Hierarchical Edge Synchronization for Low-Latency IoT Data Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing IoT systems face challenges with high costs, latency, and reliability due to remote data storage and processing in cloud servers, leading to inefficient data communication and disconnected devices that cannot send or receive critical information.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an edge compute continuum with a hierarchy-based architecture that distributes data and processing across multiple layers of computer infrastructure, allowing devices to request information from a single known source and leveraging edge computing to reduce reliance on cloud communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data is stored and processed in remote cloud servers, then data security and centralized management are improved, but communication cost and latency increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata securityVSAvoidcommunication latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the centralized cloud architecture into a distributed edge computing continuum with multiple hierarchical levels (cloud, edge data centers, local edge devices). This segmentation allows data processing to occur closer to the source, reducing communication latency while maintaining security through distributed validation and synchronization mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces edge computing nodes as intermediaries between end devices and the central cloud. These intermediaries process and validate data locally before syncing with the cloud, reducing the need for constant cloud communication while ensuring data security through cryptographic validation and consensus protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If data is stored in remote cloud servers, then centralized management is improved, but communication cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecentralized managementVSAvoidcommunication cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the centralized cloud management function into a distributed hierarchical continuum where each edge node autonomously manages its local data and devices. This reduces communication costs by eliminating the need for every device to communicate directly with the central cloud, while centralized management is maintained through periodic synchronization and coordination protocols between hierarchical levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If applications run on remote cloud devices, then hardware requirements at edge are reduced, but response time and reliability during disconnection worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveedge hardware requirementsVSAvoidoperation during disconnection

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments application execution between cloud and edge, with critical applications running locally at edge nodes and non-critical applications remaining in the cloud. This segmentation enables operations to continue during disconnection for critical functions while maintaining reduced hardware requirements through selective local execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary synchronization of application code and data to edge nodes before disconnection events occur. This allows edge devices to execute applications locally during disconnection, improving reliability while maintaining simpler hardware requirements by only caching essential resources in advance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple hops are used to connect user to cloud, then network flexibility is improved, but data access speed and reliability worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork flexibilityVSAvoiddata access speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the network path into a hierarchical continuum with direct connection paths at each level. Users can access data through the nearest edge node in the hierarchy, reducing the number of hops while maintaining network flexibility through multiple possible paths and adaptive routing between hierarchical levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12483620B2Edge synchronization systems and methods

Publication Date: 2025.11.25 CLEARBLADE

AI summary

The present invention relates to IoT devices existing in a deployed ecosystem. The various computers in the deployed ecosystem are able to respond to requests from a device directly associated with it in a particular hierarchy, or it may seek a response to the request from a high order logic/data source (parent). The logic/data source parent may then repeat the understanding process to either provide the necessary response to the logic/data source child who then replies to the device or it will again ask a parent logic/data sources for the appropriate response. This architecture allows for a single device to make one request to a single known source and potentially get a response back from the entire ecosystem of distributed servers.