Utilizing a multi-system set configuration to update a utility node system set

• US 8,938,730 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2012
• Issued: 01/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: McDonald, Brett, Whitfield, Samuel Lee, Barrett, Gregory Shane, Guthrie, Kevin David, Collins, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Khatri, Anil
• Application Number:
  US13/717,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20140173580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 717 18-175, 709/203
• US Class Current: 717/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1433 during software upgrading
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A system set of a utility node device, such as a kernel and/or root file system, may be updated by utilizing a multi-system set configuration. For example, the multi-system set configuration may include a first system set that is generally configured to act as an “active” set, a second system set (e.g., “idle” set) that is configured to operate when the first system set is non-operational or in an “idle” state, and a third system set that is configured to operate when the first and second system sets are non-operational. During an update of a system set, an update package may be applied to the second “idle” system set, while the first “active” system set remains operational. The utility node device may comprise a smart utility meter, sensor, control device, transformer, switch, relay, or the like.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a node of a network, an update package from a head-end device of the network,

the update package including a plurality of update items for updating different versions of an idle operating system of the node and/or an active operating system of the node; and

updating, by the node, the idle operating system of the node by applying one or more update items of the plurality of update items to the idle operating system of the node while maintaining operation of the active operating system of the node, the one or more update items being applicable to updating a current version of the idle operating system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the active operating system and the idle operating system each include a kernel and a root file system.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon updating the idle operating system of the node, enabling the idle operating system of the node and determining whether operation of the idle operating system satisfies one or more operation criteria.

4. A node comprising:

a radio configured to receive an update package that includes a plurality of update items for updating different versions of a first system set and/or a second system set of the node;

one or more processors; and

memory communicatively coupled to the radio and the one or more processors, the memory storing one or more instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising;

updating the second system set of the node by applying one or more update items of the plurality of update items while the first system set manages operation of the node, the one or more update items being applicable to updating a current version of the second system set;

after the second system set has been updated, enabling the second system set to manage operation of the node; and

determining whether operation of the second system set satisfies one or more operation criteria.

5. The node of claim 4, wherein the first and second system sets each comprise a kernel and a root file system.

6. The node of claim 4, wherein the acts further comprise utilizing the first system set to collect consumption data while the second system set is being updated.

7. The node of claim 4, wherein the acts further comprise reverting to the first system set upon determining that operation of the second system set does not satisfy the one or more operation criteria.

8. The node of claim 7, wherein the acts further comprise:

upon reverting to the first system set, determining whether operation of the first system set satisfies one or more operation criteria; and

upon determining that operation of the first system set does not satisfy the one or more operation criteria, enabling a third system set to manage operation of the node, the third system set comprising a permanent system set that is unalterable by the node.

9. The node of claim 4, wherein the one or more update items that are applied comprise one or more delta files each containing a difference between two system set versions.

10. The node of claim 4, wherein the second system set of the node is updated version-by-version in a sequential manner.

11. One or more computer-readable storage media storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed, instruct one or more processors of a node to perform operations comprising:

receiving an update package from a head-end device of a network, the update package including a plurality of update items for updating different versions of a first system set of the node and/or a second system set of the node, the first system set being in an active state and the second system set being in an idle state, the first system set and the second system set each comprising data to operate the node; and

updating the second system set of the node by applying one or more update items of the plurality of update items to the second system set of the node while maintaining the first system set in the active state, the one or more update items being applicable to updating a current version of the second system set.

12. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise:

upon updating the second system set, setting the second system set to the active state and setting the first system set to the idle state; and

determining whether the second system set satisfies one or more operation criteria.

13. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise reporting to the head-end device whether the second system set satisfies the one or more operation criteria.

14. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise:

before updating the second system set of the node, storing back-up data that is common to the first and second system sets; and

in the event that the second system set does not satisfy the one or more operation criteria after the second system set is set to the active state, reverting to the first system set by setting the first system set to the active state and restoring the back-up data.

15. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise:

before updating the second system set of the node, clearing the second system set; and

copying the first system set to the second system set so that the second system set comprises a copy of the first system set.

16. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 11, wherein the update package is received from the head-end device through one or more other nodes of the network.