IoT Update Delivery via Cellular Reachability Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
IoT devices, such as Cat-M1 devices, face challenges in receiving updates due to power-saving strategies that limit their reachability, leading to network resource wastage and increased risk of malfunction or hacking, as server devices attempt to deliver updates to devices that are not reachable for extended periods.
Innovation Solution
A device divides data structures into segments and sends them incrementally to reachable IoT devices connected to a base station, ensuring that each device receives a segment at a time, reducing network load and allowing for reliable delivery of critical updates like security patches and software upgrades.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If power-saving strategies (eDRX, PSM) are used to extend battery life, then energy efficiency is improved, but device reachability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The server device checks reachability information before attempting update delivery, and performs multiple delivery attempts during different paging windows. This preliminary checking and staged delivery approach ensures updates are delivered when devices are reachable while respecting their power-saving cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes periodic paging windows that align with eDRX cycles to deliver updates. The server device attempts delivery at multiple periodic intervals (different paging windows) until successful delivery, matching the periodic nature of power-saving device availability.
2Reliability
If update delivery attempts continue to unreachable devices, then update coverage is improved, but network resource waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses reachability information as feedback to determine whether to continue or stop delivery attempts. The server device monitors delivery success and reachability status, adjusting its delivery strategy based on this feedback to avoid wasting resources on permanently unreachable devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The server device performs a limited number of delivery attempts (partial action) rather than continuous excessive attempts. It delivers updates to reachable devices during specific paging windows and stops when unreachable, balancing coverage with resource conservation.
3Speed
If large update files are sent in single transmissions, then delivery speed is improved, but network overload increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides large update files into smaller segments or packets that can be transmitted incrementally during different paging windows. This segmentation reduces the burden on network devices during any single transmission while ensuring complete delivery over multiple intervals.
Data Source
AI summary
A device obtains a data structure from a computing device, and divides the data structure into data segments. The device obtains a list of user devices from the computing device and obtains, from one or more network devices, a respective location and a respective reachability of each user device. The device determines, based on the respective location of each user device, a set of user devices connected to a base station. The device determines a communication capability of the base station, and determines, based on the communication capability, a subset of the set of user devices and one or more sets of the data segments. The device sends, based on the respective reachability of each user device of the subset of user devices, the one or more sets of data segments to the subset of user devices via the base station.