Patent · US Expired

Applying custom software image updates to non-volatile storage in a failsafe manner

US7549042B2 · kind B2 · utility

44Cited by
32References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 1, 2004
Grant dateJun 16, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 24, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F8/658
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Described is a system and method in which software updates in the form of self-contained, secure entities are applied to an embedded device's non-volatile storage in a failsafe manner. Various types of software updates may be applied, and updates may contain executable code and/or data. Following a reboot, an initial program loader determines an update mode, and if updating, boots to a special update loader. The update loader processes update packages to apply the updates. Kernel partition, system partition and reserve section updates may be updated with entire files or binary difference files, with failure handling mechanisms are provided for each type of update. Updates may be simulated before committing them. Updates may be relocated in memory as appropriate for a device.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.