Service Delivery Platform for Software Update Distribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for distributing software updates face challenges such as scalability, security, interoperability, and resource minimization, particularly in machine-to-machine communication, where devices have intermittent connectivity and heterogeneity.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize a service delivery platform to receive and store device states, including version information, to determine a candidate device list for software updates without direct communication with each device, using a software update manager and persistent storage to manage software updates efficiently across diverse devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If direct communication with each device is used to determine update applicability, then device state information can be obtained accurately, but communication overhead and device resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The service delivery platform receives and stores device state information (including version information) in advance before update distribution. This preliminary action allows the platform to have device state data ready when updates need to be distributed, eliminating the need for real-time communication with each device during the update determination process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates and maintains a copy of device state information on the service delivery platform. Instead of querying each device directly, the platform uses stored copies of device states (including version information) to determine update applicability, significantly reducing communication overhead while maintaining information accuracy.
2Productivity
If software updates are distributed to large populations of diverse devices, then update coverage increases, but system complexity and interoperability challenges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The service delivery platform is designed as a universal system that can handle diverse device types, versions, and configurations through a single interface. The platform stores and processes device state information in a standardized manner, enabling it to manage updates across homogeneous and heterogeneous device populations without requiring device-specific complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The service delivery platform acts as an intermediary between update sources and diverse devices. It receives device state information from various devices, processes update applicability centrally, and manages the distribution process, thereby shielding the complexity of device diversity from both the update source and individual devices.
3Use of energy by moving object
If device resource requirements are minimized for update determination, then device power consumption and computing capacity usage decrease, but update applicability determination accuracy may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the computationally intensive update determination logic from the devices and relocates it to the service delivery platform. Devices only need to provide their state information (a minimal resource operation) while the platform performs the complex analysis of update applicability, minimizing device resource requirements while maintaining determination accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Devices send their state information to the service delivery platform, which then autonomously determines update applicability without requiring devices to perform complex local analysis. This self-service approach allows devices to minimize their resource usage while the platform handles the sophisticated determination process centrally.
4Use of energy by moving object
If intermittent connectivity is handled by periodic platform access, then devices can maintain low power consumption, but update distribution efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The service delivery platform performs update eligibility determination in advance using stored device state information, before devices need to connect for update retrieval. This preliminary action allows the platform to prepare update packages or eligibility lists ahead of time, so when devices do connect (even intermittently), the update distribution can proceed efficiently without requiring repeated connectivity cycles.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for distributing software updates may receive one or more device states associated with the one or more devices at a service delivery platform separate from the one or more devices where each of the one or more device states includes version information. Store the one or more device states persistently. Receive a software update configuration at the service delivery platform. Receive one or more software update files at the service delivery platform associated with the software update configuration. Determine a candidate device list utilizing the software update configuration and the information contained in the one or more device states, the candidate device list containing references to one or more targeted devices, of the one or more devices, targeted to receive the software update. The software update manager may examine each of the relevant device states as specified in the software update configuration one by one.