Patent ID: 8910868

Claim:
A card reader, comprising: a read head; an audio plug for engaging a corresponding audio jack associated with a host mobile device; at least one processor communicatively coupled to the card reading device and the audio plug; and a memory comprising a plurality of instructions for causing the processor to detect when the audio plug is engaged with the audio jack and perform, upon detecting the engaging of the audio plug with the audio jack, the steps comprising: obtaining version information for a first firmware stored in first portion of the memory and a second firmware stored in a second portion of the memory, determining whether either of the first firmware or the second firmware is usable for operating the card reader, operating the card reader using one of the first firmware or the second firmware that is usable and for which the version information is most recent, detecting an inactivity in communications via the audio plug between the card reader and the host mobile device, upon detecting the inactivity, initiating a download via the audio plug to complete or replace another of the first firmware or the second firmware.