Robotic system for updating devices

{
  "publication_number": "US9889559B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Robotic system for updating devices",
  "abstract": "In one embodiment the present disclosure provides a robotic updating apparatus that includes mapping circuitry to provide movement instructions, the mapping circuitry including map data; wherein the map data includes a defined area for the robotic updating apparatus; movement circuitry to receive the movement instructions and to control movement of the robotic apparatus within the defined area; wherein movement is based on, at least in part, the movement instructions; device discovery circuitry to discover at least one target device within the defined area; and update circuitry to provide update for at least one target device; wherein the device discovery circuitry also to communicate the update to the at least one target device.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A robotic updating apparatus comprising: mapping circuitry to provide movement instructions, the mapping circuitry including map data; wherein the map data includes a defined area for the robotic updating apparatus; movement circuitry to receive the movement instructions and to control movement of the robotic apparatus within the defined area; wherein movement is based on, at least in part, the movement instructions; device discovery circuitry to discover at least one target device within the defined area, wherein the discovery includes determining at least a type of updatable firmware in the at least one target device; and update circuitry to provide update for at least one target device; wherein the device discovery circuitry also to communicate the update to the at least one target device, wherein the update includes firmware instructions to update the firmware for at least one of a security, functionality or performance enhancements for the at least one target device.",
    "2. The robotic updating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a network communication circuitry to communicate with at least one network server to obtain at least one of the map data or data associated with the update.",
    "3. The robotic updating apparatus of claim 1, wherein device discovery circuitry includes local communications circuitry to discover and communicate with the at least one target device using a Near Field Communication (NFC) communications protocol; wherein the NFC communications protocol to detect signals associated with the operation of the at least one target device.",
    "4. The robotic updating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising power source circuitry to provide power, at least in part, to the movement circuitry.",
    "5. The robotic updating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one target device includes a rechargeable energy source and the update includes a transfer of energy to recharge the rechargeable energy source of the at least one target device.",
    "6. The robotic updating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device discovery circuitry also to determine at least one of a type of updatable firmware associated with the at least one target device, manufacturer information associated with the at least one target device, or battery state information associated with the at least one target device.",
    "7. The robotic updating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device discovery circuitry to detect the at least one target device using at least one of infrared detection, radio frequency detection or optical detection.",
    "8. A method for updating at least one target device in a defined area, comprising: moving a robot within the defined area; discovering, by the robot, the at least one target device, wherein the discovering includes determining at least a type of updatable firmware in the at least one target device; providing, by the robot, an update to the at least one target device, wherein the update includes firmware instructions to update the firmware for at least one of a security, functionality or performance enhancements for the at least one target device; and augmenting map data of the defined area to include information associated with the location of the discovered target device and information associated with the update communicated to the discovered target device.",
    "9. The method of claim 8, wherein the discovering includes detecting, by the robot, signals from an updatable system engine associated with the at least one target device.",
    "10. The method of claim 8, wherein the discovering includes detecting, by the robot, the at least one target device using at least one of infrared detection, radio frequency detection or optical detection.",
    "11. The method of claim 8, wherein movement of the robot within the defined area is based on random movement.",
    "12. The method of claim 8, wherein movement of the robot is based on coordinates of the at least one target device included with the map data.",
    "13. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining the status of the discovered target device after the update data is communicated to the discovered target device.",
    "14. The method of claim 8, further comprising communicating with at least one network server to obtain the map data and data associated with the update.",
    "15. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one target device includes a rechargeable energy source and the update includes a transfer of energy to recharge the rechargeable energy source of the at least one target device.",
    "16. A robotic update system, comprising: a robot including: mapping circuitry to provide movement instructions, the mapping circuitry including map data; wherein the map data includes a defined area for the robot; movement circuitry to receive the movement instructions and to control movement of the robot within the defined area; wherein movement is based on, at least in part, the movement instructions; device discovery circuitry to discover at least one target device within the defined area, wherein the discovery includes determining at least a type of updatable firmware in the at least one target device; update circuitry to provide update for at least one target device wherein the update includes firmware instructions to update the firmware for at least one of a security, functionality or performance enhancements for the at least one target device wherein the device discovery circuitry is also to communicate the update to the at least one target device; and power source circuitry to provide power to the mapping circuitry, movement circuitry, update circuitry and local communications circuitry; and a base station to couple to the robot to provide, at least in part, recharging of the power source circuitry.",
    "17. The system of claim 16, wherein the discovering includes detecting, by the robot, signals from an updatable system engine associated with the at least one target device.",
    "18. The system of claim 16, further comprising a network communication circuitry to communicate with at least one network server to obtain the map data or data associated with update.",
    "19. The system of claim 16, wherein device discovery circuitry includes local communications circuitry to discover and communicate with the at least one target device using a Near Field Communication (NFC) communications protocol; wherein the NFC communications protocol to detect signals associated with the operation of the at least one target device.",
    "20. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one target device includes a rechargeable energy source and the update includes a transfer of energy to recharge the rechargeable energy source of the at least one target device.",
    "21. The system of claim 16, wherein the device discovery circuitry to detect the at least one target device using at least one of infrared detection, radio frequency detection or optical detection."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates to a robotic system for updating devices.\n\nAs it is expected that the number of connected Internet of Things (IoT) devices will grow, the cost and efficacy considerations are likely going to dictate that many embedded devices will never have permanent connectivity - often because they have to run on a battery or other limited energy source (e.g. solar, wind, water flow, etc.). These devices may contain critical bugs, they can be compromised, etc., and it is therefore important that they receive firmware/software updates. For unconnected embedded devices (like toasters, plant watering devices, valves, locks, etc.) or those designed to only provide one-way upstream communications (like weather records, various meters/sensors, etc.) the problem of updating may become critical. For example, a battery-operated lock may have a security problem which may be fixed via a firmware update. Or a robotic vacuum may get a software update to improve the cleaning algorithms and prolong per-charge cleaning cycles. Or an electric meter may use outdated cryptography functions which must be refreshed to maintain confidentiality.\n\nMany modern system-on-chip (SoC) designs (for example, SoC suppliers like Samsung (http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/news-events/press-releases/detail?newsId=13741), Texas Instruments (http://www.ti.com/product/trf7970A), etc.) contain a CPU with a flash storage updateable via near-field communications (NFC).",
  "cpc": [
    "H04W 4/50",
    "B25J 9/161",
    "B25J 9/1664",
    "B64C 39/024",
    "B64U 10/13",
    "B64U 2101/30",
    "B64U 50/37",
    "H04L 67/18",
    "H04L 67/34",
    "H04L 67/52",
    "H04W 4/001",
    "H04W 4/008",
    "H04W 4/021",
    "H04W 4/80",
    "Y10S 901/06",
    "Y10S 901/09"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B25J 9/16",
    "B64C 39/02",
    "G05B 19/04",
    "G05B 19/18",
    "G06F 19/00",
    "H04L 29/08",
    "H04W 4/021",
    "H04W 4/50",
    "H04W 4/80"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Intel Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Igor Muttik"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2015-06-26",
  "publication_date": "2018-02-13",
  "grant_date": "2018-02-13",
  "priority_date": "2015-06-26",
  "application_number": "US-201514751228-A",
  "family_id": "57600849",
  "cited_by_count": 3,
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}