Patent Application
20050272418
Wireless devices, such as wireless media receivers and the like, are typically not shipped from the manufacturer such that they can be immediately connected to a wireless network. This is, in part, due to the fact that in order to connect a wireless device to a network, addressing information that is particular to the network to which the device is being added has to be provided to the device. However, in some situations, such as when the wireless network has not been established, it can be difficult to transfer the addressing and/or other information (e.g., firmware and/or software update data) to the device.
For instance, wireless media receivers use software and firmware to interact with devices sending information to the receiver and to play the received information on a device, such as a television or display, connected by a wireline to the media receiver. In operation, the media receiver is typically wirelessly connected to a network in which another network device, such as a server or a personal computer sends information to be played on the device connected to the media receiver. However, when setting up the media receiver or when updating the software or firmware in the media receiver, it may be difficult to send the data wirelessly, especially in cases where the network has not been established yet. Difficulties can be attributed to things such as: slow transfer data rates for wireless communications, the lack of a wireless connection, errors in the transmission of large amounts of data via wireless transmission, and the like.
Further, devices like media receivers also typically don't have slots for receiving memory media, such as floppy disks, memory cards, memory sticks, and the like. In this way, it is difficult to set up or update the software and/or firmware on the media receiver because, since the updates do not reside on the media receiver, the updates have to be transferred via the wireless connection.
Embodiments of the present invention include program instructions which can execute to perform a firmware and/or software data update to a wireless device, such as a media receiver, using a computing device connected via wireline connection thereto. Although the device to be updated is a wireless capable device, in the embodiments of the present invention, no wireless connection to a computer for downloading data to the wireless device is involved.
Rather, embodiments facilitate an efficient and reliable serviceability technique for providing data updates in the field, factory, and/or user's home once the updated data is available for transfer from a computing device. Embodiments of the present invention also allow for an operator, using the computing device to provide the update data to a wireless device, to be proximate to both devices during the setup and/or updating process.
Embodiments can allow for all update operations to be performed locally (i.e., without the use of a network) between a computing device and a wireless device, such as from a computing device to a media receiver via a wireline connection. In this way, the computing device does not have to be networked to wireless device in order to transfer update data.
Wireless devices can also be used with an audio player such as a stereo or surround sound system, among others. These audio and video systems can be operated by a remote control 118.
In the embodiment of
According to various embodiments, the media receiver 104 includes program instructions which can be stored in memory and executed by a processor thereon to read information, such as update data like an updated firmware version, from a computing device, e.g., 102.
However, as discussed above, in some situations, if the wireless network has not been established, or is otherwise unavailable or unusable, the transmission of the information from the computing device 102 to the wireless device 104 cannot be accomplished. Embodiments of the present invention can provide a manner in which the data can be transferred in such situations as will be described in more detail below.
The designators “N” and “M” are used to indicate that a number of access points and/or wireless devices can be attached to the network 200. The number that N represents can be the same or different from the number represented by M.
The wireless devices, 204-1, 204-2, 204-3, 204-4, . . . , 204-N, can include a number and variety of wireless devices, as the same have been described above. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the wireless devices, 204-1, 204-2, 204-3, 204-4, . . . , 204-N, can connect to the access points, 209-1, . . . , 209-M, according to a number of different wireless protocols, e.g., via RF, 802.11 standards, and Bluetooth, among others.
The computing device 202 is illustrated as connected to a server/database 212 over a wireline network connection 206. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that a wireline connection can include connections such as USB, Ethernet, serial, parallel, and other such wired connection types.
A peripheral 214, such as a multifunction scanner, copier, and facsimile device is also shown connected to the computing device 202 in a wireline connective manner.
In an embodiment of a network, such as that shown in
For example,
Additionally, the program instructions can execute to select whether to update data in the memory of the media receiver 304, based on a comparison of the data on the computing device 302 to the data in the memory of the media receiver 304. For example, program embodiments can be executed to search a firmware file and check its version from the computing device 302 or from the wireless device, e.g., media receiver 304, as the same will be known and understood to one of ordinary skill in the art.
Program embodiments can execute to compare the data on the computing device 302 with the data on the media receiver 304. For example, program instructions can look to the creation date of the data, the last modification date, a data set version identifier, such as a firmware version number, and other such identifiers as are known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
In various embodiments, program instructions can execute to provide a user with the selectability of whether to update the data on the media receiver 304 with the data on the computing device 302 based on a result presented to the user and based upon input instructions from the user in response thereto.
Computing and media receivers are widely used in consumer and commercial environments. Such devices generally include a user interface that is responsive to user input in complement to the processor and memory resources. A user interface can be provided in the form of a touch screen display, a keyboard and/or keypad, and a pointing device such as a mouse or stylus. Memory can include ROM, RAM, flash memory, and/or some other type of nonvolatile and writeable memory such as battery-backed persistent storage, e.g., a hard disk drive that stores programs and data. An operating system such as Windows, Unix, and/or Linux, etc. is also stored in memory.
Further, a number of other program applications, such as computer games or an office suite, can also be stored in memory. Computing devices may include a network interface application that communicates with a server over a network. The network interface application may be an Internet interface that communicates with the Internet using HTTP or other protocols.
Computing device 302 is a device that can execute computer executable instructions. For example, computing devices include desktop personal computers (PCs), workstations and/or laptops, etc. As used herein, wireless devices 304 include media players, media receivers, digital cameras, MP3 players, personal digital assistants (PDAs), television sets (e.g., flat screen televisions, high definition TVs (HDTVs), digital televisions with built-in computing device readers, HDTV Tuner set-top boxes with internal and/or external computing device readers, and/or plasma displays), digital versatile disk (DVD) players, and/or cell phones, etc. All of these examples can include a wired and/or wireless network interface as the same will be known and understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
In
This process can involve the use of a computing device software utility as well as configuration and setup for both the hardware and software to enter items such as client name, SSID, communication channel, client IP address, Subnet mask address, a media access control address (MAC address), encryption keys, and the like.
As in
Additionally, in various embodiments, program instructions can be provided to insert the data to the wireless device, such as device 304, in a manner that is transparent to the user. For example, in many instances such as during the set up of a new device, the user does not understand how to set up the device. The user is, in some cases, not familiar with the terms used to describe the information to be added, nor do they understand how to find the information or where the information is supposed to be placed within the wireless device. In such cases, program embodiments can provide program instructions that can harvest the information on the computing device that is to be placed on the wireless device in order to properly configure the device for use with the wireless network. Program instructions can also be used to properly place harvested or user provided information onto the wireless device. Such program instructions can be provided on a computing device and/or on the wireless device.
The update data can be downloaded to the computing device over a network connection as described in
Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the communication devices, servers, and other computing devices discussed herein, such as servers or computing devices in a serving network or computing devices not connected to a network can include one or more processors and memory therein for the storing and execution of program instructions.
Media receivers, such as digital cameras, MP3 players, PDAs, digital media players, and the like, can include memory media readers designed to accommodate memory media of various form factors and formats as well. Other media receivers such as digital media players may be connected to a display screen such as a standard television set, flat screen television, high definition TV (HDTV), and/or plasma display. For example,
As was illustrated in connection with
Likewise, as one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, a media receiver such as a media player may also be operated by a remote control, RF device. The media receiver can also include other input mechanisms such as a touch screen thereon, input buttons, function keys, etc. The examples given herein are not intended to be limiting.
Embodiments of the invention can also reside on various forms of computer readable mediums. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that a computer readable medium can be any medium that contains information that is readable by a computer. Forms of computer readable mediums can, for example, include volatile and/or non-volatile memory stored on fixed or removable mediums, such as hard drives, disks, memory sticks, memory cards, memory keys, and the like, among others.
Unless explicitly stated, the method embodiments described herein are not constrained to a particular order or sequence. Additionally, some of the described method embodiments or elements thereof can occur or be performed at the same point in time.
In various embodiments, the method can also include displaying a confirmation that the update has been completed on a display of the computing device. In this way, the receiver does not have to be connected to the television in order for the confirmation to be viewed by the individual performing the setup of the receiver.
The method can also include selecting whether to update the data in the memory of the media receiver based on user input to the computing device. Initiation of an update of the data on the media receiver can be based on such user input to the computing device. For example, the user can check to see whether the data should be updated based upon the version that is currently on the receiver.
In various embodiments, the method can also include downloading a firmware update for the media receiver to a hard disk of a computing device. The firmware update can then be transferred from the hard disk in the computing device to the media receiver via a wireline connection between the computing device and the media receiver.
The media receiver can execute instructions to search for a “Data File” in the computing device and can execute instructions to check its version. Program embodiments are provided to a memory of the media receiver that execute to check if a given data version as contained on the computing device is newer or more recent than a data version resident in a memory on the media receiver. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate upon reading this disclosure the manner in which program instructions can be written and executed to retrieve and compare a data version, and information pertaining thereto, to a firmware version retrieved from or resident on another memory such as a memory in the media receiver.
Program instructions can execute to display a confirm message on a display as described above. For example, when the program instruction's execution and comparison determines that the data version present on the computing device is newer than the data version resident on the media receiver, a prompt can be provided to the user on the display such as “Do you want to update?” with additional options selectable such as “OK/Cancel”.
Alternatively, when the program instruction's execution and comparison determines that the data version present on the computing device is older than the data version resident on the media receiver, a display warning message and/or prompt can be provided to the user on the display such as “Current data version (e.g., resident on the media receiver) is newer than file” (e.g., the data version on the computing device). Again, additionally options selectable by the user can be present such as “Do you still want to update?” and “OK/Cancel” options.
As described above, a user can input instructions in response to these prompts by using a RF remote control device, input to a keypad on the media receiver, and/or via a touch screen display, among other such user interactive components. As one of ordinary skill in the art will further appreciate, the prompts themselves can be additionally and/or exclusively presented to a user in an audio format via a speaker and a user may input response instructions via audible commands using voice recognition software and a microphone present on a given media receiver. Embodiments are not limited to these examples.
If a user inputs instructions to cancel the updating process, then the program instructions can execute to stop and/or not to proceed with updating the data on the computing device to the media receiver. Alternatively, if a user inputs instructions selecting “OK”, e.g., to proceed, then the program instructions can execute to verify the data file, e.g., perform a checksum routine as the same will be known and understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and will execute to initiate and carry though the update of the data on the media receiver.
As mentioned above, and as one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate upon reading this disclosure, various data update embodiments described herein can be transparent to the user in that the user does not have to interact with software utilities and setup configurations for the setup and/or update of software or hardware. The data update is reliable because the operation has been performed via a wireline connection to the wireless device. Hence, the updates described herein provide an added degree of serviceability in the field, e.g., home environment, retail outlet, and/or factory setting, etc.
As described above, program embodiments are provided to a wireless device, e.g., storable on a memory of the wireless device, that can be executed by a processor on the wireless device to read data from a computing device. The program instructions are executed by the processor to select whether to update data on the wireless device based on a comparison of the data on the computing device to the data on the wireless device, e.g., digital media receiver.
The program instructions further execute to afford a user the selectable option, e.g., a confirmation, of whether to proceed with the data update based a result of the comparison being presented to the user. The user can input instructions via a touch screen display and/or input keys on the wireless device as well as via an RF remote control device. Embodiments are not limited to these examples.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same techniques can be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover adaptations or variations of various embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that the above description has been made in an illustrative fashion, and not a restrictive one.
Combination of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the various embodiments of the invention includes various other applications in which the above structures and methods are used. Therefore, the scope of various embodiments of the invention should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the embodiments of the invention require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.
