System and method for handling communications with IoT devices
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/IB2025/000106
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-03-26
- Publication Date
- 2026-10-01
Smart Images
Figure IB2025000106_01102026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] System and Method for Handling Communications with loT Devices
[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD
[0003] The field of the invention is that of loT (Internet of Things) systems. The invention more particularly relates to a communication infrastructure which offers connection in between an loT device management platform and loT devices owned by different operating entities and deployed in different operating areas.
[0004] DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
[0005] An loT system generally includes loT devices, an loT device management platform and a communication network which offers bidirectional communication capacity in between the loT devices and the loT device management platform.
[0006] The loT devices, for example electronic display devices such as electronic shelf labels or video shelf rails, may be deployed in stores, for instance in retail outlets in a shopping center. They can be used for a variety of tasks at a point of sale. For example, they can be used to advertise products, to draw customer's attention to a product or to present product and price information in real-time.
[0007] The loT device management platform is a suite of tools and services that facilitate the organization, monitoring and remote management of the loT devices. In general, the capabilities of an loT device management platform include the ability to onboard and register the loT devices, monitor the loT devices (such as status and location), perform software and firmware updates, troubleshoot problems, remotely configure loT devices, maintain security, and integrate data with other enterprise applications.
[0008] The communication network comprises one or more wireless access points. Each wireless access point is configured to bidirectionally relay communications between the loT device management platform and loT devices located in a coverage area of the access point. Each access point 6 realizes therefore a gateway.
[0009] As of today, each store owner is required to deploy its own access point(s) in its store to offer connection to its own loT devices deployed in its store.However, such a requirement is rather stringent and can restrain the deployment of loT devices, for instance in stores of a dense store area (such as a mall or an exposition center).
[0010] There is consequently a need for a more flexible loT communication infrastructure.
[0011] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] In order to respond to this need, the invention proposes a system for handling communications with first loT devices and second loT devices, the first loT devices being owned by a first operating entity and deployed in a first operating area, the second loT devices being owned by a second operating entity different from the first operating entity and deployed in a second operating area different from the first operating area (OAA). The system comprises a loT device management platform and a wireless access point configured to communicate together. The wireless access point is a public wireless access point having a public wireless coverage area and being configured to bidirectionally relay communications between at least one of the first loT devices located in the public wireless coverage area and the loT device management platform and to bidirectionally relay communications between at least one of the second loT devices located in the public wireless coverage area and the loT device management platform.
[0013] This system facilitates seamless communication between loT devices and the loT devices management platform, regardless of ownership and deployment area.
[0014] Certain preferred, but non-limiting aspects of this system are as follows :
[0015] the public wireless access point is owned by the first operating entity;
[0016] the public wireless access point is arranged at the first operating area;
[0017] it further comprises a private wireless access point having a private coverage area and being configured to bidirectionally relay communications between those second loT devices which are located in the private wireless coverage area and the loT device management platform, the public wireless access point being configured to bidirectionally relay communications between said at least one of the second loT devices and the loT device management platform when the private wireless access point is faulty;the private wireless access point is owned by the second operating entity;
[0018] the private wireless access point is arranged at the second operating area;
[0019] the loT device management platform comprises a first control console configured for access by the first operating entity so as to manage and monitor the first loT devices and a second control console configured for access by the second operating entity so as to manage and monitor the second loT devices;
[0020] the communications between the at least one of the first loT devices and the loT device management platform and the communications between the at least one of the second loT devices and the loT device management platform are End-to-End encrypted communications relayed by the public wireless access point;
[0021] the public wireless access point is further configured to, upon receiving a communication establishment request emitted by an loT device of the first or second loT devices located in the public wireless coverage area, relay said communication establishment request to the loT device management platform; the communication establishment request is a zero-touch on-boarding request; the communication establishment request comprises an identifier of the loT device emitting said communication establishment request;
[0022] the first operation area is a first store and the second operating area (OA2) is a second store.
[0023] The invention also relates to a computer-implemented method implemented in such a system, comprising, at the public wireless access point, bidirectionally relaying communications between at least one of the first loT devices located in the public wireless coverage area and the loT device management platform and bidirectionally relaying communications between at least one of the second loT devices located in the public wireless coverage area and the loT device management platform.
[0024] This method may further comprise, at the public wireless access point of the system:
[0025] receiving a communication establishment request emitted by an loT device of the first or the second plurality of loT devices located in the public wireless coverage area;relaying said communication establishment request to the to the loT device management platform.
[0026] The invention also relates to a computer product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out such a method.
[0027] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] Other aspects, aims, advantages and features of the invention will better appear upon reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, provided as a non-limiting example, and done in reference to the appended drawings, in which figure 1 is a schematic overview of a system according to the invention for handling communications with loT devices owned by different operating entities and installed in different operating areas.
[0029] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0030] With reference to figure 1, the present invention relates to a system for handling communications with loT devices, specifically designed to manage communications with first loT devices IOT1 and second loT devices IOT2. The first loT devices IOT1 are owned by a first operating entity OE1 and are deployed in a first operating area OA1. The second loT devices IOT2 are owned by a second operating entity OE2 and are deployed in a second operating area OA2. Figure 1 also shows third loT devices loT3 owned by a third operating entity OE3 and deployed in a third operating area OA3.
[0031] Each operating area OA1, OA2, OA3 may be a store owned by the corresponding operating entity OE1, OE2, OE3. Stores OA1, OA2, OA3 may be located in a dense store area, such as a mall or an exposition center.
[0032] Still with reference to figure 1, the system according to the invention further comprises an loT device management platform MP through which each operating entity OE1, OE2, OE3 can manage and monitor its loT devices loTl, loT2, loT3. To this purpose, the loT device management platform MP may comprise a first control console configured for access by the first operating entity OE1 so as to manage and monitor the first loT devices IOT1, a second control console configured for access by the second operating entity OE2 soas to manage and monitor the second loT devices IOT2 and a third console configured for access by the third operating entity OE3 so as to manage and monitor the third loT devices IOT3.
[0033] The loT device management platform MP comprises a computer architecture that may be realized by a cloud-based (hardware and / or software) service. Each console may therefore be a cloud console.
[0034] The system according to the invention comprises one or more wireless access points API, AP2, APc, each configured to relay communications exchanged between an loT device and the loT device management platform MP. The communication between an access point and the loT device management platform may be wireless, for example by radio signals, or by wires. The communication between an loT device and an access point can be performed using a radio communication protocol running in a bandwidth around 900MHz or around 2,4GHz. For example, said communication may be performed using a radio communication protocol such as Bluetooth Low Energy, Zigbee, Z-Wave, 6L0WPAN, or any other suitable radio communication protocol.
[0035] A first wireless access point API may be a wireless access point owned by the first operation entity OE1 and installed in the first operating area OA1. A second wireless access point AP2 may be a wireless access point owned by the second operation entity OE2 and installed in the first operating area OA2. A third wireless access point APc may be a public wireless access point, for instance owned by the owner of a dense store area and installed therein. The third wireless access point APc may be used by any one of the loT devices loTl, loT2 and loT3 to communicate with the loT device management platform MP. On figure 1, the third wireless access point APc is used by one of the thirds loT devices loT3 to communicate with the loT device management platform MP.
[0036] In an alternative embodiment, the second operation area OA2 is not equipped with any wireless access point.
[0037] In the system of the invention, the first wireless access point API is a public wireless access point having a public wireless coverage area and being configured to bidirectionally relay communications between at least one of the first loT devices IOT1 located in the public wireless coverage area and the loT device management platform MP and tobidirectionally relay communications between at least one of the second loT devices IOT2 located in the public wireless coverage area and the loT device management platform MP.
[0038] The first wireless access point API therefore realizes a shared gateway between operating areas OA1 and OA2 for loT devices located in operating areas OA1 and OA2, for instance a gateway shared between several stores.
[0039] When the first wireless access point API is owned by the first operating entity OE1, it derives that it can serve as gateway not only for the first loT devices owned by the first operating entity OE1 but also for the second loT devices owned by the second operating entity OE2. In other words, the invention allows any loT device to connect to any gateway regardless of owner of it.
[0040] This proves advantageous as it allows the second operating entity OE2 not to be required to install its own access point(s) to provide connection for its loT devices IOT2.
[0041] This also proves advantageous in case the second operating entity OE2 has installed its own access point(s) AP2, typically in the second operating area OA2, to provide connection for its loT devices IOT2. Indeed, when such access point(s) AP2 is faulty, connection with the second loT devices can still be maintained through the first public access point API owned and installed by the first operating entity OE1.
[0042] Hence, the system according to the invention can, in addition to the first access point, further includes a private wireless access point AP2 having a private coverage area and being configured to bidirectionally relay communications between those second loT devices IOT2 which are located in the private wireless coverage area and the loT device management platform MP, the public wireless access point API being configured to bidirectionally relay communications between said at least one of the second loT devices IOT2 and the loT device management platform MP when the private wireless access point AP2 is faulty.
[0043] In such case, the system according to the invention, not only provide a shared infrastructure for all operating entities, but also ensure redundancy.
[0044] The public access point API may in particular be used to relay communications intended to onboard an loT device to the loT device management platform MP. To this end, the public wireless access point API is in particular configured to, upon receiving acommunication establishment request emitted by an loT device of the first or second loT devices located in the public wireless coverage area, relay said communication establishment request to the loT device management platform MP. The communication establishment request may be a zero-touch on-boarding request. The communication establishment request typically comprises an identifier of the loT device emitting said communication establishment request, for instance a MAC (Media Access Control) address of the loT device.
[0045] In a preferred embodiment, the communications between the at least one of the first loT devices IOT1 and the loT device management platform MP and the communications between the at least one of the second loT devices IOT2 and the loT device management platform MP are End-to-End encrypted communications relayed by the public wireless access point API.
[0046] In a possible embodiment, the first operating entity OE1 can registertothe loT device management platform MP that its access point API is made public and can be used to relay communications with loT devices owned by other operating entities.
[0047] The invention is not limited to the above-described system but also extends to a computer-implemented method implemented in such a system. This method comprises, at the public wireless access point API, bidirectionally relaying communications between at least one of the first loT devices IOT1 located in the public wireless coverage area and the loT device management platform MP and bidirectionally relaying communications between at least one of the second loT devices IOT2 located in the public wireless coverage area and the loT device management platform MP.
[0048] This method may also comprises, at the public wireless access point API:
[0049] receiving a communication establishment request emitted by an loT device of the first or the second plurality of loT devices located in the public wireless coverage area;
[0050] relaying said communication establishment request to the to the loT device management platform.The invention also relates to a computer product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out such a method.
Claims
CLAIMS1. A system for handling communications with first loT devices (IOT1) and second loT devices (I OT2), the first loT devices (I OT1) being owned by a first operating entity (OE1) and deployed in a first operating area (OA1), the second loT devices (OT2) being owned by a second operating entity (OE2) different from the first operating entity (OE1) and deployed in a second operating area (OA2) different from the first operating area (OAA), the system comprising a loT device management platform (MP) and a wireless access point (API) configured to communicate together,characterized in that the wireless access point (API) is a public wireless access point having a public wireless coverage area and being configured to bidirectionally relay communications between at least one of the first loT devices (I OT1) located in the public wireless coverage area and the loT device management platform (MP) and to bidirectionally relay communications between at least one of the second loT devices (IOT2) located in the public wireless coverage area and the loT device management platform (MP).
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the public wireless access point (API) is owned by the first operating entity (OE1).
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the public wireless access point (API) is arranged at the first operating area (OA1).
4. The system of any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a private wireless access point (AP2) having a private coverage area and being configured to bidirectionally relay communications between those second loT devices (IOT2) which are located in the private wireless coverage area and the loT device management platform (MP), and wherein the public wireless access point (API) is configured to bidirectionally relay communications between said at least one of the second loT devices (IOT2) and the loT device management platform (MP) when the private wireless access point (AP2) is faulty.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the private wireless access point (AP2) is owned by the second operating entity (OE2).
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the private wireless access point (AP2) is arranged at the second operating area (OA2).
7. The system of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the loT device management platform (MP) comprises a first control console configured for access by the first operating entity (OE1) so as to manage and monitor the first loT devices (I OT1) and a second control console configured for access by the second operating entity (OE2) so as to manage and monitor the second loT devices (IOT2).
8. The system of any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein the communications between the at least one of the first loT devices (IOT1) and the loT device management platform (MP) and the communications between the at least one of the second loT devices (IOT2) and the loT device management platform (MP) are End-to-End encrypted communications relayed by the public wireless access point (API).
9. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the public wireless access point (API) is further configured to, upon receiving a communication establishment request emitted by an loT device of the first or second loT devices located in the public wireless coverage area, relay said communication establishment request to the loT device management platform (MP).
10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the communication establishment request is a zero-touch on-boarding request.
11. The system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the communication establishment request comprises an identifier of the loT device emitting said communication establishment request.
12. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the first operation area (OA1) is a first store and the second operating area (OA2) is a second store.
13. A computer-implemented method implemented in a system according to any of claims 1 to 12, comprising, at the public wireless access point, bidirectionally relaying communications between at least one of the first loT devices ( I OT1) located in the public wireless coverage area and the loT device management platform (MP) and bidirectionally relaying communications between at least one of the second loT devices (IOT2) located in the public wireless coverage area and the loT device management platform (MP).
14. A computer-implemented method according to claim 13, further comprising, at the public wireless access point (API) of the system:receiving a communication establishment request emitted by an loT device of the first or the second plurality of loT devices located in the public wireless coverage area;relaying said communication establishment request to the to the loT device management platform.
15. A computer product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method of any one of claims 13 and 14.