DSoM Gateway for IoT Cellular Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cellular communication technologies are complex and unsuitable for massive Internet-of-Things (IoT) applications, particularly for billions of devices, due to low-level nature, standards-based constraints, and complex certificate management, which are not scalable for embedded developers using underpowered microcontrollers.
Innovation Solution
A communication device configured to communicatively couple a microcontroller with a cloud-based service, featuring a wireless cellular transceiver, secure authentication, and power management, enabling asynchronous data synchronization and secure communication without the need for complex modem management or high-level APIs, using a Data System-On-Module (DSoM) or Data System in a Package (DSiP) with integrated modem, storage, and security features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard cellular communication protocols and certificate management are used, then secure communication is achieved, but device complexity and implementation difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway device as an intermediary between the microcontroller and cloud services. The gateway handles complex certificate management, SSL/TLS encryption, and cellular communication protocols, while the microcontroller only needs to send simple data packets. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by centralizing security complexity in the gateway while keeping the microcontroller implementation simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into two functional parts: a simple microcontroller for data collection and a sophisticated gateway for communication and security management. This segmentation allows the complex security functions to be isolated in the gateway while the microcontroller remains simple, resolving the contradiction between security requirements and implementation complexity.
2Loss of information
If continuous data synchronization is implemented, then data freshness is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic data synchronization instead of continuous communication. The microcontroller collects data locally and the gateway synchronizes with cloud services at scheduled intervals. This periodic approach maintains data freshness while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous synchronization, as the radio and processing units can remain in low-power states between synchronization events.
Solution Approach 2:
Data is pre-collected and buffered in the microcontroller before synchronization events. This preliminary action allows the system to maintain fresh local data without continuous communication, reducing power consumption by batching transmissions rather than continuously polling or pushing data.
3Adaptability or versatility
If full-featured cellular modems with high-level APIs are used, then communication capability is improved, but device cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device serves multiple functions: cellular modem, SSL certificate manager, cloud service interface, and data buffer. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional gateway, the system avoids the need for each microcontroller to have expensive, full-featured integrated modems, thereby reducing overall device cost while maintaining comprehensive communication capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication device (e.g., a data system on a module (DSoM)/a Data System in a Package (DSiP)) for communicatively coupling a computing device with a cloud-based service to synchronize one or more data modifications, on an asynchronous basis with respect to one another is provided. The communication device may be configured to be communicatively coupled to the computing device and may include a wireless cellular transceiver. The communication device may be configured to one or more of transmit at least one data object from the computing device to the cloud-based service and receive at least one data object from the cloud-based service. Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a distributed replicated spatiotemporal database packaged on a communication device and integrated with an internet-based secure communication hub.