Techniques for firmware updates with accessories

Abstract

Techniques are provided for updating firmware of an accessory device. An accessory development kit of the accessory device can communicate with an accessory update daemon using a home management daemon of a controller device. Based on a firmware update policy of the accessory device, the accessory update daemon will check for firmware updates. When firmware updates are available, the accessory update daemon can instruct the home management daemon to stage the update. The home management daemon will notify the accessory development kit to be in a stage mode. The accessory update daemon will download the firmware update and send the firmware update to the accessory development kit of the accessory device using an interface for the secure channel provided by the home management daemon. The accessory device can be a third party accessory device that does not have its own firmware updating application.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method, comprising:
 displaying, on a display of a controller device, a firmware configuration interface for configuring an accessory device, wherein the controller device is configured to execute an accessory update service that enables firmware updates for the accessory device;   determining, by the controller device, category information associated with the accessory device;   based at least in part on the determined category information associated with the accessory device, determining, by the controller device, configuration parameters of the accessory device that are configurable by a user;   displaying, on the firmware configuration interface, the determined configuration parameters that are configurable by the user;   receiving, via the firmware configuration interface, the configuration parameters configured by the user;   downloading, by the accessory update service of the controller device, the firmware update for the accessory device based at least in part on the configuration parameters configured by the user;   transmitting, by the accessory update service of the controller device, the firmware update to the accessory device based at least in part on the configuration parameters configured by the user; and   instructing, by the controller device, the accessory device to install the firmware update based at least in part on the received configuration parameters.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the configuring is performed via an application stored on the controller device. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the category information associated with the accessory device includes high-security accessory device category information and low-security accessory device category information. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein in accordance with the accessory device including the high-security accessory device category information, enabling the user to select automatic firmware updates. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein in accordance with the accessory device including the low-security accessory device category information, enabling the user to select automatic firmware updates or manual firmware updates. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein in accordance with the configuration parameters including an automatic firmware update, displaying on the firmware configuration interface, time parameters for downloading the firmware update. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the time parameters include a day and time for installing the firmware update. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the time parameters include a trickle feed parameter for installing the firmware update, wherein a trickle feed enables updating of the firmware at a rate selected by the user. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the category information associated with the accessory device includes policy information associated with installation of the firmware update. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the category information associated with the accessory device includes an occupancy based update category, a dynamic update category, a multi-function category, a bridge update category, or a time based update category. 
     
     
         12 . A controller device comprising:
 a processor;   a memory;   a computer readable medium coupled to the processor, the computer readable medium storing instructions executable by the processor for implementing a method comprising:
 displaying, on a display of the controller device, a firmware configuration interface for configuring an accessory device, wherein the controller device is configured to execute an accessory update service that enables firmware updates for the accessory device; 
 determining, by the controller device, category information associated with the accessory device; 
 based at least in part on the determined category information associated with the accessory device, determining, by the controller device, configuration parameters of the accessory device that are configurable by a user; 
 displaying, on the firmware configuration interface, the determined configuration parameters that are configurable by the user; 
 receiving, via the firmware configuration interface, the configuration parameters configured by the user; 
 downloading, by the accessory update service of the controller device, the firmware update for the accessory device based at least in part on the configuration parameters configured by the user; 
 transmitting, by the accessory update service of the controller device, the firmware update to the accessory device based at least in part on the configuration parameters configured by the user; and 
 instructing, by the controller device, the accessory device to install the firmware update based at least in part on the received configuration parameters. 
   
     
     
         13 . The controller device according to  claim 12 , wherein the category information associated with the accessory device includes high-security accessory device category information and low-security accessory device category information. 
     
     
         14 . The controller device according to  claim 12 , wherein in accordance with the configuration parameters including an automatic firmware update, displaying on the firmware configuration interface, time parameters for downloading the firmware update. 
     
     
         15 . The controller device according to  claim 14 , wherein the time parameters include a trickle feed parameter for installing the firmware update, wherein a trickle feed enables updating of the firmware at a rate selected by the user. 
     
     
         16 . The controller device according to  claim 12 , wherein the category information associated with the accessory device includes policy information associated with installation of the firmware update. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions configured to cause one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 displaying, on a display of a controller device, a firmware configuration interface for configuring an accessory device, wherein the controller device is configured to execute an accessory update service that enables firmware updates for the accessory device;   determining, by the controller device, category information associated with the accessory device;   based at least in part on the determined category information associated with the accessory device, determining, by the controller device, configuration parameters of the accessory device that are configurable by a user;   displaying, on the firmware configuration interface, the determined configuration parameters that are configurable by the user;   receiving, via the firmware configuration interface, the configuration parameters configured by the user;   downloading, by the accessory update service of the controller device, the firmware update for the accessory device based at least in part on the configuration parameters configured by the user;   transmitting, by the accessory update service of the controller device, the firmware update to the accessory device based at least in part on the configuration parameters configured by the user; and   instructing, by the controller device, the accessory device to install the firmware update based at least in part on the received configuration parameters.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 17 , wherein the category information associated with the accessory device includes high-security accessory device category information and low-security accessory device category information. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 17 , wherein in accordance with the configuration parameters including an automatic firmware update, displaying on the firmware configuration interface, time parameters for downloading the firmware update. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 19 , wherein the time parameters include a trickle feed parameter for installing the firmware update, wherein a trickle feed enables updating of the firmware at a rate selected by the user. 
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 17 , wherein the category information associated with the accessory device includes policy information associated with installation of the firmware update.