Firmware download

Abstract

Disclosed are apparatus and methodology subject matters for upgrading firmware associated with one or more metrology devices and adjunct devices. Methods are disclosed for broadcast transmission of portions of a firmware image file from an originating device over a network connecting multiple devices to be upgraded. The entire image file may be transmitted as segments to be assembled by the end devices. Broadcast segments not properly received from the originating device may be retried directly from the originating device or from neighbors correctly receiving the segment. A viral propagation methodology is disclosed as an alternative to portions of the broadcast methodology.

1 . A method for downloading a firmware image through a network to a plurality of network devices, comprising:
 establishing a network including a central facility and a plurality of end devices;   configuring the network for bi-directional communications between the central facility and each of the plurality of end devices;   notifying selected of the plurality of end device of a pending firmware image download;   broadcasting the firmware image download as a series of individual fragments;   establishing communications between the central facility and the selected plurality of end devices; and   determining whether all of the fragments of the firmware image download have been accurately received.   
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 establishing communications includes establishing point-to-point communications from the central facility to each of the selected plurality of end devices; and   notifying comprises transmitting information from the central facility to selected of the plurality of end devices regarding the amount of data to be transmitted and the checksum for the data.   
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 establishing communications includes establishing point-to-point communications from the central facility to each of the selected plurality of end devices; and   broadcasting comprises broadcasting the series of individual fragments independently of fragment sequence.   
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said step of establishing communications includes establishing point-to-point communications from the central facility to each of the selected plurality of end devices; and   said method further comprises retransmitting individual fragments until the end device has accurately received all transmitted fragments.   
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 4 , further comprising configuring the network end devices to assemble the individual fragments in accordance with the original firmware image. 
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 establishing communications includes establishing point-to-point communications from the central facility to each of the selected plurality of end devices; and   establishing a network further includes:
 providing at least one cell relay; and 
 configuring the network such that bi-directional communication between the central facility and selected of the plurality of end devices passes through the at least one cell relay; 
   whereby bi-directional communication between the central facility and selected of the plurality of end devices is conducted by way of the cell relay while bi-directional communication between the central facility and others of the plurality of end devices is conducted directly.   
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 6 , further comprising:
 configuring the at least one cell relay to transmit previously received individual fragments of the firmware image to selected of the plurality of end devices;   whereby individual fragments of the firmware image may be transmitted virally among portions of the network independently of any other network communications.   
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 configuring selected of the plurality of end devices to transmit previously received individual fragments of the firmware image to others of the plurality of end devices;   whereby individual fragments of the firmware image may be transmitted virally among portions of the network independently of other network communications.   
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said step of establishing communications includes establishing point-to-point communications from the central facility to each of the selected plurality of end devices; and   said method further comprises configuring selected of the plurality of network end devices to relay bi-directional communications between the central facility and others of the plurality of network end devices.   
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 9 , further comprising:
 configuring selected of the plurality of end devices to transmit previously received individual fragments of the firmware image to others of the plurality of end devices;   whereby individual fragments of the firmware image may be transmitted virally among portions of the network independently of any other network communications.   
     
     
         11 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 establishing communications includes establishing point-to-point communications from the central facility to each of the selected plurality of end devices; and   notifying comprises notifying selected of the plurality of end devices of a pending firmware image download of a first type.   
     
     
         12 . A method as in  claim 11 , wherein notifying further comprises:
 notifying selected others of the plurality of end device of a pending firmware image download of a second type;   whereby different end devices requiring different firmware image types may receive appropriate firmware images by way of the same network.   
     
     
         13 . A method as in  claim 11 , further comprising configuring selected of the plurality of network end devices to relay bi-directional communications between the central facility and others of the plurality of network end devices. 
     
     
         14 . A method as in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 configuring selected of the plurality of end devices to transmit previously received individual fragments of a firmware image to others of the plurality of end devices;   whereby individual fragments of a firmware image may be transmitted virally among portions of the network independently of the image type.   
     
     
         15 . A method as in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 providing at least one cell relay;   configuring the at least one cell relay to transmit previously received individual fragments of a firmware image to selected of the plurality of end devices;   whereby individual fragments of a firmware image may be transmitted virally among portions of the network independently of the image type.   
     
     
         16 . A method as in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 configuring selected of the plurality of end devices to transmit previously received individual fragments of a firmware image to others of the plurality of end devices;   whereby individual fragments of a firmware image may be transmitted virally among portions of the network independently of the image type.   
     
     
         17 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said step of establishing communications includes establishing point-to-point communications from the central facility to each of the selected plurality of end devices; and   said method further comprises broadcasting the firmware image download a predetermined number of times prior to establishing point-to-point communications from the central facility to each of the selected plurality of end devices.   
     
     
         18 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein establishing a network comprises:
 establishing a network including a central facility comprising an update server and a collection engine: and   providing a plurality of utility meters as end devices;   wherein the plurality of utility meters are configured to transmit acknowledgement of receipt of individual fragments as a portion of a response to an interrogation cycle from the collection engine.   
     
     
         19 . An advanced metering system including apparatus for upgrading firmware of one or more metrology devices and adjunct devices configured in common association, comprising:
 a plurality of end devices, at least some of which end devices comprise metrology devices; and   a network including a central facility comprising an update server and a collection engine, said collection engine including an orchestration manager for distributing metrology device data communications functionality, and said network being configured for bi-directional communications between said central facility and each of said plurality of end devices, and configured so as to notify selected of said plurality of said end devices of a pending firmware image download, broadcast said firmware image download as a series of individual fragments, establish communications between said central facility and said selected plurality of said end devices, and determine whether all of said individual fragments of said firmware image download have been accurately received.   
     
     
         20 . An advanced metering system as in  claim 19 , wherein:
 said collection engine is configured for conducting an interrogation cycle with said metrology devices; and   said metrology devices respectively comprise a plurality of utility meters configured to transmit acknowledgement of receipt of said individual fragments as a portion of a response to said interrogation cycle from said collection engine, and configured to assemble said individual fragments in accordance with said firmware image download.   
     
     
         21 . An advanced metering system as in  claim 19 , wherein said network is configured for establishing point-to-point communications from said central facility to each of said selected plurality of said end devices. 
     
     
         22 . An advanced metering system as in  claim 19 , further comprising at least one cell relay configured to transmit previously received individual fragments of said firmware image download to said selected of said plurality of said end devices, whereby individual fragments of said firmware image download may be transmitted virally among portions of said network independently of any other network communications. 
     
     
         23 . An advanced metering system as in  claim 19 , wherein selected of said plurality of said end devices are configured to transmit previously received individual fragments of said firmware image download to others of said plurality of said end devices, whereby individual fragments of said firmware image download may be transmitted virally among portions of said network independently of other network communications. 
     
     
         24 . An advanced metering system as in  claim 19 , wherein said orchestration manager is configured for distributing metrology device data communications functionality across multiple servers, and comprises:
 a master relay configured to register and authenticate multiple communication nodes associated with one or more respective metrology devices and to assign communication functionality associated with said multiple communication nodes to a plurality of communication servers, each of which includes a meter communications host configured to send and receive network communications in accordance with an open standard meter communication protocol; and   a plurality of communication servers configured to communicate with at least a selected portion of said multiple communication nodes, each communication server configured to send and receive network communications and to acquire metrology data from said multiple communications nodes; and   wherein said multiple communication nodes associated with one or more respective metrology devices comprise at least one communication node comprising at least one cell relay operating on a radio network and at least one communication node comprising a communications link directly to an end point.   
     
     
         25 . An advanced metering system as in  claim 19 , further comprising at least one cell relay, with said at least one cell relay and said network configured such that bi-directional communication between said central facility and selected of said plurality of said end devices passes through said at least one cell relay, whereby bi-directional communication between said central facility and said selected of said plurality of said end devices is conducted by way of said at least one cell relay while bi-directional communication between said central facility and others of said plurality of said end devices is conducted directly.