Network Device Update Scheduling Based on User Behavior

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for updating network devices often disrupt user access to network connections during updates, either through automatic installation that interferes with network services or manual updates that are postponed, leaving devices vulnerable to security threats and performance issues.

Innovation Solution

A system that monitors user interactions with endpoint devices to predict periods when the user is unlikely to access the network and applies system updates at those times, minimizing disruption and ensuring timely security and performance enhancements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If automatic update installation is used, then system updates are applied timely, but network service availability is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupdate timelinessVSAvoidnetwork service availability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by monitoring user behavior patterns and predicting future periods when the user is unlikely to access the network. This advance preparation allows the system to schedule updates during these predicted idle periods, ensuring both timely updates and continuous network availability. The determination module proactively identifies optimal update windows before they are needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring user interactions with endpoint devices and using this information to adjust update scheduling. The system learns from actual user behavior patterns and refines its predictions of when users are unlikely to access the network, creating a closed-loop system that optimizes update timing based on real-world usage data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If manual update selection is used, then network service availability is maintained, but security vulnerabilities persist

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork service availabilityVSAvoidsecurity vulnerability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by automatically performing update installations without requiring user intervention. The determination module autonomously identifies optimal update times based on monitored user behavior patterns, and the system automatically applies updates during these periods. This eliminates the need for users to manually select update times while ensuring security updates are applied timely.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from continuous monitoring of user interactions to automatically adjust update scheduling. By analyzing user behavior patterns and predicting when users are unlikely to access the network, the system can autonomously determine the best times to apply security updates, ensuring both security maintenance and service availability without user involvement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of manufacture

If updates are applied during active network usage, then update installation is simplified, but user access is interfered with

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupdate installation simplicityVSAvoiduser access continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary monitoring of user behavior patterns to predict future periods when users are unlikely to access the network. By having this information prepared in advance, the system can automatically schedule and apply updates during these predicted idle periods without interfering with user access, maintaining both installation simplicity and user continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements dynamic scheduling by continuously adapting update timing based on real-time monitoring of user behavior patterns. Rather than using fixed schedules, the system dynamically adjusts update timing to match actual user usage patterns, ensuring updates are applied when users are naturally inactive while maintaining simple automated installation processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3455727B1Systems and methods for updating network devices
Publication Date: 2020.09.23 GEN DIGITAL INC
  • EP3455727B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3455727B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3455727B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The disclosed computer-implemented method for updating network devices may include (1) determining, by monitoring at least one endpoint device connected to a network device that provides a network connection for the endpoint device, periodic time intervals in which a user of the endpoint device is unlikely to access the network connection via the network device, (2) detecting that a system update is available for the network device that will impair the ability of the network device to provide the network connection for the endpoint device while being applied to the network device, (3) identifying, based on the periodic time intervals in which the user is unlikely to access the network connection, an optimal time at which to apply the available system update to the network device, then (4) applying the available system update to the network device at the optimal time.