Edge Gateway Protocol Translation for Device Discovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional device discovery mechanisms struggle to manage and communicate with devices that support non-standard or proprietary protocols, especially those that do not connect directly to a network, limiting the ability to integrate and manage complex networks effectively.
Innovation Solution
An edge gateway is employed to facilitate communication with devices using non-standard or proprietary protocols, receiving program logic to execute on the edge gateway, allowing for the discovery and management of devices by providing digital representations of their properties and capabilities, enabling effective communication and orchestration across diverse networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional device discovery mechanisms are used, then devices supporting standard protocols can be easily discovered and controlled, but devices supporting nonstandard or proprietary protocols cannot be discovered or managed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protocol translation layer that acts as an intermediary between devices using proprietary protocols and the standard network management system. This translation layer converts proprietary protocol messages into standard protocols, enabling the management system to discover and control diverse devices without directly supporting each proprietary protocol, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal device abstraction layer that provides a standardized interface for managing devices regardless of their native protocols. This abstraction layer enables the network management system to interact with all devices through a common interface, making the system universally applicable to diverse device types while maintaining manageable complexity through standardization.
2Productivity
If edge gateway executes program logic for device discovery, then discovery and orchestration of diverse devices can be performed effectively, but processing and memory resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements selective program logic execution on the edge gateway, where the gateway executes discovery and management routines only for specific device types or when triggered by particular events, rather than continuously monitoring all devices. This partial execution approach improves discovery efficiency for targeted devices while reducing unnecessary resource consumption during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preliminary program logic that pre-configures device discovery parameters and protocols based on expected device types before actual discovery operations begin. This preliminary setup reduces the computational overhead during active discovery by having translation rules and device profiles pre-loaded, thereby improving discovery efficiency while minimizing real-time processing demands on gateway resources.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment includes a computational instance managing a managed network of computing devices, some communicating by proprietary protocol, and comprising a database storing representations of the computing devices and one or more sets of program logic configured to support the proprietary protocol, as well as one or more server devices configured to: receive, from an edge gateway software application, a request identifying a particular computing device on the managed network that communicates by the proprietary protocol; based on this request, select a set of the program logic configured to support the proprietary protocol; transmit a representation of the program logic, receipt of which is configured to cause the edge gateway software application to execute the set of program logic and obtain thereby configuration and state information from the particular computing device; receive, from the edge gateway software application, the configuration and state information; and store the configuration and state information.