Charging Station Update Network for Low-Connectivity Radio Fleets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Frontline workers face challenges with traditional radios that are fragile, difficult to use in dirty environments, and require additional devices for communication, while smart radio devices struggle with expensive software updates and limited connectivity in challenging environments.
Innovation Solution
A charging station update platform with a network of charging stations that store and distribute software updates locally, using wired, wireless, and machine-to-machine protocols, enabling reliable and redundant update pathways even in environments with limited Internet access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If software updates are pushed to smart radio devices via mobile network or Internet, then devices can be updated remotely, but data storage and transmission costs become excessively expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the update distribution system into multiple charging station banks distributed across different locations. Each station bank stores updates locally and distributes them to devices in its vicinity, eliminating the need for all devices to download updates simultaneously over expensive mobile networks. This segmentation reduces overall data transmission costs while maintaining remote update capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging station banks act as intermediary nodes between the central server and wireless devices. Instead of direct communication between devices and the central server over expensive mobile networks, updates flow through the charging station banks that have cheaper or alternative connectivity options. This intermediary approach reduces data transmission costs while preserving update distribution functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If smart radio devices are deployed to challenging communication environments, then workers can communicate in remote locations, but reliable software update delivery becomes difficult due to limited Wi-Fi or Internet access
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-loading software updates onto multiple charging station banks before deployment to remote locations. This ensures that when devices are in the field, updates are already available at distributed charging stations, eliminating the need for real-time Internet connectivity during the update process and ensuring reliable delivery even in remote locations with limited connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the connectivity parameter from requiring continuous high-speed Internet access to accepting various connectivity levels at charging stations. By allowing charging station banks to update via multiple protocols and connection types (including offline methods), the system adapts to challenging environments while maintaining update reliability.
3Productivity
If a large number of wireless devices are updated simultaneously over the network, then all devices receive updates efficiently, but data storage and transmission resources are overwhelmed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large-scale update distribution task into smaller segments handled by multiple charging station banks. Each station bank manages a subset of devices locally, distributing updates in parallel across the network. This segmentation allows efficient updates of many devices simultaneously without overwhelming central data storage and transmission resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-dimension centralized update model to a multi-dimensional distributed model. Instead of all devices communicating with a single central server, updates flow through multiple charging station banks at different locations, creating a distributed update architecture that scales resources across spatial dimensions rather than concentrating demand at a single point.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatuses, and systems for a charging station update platform are disclosed. A host server transmits software update data to a local network comprised of a charging station bank and one or more wireless devices. Depending on the local area network configuration and/or the communication environment, the software update data is downloaded by one or more wireless devices. The one or more wireless devices subsequently transmit the software update data to the charging station bank, which then transmits the update data to corresponding wireless devices. Alternatively, the charging station bank downloads the software update data directly from the host server and transmits the software update to the one or more wireless devices, and/or the other charging station banks in a charging station network.