Multiple system images for over-the-air updates

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016117166-A1
Application number	US-201614990548-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 7, 2016
Priority date	Jan 12, 2012
Publication date	Apr 28, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

In one embodiment, a computing device may execute software from a first portion of memory of the computing device. The computing device may download from a server a new version of the software. The client computing device may receive instructions from the server to request an over-the-air (OTA) download of the new version of the software. The instructions may be an out-of-band message. The new version of the software may be installed into a second portion of memory of the computing device, and the new version of the software is executed from the second portion of memory. The download of the new version of software may be pursuant to a manifest for the download to determine whether the computing device may download the new version of software.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
by a client computing device, executing software from a first portion of memory of the client computing device; by the client computing device, downloading from a server a new version of the software pursuant to a manifest for the download; by the client computing device, installing the new version of the software into a second portion of memory of the client computing device; and by the client computing device, executing the new version of the software from the second portion of memory.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the client computing device requests an over-the-air download of the new version of the software in response to an instruction from the server; and the instruction comprises an out-of-band message.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the request comprises the serial number of the client computing device.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the manifest comprises a predetermined battery state in which the client computing device must be in order to download the payload.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the manifest comprises a predetermined time period during which the client computing device may download the payload.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the manifest comprises a predetermined battery state in which the client computing device must be in order to execute the software from the second portion of memory.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the manifest comprises a predetermined time period during which the client computing device may execute the software from the second portion of memory.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the manifest comprises a manifest signature and device unique signature, and executing the software from the second portion of memory comprises:
authenticating the manifest signature with a manifest signature public key; authenticating the device unique signature with a device unique public key; and failing to execute the software from the second portion of memory if either authentication fails.

9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the manifest comprises a first hash value for the payload, and executing the software from the second portion of memory further comprises:
calculating a second hash value for the downloaded payload based on a predetermined cryptographic hash algorithm;
comparing the first hash value to the second hash value; and
failing to execute from the second portion of memory if the first and second hash values are not identical.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the manifest comprises an encrypted serial number, and executing from the second portion of memory comprises:
decrypting the serial number with a serial number public key; comparing the decrypted serial number to a serial number of the one or more computing devices; and failing to execute software from the second portion of memory if the serial number and the decrypted serial number are not identical.

11 . A non-transitory, computer-readable media comprising instructions operable, when executed by one or more computing systems, to:
execute software from a first portion of memory of the one or more computing systems; download from a server a new version of the software pursuant to a manifest for the download; install the new version of the software into a second portion of memory of the one or more computing systems; and execute the new version of the software from the second portion of memory.

12 . The media of claim 11 , wherein:
the one or more computing systems request an over-the-air (OTA) download of the new version of the software in response to an instruction from the server; and the instruction comprises an out-of-band message.

13 . The media of claim 12 wherein the request comprises the serial number of the one or more computing systems.

14 . The media of claim 11 , wherein the manifest comprises a predetermined battery state in which the one or more computing systems must be in order to download the payload.

15 . The media of claim 11 , wherein the manifest comprises a predetermined time period during which the one or more computing systems may download the payload.

16 . The media of claim 11 , wherein the manifest comprises a predetermined battery state in which the one or more computing systems must be in order to execute the software from the second portion of memory.

17 . The media of claim 11 , wherein the manifest comprises a predetermined time period during which the one or more computing systems may execute the software from the second portion of memory.

18 . The media of claim 11 , wherein the manifest comprises a manifest signature and device unique signature, and executing the software from a second portion of memory comprises:
authenticating the manifest signature with a manifest signature public key; authenticating the device unique signature with a device unique public key; and failing to execute from the second portion of memory if either authentication fails.

19 . The media of claim 11 , wherein the manifest comprises a first hash value for the payload, and executing the software from the second portion of memory further comprises:
calculating a second hash value for the downloaded payload based on a predetermined cryptographic hash algorithm; comparing the first hash value to the second hash value; and failing to execute the software from the second portion of memory if the first and second hash values are not identical.

20 . A system comprising:
one or more processors; and a memory coupled to the processors comprising instructions executable by the processors, the processors being operable when executing the instructions to:
execute software from a first portion of memory of the one or more computing systems;
download from a server a new version of the software pursuant to a manifest for the download;
install the new version of the software into a second portion of memory of the one or more computing systems; and
execute the new version of the software from the second portion of memory.

Assignees

• Facebook Inc

Inventors

• Djabarov Gueorgui Nikolov
• Hotz George Francis
• Gandhi Shaheen Ashok

Classifications

• H04L67/34

  involving the movement of software or configuration parameters  (network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416) · CPC title

• H04L63/0428

  wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload · CPC title

• G06F8/65 Primary

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

• G06F8/654

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

• H04L9/0891 Primary

  Revocation or update of secret information, e.g. encryption key update or rekeying · CPC title