Autonomous Mesh Provisioning Through Secure Device Self-Organization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The deployment of secure wireless mesh networks in building automation systems is arduous, involving multiple phases that require significant time and expertise, and lacks efficient network maintenance processes.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method for autonomous provisioning of devices onto a decentralized wireless mesh network, allowing devices to self-organize, authenticate, and form secure communication links without human intervention, using local control logic and standard mesh communication protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual provisioning process is used with trained technical personnel and provisioner apparatus, then network security and proper device authentication are ensured, but deployment time and operational complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Devices automatically perform provisioning operations themselves by discovering neighboring devices, determining priority through local control logic, and autonomously joining the network without requiring external provisioner apparatus or trained technical personnel, thereby eliminating manual intervention while maintaining security through cryptographic authentication protocols
Solution Approach 2:
Devices pre-establish cryptographic keys and authentication credentials during manufacturing, enabling them to perform secure self-provisioning immediately upon activation without requiring manual configuration or external authentication infrastructure, thus reducing deployment time while preserving network security
2Reliability
If multiple phases (network design, setup, maintenance) are performed by different companies with several iterations, then comprehensive network architecture and security are achieved, but project duration extends to months
Solution Approach 1:
The network performs its own design and setup operations autonomously through device self-discovery, automatic topology formation, and self-provisioning mechanisms that eliminate the need for separate manual phases performed by different companies, compressing what previously took months into immediate automated execution upon device activation
Solution Approach 2:
The provisioning process is divided into independent automated operations at the device level (discovery, priority determination, authentication, joining) that can execute concurrently and independently without requiring sequential manual phases, thereby parallelizing the deployment process and dramatically reducing overall project duration
3Ease of operation
If centralized control structure is used with distributed wireless controllers, then network management and coordination are simplified, but single point of control vulnerability and operational bottleneck are created
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of devices relying on centralized controllers for provisioning and network management, the invention inverts the control model by enabling devices to autonomously perform all provisioning operations themselves through local control logic and peer-to-peer discovery, eliminating the centralized control bottleneck and single point of failure while distributing intelligence across all network nodes
Solution Approach 2:
Each device independently manages its own network joining and authentication processes without requiring centralized coordination, performing self-discovery, self-prioritization, and self-provisioning operations that previously required centralized controller intervention, thereby eliminating operational bottlenecks and enhancing network reliability through distributed autonomy
4Reliability
If manual network maintenance is performed periodically by building managers, then network changes are controlled, but maintenance efficiency and responsiveness to network changes are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The network continuously performs automatic self-maintenance through ongoing device discovery, dynamic topology updates, and real-time re-provisioning operations that respond immediately to network changes without requiring periodic manual intervention, thereby maintaining network stability through continuous automated monitoring and adjustment while dramatically improving maintenance efficiency and responsiveness
Data Source
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AI summary
An example of an apparatus to provision a decentralized network is provided. The apparatus includes a memory storage unit to store a status identifier to indicating whether the apparatus is in a non-provisioned state or a provisioned state. The apparatus further includes a beacon transmitter to transmit an outgoing beacon signal and a beacon receiver to receive an incoming beacon signal from an external device. The apparatus includes an infrared communicator to send and receive signals with the external. In addition, the apparatus in the non-provisioned state includes an election engine to determine a priority relative to the external device upon receiving the incoming beacon signal. The apparatus also includes a provisioning engine to change the status identifier from the non-provisioned state to the provisioned state and to send a provisioning key to the external device to join a network upon confirmation the external device is within the secure space.