METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR UPDATE MANAGEMENT BETWEEN EDGE DEVICES

1 . A method for distributing software updates by an edge device functioning as a master node, in a vehicle fleet network, the method comprising:

broadcasting, by a first edge device, a beacon signal comprising a current software version indicator of the first edge device and a service set identifier (SSID) corresponding to a wireless network to be established by the first edge device;

receiving, by the first edge device, response signals from one or more proximate edge devices, wherein each response signal comprises a software version indicator of the responding proximate edge device;

establishing, by the first edge device, a wireless network using the broadcasted SSID upon determining that one or more responding proximate edge devices possess a software version preceding a software version of the first edge device as indicated by corresponding software version indicators;

receiving, by the first edge device, a request from at least one of the one or more proximate edge devices that have selected the first edge device as an update source based on received signal strength indicator (RSSI) measurements; and

transmitting, by the first edge device through the established wireless network, a software update package to the at least one of the one or more proximate edge devices.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the software update package comprises:

transmitting the software package on priority to a proximate edge device having lower software version than another proximate edge device to facilitate cascading update propagation.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more proximate edge devices locates within a predetermined proximity range of the first edge device.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the beacon signal further includes authentication metadata, a network capability indication, or channel configuration data for facilitating controlled association.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein establishing the wireless local area network comprises configuring a SSID broadcast rate and association policies based on a number of the response signals received from the one or more proximate edge devices.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the software update package comprises:

prioritizing transmissions of the software update package based on a combination of lowest software versions and a highest RSSI to accelerate cascade throughput.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring update completion status of each connected proximate edge device; and

in response to monitoring, recording a distribution log indicative of the update completion status of the each connected proximate edge device.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless network is configured as a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) identified by the SSID created by the first edge device.

9 . A method for receiving software updates by an edge device functioning as a slave node in a vehicle fleet network, the method comprising:

detecting, by a second edge device, one or more beacon signals from one or more proximate edge devices, wherein each beacon signal comprises a software version indicator and a Service Set Identifier (SSID) of an available wireless network;

determining, by the second edge device, that the second edge device possess a lowest software version among the one or more proximate edge devices;

measuring, by the second edge device, one or more received signal strength indicators (RSSI) for each detected beacon signal;

selecting, by the second edge device, a target master device from among the one or more proximate edge devices, the target master device possess a next sequential software version relative to a current software version of the second edge device and exhibiting a strongest RSSI value among the one or more proximate edge devices possessing the next sequential version;

establishing, by the second edge device, a connection to the wireless network identified by the SSID in the beacon signal of the target master device;

receiving, by the second edge device through the wireless network connection, a software update package corresponding to the next sequential version; and

installing, by the second edge device, the received software update package to transition from the current software version to the next sequential version.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein selecting the target master device from among the one or more proximate edge devices further comprises applying a tie break rule based on an age of the detected one or more beacons or corresponding proximate edge device load.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the second edge device retries association with an alternative master device upon detecting a failed download or a degraded link quality.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein determining the lowest software version includes evaluating version metadata embedded in the beacon signal.

13 . A method for cascading software updates by an edge device functioning as an intermediate node in a vehicle fleet network, the method comprising:

detecting, by a third edge device, one or more beacon signals from one or more proximate edge devices, wherein each beacon signal comprises a software version indicator and a Service Set Identifier (SSID) of an available wireless network;

determining, by the third edge device, one or more first proximate edge devices with a higher software version and one or more second proximate edge devices with a lower software version among the one or more proximate edge devices;

evaluating, by the third edge device, a distribution topology comprising a count of the second proximate edge devices, based at least on a communication range, received signal strength indicators (RSSI) measurements, and a difference in software versions between detected software versions;

initiating, by the third edge device, a master role phase comprising broadcasting a beacon signal including an SSID for a wireless network to be created by the third edge device;

establishing the wireless network with the one or more second proximate edge devices; and

transmitting a software update package to the one or more connected second proximate edge devices.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

monitoring update completion status for each of the one or more connected second proximate edge devices;

upon completion of the master role phase, transitioning, by the third edge device, to a slave role phase comprising terminating the established wireless network, detecting beacon signals from the one or more first proximate edge devices;

selecting a target master proximate edge device among the one or more first proximate edge device based on RSSI measurements;

establishing a connection with the target master proximate edge device;

receiving, from the target master proximate edge device, a software update package;

installing the received software update package to upgrade to a next sequential version;

upon successful completion of the slave role phase, re-evaluating, by the third edge device, the network topology to determine availability of additional one or more second proximate edge devices requiring updates; and

repeating the master role phase with enhanced update distribution capacity corresponding to a newly installed software version.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein evaluating the distribution topology comprises computing a weighted score based on version gap magnitude and measured RSSI to the one or more first proximate edge devices.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein selecting the target master proximate edge device during the slave role phase is based on RSSI measurements.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the third edge device monitors update completion during the master role phase and logs per-device completion events.

18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the beacon signal broadcasted by the third edge device includes the SSID corresponding to the wireless network to be established by the third edge device.

19 . The method of claim 13 , wherein prior to entering the slave role phase, the method comprises:

terminating the previously established wireless network.