Device Gateway Protocol Translation and State Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The creation of a unified device communication environment is hindered by disparate technical characteristics among various devices, including different command sets and communication protocols, which complicates the formation of a single network environment.
Innovation Solution
A device communication system that employs a gateway server to route data and commands between electronic devices and a computing environment, using a distributed table to identify the appropriate gateway server for each device, and converting requests into formats usable within the computing environment, while also managing device registration, authentication, and state management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If devices with disparate technical characteristics (different command sets and communication protocols) are integrated into a unified network environment, then device connectivity and communication capability are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway server as an intermediary component that mediates between devices with disparate protocols and the unified network environment. The gateway receives requests from devices, translates them into appropriate command sets, and forwards them to the target devices. This intermediary approach allows devices with different communication protocols to interact without requiring direct compatibility, thereby improving adaptability while managing system complexity through centralized translation logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into distinct functional components: device registration modules, protocol translation modules, request routing modules, and state management modules. Each component handles specific aspects of device integration independently. This segmentation allows the system to manage complexity by dividing the integration task into manageable segments, where each segment can be developed, maintained, and scaled independently while contributing to overall device connectivity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If protocol translation and request conversion are performed for each device, then communication compatibility is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-registering devices and storing their communication characteristics, supported protocol mappings, and command set information in a centralized registry before actual communication occurs. This advance preparation allows the gateway to quickly retrieve translation rules and convert requests without performing complex analysis in real-time, thereby improving communication compatibility while reducing processing time during actual device interactions.
3Reliability
If centralized device management and authentication are implemented, then security and authorized access are improved, but system overhead and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway server is designed as a universal platform that performs multiple functions simultaneously: device registration, authentication, protocol translation, request routing, and state management. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional system, the patent improves security through centralized control while reducing operational overhead compared to implementing separate specialized systems for each function. The universal gateway handles diverse device types and protocols through a unified interface, improving operational efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing environment is disclosed that receives from devices requests directed toward services accessible in the environment, and that forwards communications from services in the environment to devices registered with the environment. During a registration process at the environment, devices are assigned a device identifier that is used to identify and authenticate each particular device and requests communicated from and to the device via the environment. The computing environment maintains state information for each device that has been registered with the system. As the device interacts with the system, the state information is updated to reflect the changes in the device. When requests to perform functions are received from devices, the computing environment determines for the particular device and the particular function requested what processing needs to be performed by the environment in response to the request.