Systems and methods for failsafe firmware upgrades

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11436002-B2
Application number	US-202016826703-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2020
Priority date	Jul 14, 2017
Publication date	Sep 6, 2022
Grant date	Sep 6, 2022

Abstract

Systems and methods for failsafe firmware upgrades in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment includes a vehicle telematics device, including: a processor; and a firmware memory comprising a firmware image coupled to the processor, wherein the firmware image further comprise a first segment and a second segment; wherein a primary bootloader application located in the firmware image: verifies the integrity of the first segment; verifies the integrity of the second segment; selects a firmware image contained in the firmware memory using a failsafe process; and—boots the vehicle telematics device using the selected firmware image.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle telematics device, comprising:
a processor; and
a firmware memory coupled to the processor and partitioned into a plurality of segments, wherein the plurality of segments comprises:
a first firmware image segment including a primary bootloader application, wherein the first firmware image segment comprises a first firmware image, wherein the first firmware image comprises an image header that includes a partition type, and wherein the partition type is indicative of a default firmware image segment; and
a second firmware image segment;

wherein the vehicle telematics device is configured to:
receive an updated firmware image; and
run the primary bootloader application from the first firmware image segment; and

wherein the primary bootloader application is configured to:
store the updated firmware image in the second firmware image segment of the firmware memory, wherein the updated firmware image comprises metadata that identifies the second firmware image segment in which the updated firmware image is to be stored;
compare a first image ID of the image header of the first firmware image to a second image ID of the updated firmware image in response to storage of the updated firmware image; and
select the updated firmware image to boot the vehicle telematics device when the second image ID is greater than the first image ID in response to a comparison of the first image ID to the second image ID.

2. The vehicle telematics device of claim 1 , wherein the updated firmware image comprises an image header, and wherein the image header comprises the metadata.

3. The vehicle telematics device of claim 1 , wherein the second firmware image segment comprises an image header that includes an image ID for the second firmware image segment.

4. The vehicle telematics device of claim 1 , wherein:
the vehicle telematics device is further to request the updated firmware image from a remote server; and
to receive the updated firmware image comprises to receive the updated firmware image from the remote server.

5. The vehicle telematics device of claim 1 , wherein to store the updated firmware image comprises to replace a firmware image stored in the second firmware image segment.

6. The vehicle telematics device of claim 1 , wherein the second firmware image segment comprises a standby location of the firmware memory.

7. The vehicle telematics device of claim 1 , wherein the firmware memory comprises a flash memory.

8. A method for firmware updates, the method comprising:
running, by a vehicle telematics device, a primary bootloader application from a first firmware segment, wherein the vehicle telematics device comprises a processor and a firmware memory coupled to the processor, the firmware memory partitioned into a plurality of segments, and wherein the plurality of segments comprises the first firmware image segment including the primary bootloader application, and a second firmware image segment;
receiving, by the vehicle telematics device, an updated firmware image; and
storing, by the primary bootloader application, the updated firmware image in the second firmware image segment of the firmware memory, wherein the updated firmware image comprises metadata that identifies the second firmware image segment in which the updated firmware image is to be stored;
wherein the first firmware image segment comprises a first firmware image, wherein the first firmware image comprises an image header that includes a partition type, and wherein the partition type is indicative of a default firmware image segment; and
the method further comprising comparing a first image ID of the image header of the first firmware image to a second image ID of the updated firmware image in response to storing the updated firmware image; and
selecting the updated firmware image to boot the vehicle telematics device when the second image ID is greater than the first image ID in response to comparing the first image ID to the second image ID.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the updated firmware image comprises an image header, and wherein the image header comprises the metadata.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
requesting, by vehicle telematics device, the updated firmware image from a remote server;
wherein receiving the updated firmware image comprises receiving the updated firmware image from the remote server.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein storing the updated firmware image comprises replacing a firmware image stored in the second firmware image segment.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second firmware image segment comprises a standby location of the firmware memory.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the firmware memory comprises a flash memory.

Assignees

• Calamp Corp
• Calampcorp

Inventors

• Cook Russell
• Ramiah Somasundaram

Classifications

• G06F8/654 Primary

  using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories · CPC title

• G06F9/4401

  Bootstrapping (security arrangements therefor G06F21/57) · CPC title

• G06F8/63

  Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order · CPC title

• G06F16/2365

  Ensuring data consistency and integrity · CPC title