Firmware Updates Over-the-Air (FUOTA) can be complicated, but it’s worth figuring out as part of the evolution of distributed IoT and Industrial IoT implementations. Given the proliferation of devices and the increasingly sophisticated applications – and security required – it is impossible to manually update every device at the edge of the network.
Senet, a pioneer in LoRaWAN cloud-based software and services, announced this week a collaboration with Murata, a hardware and firmware company specializing in the design, manufacture, and sale of ceramic-based passive electronic components & solutions, communication modules, and power supply modules. Their engineering and integration efforts have certified the operation of the Murata Type 1SJ modem module with the Senet LoRaWAN network server.
Through this integration, Senet has certified the secure and reliable remote multicast delivery of firmware images to end-devices developed with the Murata Type 1SJ LoRaWAN modem module to be compliant with the technical recommendations of the LoRa Alliance and fully operational on the Senet network.
The announcement claims this collaborative integration helps future-proof LoRaWAN solution deployments, ensuring that sensor-enabled IoT end devices built using the Murata module will operate at maximum efficiency on Senet’s IoT network.
“Senet’s success in delivering feature-rich global IoT connectivity platforms is enhanced by integrations with market-leading technology companies like Murata,” said Randy Houde, Software Architect at Senet. “Murata’s support of LoRaWAN FUOTA and its integration with Senet’s network server expands our ability to deliver efficient, secure, and reliable end device updates, providing end customers with a maximum return on investment for IoT applications deployed at mass scale.”
The ability to efficiently deliver firmware updates over the air is critical to several IoT application performance and device lifecycle requirements, including implementing bug fixes, patching security vulnerabilities, and supporting new features. This capability is extremely important to solution providers and end-users needing to update large-scale device deployments simultaneously, in a cost-effective manner, and with minimal impact on network capacity and device battery power.
“Murata’s Type 1SJ LoRaWAN modem module enables a faster time-to-market and eases design challenges for IoT developers,” said Steve Kim, Business Development Manager, Connectivity Solutions for Murata Americas. “Our FUOTA collaboration with Senet proves that the LoRaWAN Network Server to End Device communication works effectively. The result provides customers with a significant advantage as they can utilize a complete module to shorten end device development cycle and save costs with a pre-certified module.”
The new Type 1SJ LoRaWAN modem module allows solution developers to design products that meet the most demanding requirements, especially in areas such as asset tracking, utilities, agriculture, smart cities, smart buildings, industrial, and other IoT applications.
Over-the-air device firmware updates are increasingly important as a critical feature of wirelessly connected devices. FUOTA enables the addition of new functionality, addresses bugs and security vulnerabilities, and supports the continuous improvement of devices.
Senet operates the largest carrier-grade public LoRaWAN network in the United States.