Sensor Attribute Determination from Element Relationships in IoT Models

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Solution Overview

Problem

In IoT systems, the efficiency of controlling physical facilities is low due to the lack of setting attribute information for sensors, requiring frequent reassociation between information models and sensors during facility installations or changes, leading to inefficient data utilization and facility management.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus that includes a selector to set relationships between elements, a setter to establish these relationships based on predefined information, and a determiner to automatically determine attribute information for sensors, using a mapping device to generate instance information that satisfies predefined restrictions, thereby facilitating efficient sensor-data association and facility control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If attribute information is manually set for sensors, then the accuracy of data utilization is improved, but the time and labor required for facility management increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of attribute informationVSAvoidtime for setting attribute information
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by automatically determining attribute information for sensors through machine learning models. The sensor attribute determination unit processes sensor data and automatically generates attribute information without requiring manual intervention, allowing the system to serve itself in the attribute setting task.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical manual setting process with an automated information processing system. The machine learning model and attribute determination unit substitute human operators, using computational algorithms to automatically extract and determine sensor attributes from raw data, thereby eliminating the need for manual configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If association between information model and sensors is recreated for each facility installation, then the adaptability to new facilities is improved, but the efficiency of facility management deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to new facilitiesVSAvoidefficiency of facility management
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system achieves universality by creating a reusable association between the information model and sensor attributes that can be applied across multiple facilities. The determined attribute information serves as a universal template that can be automatically applied to new facilities, eliminating the need to recreate associations for each installation while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by determining and storing attribute information associations in advance during initial facility setup. These pre-established associations can then be automatically reused for new facility installations, allowing the system to prepare ahead of time and avoid repetitive configuration work during subsequent deployments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If manual verification of sensor attribute information is performed, then the reliability of data utilization is improved, but the complexity of the management process increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of data utilizationVSAvoidcomplexity of management process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by using machine learning models that continuously learn from sensor data and improve attribute determination accuracy over time. The model processes sensor inputs, generates attribute information, and can be refined based on feedback from actual system performance, thereby maintaining high reliability while automating the verification process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4060432A1Information processing apparatus, information processing method, information processing system, and computer program
Publication Date: 2022.09.21 KK TOSHIBA
  • EP4060432A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4060432A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4060432A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

According to one approach, an information processing apparatus, includes: a selector configured to select, for a first element of a plurality of elements in first information including the elements and including a first relationship between the elements, relationship setting information being information for setting a second relationship between the first element and at least one second element of the elements; a setter configured to set the second relationship between the first element and the at least one second element, based on the relationship setting information; and a determiner configured to determine attribute information on the first element, based on the second relationship and the first information.