Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Jeffrey Michael Paul

Yuhang Zhu

Robert Zhu

Donghoon Park

Heonmin Lim

Yuguo Liu

Ross F Hewit

Raymond Robert O'Brien

This patent relates to user devices that have user-selectable operating systems. One implementation can include primary storage having multiple compressed operating systems stored thereon in inoperable form. This implementation can also include a processor configured to execute a multi-option boot loader configured to receive a user selection of an individual operating system. The multi-option boot loader is configured to install a file folder structure on the primary storage in a configuration specific to the individual operating system and to install the individual operating system in an operable form on the primary storage relative to the file folder structure.

User selectable operating systems

A read-only management object is created to contain information relating to firmware components that can be updated. This information includes a component identifier, a component version and a user-friendly name for the component. The information also includes a state identifier that indicates a state of a device that includes firmware components. Information from the management object can be used by other components as part of a firmware update process. An update management object is dynamically created to deliver an update package to the device. The update package can contain updates to multiple firmware components.

Publishing the status of and updating firmware components

A method and system for updating an OS of an embedded device. The embedded device provides its current OS version information to a mobile operation network via a SMS message. The embedded device can provide its current OS version information to a mobile operation network in response to a request from a mobile operator network that has implemented the SyncML specifications promulgated by the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA). The mobile operator network interacts with the datacenter to provide the embedded devices's current OS version and get the address of the image update. The mobile operator service sends the address to the embedded device via another SMS message. The embedded device downloads the image update using the RF link via a global packet radio service (GPRS) connection.

Embedded device update service

Growing community of inventors

Kirkland, WA, United States of America

Jeffrey Michael Paul