RUL information through the at least one Wi-Fi device. The firmware of the second server may be provided by the first server. The URL information of the first server may be generated in the second server in response to the firmware provided from the first server.

The effect of the firmware update method according to the embodiment will be described as follows.

According to at least one of the embodiments, regardless of the pre-registration of the Wi-Fi device, it is possible to receive and update the firmware provided by the manufacturer, so there is no restriction on the use of the firmware update, and the manufacturer server is used to update the firmware. You can eliminate the hassle of having to register. Therefore, there is an advantage that the convenience of an operator operating a local network can be improved.

According to at least one of the embodiments, since firmware can be updated only if there is a terminal capable of wireless communication with a Wi-Fi device, a firmware update operation method is very simple and operator convenience can be improved.

According to at least one of the embodiments, there is an advantage in that the security of the firmware can be reinforced by changing the URL information provided by the third party server for uploading the firmware and having an idle period.

Further scope of applicability of the embodiments will become apparent from the detailed description below. However, various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the embodiments may be clearly understood by those skilled in the art, and thus specific embodiments such as detailed description and preferred embodiments should be understood as being given by way of example only.

1 shows the overall flow of a Wi-Fi device system according to an embodiment.
2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of registering new firmware in a Wi-Fi device system according to an embodiment.
3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of updating a new firmware in a Wi-Fi device system according to an embodiment.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the technical idea of the present invention is not limited to some embodiments to be described, but may be implemented in various different forms, and within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, one or more of the constituent elements may be selectively selected between the embodiments. It can be combined with and substituted for use. In addition, terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the embodiments of the present invention are generally understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, unless explicitly defined and described. It can be interpreted as a meaning, and terms generally used, such as terms defined in a dictionary, may be interpreted in consideration of the meaning in the context of the related technology. In addition, terms used in the embodiments of the present invention are for describing the embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. In the present specification, the singular form may also include the plural form unless specifically stated in the phrase, and when described as “at least one (or more than one) of B and (and) C”, it may be combined with A, B, and C. It may contain one or more of all possible combinations. In addition, in describing the constituent elements of an embodiment of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used. These terms are only for distinguishing the component from other components, and are not limited to the nature, order, or order of the component by the term. And, when a component is described as being'connected','coupled' or'connected' to another component, the component is not only directly connected, coupled or connected to the other component, but also the component and The case of being'connected','coupled', or'connected' due to another element between the other elements may also be included. In addition, when it is described as being formed or disposed in the "top (top) or bottom (bottom)" of each component, the top (top) or bottom (bottom) is one as well as when the two components are in direct contact with each other. It also includes a case in which the above other component is formed or disposed between the two components. In addition, when expressed as "upper (upper) or lower (lower)", the meaning of not only an upward direction but also a downward direction based on one component may be included.

In an embodiment, the Wi-Fi device system may be installed in one area or building to be managed and/or controlled. Furthermore, the Wi-Fi device system of the embodiment may be installed in the world, one or more countries, one or more regions, and one or more buildings, and managed and/or controlled. In this way, when the Wi-Fi device system is broadened, each country, each region, or each building may be referred to as one site.

In an embodiment, in the Wi-Fi device system, a plurality of Wi-Fi devices that are managed or controlled by a router and a router may be referred to as a local network. Such a local network may be installed, for example, in one area or building.

In an embodiment, the router may be connected to an internal device through wireless communication, such as Wi-Fi communication or wired communication using a local area network (LAN), such as Ethernet. The router can be connected to an external device through Internet communication. That is, when a Wi-Fi channel with an internal device is established, the router can exchange information with the internal device. The router can exchange information with an external device when an Internet communication channel is established with an external device. In an embodiment, the internal device may be a Wi-Fi device, and the external device may be a manufacturer server.

In an embodiment, the router may be an access point (AP) serving as a base station. The access point can act as a bridge between wired and wireless. From a wired network perspective, an access point may be referred to as a router or a switch.

In an embodiment, the terminal may access the manufacturer's server using a network network such as an Internet network.

In the following description, the manufacturer server may be referred to as a first server, and a third-party server may be referred to as a second server or vice versa.

In the following description, the firmware update may be referred to as a firmware upgrade.

1 shows the overall flow of a Wi-Fi device system according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, the WiFi device system 100 according to the embodiment receives firmware provided by the manufacturer 110 whenever necessary, even if the WiFi device 170 is not registered with the manufacturer server 120. Can be updated. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the hassle of registering with the manufacturer server 120 for updating the firmware.

The Wi-Fi device system 100 according to the embodiment may include an external network and a local network 140.

The external network may include, for example, a manufacturer server 120 and a third party server 130. The manufacturer server 120 may receive new firmware produced by the manufacturer 110 and upload it by itself. That is, the new firmware previously produced using the firmware production tool of the manufacturer 110 may be transmitted to the server 120 of the manufacturer. The manufacturer server 120 may be installed within the manufacturer 110 or may be installed outside the manufacturer 110.

The manufacturer server 120 may transmit the new firmware to the third party server 130. The manufacturer server 120 and the third-party server 130 may have a communication protocol for information set. The manufacturer server 120 may request the third-party server 130 to upload new firmware (①).

The third party server 130 may upload new firmware (②).

The third-party server 130 may transmit information about itself, that is, information capable of accessing itself, to the manufacturer server 120. Specifically, the third party server 130 may transmit information on the location where the new firmware is uploaded, that is, URL information, to the manufacturer server 120 (③). The URL information may be referred to as firmware URL information or URL information about firmware.

In the URL information, an idle period may be set. Accordingly, when the valid period elapses, the URL information may be deleted. URL information is subject to change. For example, corresponding URL information may vary for each predetermined time. For example, when a valid period of 3 days is set, URL information may be changed every day. In this way, by changing the URL information, security for the corresponding firmware may be strengthened.

The local network 140 may include a router 160 and a plurality of Wi-Fi devices 170.

The router 160 may serve as an access point for wired/wireless communication of one site. The router 160 may serve as a base station for communication with a plurality of Wi-Fi devices 170 in one site. The router 160 may serve as a base station for communication with the manufacturer's server 120. In other words, the router 160 may be an access point for communication access or management and control between the inside and the outside. One router 160 may be provided in one site, but is not limited thereto.

The Wi-Fi device 170 is capable of wireless communication with the router 160. Communication between the router 160 and the Wi-Fi device 170 may be established by a standard communication protocol. For example, the WiFi device may communicate with the router 160 through a WiFi communication method. For example, the Wi-Fi device 170 may be a Wi-Fi capable home appliance, but is not limited thereto. Home appliances include refrigerators and washing machines.

The terminal 150 may serve as an intermediary connecting the local network 140 and an external network. The terminal 150 may serve as an intermediary for determining whether to update the new firmware or not.

The terminal 150 may be a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal may be a mobile phone, an LTE phone, a 5G phone, a vehicle, an electric vehicle, a smart watch, a smart glass, or the like. The terminal 150 may be. The fixed terminal may be a television or a desktop computer.

The terminal 150 may access the manufacturer's server 120 and check whether new firmware has been uploaded. For example, the terminal 150 may request new URL information from the manufacturer server 120 (④).

The manufacturer server 120 checks whether there is URL information received from the third-party server 130 in response to this request from the terminal 150, and if there is the corresponding URL information, the corresponding URL information is sent to the terminal 150. ) Can be transferred (⑤).

When receiving the URL information, the terminal 150 may extract the firmware version included in the URL information. The terminal 150 may compare the firmware version with the firmware version installed in a plurality of Wi-Fi devices connected to the router 160. The firmware version installed in the Wi-Fi device 170 may be transmitted to the terminal 150 and stored in the terminal 150. The firmware version installed in the Wi-Fi device 170 may be extracted from the URL information and stored in the terminal 150 when URL information for the new firmware is provided from the manufacturer server 120 when the previous firmware is updated. .

Firmware versions installed in the plurality of Wi-Fi devices may be the same or different. For example, when all of the plurality of Wi-Fi devices 170 are washing machines, the firmware version may be the same. For example, when the first Wi-Fi device is a washing machine and the second Wi-Fi device is a refrigerator, firmware versions installed in the first and second Wi-Fi devices may be different.

The terminal 150 may transmit URL information to the WiFi device 170 having a firmware version lower than the extracted firmware version as a result of the comparison (⑥, ⑦).

The result of comparing the firmware and a list of Wi-Fi devices requiring a new firmware update may be displayed on the display unit of the terminal 150.

The Wi-Fi device 170 receiving URL information from the terminal 150 accesses the third-party server 130 by using the URL information, and downloads the new firmware uploaded to the third-party server 130 (download). ) Can be received (⑧). New firmware may be updated to the WiFi device 170. The firmware update between the Wi-Fi device 170 and the third party server 130 may be performed in a FOTA (Firmware On The Air) method. FOTA is a service that allows you to update firmware wirelessly, and you can update the latest version of the firmware in a Wi-Fi or 3G/4G environment.

According to the embodiment, regardless of the pre-registration of the Wi-Fi device 170, the firmware provided by the manufacturer 110 may be received and updated, so there is no restriction on the use of the firmware and the manufacturer for updating the firmware It is possible to eliminate the hassle of registering with the server 120. Accordingly, convenience of an operator who operates the local network 140 may be improved.

According to the embodiment, since firmware can be updated as long as there is only the terminal 150 capable of wireless communication with the Wi-Fi device 170, the operation method of the firmware update is very simple and the operator's convenience can be improved.

According to an embodiment, by changing the URL information provided by the third party server 130 for uploading the firmware and having an idle period, security for the firmware may be enhanced.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of registering new firmware in a Wi-Fi device system according to an embodiment.

1 and 2, the manufacturer 110 may request the manufacturer server 120 to upload new firmware (S210). The manufacturer 110 may be a company that manufactured the Wi-Fi device 170 to update the firmware, but is not limited thereto. The firmware of the WiFi device 170 may be updated from time to time in order to perform a new environment or a new function. The manufacturer 110 may produce a new firmware to be updated on the Wi-Fi device 170.

The new firmware produced by the manufacturer 110 may be provided to the WiFi device 170. A method of providing such firmware will be described in detail.

The manufacturer server 120 may request the third party server 130 to upload the new firmware received from the manufacturer 110 (S220). The manufacturer server 120 may store the new firmware received from the manufacturer 110.

The third party server 130 may upload the new firmware received from the manufacturer server 120 (S230). That is, the third party server 130 may register a new firmware received from the manufacturer server 120. The third party server 130 may store the new firmware received from the manufacturer server 120. In addition, the third party server 130 may generate URL information and transmit the generated URL information to the manufacturer server 120. The URL information is information indicating a location in which the new firmware is registered, and may be generated at the same time as the new firmware is registered, but is not limited thereto. When the new firmware is connected to the third-party server 130 with the corresponding URL information, the new firmware may be transmitted to a device requesting the connection, for example, the Wi-Fi device 170.

The manufacturer 110 may store URL information received from the third party server 130 (S240). The URL information may be stored in correspondence with the previously stored firmware, but is not limited thereto.

In the above, a method of registering new firmware has been described. Hereinafter, a method of updating the Wi-Fi device 170 using the new firmware registered as described above will be described.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of updating a new firmware in a Wi-Fi device system according to an embodiment.

1 to 3, the terminal 150 may request URL information from the manufacturer server 120 (S310). The request for URL information may be a firmware update request.

The terminal 150 may include an application for a Wi-Fi device. The Wi-Fi device application may be provided by, for example, a manufacturer 110 that manufactures the Wi-Fi device 170. An application for a Wi-Fi device may be provided by, for example, a manufacturer 110 that manufactures firmware. For example, the manufacturer 110 may produce an application for a Wi-Fi device and supply it to an application provider, such as a third party server 130 or another server. The terminal 150 may download a corresponding Wi-Fi device application from a third server or another server and install the downloaded Wi-Fi device application.

For example, URL information may be automatically and periodically requested to the manufacturer server 120. For example, the URL information may be requested from the manufacturer server 120 in response to a command executed on an application for a Wi-Fi device installed in the terminal 150.

When a request for URL information is received from the terminal 150, the manufacturer server 120 may transmit the corresponding URL information to the terminal 150 in response to the request for the URL information (S320). Specifically, when a request for URL information is received from the terminal 150, the manufacturer server 120 may check whether there is URL information received from the third party server 130. When a request for URL information is received from the terminal 150, the manufacturer server 120 may check whether there is URL information received and stored from the third party server 130. If URL information exists as a result of the confirmation, the manufacturer server 120 may transmit the corresponding URL information to the terminal 150.

The terminal 150 may check the current firmware versions of the plurality of Wi-Fi devices 170 connected to the router 160 (S330). For example, the terminal 150 requests confirmation of the current firmware version from a plurality of WiFi devices, receives confirmation information on the current firmware version from the WiFi device 170, and based on the received confirmation information on the current firmware version. You can check the current firmware version. For example, the terminal 150 checks whether there is URL information previously received from the manufacturer server 120, and if there is URL information previously received from the manufacturer 110, the current firmware version can be checked from the corresponding URL information. have. The URL information may include firmware version information.

The terminal 150 may determine whether to update the firmware by comparing the firmware version received from the manufacturer server 120 with the confirmed firmware version (S340). The firmware version received from the manufacturer 110 may be extracted from URL information received from the manufacturer 110. For example, when the confirmed firmware version is the same as the firmware version received from the manufacturer server 120, it may be determined that the update of the corresponding Wi-Fi device 170 is skipped. For example, when the confirmed firmware version is lower than the firmware version received from the manufacturer server 120, it may be determined that the update of the corresponding Wi-Fi device 170 is performed.

The terminal 150 may transmit the URL information to the Wi-Fi device 170 determined to perform the firmware update (S350).

Upon receiving the URL information, the WiFi device 170 may perform a firmware update using the URL information (S360). The Wi-Fi device 170 may access the third-party server 130 by using the URL information and may request the connected third-party server 130 to download firmware. The third party server 130 may transmit the previously registered firmware to the corresponding Wi-Fi device 170 in response to the firmware download request. Accordingly, the corresponding Wi-Fi device 170 may download firmware from the third-party server 130. The WiFi device 170 may update the downloaded firmware.

When there are two or more Wi-Fi devices 170 to download firmware from the third-party server 130, the two or more Wi-Fi devices 170 may simultaneously or sequentially download the firmware from the third-party server 130. . When the firmware is sequentially downloaded, the firmware may be sequentially downloaded in the order of identifier numbers (#1, #2, #3, etc.) set in the Wi-Fi device 170, for example, but this is not limited thereto. When the firmware is sequentially downloaded, the firmware may be sequentially downloaded according to an order of priority specified in the Wi-Fi device 170, for example, but this is not limited thereto.

Firmware update may be completed through such a process (S370).

Thereafter, when another new firmware is registered in the third party server 130 and URL information for the new firmware is received by the terminal 150, S320 to S370 described above may be performed.

The above detailed description should not be construed as restrictive in all respects and should be considered as illustrative. The scope of the embodiments should be determined by reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all changes within the equivalent scope of the embodiments are included in the scope of the embodiments.

100: Wi-Fi device system
110: manufacturer
120: manufacturer server
130: third party server
140: local network
150: terminal
160: router
170: WiFi device

Claims (6)

Receiving pre-stored URL information from the first server in the terminal-the pre-stored URL information is information on the location of the firmware registered in the second server;
Extracting a firmware version from the received URL information in the terminal;
Comparing the extracted firmware version in the terminal with a firmware version installed in at least one Wi-Fi device;
If the installed firmware version is lower than the extracted firmware version as a result of the comparison, determining in the terminal to update the WiFi device;
Transmitting the received URL information from the terminal to at least one WiFi device when it is determined to update the WiFi device;
Downloading the firmware registered in the second server by using the transmitted URL information from the at least one Wi-Fi device; And
Updating the downloaded firmware to the at least one Wi-Fi device;
Including,
The at least one Wi-Fi device is a device that is not registered with the first server,
The URL information is periodically changed,
The firmware of the second server is provided by the first server,
The pre-stored URL information is generated by the second server when the firmware provided from the first server is registered. The method of claim 1,
The method for updating firmware of a Wi-Fi device system in which the URL information generated by the second server is deleted when the validity period elapses. delete delete The method of claim 1,
The firmware update method of a Wi-Fi device system performed in a FOTA (Firmware On The Air) method. delete

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