Method for distribution of software and configuration data and corresponding data network
View Patent ↗In one aspect, software or configuration data that is to be distributed is subdivided into data blocks and a list created based on the data blocks created. Users receive the list and a portion of the data blocks. The users form ad hoc networks or P2P connections among themselves. The connections allow the data blocks to be exchanged randomly.
1. A method for distributing data in a data network comprising a central device and a plurality of users configured to communicate with the central device, the users having ad hoc-networking capabilities, the users comprising a first user and a second user, the method comprising:
dividing, by the central device, the data to be distributed into a plurality of data blocks, the data blocks comprised of a first data block and a second data block;
creating, by the central device, a list reflecting a complete set of the data blocks produced during the division of the data;
sending, by the central device, the first data block and the list from a central location to the first user;
sending, by the central device, the second data block and the list from the central location to the second user;
randomly establishing, by the first user or the second user, a spontaneous communication between the first user and the second user; and
sending, by the second user, the second data block and the list to the first user; and
wherein the data is software or configuration data and wherein a communication path is randomly established by occurring without any temporal schedule and without any of: (a) the central device and (b) a predefined terminal overseeing formation of the communication path to ensure transmission of the second data block to the first user and wherein the communication path is spontaneously formed by being formed when the first user is within a predetermined distance of the second user without any schedule defining when the first user would be within the predetermined distance of the second user.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second data block is sent in response to a request by the first user.
3. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the request is made based on the list.
4. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the first user determines from the list that a data block was not received by the first user and wherein the request includes information relating to the data block that was not received.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second data block is sent automatically by the second user after the establishment of the spontaneous communication with the first user.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising starting an installation or a setup when a user from the plurality of users has received a complete set of the data blocks.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the spontaneous communication is established using Bluetooth or WLAN.
8. A data network having a plurality of users comprised of a first user and a second user, comprising:
a central device for distributing data, the central device configured to divide the data into a plurality of data blocks comprised of a first data block and a second data block and also to create a list reflecting a complete set of the data blocks produced from dividing the data; and
the central device configured to send the first data block and the list to the first user and the central device configured to send the second data block and the list to the second user such that the second user is configured to transmit the second data block and the list to the first user via a communication path randomly and spontaneously established between the first and second users after the central device transmitted the first data block and the list to the first user and the second data block and the list to the second user; and
wherein the data is software or configuration data and wherein the communication path is randomly established by occurring without any temporal schedule and without any of: (a) the central device and (b) a predefined terminal overseeing formation of the communication path to ensure transmission of the second data block to the first user and wherein the communication path is spontaneously formed by being formed when the first user is within a predetermined distance of the second user without any schedule defining when the first user would be within the predetermined distance of the second user.
9. The data network as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the second user is configured such that the transmission of the second data block and the list by the second user is in response to a request by the first user.
10. The data network as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the request is made based on the list.
11. The data network as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the first user is configured to determine from the list that a data block was not received by the first user and wherein the request comprises information relating to the data block that was not received.
12. The data network as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the second data block is transmitted automatically by the second user to the first user.
13. The data network as claimed in claim 8 , wherein a user is configured to initiate an installation or a setup after that user received a complete set of the data blocks.
14. The data network as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the communication path between the first and second users is established using Bluetooth or WLAN.
15. An apparatus for distributing data to a plurality of users in a data network, the users comprised of a first user and a second user, the apparatus comprising:
a central device for distributing data, the central device configured to divide the data into a plurality of data blocks comprised of a first data block and a second data block and also to create a list reflecting a complete set of the data blocks produced from dividing the data; and
the central device configured to send the first data block and the list to the first user and the central device configured to send the second data block and the list to the second user enabling the second user to transmit the second data block to the first user via a communication path randomly and spontaneously established between the first and second users after the central device transmitted the first data block and the list to the first user and the second data block and the list to the second user; and
the communication path being randomly established by occurring without any temporal schedule and without any of: (a) the central device and (b) a predefined terminal overseeing formation of the communication path to ensure transmission of the second data block to the first user and wherein the communication path is spontaneously formed by being formed when the first user is within a predetermined distance of the second user without any schedule defining when the first user would be within the predetermined distance of the second user.