Coordinator Device Firmware Execution for IoT Cost Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity and cost of remote devices connected to cloud platforms, such as IoT devices, due to the need for features like timers, real-time clocks, and user interfaces, become significant when managing networks of hundreds or thousands of devices, necessitating a more efficient solution.
Innovation Solution
A coordinator device with communication and processing circuitry that connects to remote devices, receives remote device description data, and executes firmware outside the device, enabling the provision of necessary features like user interfaces and firmware updates without requiring these features on the remote devices themselves, using machine-independent firmware and sandboxing for security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If remote devices are equipped with features such as timers, real-time clocks, displays, and input devices to operate independently, then the devices can function autonomously in the field, but the cost and complexity of each device increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex functionality (timers, real-time clocks, displays, input devices) from the remote devices and relocates it to the coordinator device. The remote devices become simple data collection units that only need basic communication capabilities, while the coordinator handles all complex operations centrally.
Solution Approach 2:
The coordinator device serves multiple functions that were previously distributed across individual remote devices. It acts as a central platform providing timing services, display output, input processing, and communication to all connected remote devices, eliminating the need for each device to have its own complete feature set.
2Adaptability or versatility
If each remote device has its own firmware and processing capabilities, then devices can operate independently, but the system complexity and management overhead increases when scaling to hundreds or thousands of devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the firmware execution and processing capabilities of multiple remote devices into a single coordinator device. Instead of managing hundreds or thousands of independent firmware instances, the system consolidates all processing in one location, significantly reducing system management complexity while maintaining device independence through standardized communication interfaces.
3Ease of operation
If remote devices include all necessary features for field operation, then devices are fully functional, but the cost becomes considerable for large-scale deployments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts expensive features (displays, input devices, real-time clocks, timers) from individual remote devices and consolidates them in the coordinator device. This allows remote devices to be manufactured as simple, low-cost units with only essential communication hardware, dramatically reducing per-device cost while maintaining full functionality through the coordinator.
Data Source
AI summary
A coordinator device comprising communication circuitry configured to connect the coordinator device to a first remote device and to receive remote device description data for the first remote device from the first remote device. The coordinator device comprises processing circuitry configured to enable execution of firmware for the first remote device outside of the first remote device.