Value-Added Manufacturer's Role In Iridium Certus Over-the-Air Updates
Iridium Value-Added Manufacturers (VAMs) are responsible for approving or rejecting Iridium® firmware releases for Over-the-Air (OTA) update to their products. To do this, Iridium VAMs must test new firmware versions against their field application/device software and hardware to ensure changes do not affect the operation of their devices. Once tested, with favorable results, the VAM will approve the use of each transceiver firmware release for each of their tested field application firmware versions and models. Iridium will then update the OTA system with this approval and will manage the dissemination of each firmware release to the approved devices.
Initially, it is the VAM’s responsibility to update their application software to support the API enhancements related to OTA. These changes include the application providing the transceiver with Model and Software Version information so the Iridium OTA system may manage the OTA firmware dissemination functions. These changes will require a tethered update to the VAM software and Iridium firmware in order for OTA to function properly and completely.
Where VAMs have contractual relationships with subscribers, they will be responsible for notifying subscribers of pending OTA updates and obtaining subscriber authorization, using the same processes as Iridium Service Providers (SPs).
Iridium will specify the form and method through which VAMs provide information about individual OTA update approvals.
