Intermediate Update Relay for Agentless IoT Device Patching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for updating end devices, such as drones and IoT devices, are hindered by the lack of sufficient processing resources and storage to execute an update agent, and require pre-deployment of update agents, which complicates manufacturing and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A communal computing device communicates with end devices to obtain metadata, selects an appropriate update server, and updates the devices with the necessary code, either using a delta or full version, without the need for a pre-installed update agent, thereby reducing resource requirements and simplifying the update process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an update agent is pre-deployed on each end device, then the device can autonomously perform updates, but the device requires additional processing resources and storage capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The update agent functionality is extracted from the end device and relocated to a remote server. The end device only retains minimal update client software, while the complex update management, metadata processing, and update execution are performed remotely by the server, thereby reducing the resource burden on the end device.
Solution Approach 2:
A remote update server acts as an intermediary between the end device and the update source. The server retrieves update metadata, selects appropriate updates, and manages the update process, allowing the end device to perform updates without having a full update agent installed locally.
2Reliability
If multiple update servers are used, then update availability and reliability are improved, but the complexity of selecting the appropriate server increases
Solution Approach 1:
The update server system performs self-selection based on metadata. Each server publishes its capabilities and supported device types in metadata, and the update client automatically matches the device characteristics with the appropriate server without requiring complex manual selection logic or hierarchical decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses metadata parameters (device type, update type, server capabilities) to dynamically select the appropriate server. This parameter-based matching simplifies the selection process compared to complex hierarchical or manual selection mechanisms.
3Loss of substance
If delta updates are used instead of full updates, then the amount of data transferred is reduced, but additional processing is required to apply the delta
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial updates (delta updates) instead of complete updates. Only the necessary portions of the update are transferred and applied to the end device, reducing data transfer requirements while the server handles the complexity of delta generation and application.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a system for updating each of a plurality of mobile devices, comprising: at least one processor executing a code for: obtaining metadata from an end device without an updating agent deployed thereon, selecting an update server from a plurality of update servers according to the metadata, obtaining, from the update server, an indication of update code for installation on the end device, and updating the end device with the update code.