System and method for firmware or software updates including cost-benefit analysis

1 . A system for a firmware update comprising:

at least one industrial device comprising firmware,

a central server comprising at least one interface configured to collect and process data from a data source,

a network, wherein the at least one industrial device and the central server are configured to communicate via the network,

multiple interfaces configured to collect and process data from multiple data sources, wherein the multiple interfaces are configured as application programming interfaces (APIs), and

a cost-benefit-analysis (CBA) module for performing a cost-benefit analysis, wherein the CBA module is configured via executable instructions to

calculate relative costs for a firmware update of the at least one industrial device utilizing the data from the data source,

determine a relative benefit for the firmware update of the at least one industrial device, and

compare the relative costs to the relative benefit,

wherein the multiple data sources comprise data relating to electricity costs, network connectivity costs and CO 2 emissions,

wherein the central server is configured to collect the electricity costs in both a location of the central server and the at least one industrial device, wherein the electricity costs are collected based on electricity costs in $X/kWh,

wherein the at least one industrial device is configured to meter the network connectivity, and the central server is configured to predict the network connectivity costs based on the metered network connectivity, wherein the network connectivity is metered by the at least one industrial device based on a bundle data transmission cost for the firmware update, wherein the bundle data transmission cost is calculated based on its bundle size and expected monthly cellular data for the at least one industrial device to download the bundle,

wherein the central server is configured to receive CO 2 emissions data from publicly available data source including greenhouse gas (GHG),

wherein the relative costs for the firmware update are calculated as firmware bundle cost by an incremental update size based on an existing firmware version that is being replaced in the at least one industrial device,

wherein the firmware bundle cost is calculated by its bundle size relative to a previous bundle size that is being replaced, driving an amount of time that is required to transmit the bundle, and electricity and CO 2 emissions offset required to transmit the bundle at different times within a 24-hour window, and

wherein the at least one industrial device is configured to inquire the central server periodically whether the firmware update is available, and the central server is configured to provide the firmware update to the at least one industrial device when the firmware update is available in conjunction with a time to perform the firmware update when the relative benefit is higher than the relative costs.

2 . The system of claim 1 ,

wherein the CBA module is implemented by the central server, or the at least one industrial device, or in a distributed manner by a combination of the central server and the at least one industrial device.

3 . The system of claim 1 ,

wherein the CBA module is configured to perform multiple costs-benefit analyses for the firmware update for a specific time frame.

4 . The system of claim 3 ,

wherein the CBA module is configured select and provide a specific time to the at least one industrial device when to perform the firmware update, wherein the specific time is based on a minimum value of the relative costs within the specific time frame.

5 . The system of claim 1 ,

wherein the multiple interfaces are configured to provide data recurrently in a scheduled manner utilizing a scheduling mechanism.

6 . The system of claim 1 ,

wherein the CBA module comprises an algorithm and is configured via executable instructions to perform the cost-benefit analysis by implementing the algorithm in combination with input parameters and/or limitations.

7 . The system of claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one industrial device is an electric vehicle charging device.

8 . A method for a firmware update comprising:

collecting data from multiple data sources,

performing a cost-benefit analysis for a firmware update of at least one industrial device utilizing the data from the multiple data sources, and

suggesting or initiating the firmware update for the at least one industrial device when a relative benefit is greater than relative costs for the firmware update,

wherein the collecting comprises collecting data via multiple application programming interfaces (APIs), and wherein the multiple APIs are configured to provide data recurrently in a scheduled manner utilizing a scheduling mechanism,

wherein the multiple data sources comprise at least data relating to electricity costs, network connectivity costs and CO 2 emissions,

wherein the electricity costs are collected in both a location of a central server and at least one industrial device, wherein electricity costs are collected based on electricity costs in $X/kWh,

wherein the network connectivity is metered by the at least one industrial device and the network connectivity costs are predicted by the central server based on the metered network connectivity, wherein the network connectivity is metered by the at least one industrial device based on a bundle data transmission cost for the firmware update, wherein the bundle data transmission cost is calculated based on its bundle size and expected monthly cellular data for the at least one industrial device to download the bundle,

wherein the CO 2 emissions data are received by the central server from publicly available data source including greenhouse gas (GHG),

wherein the relative costs for the firmware update are calculated as firmware bundle cost by an incremental update size based on an existing firmware version that is being replaced in the at least one industrial device, wherein the firmware bundle cost is calculated by its bundle size relative to a previous bundle size that is being replaced, driving an amount of time that is required to transmit the bundle, and electricity and CO 2 emissions offset required to transmit the bundle at different times within a 24-hour window, and

wherein the at least one industrial device is configured to inquire the central server periodically whether the firmware update is available, and the central server is configured to provide the firmware update to the at least one industrial device when the firmware update is available in conjunction with a time to perform the firmware update when the relative benefit is higher than the relative costs.

9 . The method of claim 8 ,

wherein the collecting, performing, and initiating is performed by a cost-benefit-analysis (CBA) module implemented in a central server, or in the at least one industrial device, or in a distributed manner in the central server and the at least one industrial device.

10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

performing multiple cost-benefit analyses for the at least one industrial device for a specific time frame.

11 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

selecting and providing a specific time to the at least one industrial device when to perform the firmware update, wherein the specific time is based on a minimum value of the relative costs within the specific time frame.

12 . The method of claim 8 ,

wherein the performing the cost-benefit analysis comprises implementing an algorithm utilizing the data source in combination with input parameters and/or limitations.

13 . The method of claim 8 ,

wherein the at least one industrial device is an electric vehicle charging device.

14 . A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with processor executable instructions that when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out a method for a firmware update as claimed in claim 8 .