Conversational Interface for Autonomous IIoT Gateway Configuration

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) systems require manual assembly and configuration of gateways, leading to inefficiencies, inaccuracies, and high costs due to the need for human expertise in selecting services and security subsystems, which is time-consuming and prone to errors.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system using a conversational interface to autonomously assemble and configure IIoT gateways by generating and transmitting questions to users, creating service and configuration specifications in a domain-specific language, enabling users to download necessary components for installation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If manual assembly and configuration of IIoT gateway is performed with human expertise, then accuracy in selecting services and security subsystems is improved, but time consumption and cost increase substantially

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy in selecting services and security subsystemsVSAvoidtime consumption for manual assembly and configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by allowing the IIoT gateway to automatically select and configure services and security subsystems based on device information and requirements, eliminating the need for manual expert configuration while maintaining accuracy through automated decision-making algorithms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-configuring services and security subsystems before the gateway becomes operational, using automated processes to select appropriate components based on device profiles and requirements, thus avoiding time-consuming manual configuration during deployment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If manual configuration of IIoT gateway is performed by experts, then configuration accuracy is improved, but cost increases due to substantial manual effort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration accuracyVSAvoidconfiguration cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by allowing the IIoT gateway to automatically select and configure services and security subsystems based on device information and requirements, eliminating the need for manual expert configuration while maintaining accuracy through automated decision-making algorithms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual expert configuration (mechanical human effort) with automated computational processes that use algorithms and device information to automatically determine appropriate services and security subsystems, thereby reducing cost while maintaining configuration accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If automated assembly of IIoT gateway is implemented, then time consumption and cost are reduced, but precision in selecting services and security subsystems deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly speedVSAvoidaccuracy in selecting services and security subsystems

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual expert configuration (mechanical human effort) with automated computational processes that use algorithms and device information to automatically determine appropriate services and security subsystems, thereby reducing cost while maintaining configuration accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback mechanisms by analyzing device information, requirements, and operational data to continuously improve the accuracy of automated service and security subsystem selection, ensuring that automated assembly maintains high precision through iterative optimization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10904078B2Systems and methods for autonomous creation of a domain specific industrial internet of things gateway using a conversational interface

Publication Date: 2021.01.26 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

Systems and methods are disclosed for executing a conversational interface for autonomous assembly and configuration of an Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) gateway. Methods comprise generating and transmitting, to a user over an electronic network, a plurality of questions regarding hardware and/or software assembly and configuration of an IIoT gateway; receiving, from the user over the electronic network, responses to the plurality of questions; generating a service specification in a domain specific language based on the received responses, the service specification identifying a plurality of services to be assembled on the IIoT gateway; generating, for each identified service of the generated service specification, a configuration specification in the domain specific language, each configuration specification defining a protocol of the respective identified service; and transmitting the configuration specification, to the user over the network, to enable the user to read, access, and download components listed in the configuration specification for installation on the IIoT gateway.