Configurable Communication Controller for IoT Edge Routers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercially available IoT edge routers often have limited communication ports, making it difficult to interface with a variety of legacy devices that require different communication protocols, limiting their integration into IoT networks.
Innovation Solution
A communication apparatus with a configurable communication controller that includes multiple slave-side communication interfaces with interchangeable protocol adapters, allowing dynamic configuration of communication ports to support various protocols such as SPI, UART, and others, enabling seamless communication with diverse IoT devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If commercially available edge routers are provided with a fixed number of communication ports, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is simplified, but the adaptability to interface with various legacy devices using different communication protocols is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The communication apparatus is segmented into modular components: a main communication controller and interchangeable protocol adapters. Each adapter handles a specific communication protocol (RS-232, RS-485, SPI, I2C, UART, CAN), allowing the system to interface with various legacy devices without increasing the complexity of the main controller. The adapters can be selectively connected to communication ports based on the required protocol.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication ports are designed with universal electrical pin configurations that can support multiple communication protocols. By using standardized pin layouts and interchangeable adapters, a single port can serve multiple functions depending on which adapter is connected, thereby increasing adaptability without requiring dedicated ports for each protocol.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple fixed communication ports are provided for different protocols, then the adaptability to various devices is improved, but the device complexity and the number of required components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The communication apparatus transitions from a static configuration with fixed protocol ports to a dynamic configuration where protocol capability is determined by interchangeable adapters. This allows the system to adapt its protocol support dynamically based on the specific legacy device being interfaced with, rather than having all protocols permanently built into the hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
Protocol-specific functionality is extracted from the main communication controller and placed into separate interchangeable adapters. This extraction allows the main controller to remain simple while protocol capabilities are distributed across multiple removable modules, reducing the complexity of the core device.
3Ease of operation
If protocol-specific adapters are made interchangeable with standardized footprints, then the ease of operation and adaptability are improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple adapter components
Solution Approach 1:
A standardized adapter interface serves as an intermediary between the communication controller and various legacy devices. This intermediate layer with a unified footprint design allows different protocol adapters to be exchanged without modifying the main controller or the communication ports, simplifying the operation of adapter replacement while managing component complexity through standardization.
Data Source
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AI summary
A communication apparatus is disclosed with a communication controller that has a host-side communication interface for communicating with a host and a plurality of slave-side communication interfaces. Each slave-side communication interface has a plurality of electrical pins that are configurable to define a communication port that implements a selected communication protocol thereon. Each pin is in electrical communication with a slave socket having a predetermined layout. Each slave socket is configured to receive a protocol adapter that corresponds to the selected communication protocol and that is configured to facilitate communication between an external slave device and the relevant communication port.