IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,075,680
Granted Patent B2
US 9,075,680 · App. 12/468,021 · Granted Jul 7, 2015

Firmware upgrade for thin clients using one or more servers

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,075,680
App. No.
12/468,021
Granted
Jul 7, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A process and system for upgrading firmware in a thin client in a network environment. The process may proceed on an automated basis during boot-up by using one or more FTP addresses stored in the thin client. Multiple FTP servers may be accessed. The same firmware upgrades may be stored on more than one FTP server. Different firmware upgrades may instead or in addition be stored on different FTP servers.

Claims (57)

1. A system for upgrading firmware in a thin client comprising:

storage media comprising instructions executable by a processing system in communication with a network interface, the instructions for performing the following:

sending a request for a firmware upgrade or information about the firmware upgrade from the thin client to a first server, comprising sending a series of requests for the same firmware upgrade, wherein each of the series of requests is for a portion of the same firmware upgrade;

determining that the firmware upgrade or information about the firmware upgrade is not received in response at the thin client from the first server;

in response to the determination, bypassing the first server and sending a request for the same firmware upgrade or information about the same firmware upgrade from the thin client to a second server that is different from the first server;

receiving the same firmware upgrade in response at the thin client from the second server; and

upgrading firmware in the thin client with the same firmware upgrade;

the network interface; and

the processing system configured to communicate with the storage media and the network interface and to perform the instructions.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further for sending a request for information about the same firmware upgrade to the second server, wherein the request for information about the same firmware upgrade comprises a request for a parameter file associated with the same firmware upgrade.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the request for the firmware upgrade or information about the firmware upgrade is an FTP request, the request for the same firmware upgrade is an FTP request, the first server is a first FTP server, and the second server is a second FTP server.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further for:

receiving information about the same firmware upgrade; and

determining whether the same firmware upgrade is needed at the thin client.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the determining that the firmware upgrade or information about the firmware upgrade is not received in response at the thin client from the first server comprises:

determining whether information about the firmware upgrade is received in response at the thin client from the first server; and

determining whether the firmware upgrade is received in response at the thin client from the first server.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further for:

if the thin client stores addresses of a plurality of servers for upgrading firmware at the thin client, determining whether all of the addresses of the plurality of servers are checked for receiving a first firmware upgrade or information about the first firmware upgrade.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further for:

if information about the same firmware upgrade is received from the second server, determining whether the same firmware upgrade is needed at the thin client.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further for:

if firmware is upgraded at the thin client, re-booting the thin client, and

wherein the instructions are executable automatically by the processing system without operator intervention.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further for:

reading a first address, of the first server, stored at the thin client; and

reading a second address, of the second server, stored at the thin client,

wherein the sending a request for a firmware upgrade or information about the firmware upgrade to the first server comprises sending a request for a firmware upgrade or information about the firmware upgrade to the first server at the first address, and

wherein the sending a request for the same firmware upgrade or information about the same firmware upgrade to the second server comprises sending a request for the same firmware upgrade or information about the same firmware upgrade to the second server at the second address.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the firmware upgrade or information about the firmware upgrade is not received for unavailability or malfunctioning of the first server.

11. Non-transitory computer-readable storage media comprising instructions executable by a processing system in communication with a network interface, the instructions for performing the following:

sending a request for a firmware upgrade or information about the firmware upgrade from the thin client to a first server, comprising sending a series of requests for the same firmware upgrade, wherein each of the series of requests is for a portion of the same firmware upgrade;

determining that the firmware upgrade or information about the firmware upgrade is not received in response at the thin client from the first server;

in response to the determination, bypassing the first server and sending a request for the same firmware upgrade or information about the same firmware upgrade from the thin client to a second server that is different from the first server;

determining whether the same firmware upgrade or information about the same firmware upgrade is received in response at the thin client from the second server; and

determining whether firmware is upgraded at the thin client.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are further for sending a request for information about the same firmware upgrade to the second server, wherein the request for information about the same firmware upgrade comprises a request for a parameter file associated with the same firmware upgrade.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 11 , wherein the request for the firmware upgrade or information about the firmware upgrade is an FTP request, the request for the same firmware upgrade is an FTP request, the first server is a first FTP server, and the second server is a second FTP server.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are further for:

receiving information about the same firmware upgrade; and

determining whether the same firmware upgrade is needed at the thin client.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 11 , wherein the determining that the firmware upgrade or information about the firmware upgrade is not received in response at the thin client from the first server comprises:

determining whether information about the firmware upgrade is received in response at the thin client from the first server; and

determining whether the firmware upgrade is received in response at the thin client from the first server.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are further for:

if the thin client stores addresses of a plurality of servers for upgrading firmware at the thin client, determining whether all of the addresses of the plurality of servers are checked for receiving a first firmware upgrade or information about the first firmware upgrade.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are further for:

if information about the same firmware upgrade is received from the second server, determining whether the same firmware upgrade is needed at the thin client.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are further for:

if firmware is upgraded at the thin client, re-booting the thin client, and

wherein the instructions are executable automatically by the processing system without operator intervention.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are further for:

reading a first address, of the first server, stored at the thin client; and

reading a second address, of the second server, stored at the thin client,

wherein the sending a request for a firmware upgrade or information about the firmware upgrade to the first server comprises sending a request for a firmware upgrade or information about the firmware upgrade to the first server at the first address, and

wherein the sending a request for the same firmware upgrade or information about the same firmware upgrade to the second server comprises sending a request for the same firmware upgrade or information about the same firmware upgrade to the second server at the second address.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 11 , wherein the firmware upgrade or information about the firmware upgrade is not received for unavailability or malfunctioning of the first server.

Assignments (17)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
MERGER Recorded May 13, 2022
From: WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 060064/0586 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 15, 2013
From: WYSE TECHNOLOGY INC.
To: WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 031645/0051 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2012
From: LE, BACH H.; LAM, MANDY SUI MEI; MASON, RYAN
To: WYSE TECHNOLOGY INC.
Reel/Frame 029151/0528 →