Data Model Version Management for IoT Compatibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

In IoT systems, managing multiple data models and ensuring compatibility and consistency across various applications and devices is challenging, particularly when introducing new data models or updating existing ones, as it requires complex settings and verification of settings information across multiple modules, leading to potential compatibility issues and inefficient data access control.

Innovation Solution

A data processing apparatus that manages both common and unique data models, using data model definition files to define openness and privateness of data, and maintains compatibility by registering version correspondence between data models and modules, allowing flexible data model management and access control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a common data model is designed to be shared by multiple applications, then ease of operation and ease of manufacture are improved, but application implementation complexity increases and processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of application implementationVSAvoidapplication implementation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the data model into application-specific data models, where each application has its own dedicated data model rather than forcing all applications to use a single common data model. This segmentation allows each application to be implemented with optimal data structures for its specific needs, reducing implementation complexity while maintaining the benefits of standardized interfaces through the gateway.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a data gateway as an intermediary component that mediates between application-specific data models and the external environment. The gateway handles data conversion, validation, and interface standardization, allowing applications to use simple, optimized data models internally while presenting standardized interfaces externally, thus reducing both implementation complexity and processing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a common data model is designed to be shared by multiple applications, then ease of operation is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of application implementationVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting data models into application-specific instances, the patent eliminates the need for applications to perform complex data transformation and combination operations required by a single common data model. Each application processes data in its optimal format, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining ease of operation through standardized gateway interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables each application to serve itself with its own optimized data model, eliminating the need to rely on a generic common data model that requires additional processing steps. Applications can directly process data in their native formats while the gateway handles the coordination and standardization, reducing overall system processing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If data is stored in a form optimized for a single application, then processing efficiency is improved, but adaptability to other applications decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoiddata model adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements universality through the data gateway, which provides standardized interfaces and data conversion capabilities that enable application-specific data models to serve multiple applications. The gateway translates between different data model formats, allowing each application to maintain its optimized data structure while the system as a whole achieves multi-application adaptability through the gateway's universal interface layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3920039B1Information processing device, method, and program
Publication Date: 2024.10.16 NIPPON TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE CORP
  • EP3920039B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3920039B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3920039B1 patent drawingFigure 4A

AI summary

An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a common data model management unit that manages information indicating a common data model corresponding to a plurality of modules in common; a unique data model management unit that manages information indicating a unique data model corresponding to at least one of the modules; and a common management unit that manages a version of a module corresponding to the common data model managed by the common data model management unit, a version of a module corresponding to the unique data model managed by the unique data model management unit, and a version of a module corresponding to a newly installed data model, and verifies compatibility of the versions.