Analyte Receiver Firmware Updates via Smartphone Relay
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Low-power medical devices without wide area networking capabilities face challenges in updating software or firmware, leading to missed updates and increased user burden, especially for those unfamiliar with technology.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method to bundle software or firmware updates with application updates for data receiving devices using short-range wireless communication, such as Bluetooth or NFC, allowing updates to be transmitted from a computing device to the medical device without wide-area networking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If low-power medical devices forgo wide area networking capabilities to reduce cost and improve battery longevity, then device cost and energy efficiency are improved, but the ability to automatically update software and firmware is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a computing device (smartphone or tablet) as an intermediary to facilitate firmware updates for the low-power medical device. The computing device has wide area networking capabilities to download updates from remote servers, then transmits them to the medical device via short-range wireless communication. This intermediary approach allows the medical device to receive updates without needing its own wide area networking hardware, thus maintaining low power consumption while enabling automatic update capability.
2Device complexity
If low-power medical devices forgo wide area networking capabilities to reduce component complexity, then device complexity is reduced, but the automation of update processes is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The computing device serves as an intermediary that performs the automated update download and transmission functions. The medical device itself remains simple without wide area networking components, while the intermediary computing device handles the complex automated update process, including receiving notifications from remote servers, downloading updates, and transmitting them to the medical device via short-range communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The computing device performs multiple functions: it acts as a remote control for the medical device, serves as an update download station via wide area networking, functions as a communication bridge using short-range wireless, and provides user interface capabilities. This multi-functionality allows a single device to replace what would otherwise require separate specialized components in the medical device itself.
3Reliability
If manual update processes are used for medical devices without wide area networking, then update transmission is possible, but user burden and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The computing device performs preliminary actions by automatically downloading firmware updates from remote servers before they are needed by the medical device. When an update is available, the computing device retrieves it in advance and stores it locally, then automatically transmits it to the medical device when connected via short-range wireless communication. This eliminates the need for users to manually initiate update processes at the medical device.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the computing device receives notifications from remote servers about available updates, automatically downloads them, and monitors the transmission status to the medical device. The medical device also provides feedback by confirming receipt and successful installation of updates. This automated feedback loop ensures reliable update delivery without requiring user intervention or monitoring.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates simplified and automated software or firmware updates for low-power medical devices, ensuring timely updates and reducing user intervention, while maintaining device functionality.
Implementation Method 1
The computing device transmits the software or firmware update for the data receiving device to the data receiving device through the short-range wireless communication session with the data receiving device
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments described herein include a method and system for updating a data receiving device for an analyte sensor by a computing device. The method includes receiving, by the computing device, an application update package including an update for an application installed on the computing device and a software or firmware update for the data receiving device. The application and the software or firmware are configured to communicate with or process data from the analyte sensor. The method includes establishing, by the computing device, a short-range wireless communication session with the data receiving device. The method includes transmitting, by the computing device, the software or firmware update for the data receiving device to the data receiving device through the short-range wireless communication session with the data receiving device. The method includes receiving, by the computing device, confirmation of installation of the software or firmware update by the data receiving device.