Enterprise Service Access Mediator for Smart Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smart devices with limited processing capabilities face difficulties in accessing and utilizing enterprise services due to communication protocol differences and security constraints, making it challenging for them to interact with backend systems effectively.
Innovation Solution
An enterprise service access mediator system is introduced, comprising a virtual proxy device and a service adaptor that receives messages from smart devices, parses requests, determines the appropriate enterprise service request protocol, and sends requests to backend devices, facilitating communication and access to enterprise services without requiring extensive processing from the smart devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If smart devices directly access enterprise services, then processing capabilities are required at the device level, but smart devices have limited processing capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system (service adapter and virtual proxy device) between smart devices and enterprise services. The service adapter translates device-specific protocols into enterprise service protocols, while the virtual proxy device provides a standardized interface. This mediator handles the protocol conversion and complexity management, allowing smart devices with limited processing capabilities to access enterprise services without requiring enhanced device processing power.
2Adaptability or versatility
If smart devices access enterprise services using standardized protocols, then interoperability is improved, but protocol conversion complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The service adapter acts as a protocol translation intermediary that converts between device-specific communication protocols and standardized enterprise service protocols (such as SOAP, REST). The system maintains multiple protocol adapters that can translate various device protocols into unified enterprise service interfaces, enabling protocol compatibility without requiring each smart device to implement complex protocol conversion logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the protocol conversion function into separate, reusable adapter components. Each adapter handles a specific device protocol type, and these adapters are composed into a virtual proxy device. This segmentation allows complex protocol conversion to be divided into manageable units that can be independently developed, maintained, and exchanged between devices.
3Productivity
If enterprise services are made accessible to smart devices, then service utilization increases, but security constraints complicate access
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual proxy device serves as a security intermediary that sits between smart devices and enterprise services. It handles authentication, authorization, and security policy enforcement before requests reach the backend services. The proxy device can implement security contexts, manage device credentials, and filter requests based on security policies, thereby enabling service utilization while maintaining robust security controls without requiring each smart device to implement complex security mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for mediating enterprise service access for smart devices. A first message may be received at an enterprise service proxy device from a smart device via a first protocol associated with the smart device. It may be determined that the first message includes a smart device request for processing via an enterprise service located at a backend device. An enterprise service request and an associated enterprise request protocol may be determined based on the smart device request and a service adaptation description associated with the enterprise service and the first protocol. The enterprise service request may be sent to the backend device via the associated enterprise request protocol.