IoT Firmware Update via Leader Device Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In IoT systems, updating firmware across multiple devices is inefficient due to high bandwidth requirements and physical distance, leading to long update times and system mismatches, as each device receives updates directly from a central platform.
Innovation Solution
The IoT platform identifies leader devices within regions and sends firmware updates to them, which then distribute updates to secondary devices using local communication networks, reducing the distance and bandwidth needed for updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If each IoT device receives firmware updates directly from the central platform, then update delivery is straightforward, but bandwidth requirements increase and update time becomes excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the update distribution system into hierarchical levels: central platform, gateway devices, and local IoT devices. The update payload is divided and distributed through multiple gateways simultaneously, reducing the bandwidth burden on any single communication channel while accelerating overall update speed.
Solution Approach 2:
Gateway devices serve as intermediaries between the central platform and local IoT devices. These gateways receive update payloads from the platform and relay them to connected devices, distributing the bandwidth requirement across multiple intermediaries rather than requiring direct high-bandwidth connections from every device to the platform.
2Loss of time
If firmware updates are sent to all devices simultaneously from the central platform, then update synchronization is achieved, but physical distance and communication delays cause long update times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the IoT system into geographic regions with local gateways. Updates are propagated in segments from the central platform to regional gateways, then to local devices, reducing the effective communication distance and enabling parallel update propagation across multiple regions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spatial dimension to update distribution by organizing devices into hierarchical regions with local gateways. Instead of a single centralized update wave, updates propagate through multiple spatial paths concurrently, reducing overall update time by utilizing parallel communication channels across different geographic locations.
3Device complexity
If the central platform maintains direct connection with every IoT device, then update management is simplified, but system complexity and communication overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments device management responsibilities between the central platform and local gateways. The platform manages gateway devices and distributes updates to them, while gateways handle local device registration, authentication, and update propagation, reducing the complexity of direct platform-device connections while maintaining update efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Gateway devices act as intermediary management nodes that handle local device registration, authentication, and update reception. This intermediary layer reduces the communication overhead between the central platform and individual devices, simplifying platform operations while maintaining efficient update distribution through the gateway network.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples include receiving determining a leader Internet of Things (IoT) device in a region, sending an instructions update to the leader IoT device, and sending an update token to a number of secondary IoT devices in the region. The update token comprises information for the secondary IoT devices to receive the instructions update from the leader IoT device. The leader IoT device is selected based on which of configurations of a plurality of IoT devices in the region fulfills a target capability.