| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to Nest's smart thermostats draining the battery and causing them to stop working has happened again within the same organization. Nest acknowledged a software bug affecting some of its smart thermostats, leading to issues with the battery draining and the devices becoming unresponsive [39572]. The incident was attributed to a software update (5.1.3) that caused the problem, affecting a small percentage of users. Nest was working on a fix for the affected customers. Additionally, writer Nick Bilton reported a similar software glitch with his Nest Learning Thermostats, which caused them to stop working, indicating a recurring issue within Nest's products [40016].
(b) The software failure incident related to smart devices experiencing software glitches is not unique to Nest but is a common issue across various organizations and their products. The article mentions that software bugs are not new to the Internet of Things, and every smart and connected device can be vulnerable to non-hardware-related hiccups and hacks [40016]. The article also highlights other instances of software vulnerabilities in smart devices, such as the Ring Video Doorbell updating its software to address a flaw that allowed hackers to access Wi-Fi information and the existence of websites like Insecam that expose security camera feeds due to weak passwords. This suggests that software failures and vulnerabilities are widespread in the IoT industry, affecting multiple organizations and their products. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase is evident in the articles. Nest acknowledged a software bug affecting some of its smart thermostats, causing them to stop working due to a drained battery issue introduced by a software update (Article 39572). The bug was specifically linked to the 5.1.3 software update pushed out to some versions of the thermostats, indicating a failure introduced during the development or update phase.
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is also highlighted in the articles. Users reported issues with their Nest Thermostats despite using a C-wire connection, which is a component related to the operation and power supply of the system (Article 40016). This suggests that the failure was not solely due to the operation or misuse of the system but could also be influenced by factors related to the system's design or development. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) The software failure incident related to the Nest smart thermostats was primarily within the system. The incident was caused by a software bug within the 5.1.3 software update pushed out to some versions of the thermostats, draining the battery and causing the devices to become slow, unresponsive, or unable to turn on [39572]. Nest acknowledged the issue and was working on a fix for the affected users [39572].
(b) Additionally, the article mentions that software bugs and glitches are not uncommon in the Internet of Things devices, indicating that failures can also be influenced by factors outside the system, such as vulnerabilities in connected devices and potential hacks [40016]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions:
- The software bug affecting Nest smart thermostats causing them to stop working was attributed to a draining battery issue within the thermostat, even when plugged in, leading to disconnection from boilers and air conditioning systems [39572].
- The issue was linked to a software update (5.1.3) pushed out to some versions of the thermostats, indicating a failure introduced through the update process [39572].
- Nest acknowledged the problem and mentioned that they were working on a fix for the affected users, indicating a non-human factor causing the failure [39572].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions:
- The article mentions that the Google-owned company, Nest, claimed to have addressed the issue by pushing out a firmware update to all affected Nest Thermostats, suggesting human intervention to resolve the software glitch [40016].
- The writer, Nick Bilton, and likely others had already decided to stop using their Wi-Fi thermostats before the firmware update was pushed out, indicating a lack of confidence in the human actions taken to address the issue [40016].
- The article discusses the importance of the C-wire in thermostats and how its installation can provide more reliable power, potentially preventing software glitches like the one experienced by Nest customers, highlighting the role of human actions in ensuring proper setup and maintenance of devices [40016]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware, software |
(a) The software failure incident related to hardware:
- The incident with Nest smart thermostats was caused by a software bug that drained the battery within the thermostat, even if the device was plugged in, leading to disconnection from boilers and air conditioning systems [39572].
- The article mentions the importance of the C-wire (common wire) in providing power for newer thermostat features that require more power, highlighting the role of hardware configuration in ensuring proper functionality of smart thermostats [40016].
(b) The software failure incident related to software:
- The software bug affecting Nest smart thermostats was specifically attributed to a software update (5.1.3) that was pushed out to some versions of the thermostats, causing issues for a small percentage of users [39572].
- The article discusses how software bugs are not uncommon in Internet of Things devices, emphasizing the potential for non-hardware-related hiccups and hacks in smart and connected gadgets [40016]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
non-malicious |
(a) The software failure incident related to the Nest smart thermostats was non-malicious. The incident was caused by a software bug that drained the battery within the thermostat, leading to the device disconnecting from boilers and air conditioning systems, ultimately turning them off [39572]. The issue was acknowledged by Nest, and the company was working on a fix for the affected customers. Additionally, the article mentions that software bugs are not uncommon in the Internet of Things devices, highlighting that such failures can occur without malicious intent [40016]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
unknown |
(a) In the software failure incident related to the Nest smart thermostats, the incident appears to be more aligned with poor_decisions. The failure was caused by a software bug in the 5.1.3 software update pushed out to some versions of the thermostats, draining the battery and causing the devices to disconnect from boilers and air conditioning systems [39572]. This issue was acknowledged by Nest, and they were working on a fix for the affected users [39572]. Additionally, the failure was not due to accidental decisions but rather a result of a specific software update that led to the malfunction of the devices [39572].
(b) The software failure incident does not seem to be primarily related to accidental_decisions. The issue was specifically attributed to a software bug in the 5.1.3 software update that drained the battery of the Nest smart thermostats, causing them to stop working [39572]. The incident was not described as a result of accidental decisions or unintended consequences but rather a direct consequence of the software bug introduced in the update [39572]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, accidental |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is evident in the articles. The incident with Nest smart thermostats was caused by a software bug that drained the battery within the thermostat, even if the device was plugged in, leading to the device disconnecting from boilers and air conditioning systems [39572]. This bug was attributed to the 5.1.3 software update pushed out to some versions of the thermostats, indicating a failure in the development process that introduced the issue. Additionally, the failure to address the problem effectively for all affected customers initially highlights a lack of professional competence in resolving the software bug promptly [40016].
(b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors is also present in the articles. The glitch that caused Nest Learning Thermostats to stop working was described as unexpected, leading to issues like the thermostat turning off when it was supposed to maintain a specific temperature setting [40016]. This accidental introduction of the glitch impacted users like writer Nick Bilton, who experienced the thermostat malfunctioning despite setting it to a specific temperature, indicating an unintended consequence of the software update. |
| Duration |
temporary |
(a) The software failure incident described in the articles appears to be temporary. The incident was caused by a software bug affecting Nest smart thermostats, draining their batteries and causing them to stop working. Nest acknowledged the issue and mentioned that some customers were experiencing problems with their thermostats becoming slow, unresponsive, or unable to turn on due to drained batteries [39572]. The company was working on a fix for the affected users, indicating that the failure was not permanent but rather a temporary issue that could be resolved through recharging and restarting the thermostat [39572].
Additionally, the article mentions that Nest addressed the software glitch by pushing out a firmware update to all affected Nest Thermostats, which implies that the failure was not permanent but rather a temporary issue that could be fixed through software updates [40016]. |
| Behaviour |
crash, omission, value, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident described in the articles can be categorized as a crash. The Nest smart thermostats were affected by a software bug that caused them to stop working, disconnecting from boilers and air conditioning systems, and turning them off before shutting down [39572].
(b) omission: The software failure incident can also be categorized as an omission. Customers reported that the Nest thermostats were not performing their intended functions, such as maintaining the set temperature, due to the software bug draining the battery and causing the devices to become slow, unresponsive, or unable to turn on [39572].
(c) timing: The software failure incident does not align with a timing failure as there is no indication in the articles that the system was performing its intended functions at the wrong time.
(d) value: The software failure incident can be categorized as a value failure. The Nest thermostats were performing their intended functions incorrectly due to the software bug draining the battery and causing the devices to malfunction, leading to a situation where the set temperature was not maintained [39572].
(e) byzantine: The software failure incident does not align with a byzantine failure as there is no mention of inconsistent responses or interactions in the articles.
(f) other: The other behavior exhibited by the software failure incident is that it led to the Nest thermostats becoming unresponsive, slow, or unable to turn on, ultimately affecting their primary function of controlling heating and cooling systems [39572]. |