Transport Layer Proxy for IoT Software Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems face challenges in efficiently delivering software updates to IoT devices over constrained networks, requiring methods that minimize network capacity expansion costs, maximize update success rates, and ensure minimal impact on other network users.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a transport layer proxy device that intercepts OTA traffic and applies a low priority transport protocol (LPT) to software updates, dynamically allocating bandwidth based on available network capacity and priority, allowing IoT manufacturers to control update campaigns without relying on network providers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If software updates are delivered over constrained networks using conventional methods, then update delivery is achieved, but network capacity is inefficiently utilized and congestion affects other network users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic bandwidth allocation where the available bandwidth for software updates is continuously adjusted based on current network conditions. The system monitors network capacity and dynamically modifies the bandwidth allocated to update traffic, allowing efficient utilization during low-congestion periods while preventing impact during high-congestion periods, thus resolving the contradiction between update delivery efficiency and network capacity utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the bandwidth parameter dynamically based on network conditions. By monitoring network capacity and adjusting the allocated bandwidth parameter in real-time, the system optimizes software update delivery efficiency while ensuring minimal impact on other network users, effectively resolving the contradiction between productivity and network resource consumption.
2Reliability
If network capacity is expanded to accommodate more software updates, then update success rate increases, but network infrastructure cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic bandwidth allocation that adapts to current network conditions rather than requiring static over-provisioning of network capacity. This dynamic approach allows the system to achieve high update success rates during low-congestion periods while avoiding the need for expensive network infrastructure expansion, as the system efficiently utilizes available capacity when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system self-regulates bandwidth allocation based on monitored network conditions, automatically adjusting update delivery parameters without requiring manual intervention or pre-configured infrastructure expansion. This self-service mechanism enables the system to achieve reliable updates using existing network capacity, eliminating the need for costly infrastructure expansion.
3Speed
If bandwidth is allocated to software updates, then update delivery speed increases, but impact on other network users increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the bandwidth allocated to software updates based on real-time network conditions. During periods of low network utilization, the system allocates higher bandwidth to accelerate update delivery. When network congestion is detected, the system automatically reduces bandwidth allocation to minimize impact on other users, thus resolving the contradiction between delivery speed and user impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the bandwidth parameter dynamically based on network conditions. By monitoring network capacity and adjusting the allocated bandwidth parameter in real-time, the system optimizes update delivery speed when possible while ensuring minimal disruption to other network users during high-congestion periods.
Data Source
AI summary
Software downloads to Internet of things (IoT) devices are facilitated over a constrained network. In one embodiment a method comprises monitoring, by a network device comprising a processor, data determined to have been sent to a device for transmission to the device via a radio access network device of a wireless communication network, and determining, by the network device, a type of traffic associated with the data. The method further includes based on a determination that the data comprises firmware and that the type of traffic is of a traffic priority that is lower than a defined traffic priority, applying, by the network device, a low priority transport protocol to the data, wherein the applying comprises associating protocol information with the data representative of the low priority transport protocol.