A device group and its initialization configuration and software update method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device group and its initialization configuration and software update method. By randomly selecting a device in the device group as the initial host, performing initialization configuration or software update on it, and then establishing an east-west wireless connection using the SparkLink communication module, batch initialization and upgrade of other slave devices are achieved. The present invention utilizes the one-to-many reception characteristic of SparkLink communication to efficiently send configuration or update data to multiple slave devices simultaneously, thus solving the problem of device group management in an environment without a northbound network or with an unstable network.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of management and maintenance of device groups, and particularly to a method for initializing configuration and software updating of device groups. Background Art

[0002] Currently, many application scenarios require multiple devices to work together, such as monitoring systems, smart home devices, etc. In these scenarios, initialization configuration or software updating is required to ensure that they can communicate and cooperate correctly with other devices. However, in the case where a large number of device groups need to be connected to the grid simultaneously, traditional configuration methods may become ineffective.

[0003] There are mainly two traditional configuration methods as follows:

[0004] (1) On-site, a wired or wireless method is adopted to establish a one-to-one connection between a computer / mobile phone and other terminals and a single device, and initialize the configuration or update the software of the device. However, in the case of a large number of device deployments, this method has a huge workload and a large number of repetitive operations.

[0005] (2) Use a wired or wireless communication method to establish a connection with the monitoring platform in the north direction, and use the monitoring platform to batch issue initialization configuration or software updates to the device group. However, this method depends on a stable wired or wireless northbound communication. In the case of no northbound network connection or unstable northbound network connection, there will be problems with incorrect initialization configuration or software updating. Northbound network connection refers to the data transmission from the lower layer network (such as the access layer) to the upper layer network (such as the aggregation layer or core layer). For example, in a certain computer room, several cameras are deployed. There are usually a large number of electronic devices and metal structures in the computer room, and these factors may interfere with or block the transmission of wireless signals, resulting in an inability to establish a reliable network connection. In addition, in order to ensure the security of the data inside the computer room, sometimes measures are taken to isolate the inside of the computer room from the external network to prevent unauthorized access and attacks. In this scenario, it will be impossible to use the monitoring platform to batch issue initialization configuration or software updates to the camera group. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to propose a device group and a method for initializing its configuration and software updating, so as to solve the problems of a large number of repetitive operations and low efficiency when deploying, debugging or upgrading a large number of device groups simultaneously in the case of no northbound network connection or unstable northbound network connection.

[0007] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for initializing and configuring a device group and software updating. The device group includes multiple devices, each device is equipped with at least one SparkLink communication module, and each device has a unique identification code or network address; when the device is not initialized, the device is in a first state; the first state is a state where the device remains allowed to receive initialization configuration parameters; when the device is initialized, the device is in a second state; the second state is a state where the device remains operating normally and is allowed to receive software update data;

[0008] The method includes the following steps:

[0009] Randomly select a device as the initial host, and perform initialization configuration or software update on the initial host through wired or wireless means. At this time, the remaining devices are slaves of the initial host;

[0010] The initial host establishes an east-west wireless connection with multiple slaves through the SparkLink communication module, and queries the identification codes or network addresses and device statuses of the multiple slaves;

[0011] Based on the one-to-many transmission characteristic of SparkLink communication, the initial host simultaneously sends initialization configuration data or software update data to multiple slaves according to the identification codes or network addresses and device statuses of the multiple slaves;

[0012] After receiving the initialization configuration data or software update data sent by the initial host, the multiple slaves perform initialization configuration or software update according to the initialization configuration data or software update data.

[0013] Preferably, the method further includes:

[0014] The slave that has completed receiving the initialization configuration data or software update data is converted into a new host, establishes an east-west wireless connection with other slaves through the SparkLink communication module, queries the identification codes or network addresses and device statuses of other slaves, and sends initialization configuration data or software update data to other slaves according to the identification codes or network addresses and device statuses of other slaves, so as to realize the initialization configuration and software update covering all devices in the device group in a chain propagation manner.

[0015] Preferably, the method further includes:

[0016] The device newly added to the device group automatically serves as a slave, receives the initialization configuration data or software update data of the neighboring host, and performs initialization configuration or software update according to the initialization configuration data or software update data.

[0017] Preferably, the method further includes:

[0018] When a device newly added to a device group compares the software version of the received software update data with its own software version, if the software version of the received software update data is newer, it performs software update according to the received software update data. If its own software version is newer, the device newly added to the device group automatically becomes a new host, and at this time, other devices act as slaves of the new host, triggering reverse synchronization updates for other devices within the device group. The new host establishes east-west wireless connections with multiple slaves through a SparkLink communication module, queries the identification codes or network addresses and device statuses of the multiple slaves, and based on the one-to-many reception characteristic of SparkLink communication, sends software update data to the multiple slaves according to the identification codes or network addresses and device statuses of the multiple slaves.

[0019] Preferably, the method further includes:

[0020] The host of the device group detects whether there is a device newly added to the device group. If so, it queries the identification code or network address and device status of the device newly added to the device group. If so, it sends initialization configuration data or software update data to the device newly added to the device group according to the identification code or network address and device status of the device newly added to the device group.

[0021] Preferably, based on the one-to-many reception characteristic of SparkLink communication, the host simultaneously sends initialization configuration data or software update data to multiple slaves according to the identification codes or network addresses and device statuses of the multiple slaves, including:

[0022] When the device status of a slave is the first status, the host sends initialization configuration data to the slave according to the identification code or network address of the slave;

[0023] When the device status of a slave is the second status, the host queries the software version of the slave. If the software version of the slave is newer than the host software version, it sends software update data to the slave according to the identification code or network address of the slave; otherwise, it does not send software update data to the slave.

[0024] The present invention also provides a device group, which includes multiple devices. Each device is equipped with at least one SparkLink communication module, and each device has a unique identification code or network address;

[0025] Each device includes a first status and a second status; when the device is not initialized, the device is in the first status; the first status is the status in which the device remains allowed to receive initialization configuration parameters; when the multiple devices are initialized, the multiple devices are in the second status; the second status is the status in which the device remains in normal operation and is allowed to receive software update data;

[0026] When the device is used as an initial host, it receives initialization configuration data or software update data from a user by wire or wirelessly, and performs initialization configuration or software update according to the initialization configuration data or software update data. At this time, the remaining devices act as slaves of the host.

[0027] The initial host is used to establish an east-west wireless connection with multiple slaves through a SparkLink communication module, query the identification codes or network addresses and device statuses of the multiple slaves, and based on the one-to-many reception characteristic of SparkLink communication, send initialization configuration data or software update data to the multiple slaves simultaneously according to the identification codes or network addresses and device statuses of the multiple slaves.

[0028] The slave is used to perform initialization configuration or software update according to the initialization configuration data or software update data after receiving the initialization configuration data or software update data sent by the initial host.

[0029] Preferably, after receiving the initialization configuration data or software update data, the slave is automatically converted into a new host, establishes an east-west wireless connection with other slaves through a SparkLink communication module, queries the identification codes or network addresses and device statuses of the other slaves, and sends initialization configuration data or software update data to the other slaves according to the identification codes or network addresses and device statuses of the other slaves, so as to realize the initialization configuration and software update of all devices in the device group in a chain propagation manner.

[0030] Preferably, new devices are allowed to join the device group; the devices newly joined to the device group automatically act as slaves and are used to receive the initialization configuration data or software update data of the neighboring host. The devices newly joined to the device group are used to compare the software version of the received software update data with their own software version. If the software version of the received software update data is newer, software update is performed according to the received software update data. If their own software version is newer, the devices newly joined to the device group are automatically converted into new hosts. At this time, other devices act as slaves of the new host, triggering reverse synchronization updates of other devices in the device group. The new host establishes an east-west wireless connection with multiple slaves through a SparkLink communication module, queries the identification codes or network addresses and device statuses of the multiple slaves, and based on the one-to-many reception characteristic of SparkLink communication, sends software update data to the multiple slaves according to the identification codes or network addresses and device statuses of the multiple slaves.

[0031] Preferably, when the device status of the slave is the first state, the host sends initialization configuration data to the slave according to the identification code or network address of the slave; when the device status of the slave is the second state, the software version of the slave is queried. If the software version of the slave is newer than the host software version, software update data is sent to the slave according to the identification code or network address of the slave, otherwise, no software update data is sent to the slave.

[0032] An equipment group and its initialization configuration and software update method proposed by the present invention have the following beneficial effects:

[0033] (1) The present invention adopts a decentralized initialization configuration. By randomly selecting a device as the initial host and performing initialization configuration or software update on it, while the remaining devices act as slaves, there is no longer a need for centralized configuration through a monitoring platform, reducing the need for northbound network connections.

[0034] (2) Each device in the equipment group is equipped with at least one SparkLink communication module, which supports east-west wireless connection, that is, direct communication between devices. This allows a stable wireless connection to be established between the initial host and the slaves, and communication can be maintained even in a network environment with interference or isolation.

[0035] (3) Traditional configuration methods require establishing one-to-one connections with each device. In the present invention, once the initial host is configured, it can utilize the one-to-many receiving feature of the SparkLink communication module to simultaneously send initialization configuration data or software update data to multiple slaves, greatly reducing repetitive operations.

[0036] (4) In the present invention, devices are divided into two states according to whether they have been initialized. The initial host can identify the states of the slaves and decide whether to send initialization configuration data or software update data based on the states, which improves the pertinence and efficiency of configuration and update.

[0037] In summary, the present invention provides an efficient and reliable method for initializing the configuration and updating the software of an equipment group, which is particularly suitable for environments without northbound network connections or with unstable northbound network connections, and realizes the rapid deployment and upgrade of the equipment group. Description of the Drawings

[0038] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required in the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the following drawings are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative efforts.

[0039] Figure 1 It is a flowchart of a method for initializing the configuration and updating the software of an equipment group in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Embodiments

[0040] The detailed description of the drawings is intended as an illustration of the current embodiments of the present invention, rather than representing the only form in which the present invention can be implemented. It should be understood that the same or equivalent functions can be accomplished by different embodiments intended to be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0041] An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for initializing the configuration and software updating of a group of devices. The group of devices includes multiple devices, each device is equipped with at least one SparkLink communication module, and each device has a unique identification code or network address. When the device is not initialized, the device is in a first state. The first state is a state in which the device remains allowed to receive initialization configuration parameters. When the device is initialized, the device is in a second state. The second state is a state in which the device remains in normal operation and is allowed to receive software update data.

[0042] The method includes the following steps:

[0043] Step S10, randomly select a device as the initial host, and perform initialization configuration or software update on the initial host by wired or wireless means. At this time, the remaining devices are slaves of the initial host.

[0044] Specifically, randomly select a device as the initial host in the group of devices. This can avoid relying on a specific device for initialization configuration and increase the flexibility of the system. Configure the initial host by wired or wireless means, which can be a manual operation, such as configuring through a USB connection to a computer, or sending configuration instructions through a wireless network.

[0045] In an example, assume there is a monitoring system composed of 100 cameras. First, randomly select a camera (for example, numbered #45) as the initial host, and then connect it to the camera by wire through a laptop carried by the staff for initialization configuration.

[0046] Step S20, the initial host establishes an east-west wireless connection with multiple slaves through the SparkLink communication module, and queries the identification codes or network addresses and device statuses of the multiple slaves.

[0047] Specifically, the SparkLink communication module is a technology that supports point-to-multipoint communication, allowing a device to communicate with multiple devices simultaneously. The initial host uses the SparkLink communication module to establish a wireless connection with multiple slaves. Without passing through a centralized network structure, after the wireless connection, the initial host queries the identification codes or network addresses and device statuses of the multiple slaves to determine which devices need initialization configuration and which devices only need software update.

[0048] In one example, camera #45 acts as the initial host and broadcasts a query request through the SparkLink communication module. After other cameras receive the query, they return their unique identification codes (such as MAC addresses) and current status (uninitialized or initialized).

[0049] Step S30: Based on the one-to-many communication feature of SparkLink, the initial host simultaneously sends initialization configuration data or software update data to multiple slave devices according to the identification codes or network addresses and device statuses of the multiple slave devices.

[0050] Specifically, the one-to-many communication feature allows the initial host to send data to multiple slave devices at one time, improving the efficiency of configuration and update. According to the status of the slave devices, the initial host sends corresponding data packets. Uninitialized devices receive initialization configuration data, and initialized devices receive software update data.

[0051] In one example, camera #45 sends initialization configuration data to all uninitialized cameras according to the query results, and at the same time sends software update data to all initialized cameras.

[0052] Step S40: After receiving the initialization configuration data or software update data sent by the initial host, multiple slave devices perform initialization configuration or software update according to the initialization configuration data or software update data.

[0053] Specifically, each slave device performs corresponding operations according to the data type after receiving the initialization configuration data or software update data; if it is initialization configuration data, it performs initialization configuration; if it is software update data, it performs software update. In this way, all devices can complete configuration and update without a northbound network connection.

[0054] In one example, after receiving the initialization configuration data, an uninitialized camera starts to set network parameters, time synchronization, etc.; after receiving the software update data, an initialized camera starts to install a new firmware version.

[0055] Based on the above method steps, the method of this embodiment has the following advantages:

[0056] (1) The method of this embodiment adopts decentralized initialization configuration. By randomly selecting a device as the initial host to perform initialization configuration or software update, and the remaining devices as slave devices, there is no longer a need for centralized configuration through a monitoring platform, reducing the need for northbound network connections.

[0057] (2) Each device in the device group is equipped with at least one SparkLink communication module, which supports east-west wireless connection, that is, direct communication between devices. This allows a stable wireless connection to be established between the initial host and the slave devices, and communication can be maintained even in an interfered or isolated network environment.

[0058] (3) Traditional configuration methods require establishing one-to-one connections with each device. In the method of this embodiment, once the initial host is configured, it can utilize the one-to-many reception characteristic of the SparkLink communication module to simultaneously send initialization configuration data or software update data to multiple slave devices, greatly reducing repetitive operations.

[0059] (4) In the method of this embodiment, devices are divided into two states according to whether they have been initialized. The initial host can identify the states of the slave devices and decide whether to send initialization configuration data or software update data based on the states, which improves the pertinence and efficiency of configuration and update.

[0060] In summary, the method of this embodiment provides an efficient and reliable method for initializing the configuration and software update of a device group, which is particularly suitable for environments without a northbound network connection or with an unstable northbound network connection, and realizes the rapid deployment and upgrade of the device group.

[0061] In some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0062] The slave device that has completed receiving the initialization configuration data or software update data is converted into a new host, establishes an east-west wireless connection with other slave devices through the SparkLink communication module, queries the identification codes or network addresses and device states of other slave devices, and sends initialization configuration data or software update data to other slave devices according to the identification codes or network addresses and device states of other slave devices, so as to realize the initialization configuration and software update covering all devices in the device group in a chain propagation manner.

[0063] Specifically, the one-to-many reception characteristic of the SparkLink communication module allows a host to simultaneously send data to multiple slave devices, but its sending ability still has limitations. For example, factors such as the maximum concurrent connection number, transmission distance, and signal strength will all affect the number of slave devices that the host can communicate with simultaneously.

[0064] For example, if the design limit of a SparkLink communication module is that it can communicate with at most 10 slave devices simultaneously, then when there are more than 10 slave devices in the device group, the initial host cannot establish connections with all slave devices at one time. In practical applications, the device group may contain hundreds or thousands of devices. For example, there may be hundreds of cameras in a large-scale monitoring system, and there may be countless sensors and actuators in a smart home system. In this case, the sending ability of a single host is far from meeting the requirement of configuring or updating all slave devices at one time.

[0065] To solve this problem, the method of this embodiment further adopts a chain propagation mechanism, and the specific working principle is as follows:

[0066] The initial host first configures or updates the slaves within its sending range, and then one (or several) of these configured or updated slaves becomes a new host and continues to operate on the next batch of slaves. In this way, each new host can configure or update the slaves in its vicinity, thus gradually expanding to the entire device group.

[0067] In one example, assume that a SparkLink communication module can communicate with a maximum of 10 slaves simultaneously, and there are 100 slaves in the device group. The initial host first establishes connections with the first batch of 10 slaves and completes the configuration or update. Then, one of these 10 slaves becomes a new host and continues to establish connections with the next batch of 10 slaves. This cycle continues until all 100 slaves have completed the configuration or update. Through this chain propagation method, even though the sending capacity of a single host is limited, it can effectively achieve the configuration and update of a large number of devices, thus solving the problem of mismatch between the sending capacity and the scale of the device group, ensuring that the initialization configuration and software update of the entire device group can be carried out efficiently and orderly. Even in the case of no northbound network connection or unstable northbound network connection, this method is particularly suitable for large-scale device deployment because it reduces the burden on individual devices and improves the configuration and update efficiency of the entire network.

[0068] In some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0069] A device newly added to the device group automatically acts as a slave, receives the initialization configuration data or software update data from the neighboring host, and performs initialization configuration or software update according to the initialization configuration data or software update data.

[0070] Specifically, the method of this embodiment allows a device newly added to the device group to automatically integrate into the existing network and receive the necessary initialization configuration data or software update data. Specifically, when a new device joins an existing device group, it may not be initialized or may need software update. This new device will automatically enter the slave mode because it needs to obtain the necessary initialization configuration data or software update data from the existing device group.

[0071] In one example, the new device acts as a slave. It will start listening for or searching for nearby hosts, which are devices that have completed the initialization configuration or software update. As a slave, the purpose of the new device is to receive initialization configuration data or software update data from the host. Once the new device identifies a nearby host, it will attempt to establish a wireless connection with the host. After establishing the connection, the new device will receive initialization configuration data (such as network settings, time synchronization, security parameters, etc.) or software update data (such as firmware update packages) from the nearby host. After receiving the data, the new device will perform initialization configuration or software update according to these data.

[0072] In one example, assume that a new camera is added to a deployed monitoring system. After the new camera is powered on, it automatically enters the slave mode and starts searching for nearby hosts. It finds a master camera that has been initialized and is running normally. The new camera establishes a wireless connection with the master camera and receives initialization configuration data and software update data. After receiving these data, the new camera performs initialization configuration and updates its software, thus successfully integrating into the monitoring system.

[0073] The advantage of this mechanism in this embodiment is that it simplifies the process of adding new devices, and the configuration and update can be automatically completed without manual intervention; it ensures that new devices can quickly cooperate with existing device groups, improving the flexibility and scalability of the entire system; it reduces the problems of network interruption or configuration inconsistency that may be caused by the addition of new devices.

[0074] In some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0075] The device newly added to the device group compares the software version of the received software update data with its own software version. If the software version of the received software update data is newer, it will perform software update according to the received software update data. If its own software version is newer, the device newly added to the device group will automatically become a new host. At this time, other devices act as slaves of the new host, triggering reverse synchronization updates of other devices within the device group. The new host establishes east-west wireless connections with multiple slaves through the SparkLink communication module, queries the identification codes or network addresses and device statuses of the multiple slaves, and based on the one-to-many transmission characteristic of SparkLink communication, sends software update data to the multiple slaves according to the identification codes or network addresses and device statuses of the multiple slaves.

[0076] Specifically, this embodiment proposes an intelligent software version control and update mechanism that allows devices newly added to a device group to determine their roles and behaviors based on the newness of the software version. Specifically, after a device newly added to a device group receives software update data from a neighboring host, it will first compare the software version in the update data with the software version currently running on itself. The purpose of the version comparison is to determine whether the new device needs to be updated or whether it has an updated software version.

[0077] If the version of the received software update data is newer, the new device will update its software according to this data to ensure software version consistency with other devices in the group; if the software version of the new device is newer, it means that the new device has an updated software version and it does not need to be updated but can become the new host because the user also performed initialization configuration and software update when adding the new device to the device group.

[0078] When the software version of the new device is newer, it will automatically become the new host. This conversion is based on the fact that the software version of the new device may contain important functional updates or security patches that need to be promoted to the entire device group. Other devices will become slaves of the new host at this time and are ready to receive updates from the new host. The new host triggers reverse synchronization updates for other devices within the device group, that is, the original host and other slaves now need to receive software updates from the new host. This reverse synchronization ensures that the software version of the entire device group is up-to-date.

[0079] At this time, the new host is equivalent to performing the functions of the initial host. Similarly, the new host establishes east-west wireless connections with multiple slaves through the SparkLink communication module and queries the identification codes or network addresses and device statuses of the slaves; then, leveraging the one-to-many transmission feature of SparkLink communication, the new host simultaneously sends software update data to multiple slaves based on the identification codes or network addresses and device statuses of the slaves.

[0080] In an example, assume that a smart home company launches a new smart thermostat that comes with a new version of firmware V3.0; when a new thermostat is installed in a smart home system that is already running the old version V2.5, the following situations exist:

[0081] The new thermostat joins the network and receives firmware update data of version V2.5 from an existing host (e.g., an already initialized smart bulb); the new thermostat compares the versions and finds that the V3.0 version it carries is newer; the new thermostat automatically switches to the new host, and the original smart bulb and other devices become slaves; the new thermostat establishes a wireless connection with all slaves through the XingFlash communication module and queries their identification codes or network addresses and device statuses; the new thermostat uses the one-to-many transmission feature of XingFlash communication to send firmware update data of version V3.0 to all slaves; all slaves receive the update data and perform firmware upgrades to ensure that the entire smart home system runs the latest software version.

[0082] The advantage of this mechanism in this embodiment is that it ensures that the device group always runs the latest software version, improving the overall performance and security of the system; through intelligent version comparison, self-optimization and self-update of the device group are achieved, especially in the absence of external network support.

[0083] In some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0084] The host of the device group detects whether there is a device newly joining the device group. If so, it queries the identification code or network address and device status of the device newly joining the device group. If so, it sends initialization configuration data or software update data to the device newly joining the device group according to the identification code or network address and device status of the device newly joining the device group.

[0085] Specifically, in this embodiment, the host device is responsible for monitoring the network to detect whether there is a new device attempting to join the device group. The detection can be achieved in various ways, such as listening for specific signals on the network or using network discovery protocols; when the host detects a new device, it queries the identification code or network address and device status of the new device. The identification code or network address is used to uniquely identify the device in the network, and the device status tells the host whether the device has been initialized or requires a software update; the host sends the necessary initialization configuration data or software update data to the newly added device according to the queried information; the initialization configuration data may include network settings, security authentication, time synchronization, etc., while the software update data contains the latest firmware or software version.

[0086] In an example, assume there is a smart home system that includes multiple smart sockets that can remotely control electrical appliances. The following is the process of a new smart socket joining the device group:

[0087] When a new smart socket is installed and powered on, it sends a signal to join the network through the NearLink communication module. The host in the device group (e.g., a pre-configured smart socket or a central control unit) detects this signal and identifies that a new device is attempting to join. The host queries the MAC address (identification code) and device status of the new socket and finds that it is an uninitialized device. The host will send initialization configuration data to the new socket based on its MAC address, including the SSID and password of the home Wi-Fi network, time synchronization information, and coordination parameters with other smart devices in the home. If the software version of the new socket is not the latest, the host will also send the latest firmware update. After receiving these data, the new socket performs network configuration and firmware update, successfully joins the smart home system, and can start remotely controlling the electrical appliances connected to it. In summary, the automated device joining and configuration process in this embodiment greatly simplifies the deployment and maintenance of the smart home system, ensuring that new devices can quickly and seamlessly integrate into the existing network.

[0088] In some embodiments, based on the one-to-many reception feature of NearLink communication, the host simultaneously sends initialization configuration data or software update data to multiple slaves according to the identification codes or network addresses and device statuses of the multiple slaves, including:

[0089] When the device status of a slave is the first status, the host sends initialization configuration data to the slave according to the identification code or network address of the slave;

[0090] When the device status of a slave is the second status, the host queries the software version of the slave. If the software version of the slave is newer than the host software version, the host sends software update data to the slave according to the identification code or network address of the slave; otherwise, the host does not send software update data to the slave.

[0091] Specifically, this embodiment describes how the host utilizes the one-to-many reception feature of NearLink communication to selectively send initialization configuration data or software update data to slaves according to the different statuses and version information of the slaves. Specifically, the one-to-many reception feature of NearLink communication allows the host to send data to multiple slaves at once without establishing a connection with each slave individually, thereby improving the efficiency and range of data transmission.

[0092] The host will check the device status of each slave and decide what data to send based on the status; the first status usually means that the device has not been initialized and needs to receive initialization configuration data; the second status may mean that the device has been initialized but may need a software update; when the slave is in the second status, the host will query the software version of the slave; if the software version of the slave is older, the host will send software update data to it; if the software version of the slave is newer or the same as the host, the host will not send software update data to avoid unnecessary updates and potential compatibility issues.

[0093] In one example, assume there is a system consisting of multiple smart door locks, which can be managed through a central control unit (host); when newly installed smart door locks join the network, they are in the first state, i.e., the uninitialized state; the host detects these new door locks and confirms that their device state is the first state; the host sends initialization configuration data to them according to the MAC addresses of the new door locks, including security keys, time synchronization settings, and door lock permission configurations; on the other hand, some initialized door locks may be in the second state, i.e., they are already configured but may require software updates; the host queries the software versions of these door locks and finds that the software version of one door lock is V1.2 while the software version of the host is V1.3; the host determines that the software version of the door lock is older and thus sends software update data of version V1.3 to it according to the MAC address of the door lock; the door lock that receives the update data performs a firmware upgrade, while other door locks with the latest or higher software versions will not receive the update data; in this way, the host can efficiently manage the entire smart door lock system, ensuring that each door lock is correctly configured and updated while avoiding unnecessary operations.

[0094] Corresponding to the method of the above embodiment, another embodiment of the present invention further provides a device group, which includes multiple devices, each device is equipped with at least one SparkLink communication module, and each device has a unique identification code or network address;

[0095] Each device includes a first state and a second state; when the device is uninitialized, the device is in the first state; the first state is the state where the device remains allowed to receive initialization configuration parameters; when the multiple devices are initialized, the multiple devices are in the second state; the second state is the state where the device remains in normal operation and is allowed to receive software update data;

[0096] The device is used to receive the initialization configuration data or software update data of the user by wire or wirelessly when it serves as the initial host, and perform initialization configuration or software update according to the initialization configuration data or software update data. At this time, the remaining devices serve as slaves of this host;

[0097] The initial host is used to establish an east-west wireless connection with multiple slaves through the SparkLink communication module, query the identification codes or network addresses and device states of the multiple slaves, and based on the one-to-many transmission characteristic of SparkLink communication, send the initialization configuration data or software update data to the multiple slaves simultaneously according to the identification codes or network addresses and device states of the multiple slaves;

[0098] The slave device is configured to perform initialization configuration or software update according to the initialization configuration data or software update data after receiving the initialization configuration data or software update data sent by the initial host device.

[0099] In some embodiments, after receiving the initialization configuration data or software update data, the slave device is configured to automatically become a new host device, establish a west-east wireless connection with other slave devices through the SparkLink communication module, query the identification codes or network addresses and device statuses of other slave devices, and send the initialization configuration data or software update data to other slave devices according to the identification codes or network addresses and device statuses of other slave devices, so as to achieve the initialization configuration and software update of all devices in the device group in a chain propagation manner.

[0100] In some embodiments, new devices are allowed to join the device group; the devices newly joined to the device group automatically act as slave devices and are configured to receive the initialization configuration data or software update data from the neighboring host device. The devices newly joined to the device group are configured to compare the software version of the received software update data with their own software version. If the software version of the received software update data is newer, the software update is performed according to the received software update data. If their own software version is newer, the devices newly joined to the device group automatically become new host devices. At this time, other devices act as slave devices of the new host device, triggering the reverse synchronization update of other devices in the device group. The new host device establishes a west-east wireless connection with multiple slave devices through the SparkLink communication module, queries the identification codes or network addresses and device statuses of the multiple slave devices, and based on the one-to-many reception characteristic of the SparkLink communication, sends the software update data to the multiple slave devices according to the identification codes or network addresses and device statuses of the multiple slave devices.

[0101] In some embodiments, the host device is configured to send the initialization configuration data to the slave device according to the identification code or network address of the slave device when the device status of the slave device is the first status; when the device status of the slave device is the second status, query the software version of the slave device. If the software version of the slave device is newer than the software version of the host device, send the software update data to the slave device according to the identification code or network address of the slave device; otherwise, do not send the software update data to the slave device.

[0102] It should be noted that the working principle of the device group in this embodiment can be obtained by referring to the initialization and update methods of the above embodiments, so it will not be elaborated in this embodiment.

[0103] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. The above description is exemplary and not exhaustive, and is also not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The choice of terms used herein is intended to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application, or the improvement of technologies in the market, or to enable other ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A device group initialization configuration and software update method, characterized in that: The device group includes multiple devices, each device is equipped with at least one Star Flash communication module, and each device has a unique identification code or network address; when the device is not initialized, the device is in a first state; the first state is a state in which the device remains allowed to receive initialization configuration parameters; when the device is initialized, the device is in a second state; the second state is a state in which the device remains in normal operation and allows receiving software update data; The method comprises the following steps: Randomly select a device as the initial host, and perform initial configuration or software update on the initial host via wired or wireless means. At this time, the remaining devices act as slaves of the initial host. The initial host establishes an east-west wireless connection with multiple slaves through the Star Flash communication module, and queries the identification codes or network addresses and device status of multiple slaves; Based on the characteristic of Star Flash communication that one sends and multiple receives, the initial host sends initialization configuration data or software update data to multiple slaves at the same time according to the identification codes or network addresses and device status of multiple slaves; After receiving the initialization configuration data or software update data sent by the initial host, the multiple slaves perform initialization configuration or software update according to the initialization configuration data or software update data; The slave that completes the reception of initialization configuration data or software update data becomes the new master, establishes an east-west wireless connection with other slaves through the Star Flash communication module, queries the identification codes or network addresses and device status of other slaves, and sends initialization configuration data or software update data to other slaves based on the identification codes or network addresses and device status of other slaves, thereby realizing the initialization configuration and software update of all devices in the device group in a chain propagation manner.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The method further comprises: A device newly added to the device group automatically acts as a slave, receives initialization configuration data or software update data from a neighboring host, and performs initialization configuration or software update according to the initialization configuration data or software update data.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The method further comprises: The device newly added to the device group compares the software version of the received software update data with its own software version. If the software version of the received software update data is newer, the software is updated according to the received software update data. If its own software version is newer, the device newly added to the device group automatically becomes the new host. At this time, other devices act as slaves of the new host, triggering reverse synchronization updates of other devices in the device group. The new host establishes an east-west wireless connection with multiple slaves through the Star Flash communication module, queries the identification codes or network addresses and device status of multiple slaves, and based on the one-send-multiple-receive feature of Star Flash communication, sends software update data to multiple slaves according to the identification codes or network addresses and device status of multiple slaves.

4. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that: The method further comprises: The host of the device group detects whether there is a new device added to the device group. If so, it queries the identification code or network address and device status of the device newly added to the device group. If so, it sends initialization configuration data or software update data to the newly added device group based on the identification code or network address and device status of the device newly added to the device group.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that Based on the characteristic of Star Flash communication of sending multiple messages at once, the host sends initialization configuration data or software update data to multiple slaves at the same time according to the identification codes or network addresses and device status of multiple slaves, including: When the device state of the slave is the first state, the host sends initialization configuration data to the slave according to the identification code or network address of the slave; When the device state of the slave is the second state, the host queries the software version of the slave. If the software version of the slave is newer than that of the host, the host sends software update data to the slave according to the identification code or network address of the slave. Otherwise, the host does not send software update data to the slave.

6. A device group, characterized in that: The device group includes a plurality of devices, each of which is equipped with at least one Starflash communication module, and each of which has a unique identification code or network address; Each device includes a first state and a second state; when the device is not initialized, the device is in the first state; the first state is a state in which the device maintains a state in which initialization configuration parameters are allowed to be received; when the multiple devices are initialized, the multiple devices are in the second state; the second state is a state in which the device maintains normal operation and allows the reception of software update data; The device is used to receive the user's initial configuration data or software update data by wired or wireless means when it acts as an initial host, and perform initial configuration or software update according to the initial configuration data or software update data, and the remaining devices act as slaves of the host; The initial host is used to establish an east-west wireless connection with multiple slaves through the Star Flash communication module, query the identification codes or network addresses and device status of multiple slaves, and based on the one-send-multiple-receive feature of Star Flash communication, send initialization configuration data or software update data to multiple slaves at the same time according to the identification codes or network addresses and device status of multiple slaves; The slave is used to perform initialization configuration or software update according to the initialization configuration data or software update data after receiving the initialization configuration data or software update data sent by the initial host; The slave machine is used to automatically become a new master machine after completing the reception of initialization configuration data or software update data, establish an east-west wireless connection with other slave machines through the Star Flash communication module, query the identification code or network address and device status of other slave machines, and send initialization configuration data or software update data to other slave machines according to the identification code or network address and device status of other slave machines, so as to realize the initialization configuration and software update of all devices in the device group in a chain propagation manner.

7. The device group according to claim 6, characterized in that: The device group allows new devices to be added; the device newly added to the device group automatically acts as a slave to receive initialization configuration data or software update data from a neighboring host. The device newly added to the device group is used to compare the software version of the received software update data with its own software version. If the software version of the received software update data is newer, the software is updated according to the received software update data. If its own software version is newer, the device newly added to the device group automatically becomes a new host. At this time, other devices act as slaves of the new host, triggering reverse synchronization updates of other devices in the device group. The new host establishes an east-west wireless connection with multiple slaves through the Star Flash communication module, queries the identification codes or network addresses and device status of multiple slaves, and based on the one-send-and-multiple-receive feature of Star Flash communication, sends software update data to multiple slaves according to the identification codes or network addresses and device status of multiple slaves.

8. The device group according to any one of claims 6 to 7, characterized in that: The host is used to send initialization configuration data to the slave according to the identification code or network address of the slave when the device state of the slave is the first state; when the device state of the slave is the second state, query the software version of the slave, if the software version of the slave is newer than the software version of the host, send software update data to the slave according to the identification code or network address of the slave, otherwise, do not send software update data to the slave.

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