Network Device Software Update via Targeted Package Selection

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing operating system update methods for network devices often involve downloading large software bundles that include unnecessary packages, leading to increased time and resource consumption due to the inclusion of irrelevant updates across different router models and operating system versions.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that utilizes an update initiation file to identify device-specific details, determining and downloading only the necessary packages for the update, thereby avoiding the installation of irrelevant packages by referencing external links or URLs specific to the device's hardware and software configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If all packages are included in the software bundle for updates, then all router models and operating system versions can achieve the desired update, but the download time and resource consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility across router modelsVSAvoiddownload time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The software bundle is segmented into device-specific packages based on router model and operating system version. The update initiation file contains metadata that identifies which packages are relevant to each specific device type, allowing the system to divide the comprehensive update into smaller, targeted portions that can be downloaded and installed selectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts only the necessary packages from the comprehensive software bundle based on device-specific details. By comparing the router's model and operating system version against the metadata in the update initiation file, the system extracts and downloads only the relevant packages, leaving out unnecessary ones while maintaining update compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If all packages are included in the software bundle for updates, then all router models and operating system versions can achieve the desired update, but the resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility across router modelsVSAvoidresource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The software bundle is segmented into device-specific packages based on router model and operating system version. The update initiation file contains metadata that identifies which packages are relevant to each specific device type, allowing the system to divide the comprehensive update into smaller, targeted portions that can be downloaded and installed selectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts only the necessary packages from the comprehensive software bundle based on device-specific details. By comparing the router's model and operating system version against the metadata in the update initiation file, the system extracts and downloads only the relevant packages, leaving out unnecessary ones while maintaining update compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Loss of time

If device-specific package selection is implemented, then download time and resource consumption are reduced, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedownload timeVSAvoidupdate process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The update initiation file is prepared in advance with embedded metadata that maps router models and operating system versions to the appropriate packages. This preliminary organization of update information allows the system to quickly determine which packages are needed without complex runtime analysis, reducing the perceived complexity during the actual update process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary update initiation file that acts as a mediator between the comprehensive software bundle and the specific router device. This intermediary file contains the logic and metadata necessary to determine package relevance, simplifying the decision-making process by centralizing the selection logic in a standardized format rather than requiring complex device-side analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10579361B1Systems and methods for efficiently updating software installed on network devices

Publication Date: 2020.03.03 JUNIPER NETWORKS INC

AI summary

The disclosed computer-implemented method may include (1) obtaining an update initiation file that facilitates updating an operating system installed on a network device by way of one or more packages that (A) are external to the update initiation file and (B) have yet to be downloaded to the network device, (2) identifying certain device-specific details about the network device that influence which packages are necessary to achieve the update, (3) determining, based at least in part on the update initiation file and the certain device-specific details, the packages that are necessary to achieve the update, (4) downloading the necessary packages by way of one or more links included in the update initiation file, and then (5) updating the operating system by installing the necessary packages downloaded by way of the links included in the update initiation file. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.