W H I T E P A P E R. Extend the Value of M2M Modules with Firmware Over-the-Air (FOTA) Updating

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1 W H I T E P A P E R Extend the Value of M2M Modules with Firmware Over-the-Air (FOTA) Updating

2 Extend the Value of M2M Modules with Firmware Over-the-Air (FOTA) Updating Important questions to ask M2M module providers in order to expand functionality and services, reduce maintenance costs and mitigate downtime By Yoram Berholtz, Senior Product Manager, Red Bend Software Executive Summary Firmware over-the-air (FOTA) technology offers an efficient, reliable and proven solution for updating software on machineto-machine (M2M) wireless modules. By keeping deployed modules up to date with the latest software improvements, M2M manufacturers and service providers can ensure module quality, avoid product recalls, reduce support costs and improve customer satisfaction. Corporate adopters of M2M benefit from a fast and cost-effective way to perform software maintenance. With FOTA, new software versions are delivered over the air to modules in the field, and software updates are performed remotely without having to send a technician on-site. FOTA technology can extend the value of M2M modules while ensuring return on investment in M2M. FOTA can be used to expand a module s functionality and services throughout its lifetime and mitigate downtime in the event of a software malfunction. FOTA has been used widely in the mobile handset market since the early 2000s. It is proven in hundreds of millions of mobile handsets worldwide. By the end of 2010, Red Bend Software estimates that approximately 40% of new M2M module shipments will be FOTA capable. This white paper is intended for corporate adopters of M2M who want to learn more about FOTA technology and its benefits for M2M. It explores important questions to ask M2M module manufacturers when evaluating the software management capabilities of their product offerings. What is firmware over-the-air (FOTA) updating and how is it used in M2M? With the standardization of device management by the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA), firmware over-the-air (FOTA) updating is rapidly gaining adoption in mobile phones and other kinds of connected wireless devices such as M2M modules. FOTA is more efficient than complete firmware replacement. It provides the means to deliver only the changes (i.e., the differences) between firmware versions to remote mobile devices without having to send the entire new firmware image over the air, which significantly saves on bandwidth and usage charges. Four of the top 5 M2M module manufacturers, including Motorola s M2M Wireless Modules division, SIMCom and Telit Wireless Solutions, have adopted FOTA for use in their modules. These manufacturers now offer dozens of FOTA-enabled M2M modules combined and are making FOTA a standard feature of new module shipments. By the end of 2010, Red Bend Software estimates that approximately 40% of new M2M module shipments will be FOTA capable. The wireless M2M market will soon mirror the mobile phone industry when it comes to managing software remotely. More than half of all mobile phones now include support for FOTA, and this number is expected to increase to 72% by 2011, according to an independent market research firm, Ovum. 2

3 FOTA is being used to keep the M2M module software up to date with changing standards and customer requirements, and to remotely perform software updates in a fast and reliable manner. The multi-billion dollar M2M marketplace is expected to ship 95 million modules in 2013, according to market research firm ABI Research. Speaking at M2M United 2008, ABI Research s Senior Analyst Sam Lucero recognized the growing importance of FOTA for the M2M market. For M2M, the benefits are operational efficiency and cost reduction. With M2M modules growing in complexity, FOTA enables manufacturers to perform software improvements over the air, without needing to send a field technician on-site. Several leading M2M module providers have launched over-the-air software update services for their customers. For example, Telit Wireless Solutions offers Premium FOTA Management of its M2M modules. The service protects customers investments in M2M while saving money on software maintenance and decreasing the total cost of ownership of M2M modules. What are the key software management challenges with M2M modules and how can they be overcome using FOTA? M2M modules typically have a lifespan of seven to 15 years. M2M module software is increasing in functionality and complexity. The reality is that modules like all computing devices will face software defects during their lifetime. M2M modules are often deployed in remote, unmanned locations performing functions such as metering, security and monitoring. As such, repairs can be costly and time-consuming when sending technicians out in the field. Furthermore, the pace of innovation in wireless technologies, communication standards and M2M applications creates risk that the modules will become outdated during their extended lifetime. Additionally, M2M-enabled devices often have hardware resource limitations in memory and processing as well as service limitations in data plans, which requires the management technology used to be designed for such constraints. With FOTA, M2M manufacturers no longer need to implement a product recall in order to repair defective software or deliver software improvements. FOTA allows the module to be updated remotely, which offers significant cost savings by not sending a technician on-site for troubleshooting and repair or even routine software maintenance. For instance, a utility provider can save $50-$100 per module to not have to roll a truck for an individual service call. It can instead provision software updates to any number of devices remotely via FOTA. Just one deployment of personnel out in the field can nullify the return on investment of adding M2M to a device. FOTA is valuable in all M2M applications, including: telematics, automotive, automatic meter reading (AMR), vending machines, fleet management, security and remote control. How does FOTA work? FOTA solutions are typically made up of two components a delta generator tool and the on-device FOTA software called the update installer (see diagram on next page). With FOTA, the M2M module manufacturer uses a delta generator tool to analyze the source firmware image and the target firmware image. The tool searches for differences or changes between the two images. It then constructs a delta file containing instructions for the on-device FOTA software called the update installer to follow. The transmis- 3

4 sion of the delta file to the device is typically done over the air, provisioned by a device management server using standards from the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA). Red Bend Software s FOTA Updating Process with vrapid Mobile In M2M-enabled devices, an update installer resides on the M2M module and performs the update installation. Optimized for the limited memory available within the module, the update installer applies the updates in-place on the module s firmware. The update installer must have an exceptionally small footprint in order to fit within the restricted bill of materials of M2M devices. FOTA software that is optimized for M2M does not typically require added memory to store software updates. In addition, it can be used to update both the module firmware and the M2M application, both via single and multi-core processors. What are the key features and functions that are essential to remotely managing software in M2M modules? It is important that the firmware updates occur quickly to minimize downtime, especially for M2M applications that are revenue generating, such as point of sale terminals and vending machines. The software updates should take a few minutes, depending on the size of the update package. In-place update algorithms provide the fastest update process by applying only what has changed between the two versions of software. In addition, efficient FOTA algorithms resolve complex write before read issues so that firmware can be updated rapidly without needing to add costly memory. Adhering to industry standards and protocols is imperative. The mobile communications industry has adopted standards enablers from the Open Mobile Alliance Device Management (OMA DM) working group for establishing the flow of information between the server and client. The M2M market is moving to adopt OMA DM in order to have a standard way of communication versus a proprietary approach for two main reasons: 4

5 (1) the nomadic nature of some M2M segments (e.g., automotive and telematics) force the module to engage with several networks and even roam to other countries; thus, the module must be able to work in a multi-server environment, and (2) the cost of adopting standards-based device management is much less expensive than a proprietary environment because the integration with devices and the certification with networks can be quicker. To ensure the update was completed, there must a fault-tolerant feature that eliminates the risk of disabling modules due to errors or unexpected disruptions in the update process. In the event of a power loss, this fail-safe capability automatically resumes the update from the point of interruption ensuring the new firmware updates are completed. It is also important to mitigate risk if there was a defect detected in the new firmware version. With revertible updating, the M2M manufacturer can perform a server-initiated rollback to the previous firmware version on all or select modules. In the case of the defect affecting the cellular stack, the module can initiate a self-update triggered by a watchdog to revert back to the previous version. This revertible update should occur without requiring another download from the server. How can FOTA enable new revenue opportunities in M2M? FOTA can change the business model of M2M-enabled devices. With revertible updating, limited trial periods can be offered and then the software can be removed if the customer does not subscribe. Software features can be activated or deactivated so that customers can try before they buy. For example, in the automotive telematics industry, drivers can subscribe to navigation services such as viewing local maps or location-based services such as a list of local hotels near their location. The consumer could trial the service for 30 days, and if the consumer does not subscribe then the enabling software can be removed from the M2M device. Summary Firmware over-the-air (FOTA) updating gives corporate adopters of M2M a fast and cost-effective way to remotely perform software maintenance. With FOTA, new software versions are delivered over the air to modules in the field, and software updates are performed remotely without having to send a technician on-site. FOTA technology can extend the value of M2M modules while ensuring return on investment in M2M. FOTA can be used to expand a module s functionality and services throughout its lifetime, and mitigate downtime in the event of a software malfunction. For example, a utility provider can save $50-$100 per module to not have to roll a truck for an individual service call. Leading M2M module manufacturers, such as Motorola s M2M Wireless Modules division, SIMCom and Telit Wireless Solutions, have adopted FOTA and made it a standard feature of new module shipments. Red Bend Software estimates that by the end of 2010, approximately 40% of new M2M module shipments will be FOTA capable. Some module manufacturers like Telit offer software update services using FOTA. When selecting a FOTA-capable M2M module, it is important to choose a solution that minimizes downtime, does not require additional memory, supports industry standards, is fault-tolerant and allows revertible updates. Device management (DM) standards 5

6 from the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) are also being adopted by the M2M market. By using OMA DM, corporate adopters can avoid proprietary offerings and can ensure fast integration with new devices and certification with operator networks. About the Author Yoram Berholtz is a senior product manager at Red Bend Software, the market leader in Mobile Software Management. Mr. Berholtz s main responsibilities include spearheading Red Bend s M2M endeavors and overseeing the company s vdirect Mobile device management client software. He has vast experience in engineering and product management with an emphasis on mobile communications technologies, having worked at Motorola, Pelephone, ECI Telecom and Marvell/Intel. About Red Bend Software Red Bend Software, the leader in Mobile Software Management (MSM), provides software solutions for managing firmware, applications and devices over the air. The company s award-winning MSM products enable device manufacturers, mobile operators and software developers to increase revenues, reduce support costs and achieve faster time to market by remotely managing their software assets on mobile devices. Red Bend s software has been deployed in more than 520 million mobile devices by eight of the top 10 handset manufacturers, including Kyocera, LG Electronics, Motorola, Sharp, Sony Ericsson and ZTE, as well as dozens of other leading companies in the mobile, M2M and WiMAX markets. Unlike device management vendors with proprietary end-to-end systems and manufacturers internally developed solutions that are platform specific, Red Bend is the only company offering independent client software that is interoperable with any standards-based server and that works with any platform on any type of mobile device. Founded in 1999, Red Bend is a privately held, venture capital-financed company with offices in China, Israel, Japan, Korea, the U.K. and the U.S. To learn how Red Bend is bending rules and breaking boundaries with mobile software management, visit Totten Pond Road, Suite 130 Waltham, MA 02451, USA fax 6