Cloud-Based Sensor-Actuator Control Without Dedicated Gateways
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing networking solutions in buildings require dedicated hardware gateways for wireless network control, which are costly, unreliable, and complex to manage, especially in environments where new wiring installation is impractical.
Innovation Solution
A cloud server-based system replaces dedicated hardware gateways, providing a cost-effective, reliable, and simplified method for network control by using existing infrastructure and protocols to manage sensor and actuator networks over the internet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated hardware gateways are used for wireless network control, then network control functionality is provided, but system cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the gateway control functionality from dedicated hardware and relocates it to cloud-based servers. The local device retains only basic networking capabilities while the complex control functions are performed remotely by server 17, eliminating the need for complex local gateway hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes server 17 a universal control platform that can manage multiple wireless networks and various types of devices (sensors, actuators, mobile devices) across different locations. The single server provides centralized control for multiple clients 14a-14d, replacing multiple dedicated gateways with one multi-functional system.
2Ease of operation
If dedicated hardware gateways are deployed in each environment, then local network control is enabled, but cost and management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces server 17 as an intermediary between clients 14a-14d and the wireless sensor/actuator networks. This central mediator handles all control operations, device provisioning, and network management, simplifying the user interface and operational procedures while maintaining local network autonomy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables automated device discovery, network configuration, and control operations without requiring manual gateway setup or configuration. Devices automatically register with server 17, and control commands are routed automatically based on device identifiers, eliminating manual management overhead.
3Reliability
If new wiring infrastructure is installed for network control, then reliable communication is achieved, but installation cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/wiring-based communication infrastructure with wireless communication protocols. Devices communicate wirelessly through existing WiFi or other wireless networks, eliminating the need for physical wiring installation while maintaining communication reliability through protocol-level error handling and retransmission.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method in a building or vehicle for an actuator operation in response to a sensor according to a control logic, the system comprising a router or a gateway communicating with a device associated with the sensor and a device associated with the actuator over in-building or in-vehicle networks, and an external Internet-connected control server associated with the control logic implementing a PID closed linear control loop and communicating with the router over external network for controlling the in-building or in-vehicle phenomenon. The sensor may be a microphone or a camera, and the system may include voice or image processing as part of the control logic. A redundancy is used by using multiple sensors or actuators, or by using multiple data paths over the building or vehicle internal or external communication. The networks may be wired or wireless, and may be BAN, PAN, LAN, WAN, or home networks.