Methods and systems for providing updates to and receiving data from devices having short range wireless communication capabilities
First Claim
1. A method for providing a software update package (SUP) to an Internet of Things (IoT) device via a user'"'"'s communication device (UCD), the method comprising:
- the UCD automatically discovering that the SUP needs to be provided to the IoT device;
the UCD obtaining the SUP from a software administration server (SAS);
the UCD transmitting the obtained SUP to the IoT device using a first short range wireless signal;
after transmitting the SUP to the IoT device, the UCD receiving confirmation data transmitted wirelessly by the IoT device using a second short range wireless signal, wherein the confirmation data includes a digital signature generated by the IoT device using a private key and a checksum of the SUP, the confirmation data confirming that the IoT device received the SUP;
updating software of the IoT device using the SUP; and
the UCD transmitting the confirmation data to the SAS, wherein the SAS is located remotely from the UCD;
wherein the step of automatically discovering that the SUP needs to be provided to the IoT device comprises;
the UCD automatically broadcasting a device discovery message;
the UCD receiving from the IoT device a response message transmitted by the IoT device in response to the device discovery message, the response message comprising a device identifier allocated to the IoT device;
the UCD transmitting to the SAS the device identifier allocated to the IoT device in response to receiving the response message from the IoT device; and
the UCD receiving from the SAS a software update message comprising information indicating that the IoT device requires a software update.
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Abstract
A method for providing a software update package (SUP) to an Internet of Things (IoT) device via a user'"'"'s communication device (UCD) is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method includes the UCD automatically discovering that a SUP needs to be provided to the IoT device. The UCD obtains the needed SUP from a software administration server (SAS). The UCD transmits the SUP to the IoT device using a first short range wireless signal. After transmitting the SUP to the IoT device, the UCD receives confirmation data transmitted wirelessly by the IoT device using a second short range wireless signal. The confirmation data confirms that the IoT device received the SUP. The UCD transmits the confirmation data to the SAS. The SAS may verify the confirmation data and, if verified, provide a reward to the user of the UCD. In this way, crowd sourcing can be used to provide SUPs to many IoT devices.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for providing a software update package (SUP) to an Internet of Things (IoT) device via a user'"'"'s communication device (UCD), the method comprising:
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the UCD automatically discovering that the SUP needs to be provided to the IoT device; the UCD obtaining the SUP from a software administration server (SAS); the UCD transmitting the obtained SUP to the IoT device using a first short range wireless signal; after transmitting the SUP to the IoT device, the UCD receiving confirmation data transmitted wirelessly by the IoT device using a second short range wireless signal, wherein the confirmation data includes a digital signature generated by the IoT device using a private key and a checksum of the SUP, the confirmation data confirming that the IoT device received the SUP; updating software of the IoT device using the SUP; and the UCD transmitting the confirmation data to the SAS, wherein the SAS is located remotely from the UCD; wherein the step of automatically discovering that the SUP needs to be provided to the IoT device comprises; the UCD automatically broadcasting a device discovery message; the UCD receiving from the IoT device a response message transmitted by the IoT device in response to the device discovery message, the response message comprising a device identifier allocated to the IoT device; the UCD transmitting to the SAS the device identifier allocated to the IoT device in response to receiving the response message from the IoT device; and the UCD receiving from the SAS a software update message comprising information indicating that the IoT device requires a software update. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A user'"'"'s communication device (UCD) for providing a software update package (SUP) to an Internet of Things (IoT) device, the UCD comprising:
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a first transceiver;
a second transceiver; and
a computer system, wherein the computer system is configured to;automatically discover that the SUP needs to be provided to the IoT device by broadcasting a device discovery message and receiving from the IoT device a response message transmitted by the IoT device in response to the device discovery message, the response message comprising a device identifier allocated to the IoT device; employ the first transceiver to transmit to a software administration server (SAS) the device identifier allocated to the IoT device in response to receiving the response message; employ the first transceiver to obtain the SUP from the SAS located remotely from the UCD; employ the second transceiver to transmit the obtained SUP to the IoT device using a first short range wireless signal; and employ the first transceiver to transmit, to the SAS, confirmation data transmitted wirelessly by the IoT device using a second short range wireless signal and received by the UCD via the second transceiver, wherein the confirmation data includes a digital signature generated by the IoT device using a private key and a checksum of the SUP, the confirmation data confirming that the IoT device received the SUP; and update software of the IoT device using the SUP. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method for a software administration server (SAS) to provide a software update package (SUP) to an Internet of Things (IoT) device via a user'"'"'s communication device (UCD), the method comprising:
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the UCD automatically discovering that the SUP needs to be provided to the IoT device by broadcasting a device discovery message and receiving from the IoT device a response message transmitted by the IoT device in response to the device discovery message, the response message comprising a device identifier allocated to the IoT device; the UCD transmitting to the SAS the device identifier allocated to the IoT device in response to receiving the response message from the IoT device; the UCD receiving from the SAS, a software update message comprising information Indicating that the IoT device requires a software update; the UCD obtaining the SUP from the SAS, which is located remotely from the UCD; the UCD transmitting the obtained SUP to the IoT device using a first short range wireless signal; after transmitting the SUP to the IoT device, the UCD receiving confirmation data transmitted wirelessly by the IoT device using a second short range wireless signal, wherein the confirmation data includes a digital signature generated by the IoT device using a private key and a checksum of the SUP, the confirmation data confirming that the IoT device received the SUP; updating software of the IoT device using the SUP; the UCD transmitting the confirmation data to the SAS; the SAS verifying the digital signature; and the SAS providing a reward to a user of the UCD as a result of verifying the digital signature.
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13. A system for providing a software update package (SUP) to an Internet of Things (IoT) device, the system comprising:
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a software administration server (SAS); and a user'"'"'s communication device (UCD) comprising a processor and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising computer readable Instructions which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to; automatically discover that the SUP needs to be provided to the IoT device by broadcasting a device discovery message and receiving from the IoT device a response message transmitted by the IoT device in response to the device discovery message, the response message comprising a device identifier allocated to the IoT device; transmit, to the SAS, the device identifier allocated to the IoT device, in response to receiving the response message from the IoT device; obtain the SUP from the SAS, which is located remotely from the UCD; transmit the SUP to the IoT device using a first short range wireless signal; after transmitting the SUP to the IoT device, receive confirmation data transmitted wirelessly by the IoT device using a second short range wireless signal, the confirmation data confirming that the IoT device received the SUP; transmit the confirmation data to the SAS, wherein the confirmation data includes a digital signature generated by the IoT device using a private key and a checksum of the SUP; and updating software of the IoT device using the SUP; wherein the SAS is configured to;
verify the digital signature; andprovide a reward to a user of the UCD as a result of verifying the digital signature.
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Specification