Patent ID: 7146412

Claim:
A method of upgrading firmware on a peripheral computing device comprising: determining a current version of firmware installed on the peripheral computing device, wherein the determining is performed by an applet running on the peripheral computing device; searching a pre-designated location for a firmware upgrade, wherein the searching is preformed by an embedded browser configured to operate without user intervention within the peripheral computing device according to a prescheduled time period, and wherein operation of the browser is initiated and directed by the applet running on the peripheral computing device; sending an email notification from the peripheral computing device to one or more pre-designated email addresses if the firmware upgrade is found, wherein the email notification is sent by the applet running on the peripheral computing device; receiving the email notification on a host computer remote from the peripheral computing device, wherein the email notification is rendered for reading by a user logged into the host computer, and wherein the email provides an option of installing the firmware upgrade, an option for a selected time period of installation, and an interface allowing the user to indicate selections by mouse click; downloading the firmware update, from the pre-designated location, at the selected time period, to the peripheral computing device; and installing the firmware upgrade onto the peripheral computing device during the selected time period.