Communication Adapter Gating Unstandardized Device Data Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems struggle to appropriately acquire unstandardized information from electric devices, posing risks of information leaks and erroneous operations due to the lack of standardized protocols.

Innovation Solution

A communication system and method that determine whether to acquire unstandardized information based on standardized information held by the electric device, using a communication adapter and device capable of exchanging information via multiple protocols to securely and accurately retrieve and utilize unstandardized data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the communication device acquires unstandardized information from the electric device, then the functionality and versatility of the communication device is improved, but the risk of information leaks and erroneous operations increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidsecurity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a communication adapter as an intermediary component between the electric device and the communication device. The adapter contains a determination unit that mediates the information exchange by evaluating whether unstandardized information should be transferred based on standardized information, thus enabling functionality while maintaining security through controlled information flow

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary determination of information transferability before actual unstandardized information is transferred. The determination unit evaluates standardized information in advance to decide whether the electric device meets the criteria for unstandardized information transfer, preventing security issues before they occur

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the communication device suppresses transfer of unstandardized information to prevent information leaks and erroneous operations, then security and reliability are improved, but the loss of information increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidinformation loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of information transferability dynamically based on evaluation results. Instead of uniformly suppressing all unstandardized information, the determination unit changes the transferability parameter selectively based on whether the electric device meets predetermined criteria derived from standardized information, thus minimizing information loss while maintaining security

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the communication system uses standardized protocols for all communication, then reliability and security are improved, but the adaptability to handle manufacturer-specific functions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturer-specific function support
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the information transfer process into two distinct pathways: standardized information transfer that always occurs for reliable communication, and unstandardized information transfer that occurs conditionally based on determination results. This segmentation allows the system to maintain standardized communication reliability while selectively enabling manufacturer-specific functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3023879B1Communication system, communication device, communication adapter, communication method, and program
Publication Date: 2021.08.25 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3023879B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3023879B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3023879B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A standardized information acquirer (101) acquires standardized information from an electric device (300). A standardized telegraphic message sender (102) sends a standardized telegraphic message including the standardized information to a communication device (200). An unstandardized information acquirer (103) acquires unstandardized information from the electric device (300). A standardized telegraphic message receiver (201) receives the standardized telegraphic message including the standardized information. An electric device determiner (202) determines whether the electric device (300) meets a specific condition based on the standardized information included in the received standardized telegraphic message. When the electric device (300) is determined to meet the specific condition, an unstandardized telegraphic message sender (105) sends the unstandardized telegraphic message including the unstandardized information. An unstandardized telegraphic message receiver (204) receives the unstandardized telegraphic message including the unstandardized information.