Lightweight Device Update Protocol for OTA Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Resource-constrained devices face challenges with over-the-air updates due to limited bandwidth, CPU power, and flash memory, as well as inefficient protocols that increase data overhead and require higher network resources.
Innovation Solution
A device proxy computing apparatus is introduced to segment updates into smaller data segments, using a lightweight device update protocol (LWDUP) for efficient and secure communication, which dynamically adjusts to network conditions and reduces overhead by acting as an intermediary between the content server and the client device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional OTA update protocols (OMA-DM, OMA-DL) are used, then update delivery can be achieved, but data overhead increases and resource consumption exceeds device capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the update process into multiple phases: update announcement phase (server notifies device of available updates), update acceptance phase (device requests and server confirms update parameters), and update delivery phase (actual firmware transfer). This segmentation allows optimization of data transmission by separating control signaling from bulk data transfer, reducing protocol overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an update server as an intermediary between the device and the firmware source. The server handles protocol complexity, manages update announcements, coordinates delivery parameters, and buffers firmware transfers. This intermediary absorbs protocol overhead and simplifies device-side implementation, reducing resource consumption.
2Productivity
If frequent OTA updates are implemented, then device maintainability improves, but network bandwidth and processing resources are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic update announcements where the server notifies devices of available updates at scheduled intervals rather than continuously. Devices can enter low-power states between announcements, reducing network activity and energy consumption while maintaining ability to receive updates when available.
Solution Approach 2:
The server performs preliminary actions by announcing update availability and coordinating delivery parameters before actual firmware transfer. This allows devices to prepare resources in advance and enables batched delivery scheduling, optimizing network utilization and reducing peak bandwidth requirements.
3Reliability
If data transmission security is enhanced, then update reliability improves, but bandwidth requirements and processing capability increase beyond device limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts security-critical functions from the resource-constrained device and relocates them to the more capable update server. The server handles authentication, encryption key management, and security protocol processing, while the device performs simpler verification operations. This extraction maintains security requirements while reducing device processing burden.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, devices, and non-transitory computer readable media optimize an over-the-air update include identifying initiation of an over-the-air update for a client computing device. The update is retrieved from a content server based on the identifying and utilizing a first protocol. The update to the client computing device is divided into a plurality of data segments which are sequentially downloaded utilizing a second protocol which is different from the first protocol.