Entity Manager Profile for Multi-Node Resource Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for managing and aggregating data from constrained nodes in networks, such as those in the Internet of Things, face challenges with multicast communication, including duplication, unreliability, and complexity in managing multiple nodes, leading to inefficient and inflexible applications with high communication overhead.

Innovation Solution

A method for creating profiles that group resources and capabilities across multiple nodes, allowing clients to interact with them through a single interface, reducing the need for individual node interactions and enhancing flexibility and reuse.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multicast communication is used to transmit requests to multiple nodes, then communication efficiency is improved, but message duplication occurs and reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidmessage delivery reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an entity manager as an intermediary between clients and multiple constrained nodes. The entity manager receives client requests, manages entity profiles containing node identifiers, and coordinates communication with individual nodes. This intermediary approach maintains communication efficiency while ensuring reliable delivery by avoiding multicast duplication issues and providing centralized request management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If individual node interactions are implemented to access resources across multiple nodes, then communication overhead increases, but application flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication overheadVSAvoidapplication flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple node interactions into a unified entity profile managed by the entity manager. Instead of clients interacting with each node individually, the entity profile consolidates node identifiers and resource information, allowing clients to access resources across multiple nodes through a single interface. This reduces communication overhead while maintaining application flexibility through the standardized profile structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The entity profile serves as a universal interface that can represent and manage resources across different types of constrained nodes. The profile structure is designed to be multi-functional, supporting various resource types and node configurations through a common access mechanism, thereby reducing communication overhead without limiting application versatility.

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

3Productivity

If complex user applications are created to aggregate data from multiple nodes, then data aggregation capability is improved, but application complexity increases and flexibility decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata aggregation capabilityVSAvoidapplication complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The entity manager acts as an intermediary that handles the complexity of data aggregation from multiple nodes. Instead of requiring user applications to implement complex aggregation logic, the entity manager manages entity profiles and coordinates data collection from referenced nodes, thereby improving data aggregation capability while keeping user applications simple and flexible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If profiles are created to group resources across multiple nodes, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of node interactionVSAvoidentity management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The entity profile is designed to be self-descriptive, containing all necessary information about grouped nodes and their resources. The profile structure includes node identifiers and resource information that enable automatic resolution and access, improving ease of operation while minimizing the need for complex external management infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2939395B1Creating a profile for accessing resources across a plurality of nodes
Publication Date: 2024.04.10 KONINK KPN NV
  • EP2939395B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2939395B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2939395B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for creating a profile for accessing or manipulating resources across a plurality of nodes in a network is disclosed. An entity manager receives a request from a client to create a profile, and preferably validates the request. The entity manager generates said profile and the profile is addressable by a profile identifier. A client may use the profile to interact with the resources across the plurality of nodes using the profile identifier.