Dynamic Access-Point Configuration for Containerized IoT Applications
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Solution Overview
Problem
The Internet of Things (IoT) marketplace lacks interoperability standards, leading to fragmented and siloed systems, requiring users to purchase additional dedicated equipment to connect disparate devices and cloud services, resulting in custom, expensive, and inflexible solutions that limit scalability and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A computer system dynamically configures a computer network device with a containerized data-driven application and associated metadata, allowing for dynamic repurposing of the device's functions by receiving and authenticating the application from a cloud-based registry, and providing it to the device along with specified metadata that defines resources and constraints, enabling extended functionality beyond initial hardware capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the IoT marketplace uses diverse competing devices and services without interoperability standards, then device functionality and capabilities can be specialized and enhanced, but system fragmentation increases and requires additional dedicated equipment for integration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal container platform that can execute multiple different applications on a single access point device. The containerized application architecture allows one device to perform multiple functions (networking, IoT gateway, cloud connectivity, device management) without requiring separate dedicated equipment for each function, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses virtualization to create virtual copies of computing environments within the access point device. Containerized applications run as isolated virtual instances, allowing multiple application environments to coexist on single hardware, eliminating the need for multiple physical devices and reducing integration complexity
2Reliability
If custom vendor-specific solutions are deployed to integrate disparate IoT components, then interoperability between specific devices can be achieved, but solution flexibility decreases and scalability becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the system into independent containerized applications that can be selectively deployed and managed. Each application (IoT gateway, cloud connector, device manager) operates as an independent unit within the container platform, allowing flexible composition and configuration to achieve interoperability without committing to rigid vendor-specific solutions
Solution Approach 2:
The container platform enables dynamic deployment, activation, and deactivation of applications based on real-time needs. Users can add, remove, or update containerized applications without reconfiguring the entire system, providing adaptability and flexibility while maintaining reliable interoperability through standardized container interfaces
3Reliability
If additional dedicated equipment is purchased to connect different IoT devices and cloud services, then communication and data exchange between components is enabled, but system cost increases and scalability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple communication functions and services into a single access point device through containerized applications. The IoT gateway container, cloud service container, and device management container all run on the same hardware platform, consolidating what would traditionally require multiple separate devices into one unified system
Solution Approach 2:
The access point device is transformed into a universal platform capable of handling diverse communication protocols, cloud service integrations, and device connectivity types through its containerized application architecture, eliminating the need for specialized dedicated equipment for each communication requirement
4Ease of operation
If static device configurations are used with predefined hardware capabilities, then device simplicity and ease of deployment are maintained, but functional adaptability and ability to extend capabilities are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic configuration through containerized applications that can be deployed, activated, and configured after the device is initially deployed. The access point starts with basic networking functionality, and additional capabilities are added by deploying containerized applications as needed, maintaining deployment simplicity while enabling functional adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The container platform is pre-configured in the access point device during manufacturing, creating a ready-to-use foundation that simplifies initial deployment. Substantial functionality can be activated by simply deploying pre-built container images, combining the simplicity of static configuration with the flexibility of dynamic extension
Data Source
AI summary
A computer system (such as a controller) that dynamically configures a computer network device with a containerized data-driven application and associated metadata is described. During operation, the computer system may receive information specifying the containerized data-driven application. Then, the computer system may receive second information specifying metadata associated with the containerized data-driven application. For example, the second information may include one or more modifications to predefined metadata. Moreover, the computer system may perform authentication using an authentication proxy. Next, the computer system may obtain, in a cloud-based registry of containerized data-driven applications, the containerized data-driven application. Furthermore, the computer system may provide, addressed to the computer network device, the containerized data-driven application and the metadata.