MXPA01006441A - Downloading of firmware for ce equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

A communication system includes a download server (100) and at east one CE apparatus (110). The download server (100) includes a communication interface (130) for communication via a wide area network (120). The server also stores operational firmware of the CE apparatus (110) in a storage (140). The CE apparatus (110) (160) for communicating via the wide area network (120). The CE apparatus (110) stores a predetermined identifier (170) identifying the download server (100) with respect to the wide area network (120). The CE apparatus (110) initiates the downloading by establishing communication with the identified server (100). It receives the firmware from the download server (100), stores it in a writeable storage medium (180), and ensures that the downloaded firmware will be executed by the processor (150).

Description

Transfer of wired microprogramming for CE equipment The invention relates to a communication system that includes a transfer server and at least one CE device. The invention also relates to a communication system that includes a transfer server, an interface device and at least one CE device. The invention also relates to a CE apparatus and the interface apparatus. The invention also relates to a wired microprogramming method of automatic transfer operation from a transfer server to an EC device. The invention also relates to a computer program product.

The European patent application EP 0 399 200 describes a communication system with a central "headend" site and cable television converters, connected via a cable television network. The converters are dirigibles. The "headend" can send wired microprogramming to an individual converter when sending blinking data via the cable network to the converter. The converter has non-volatile memory for storing the received wired firmware and a processor for executing wired microprogramming. An update of the wired microprogramming is carried out in the "headend" initiative. Updates are only made for those converters that are authorized according to the cable operator's records. The records include information about the converters, such as their addresses. The known way of updating the wired microprogramming has several drawbacks, such as that an administration of converters that are updated is required and it is required that the converter be accessible via the network, at least sometimes, when the "headend" wants to update the converter.

An object of the invention is to provide a communication system, an EC device, and a transfer method that offers an improved transfer of the wired microprogram in the CE device. To know the purpose of the invention, the communication system includes a transfer server and at least one CE device; the transfer server includes a storage to store the wired microprogramming of the operation of the CE device; and a communication interface for communication via a wide area network; the device CE includes a predetermined identifier that identifies the transfer server with respect to the wide area network; and a communication interface to communicate with the transfer server identified via the wide area network; and the CE device is operative to initiate the transfer; to receive the wired microprogram from the transfer server; to store the wired microprogram in a storage medium in which it can be written; and to cause the execution of the wired microprogramming transferred. The initiative for the transfer is based on the CE device. Normally, the server is always accessible via the wide area network. When the CE device wants to update its wired microprogram, it can also make it accessible, which results in a wide area connection that is only required when it is used. This identifier is installed preferably at the time of manufacturing or selling the device. This makes the recovery of the wired microprogramming simple without involving the user much. In addition, it is no longer necessary to manage the large number of address identifiers of the CE devices in the server. The CE devices can be completely the same and do not need to be identified with respect to the wide area network. The server identifier can be unique for each type of CE device. This can be implemented with the use of dedicated servers for each type of CE device.

Preferably, sub-identifiers are used, where the main identifier identifies ^ the server with respect to the network and the sub identifier identifies a storage location on the server (or is specific to the CE device type in some other way). In particular, with the CE device, an audio / video device, such as a VCR and a CD player, is significant; a peripheral computer, such as a scanner, a printer, a camera and digital speakers; or a household appliance, such as a microwave oven and a coffee machine. The invention is particularly suitable for ^ k those devices that usually do not have the means to easily receive a software update path, for example, a CD-ROM, a floppy disk or a memory module that can be replaced by the user. In an alternate arrangement, the communication system includes a transfer server, an interface device and at least one CE device; the transfer server includes a storage to store the wired microprogramming of the CE device operation; and a communication interface for communication via a wide area network; the interface apparatus includes a first communication interface for communicating with the transfer server via a wide area network; and a second communication interface for communicating with the CE device via a local area network; the CE apparatus includes a predetermined identifier that identifies the transfer server with respect to the wide area network; and a communication interface for communicating with the interface apparatus via the local area network; and the CE apparatus is operative to make the predetermined identifier available to the interface apparatus that allows it to establish communication with the identified transfer server; to receive the wired microprogram from the interface apparatus; to store the transfer in a storage medium in which it can be written; and to cause the execution of the wired microprogramming transferred; and the interface apparatus is operative to receive the predetermined identifier from the CE apparatus; to establish communication with the identified transfer server; to receive the wired microprogram from the identified transfer server and to transfer the wired microprogram to the CE device; the transfer starts with the CE device or with the interface device. An interface device, such as a PC or a "set top box" (control box), is used to provide the access of the peripheral device CE to the transfer server ^^ remote. Frequently, users already have a device at home capable of communicating over a wide area. Increasingly, such devices are equipped with a local area network, such as USB or IEEE 1394, for communication with CE peripherals, such as CD players, solid-state players (such as an MP3 player), a scanner, a camera, digital speakers, etc. By assigning these devices the task of acting as intermediaries in the transfer process, it is possible for EC peripherals to update them in a simple and inexpensive way. By maintaining the initiative at home (ie in the CE device or in the interface device), a permanent wide-area connection is not required. By having the server identification stored in the CE device, no administration is required in the server, nor a configuration by the user of information in the interface device, instead, an automatic transfer with a minimum user configuration is possible. . As defined in the measure of claim 3, the transfer is made automatically on the initiative of the CE device. Preferably, the transfer is made in the installation to recover the most recent wired microprogramming. Automatic installation is activated by supplying power to the device. This makes it possible to start the mass production of CE devices at a time when the operating software is not yet ready, where the software is ready at the time of sale. Alternatively, previously released and reasonably functioning software may be included at the time of manufacture, although the final touch to the software is between manufacturing and selling. In this way, the time of introduction of CE devices can be reduced. As defined in the measure of claim 5, the transfer is performed regularly, for example, every several months, to ensure that the apparatus has updated wired microprogramming. As defined in the measure of claim 6, the user can activate the transfer, which gives the user full control. This also prevents the user satisfied with the operation of his CE device from being confronted with a recent functional device (or even a new microprogramming wired with unexpected viruses) without having requested it. As defined in the measure of claim 7, the apparatus has a button that allows the user to initiate the transfer in a simple manner. The button can be a soft button. In particular, for those CE appliances with a limited user interface, it is preferable that the apparatus have a physical push button that activates the transfer without the user requiring any configuration or subsequent adjustment. As defined in the measure of claim 9, the CE apparatus identifies its wired microprogram. In this way, a transfer server, using the same server identifier for different types of CE device, can transfer wired microprogramming for those different types of CE device, where the wired microprogram identifier is used to locate the desired wired microprogram. The identification of the wired microprogramming can be simple, for example, in the form of a type of product. Preferably, the identification of the wired microprogramming indicates a software version, what the transfer server determines whether a new version is available or not. To know the purpose of the invention, the method of automatic transfer of the wired microprogramming operation from a transfer server to an appliance CE includes retrieval of a predetermined identifier from the CE device; the identifier identifies the transfer server with respect to a wide area network; which causes the wired microprogram of operation to be transferred from a medium of ^ storage of the transfer server identified by the predetermined identifier via the wide area network; which causes the wired microprogram of transferred operation to be stored in a storage medium in which the device can be written CE, and causes the CE device to execute the wired microprogramming transferred. In order to know the purpose of the invention, the method of automatically transferring the wired microprogramming of operation from a transfer server to an EC device involves the execution of the following steps in an interface device: retrieving a predetermined identifier of the CE device via a local area network; the identifier identifies the transfer server with respect to a wide area network; receive the wired microprogram of operation from the transfer server via the wide area network; and transfer the wired microprogram from the transferred operand to the CE device via the local area network. To know the objective of the invention, a product of the computer program includes a program that is operative to cause the computer to carry out the method previously set.

A goal of the invention is to provide an interface apparatus that offers an improved transfer of the wired microprogram from a transfer server to a CE device. To know the objective of the invention, the interface apparatus includes a first communication interface for communicating with a transfer server via a wide area network; and a second communication interface for communicating with the CE device via a local area network; the interface apparatus is operative to receive the predetermined identifier from the CE apparatus; to establish communication with the To identified transfer server; to redirect the wired microprogram from the identified transfer server and to transfer the wired microprogram to the CE device.

These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent and will be referred to the incorporations shown in the drawings. Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a system according to the invention with a transfer server and a CE device; ^^ Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a system according to the invention with a transfer server, an interface apparatus and a CE apparatus; Figure 3 shows a diagram of the operational process of the transfer method according to the invention; and Figure 4 shows more details of the information stream, where the transfer takes place via an interface device.

Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a system according to the invention with a transfer server 100 and a CE 110 device. The communication can be established between the transfer server 100 and the CE device via a wide area network 120. In the example shown, the server 100 and the apparatus CE 110 are connected directly via the wide area network. It will be appreciated that the wide area network 120 is usually composed of several switches. In addition, additional equipment, such as relays, bridges, routers, on the server or on the side of the CE device can be involved in wide-area communication. With respect to the high-level interaction for the transfer according to the invention, said equipment does not offer additional functionality and is ignored. The normal telephone system and Internet are examples ^^ of the wide area network. For public Internet access to the wide area network, it is usually provided via an access provider, which is not shown. The transfer server 100 includes a communication interface 130 for communication via the wide area network 120. The interface 130 can be any suitable means, such as a telephone or a cable modem, to provide communication. The transfer server 130 also includes or provides access to the storage 140 that stores the wired microprogram of operation of the CE 110 device. In general, the wired microprogram has a code inserted for it to be executed by a ^^ inserted processor 150 of the CE 110 device. The wired microprogram is in the form of executable code, but may also be in other suitable forms, such as a code that can be interpreted, such as Java. The code can also exist even of parameters set for the inserted code already present, and in this way changes the behavior of the inserted code. In general, the transfer server is implemented on a computer, such as a server system used by service providers in an Internet environment. The apparatus CE 110 includes a communication interface 160 for communicating with the transfer server 100 via the wide-area network 120. The interface 160 can be any suitable means, such as a telephone or a cable modem, for ^^ provide communication. The apparatus also includes a storage 170 for storing a predetermined identifier identifying the transfer server with respect to the wide area network. The storage can be of any suitable type, such as a memory previously programmed or written at some time to store a permanent identifier such as a ROM; CD-ROM or CD-R, or a memory in which you can write, such as EEPROM, a hard disk or CD-RW. Preferably, solid memories are used. The memory can be permanent in the CE or mobile device, for example, in the form of ^ smart card, sticky memory or CD-ROM type. The identifier can take any suitable form. For example, if the wide area network 120 is formed by the telephone network, via the flag on the server 100, the identifier can be a simple telephone number. Preferentially, the complete internadonal code is for that number, which allows the CE 110 device to be used in different areas as well as in different countries. If the wide area network 120 is the public Internet, a URL can form the identifier. The CE 110 device is operative to initiate the transfer. Normally, a processor 150 of the CE apparatus controls the transfer process, under the control of a ^^ program. As part of the drop-off, the CE device 110 establishes a communication channel with the transfer server 100 via the wide area network 120. In response, the transfer server 100 retrieves the wired microprogram for the CE 110 device and transfers the microprogramming wired to the apparatus CE 110. The apparatus CE 110 receives the wired microprogram and stores it in a storage medium in which 180 can be written. As described for the storage 170 of the identifier, any suitable type can be used. Both memories 170 and 180 can also be combined in the same physical memory. After completing the transfer, the execution of the wired microprogram is allowed. the execution can be started immediately upon loading the wired microprogram from the EEPROM to the execution memory, which typically consists of RAM, and starts the execution of the program represented by the wired microprogramming again. Execution can also take place after explicitly re-adjusting the CE device (for example, by withdrawing the power to the device after it has been supplied) in which case the normal charging process will automatically load the wired microprogram (assuming that the load know or have informed you of the storage location (such as the address of the memory) of the wired microprogramming). ^^ The transfer server 100 may be able to locate the desired software in its storage 140 simply by being accessed (for example, the transfer server 100 is specific to a type of CE device, and thus, the identifier of the server corresponds to the wired microprogramming). The identifier can also include more information, for example, in the form of a URL, which allows the server to operate for different types of CE devices. In this case, the CE device ensures that this information is transferred to the server to allow the server to recover the desired software. For URL, this happens automatically on the Internet. ^^ The CE 110 device can also store an additional wired microprogram identifier. For example, said identifier may specify the type of CE device and / or the current version of the wired microprogram loaded. In that case, the CE device 110 makes this wired microprogramming identifier available so that the transfer server allows the transfer server 100 to recover the wired microprogramming suitable for the CE device. Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a system according to the invention with a transfer server 200, an interface device 210 and an EC 220 device. The transfer server 200 can be the same as described above with respect to the figure 1. The interface apparatus 210 includes a first communication interface 212 for communicating with the transfer server 200 via a wide area network 250. The wide area network 250 and the communication technology can be as described above. The interface apparatus can communicate with the CE devices via a local area network 260. Three CE 220, 230 and 240 apparatuses are shown, the details are only shown for the CE 220 device. The local area network can be of any type Suitable, such as USB, IEEE 1394, Ethernet, etc, with cable or without cable. The local area network can be of any type, such as point-to-point or bus or tree, and can include one or more segments. The network can also include different technologies, such as bridge coupling. The interface apparatus 210 induces a second communication interface 214 for communication with the CE devices via the local area network 260. The CE 220 apparatus is substantially of the same construction as described for FIG. 1, where now the interface of Communication 222 is a local area network interface, such as a USB transceiver. As before, the CE 220 device stores in memory 224 a predetermined identifier that identifies the transfer server with respect to ^^ wide area network. The wired microprogram that is to be transferred is executed by means of a processor 226. In this arrangement, the CE apparatus 220 makes the predetermined identifier available to the interface apparatus 210, which allows the interface apparatus 210 to establish communication with the identified transfer server 200. Preferably, the CE 220 device takes the initiative to transfer the ID to the interface apparatus 210, however, the interface apparatus 210 can also read the identifier of the CE 220 device at its own initiative. In any case, the interface apparatus 210 receives the predetermined identifier from the CE device 220 and establishes communication with the identified transfer server 200, analogous to that already described for FIG. 1, where the CE device establishes the communication. The interface apparatus 210 receives the wired microprogram from the identified transfer server 200 and transfers it to the CE 220 device. This operation will normally occur under the control of the processor of the interface apparatus 210 loaded with an appropriate program. Analogous to that described for FIG. 1, the CE 220 device repairs the wired microprogramming (but now from the interface apparatus 210), stores the wired microprogram in a storage medium in which it can be written; and causes the execution of the wired microprogram transferred (immediately or later). As described above for FIG. 1, the CE 220 apparatus may include a wired microprogram identifier that identifies the wired microprogram of operation. The CE 220 device can make this wired microprogramming available to the transfer server 200, which allows the transfer server 200 to recover the wired microprogramming of optimum operation suitable for the CE 220 device. The CE 220 device can transfer in a activates the identifier to the interface device 210, which passes it to the transfer server 200. Alternatively, the interface apparatus 210 can read it from the CE 220 device. In an embodiment according to the invention, the transfer starts from . automatic way The initiative can be taken by the CE device (in both configurations, as shown in FIGS. 1 or 2), the interface device (configuration of FIG. 2) or any device (configuration of FIG. 2). Preferably, the transfer is initiated automatically as part of a first-time installation of the CE device. If the input is taken by the CE device, the CE device can check the power if the wired microprogram has already been transferred or not. For this purpose, the CE device can save a flag in the memory in which it can be rewritten. This flag can be put by the manufacturer to indicate that the transfer has not yet been made and it is changed to indicate that the transfer occurred, after the transfer has been completed successfully. If the initiative is taken by the interface device, the interface apparatus can use the connect and play functionality of the local area network to detect that power is supplied to an EC device. The interface device itself can be administered if the wired microprogram has already been transferred to the CE device or read a flag, similar to that described above, from the CE device. As an alternative or addition to transfer in the installation, the transfer can be initiated automatically at regular intervals in order to obtain a ^^ microprogram? wired operadón updated. The initiative may lie with the CE device or the interface device. It is sufficient to keep a time stamp of the last transfer and compare it with a current time indication to determine how long the last transfer occurred and, consequently, if a new transfer is preferable. The comparison of the indications can occur every time the interface device or the CE device is compromised. . As an alternative or in addition to the activations given above for the transfer, this can be initiated in response to user activation. For this end, ^ the device that takes the initiative (CE device or interface device) preferably includes a button that can be operated to receive user activation. To ensure simple activation, it is preferable that the button be a physical push button. If the button is located in the interface device, such as a "set top box" (control box), the activation of the button activates the transfer of the wired microprogram for each EC device of the system that can be transferred. In this way, a user can upgrade an entire system through the activation of a button. Figure 3 illustrates the method of automatically transferring the wired microprogram from operandon from a transfer server to a CE device according to the invention. The method includes step 310, in which a predetermined identifier is retrieved from the CE device. The same CE device or an interface device can read the identifier. The ideptifier identifies the transfer server via the wide area network. In step 320, a connection is made to the transfer server identified via the wide area network. The connection can be established by means of the CE device or the interface device. In step 330, the wired operation microprogram is transferred from a storage means of the transfer server identified by the predetermined identifier. In step 340, the wired microprogram of transferred operation is stored in a writeable storage medium of the CE device. In step 350, the wired microprogramming transferred is prepared for execution by means of the CE device. Figure 4 provides further details of the method of automatically transferring the wired microprogram from operandon from the transfer server 420 to the CE 400 apparatus, in which the transfer occurs via an operable interface apparatus 410 to communicate with the transfer server 420 via the wide area network and to communicate with the CE 400 device via a local area network. The method includes step 430, wherein the predetermined identifier is transferred from the CE device 400 to the interface apparatus 410. The CE device can read and send the identifier or the interface apparatus can read it from the CE device. The identifier identifies the transfer server with respect to a wide area network and thus allows the interface apparatus 410 to communicate with the identified transfer server 420. In step 440, a connection is made from the interface apparatus 410 with the transfer server identified 420 via the wide area network. In step 450, the wired operation microprogram is transferred from a storage means of the transfer server 420 to the interface apparatus 410. In step 460, the transferred transfer software is transferred from the _ Interface device 410 to the CE 400 device via the local area network. In step 470, the wired microprogram of transferred operation is stored in a writeable storage medium of the CE device 400. In step 480, the wired microprogrammed transferred is prepared to execute the CE device. The functionality described by the invention is normally executed under the control of a processor of the apparatus involved with a convendonal hardware. The processor, such as a PC-type processor, microcontroller or DSP processor, can ^ loaded with a program to perform the steps according to the invention. In general, the program is loaded from a background storage, such as a hard drive or ROM. For example, a computer program product may be used to initially store the program in the background storage. This product can be stored in a storage medium, such as a CD-ROM, or it can be distributed via a network, such as the public Internet. As shown in Figure 4, three different programs may be involved in the execution of the method according to the invention: a program on the server, one on the interface apparatus and one on the apparatus EC.

Claims (17)

1. CHAPTER CLAIMING Having described the invention, it is considered as a novelty and, therefore, the content is claimed in the following:
2. CLAIMS 1. A communication system that includes a transfer server and at least one CE device; the transfer server includes a storage to store the microprogramming ^^ wired operation of the CE device; and a communication interface for communication via a wide area network; the CE apparatus includes a predetermined identifier that identifies the transfer server with respect to the wide area network; and a communication interface to communicate with the transfer server identified via the wide area network; The CE device is operative to initiate the transfer; to receive the wired microprogram from the transfer server; to store the wired microprogram in a storage medium in which it can be written, and ^ z to cause execution of the wired microprogrammed transfer. 2. A communication system that includes a transfer server, an interface device and at least one CE device; the transfer server includes a storage to store the wired microprogramming of the CE device operation; and a communication interface for communication via a wide area network; the interface apparatus includes a first communication interface for communicating with the transfer server via a wide area network; and a second communicating interface to communicate with the CE device via a local area network; the CE apparatus includes a predetermined identifier which identifies the server of the container with respect to the wide area network; and a communication interface for communicating with the interface apparatus via the local area network; and the CE apparatus is operative to make the predetermined identifier available to the interface apparatus that allows it to establish communication with the identified transfer server; receive the wired microprogram from the interface apparatus; t store the transfer in a storage medium in which it can be written; cause the execution of the wired microprogramming transferred; and the interface apparatus is operative to redirect the predetermined identifier from the CE apparatus; to establish the communication with the identified transfer server; to receive the wired microprogram from the identified transfer server and to transfer the wired microprogram to the CE device; the transfer starts with the CE device or with the interface device.
3. 3. A communication system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the transfer is initiated automatically.
4. 4. A communication system according to claim 3, wherein the transfer is initiated automatically as part of a first-time installation of the CE device.
5. 5. A communication system according to claim 3, wherein the transfer is initiated automatically at regular intervals in order to obtain a wired microprogram of up-to-date operation.
6. 6. A communication system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the transfer is initiated in response to the adivation of the user.
7. 7. A communication system according to claim 6, wherein the devices that take the initiative include a button that can activate the user to receive activation from the user.
8. 8. A communication system according to claim 7, wherein the button is a physical push button.
9. 9. A communication system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the CE apparatus includes a wired microprogramming identifier that identifies the wired microprogram of operandon; The CE device is operative to make the identifier of the wired microprogram available to the transfer server which allows the transfer server to retrieve the wired microprogram from the operation suitable for the CE device.
10. 10. A communication system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wide area network is Internet. ^
11. 11. An EC device for use in the system according to claim 1; the CE apparatus includes a predetermined identifier that identifies the transfer server with respect to the wide area network; and a communication interface for communicating with the transfer server identified via the wide area network; the CE device is operative to prevent the transfer; to receive the wired microprogram from the interface apparatus; to store the wired microprogram in a storage medium in which it can be written; and to cause the execution of the wired microprogramm transferred.
12. 12. An EC device to be used in the system according to ia Claim 2; the CE apparatus includes a predetermined identifier that identifies the transfer server with respect to the wide area network; and a communication interface for communicating with the interface apparatus via the wide area network; and The CE apparatus is operative to: make the predetermined identifier available to the interface apparatus that allows it to establish communication with the identified transfer server; receiving the wired microprogram from the interface apparatus; > store the transfer in a storage medium in which it can be written; and cause the execution of the transferred wired microprogramming; and the transfer is initiated with the CE device or with the interface device.
13. 13. An interface apparatus for use in the system according to claim 2; the interface apparatus includes a first communication interface for communicating with the transfer server via a wide area network, and a second communication interface for communicating with the CE device via a local area network; the interface apparatus is operative to redirect the predetermined identifier from the CE apparatus; to establish communication with the identified transfer server; to receive the wired microprogram from the identified transfer server and to transfer the wired microprogram to the CE device.
14. 14. An automatic transfer method of wired microprogramming of operation from a transfer server to a CE device; The method includes: recovery of a predetermined identifier from the CE device; the identifier identifies the transfer server with respect to a wide area network; the provocation that the wired microprogrammer of operation is transferred from a storage means of the transfer server identified by the predetermined identifier via the wide area network; the provocation that the wired microprogram of transferred operation is stored in a writeable storage medium of the CE device, and the provocation that the CE device executes the wired microprogram transferred.
15. 15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the transfer occurs via an operable interface apparatus to communicate with the transfer server via the wide area network and to communicate with the CE device via a local area network; the step of causing the wired microprogramming operation to be transferred from the transfer server includes: transferring the predetermined identifier from the CE apparatus to the interface apparatus, which allows the interface apparatus to establish communication with the identified transfer server; transferring the wired operating microprogram from the transfer server to the interface apparatus via the wide area network; and transferring the transferred operandon software from the interface apparatus to the CE device via the local area network.
16. 16. A method of automatically transferring the wired microprogram from a transfer server to an EC device includes the execution of the following steps in an interface apparatus: retrieving a predetermined identifier of the CE device via a local area network; the identifier identifies the transfer server with respect to a wide area network; receive the wired microprogram of operation from the transfer server via the wide area network; and transfer the wired microprogram of transferred operation to the CE device via the local area network.
17. 17. A computer program product, wherein the program is operative to cause the computer to carry out the method of claim 16.