Updating Electronic Devices Using a Push Model

a push model and electronic device technology, applied in the field of electronic device updating, can solve the problems of inability to facilitate user-mediated updating, inability to adapt to user-mediated updating, and inability to update associated devices

Inactive Publication Date: 2017-05-18
ACUMERA
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent describes a system and method for updating electronic devices using a push model. The system includes a processor and memory medium, and the method involves selecting a set of target devices for an update and determining which devices are compatible with the update based on rules. The update can be any type of software or firmware modification, and the system can present a GUI for user input to override the determination of target devices. The technical effects of this patent include improved efficiency and accuracy in updating electronic devices with relevant updates, as well as improved compatibility and user control over the update process.

Problems solved by technology

However, there are disadvantages to the “pull model” approach.
For example, a user of a device may not be timely in initiating such an update after an update notification, and thus, the associated device may remain vulnerable to some newly discovered threat against which a timely update may have protected the device.
As another example, particularly regarding the IOT, electronic devices increasingly operate on a machine-to-machine basis, where many (or even most) machines do not have an associated direct user, but rather, interact with, and operate primarily (or even exclusively) with respect to, other machines, and thus do not lend themselves to user mediated updating, e.g., stationary routers, gasoline storage tanks, remote instruments, thermostats, and so forth.

Method used

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Embodiment Construction

[0022]In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, one having ordinary skill in the art should recognize that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail to avoid obscuring the present invention.

[0023]FIG. 2 is an illustration of electronic device updating using a push model over a network, according to one embodiment. As may be seen, in FIG. 2 a device 100, e.g., a configuration device, e.g., a central configuration device, may be communicatively coupled over a network, such as the Internet, to a plurality of electronic devices 120, in this exemplary case, electronic devices 120A-120D. Note that the term “central configuration device” denotes any type of computing device that operates to provide updates to (i.e., to configure) multiple electronic devices, e.g., over a network, such as...

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PUM

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Abstract

Automatically updating electronic devices using a push model. A set of electronic devices may be selected for an update. A first plurality of devices of the set of devices for which the update is valid may be determined in accordance with a set of rules, e.g., safety check rules or business rules, where the determining is based on stored configuration information for each of the devices. Current configuration information and accessibility information may be received for each of the first plurality of devices, and based on the received current configuration information and accessibility information and the stored configuration information, a second plurality of devices of the set of devices for which the update is valid may be determined, where the second plurality is a subset of the first plurality. The update may be applied automatically to at least some of the second plurality of devices.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates to electronic device updating in general, and more particularly, to automatic updating of electronic devices using a push model.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART[0002]The modern proliferation of networked electronic devices, particularly the “Internet of Things” (IOT), e.g., machine to machine network interactions, and accelerated development cycles has resulted in an increase in firmware, software, or configuration updates, whereby the devices may be modified, e.g., to provide updated feature sets, correct bugs or other errors, and so forth, e.g., by a central entity.[0003]In typical electronic device (firmware, software, or configuration) updating approaches, a vendor or manufacturer informs devices (or users of such devices) that an update, e.g., a new version of the firmware, is available, and the devices (or endpoints) “come and get it” if they want it. In other words, the devices are updated via a “pull model”, where the devices ...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): H04L12/24H04L29/08G06F3/0484G06F9/445
CPCH04L41/22G06F8/65H04L67/12G06F3/04842H04L67/34H04L67/26H04L41/082H04W4/50H04W4/70H04L41/0886G06F3/048H04L67/55
InventorLLOYD, TIMOTHY F.PRESTON, MINDY C.BAXTER, MARGO A.STEWART, BRETT B.
OwnerACUMERA