Patent ID: 8418168
Filing Date: 2013-04-09
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for upgrading device software on an electronic device connected to a computer through a communications protocol, the computer being connected to a central repository of device software over a communications network, the method comprising: displaying a web page including a scripting language within an Internet browser on the computer, the Internet browser including a scripting engine for executing the scripting language; providing a scripting-language capable device controller for interfacing communications between the scripting engine and the electronic device in accordance with the communications protocol connecting the computer and electronic device; receiving by the Internet browser of a request to install device software onto the electronic device via a user interface element of the web page; receiving by the scripting-language capable device controller of device attribute information from the electronic device through the communications protocol in response to the request; sending the device attribute information from the scripting-language capable device controller to the scripting engine of the Internet browser; sending the device attribute information from the Internet browser; determining whether an upgrade is permitted in accordance with a policy rule restricting software upgrades stored in a memory of the electronic device; when an upgrade is available and required by a forced upgrade policy, determining whether an upgrade deferral is available; when an upgrade is permitted in accordance with a policy rule restricting software upgrades or required by the forced upgrade policy and when an upgrade is available, receiving upgrade software for the electronic device in response to the sending the device attribute information, and upgrading device software on the electronic device using the upgrade software using the communications protocol connecting the computer and electronic device.