The technology industry continues to be a hotbed of innovation. Activity is driven the need for faster deployment, improved scalability, and reduced downtime of software applications, and growing importance of technologies such as cloud computing infrastructure, automated deployment tools, and continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) pipelines. These technologies enable seamless and automated software updates, reducing the complexity and cost associated with traditional upgrade processes. In the last three years alone, there have been over 3.6 million patents filed and granted in the technology industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Innovation in Cloud: Software upgrade process. Buy the report here.

According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which uses over 2.5 million patents to analyse innovation intensity for the technology industry, there are 300+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.

Software upgrade process is a key innovation area in cloud

The software upgrade process involves enhancing software by incorporating new features, bug fixes, security patches, and other enhancements. Typically, this process entails obtaining the latest software version, installing it on the user’s computer, and adhering to any accompanying instructions to ensure a seamless upgrade experience. By following these steps, users can stay up-to-date with the latest software advancements, benefiting from improved functionality and enhanced security.

GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 70+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established technology companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of software upgrade process.

Key players in software upgrade process – a disruptive innovation in the technology industry

‘Application diversity’ measures the number of different applications identified for each relevant patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.

‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of different countries each relevant patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.

Patent volumes related to software upgrade process

Company Total patents (2010 - 2022) Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies
Aurora Labs 77 Unlock Company Profile
International Business Machines (IBM) 68 Unlock Company Profile
Dell Technologies 66 Unlock Company Profile
Microsoft 62 Unlock Company Profile
Furukawa 44 Unlock Company Profile
Samsung Group 41 Unlock Company Profile
Huawei Investment & Holding 37 Unlock Company Profile
Hitachi 31 Unlock Company Profile
Hewlett Packard Enterprise 27 Unlock Company Profile
Alphabet 26 Unlock Company Profile
Oracle 26 Unlock Company Profile
Panasonic 24 Unlock Company Profile
Xiaomi 24 Unlock Company Profile
Canon 23 Unlock Company Profile
Sumitomo Electric Industries 22 Unlock Company Profile
Abbott Laboratories 22 Unlock Company Profile
Toyota Motor 21 Unlock Company Profile
DexCom 20 Unlock Company Profile
Mitsubishi Electric 20 Unlock Company Profile
Charterhouse Capital Partners 19 Unlock Company Profile
Qualcomm 19 Unlock Company Profile
Kobe Steel 19 Unlock Company Profile
ZTE 17 Unlock Company Profile
Uber Technologies 15 Unlock Company Profile
Toshiba 15 Unlock Company Profile
Infineon Technologies 14 Unlock Company Profile
HP 14 Unlock Company Profile
Denso 13 Unlock Company Profile
Inventec 13 Unlock Company Profile
Quanta Computer 12 Unlock Company Profile
Kyocera 12 Unlock Company Profile
Razer 12 Unlock Company Profile
InterDigital 12 Unlock Company Profile
SK Square 10 Unlock Company Profile
SAP 10 Unlock Company Profile
Itron 10 Unlock Company Profile
Airbus 10 Unlock Company Profile
Siemens 9 Unlock Company Profile
Kia 8 Unlock Company Profile
Hyundai Motor Group 8 Unlock Company Profile
JIG-SAW 8 Unlock Company Profile
PACCAR 8 Unlock Company Profile
Asahi Kasei 8 Unlock Company Profile
Thales 8 Unlock Company Profile
Robert Bosch Stiftung 8 Unlock Company Profile
Desktone 8 Unlock Company Profile
Juniper Networks 7 Unlock Company Profile
SoftBank Group 7 Unlock Company Profile
BYD 7 Unlock Company Profile
Citrix Systems 7 Unlock Company Profile

Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics

Aurora Labs is one of the leading patents filers in software upgrade process. The company’s patents are aimed at disclosed embodiments related to identifying electronic control unit (ECU) anomalies in a vehicle. Operations may include monitoring the real-time and historical data relating to the processing activity as well as the expected processing activity of the ECU. The real-time processing activity data is compared with the historical data to identify at least one anomaly in the real-time processing activity of the ECU and a control action is implemented for the ECU when the at least one anomaly is identified.

Other prominent patent filers in the space include International Business Machines (IBM) and Dell Technologies.       

By geographic reach, Yanmar leads the pack, followed by THOMSON LICENSING and Synchronoss Technologies. In terms of application diversity, WS Audiology holds the top position, followed by Ford Motor and Juniper Networks.    

Cloud innovation in the software upgrade process has revolutionised the way software updates are managed and deployed. Cloud-based software upgrades can provide a more efficient and streamlined approach compared to traditional manual methods.

To further understand how cloud is disrupting the technology industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Cloud Computing – Thematic Intelligence.

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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.

GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.