Fiber Optic Virtual Sensing for IoT Infrastructure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Deploying individual sensors across large areas, such as IoT infrastructure, is challenging due to the risk of missing events and requires manual intervention for maintenance and reconfiguration, while existing methods lack efficient means for monitoring physical parameters like optical loss, temperature, and mechanical stress in optical fibers.
Innovation Solution
Implementing virtual sensors associated with optical fibers that utilize backscattering signals for measurements, enabling the creation of virtual instruments to monitor physical parameters like optical attenuation, temperature, and mechanical stress without manual intervention, compatible with IoT systems and wireless networks, and integrated with fog or edge computing for real-time data processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If individual physical sensors are deployed across large areas, then measurement coverage is improved, but device complexity and manual maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual sensors that are software instances replicating the functionality of physical sensors. These virtual sensors are deployed across multiple network nodes without requiring corresponding physical sensors at each location, thereby achieving extensive coverage area while reducing device complexity and manual deployment requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical deployment and maintenance of physical sensors with a software-based virtual sensing system. The virtual sensors are instantiated through software configuration rather than physical installation, eliminating the need for manual sensor deployment, positioning, and maintenance across large areas.
2Measurement precision
If physical sensors are deployed for monitoring, then measurement capability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to manual reconfiguration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual sensors automatically inherit configuration parameters, detection thresholds, and operational settings from their template definitions. The system self-manages sensor instantiation, positioning, and parameter configuration without requiring manual reconfiguration operations, thereby maintaining measurement precision while significantly improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic parameter changes in virtual sensors through software configuration without physical intervention. Operators can modify detection parameters, thresholds, and monitoring settings by changing software parameters rather than physically reconfiguring sensors, thereby maintaining measurement capability while improving operational ease.
3Area of stationary object
If comprehensive sensor deployment is implemented, then monitoring coverage is improved, but loss of time increases due to manual maintenance interventions
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual sensing system operates continuously without requiring maintenance interventions. The software-based architecture allows for automatic fault detection, self-diagnosis, and continuous data collection without the need to physically access or maintain sensors, thereby maintaining comprehensive monitoring coverage while eliminating time loss to manual maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
By deploying virtual sensors as software instances rather than physical sensors, the system achieves comprehensive monitoring coverage without the time-consuming physical maintenance required for actual sensor hardware. The virtual sensors can be instantiated, configured, and maintained through software operations that do not require time-consuming physical interventions.
4Ease of operation
If virtual sensors are deployed without manual intervention, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual sensing system incorporates feedback mechanisms that automatically verify measurement quality and adjust parameters to maintain precision. The system monitors the performance of virtual sensors and can self-correct measurement discrepancies, ensuring that the ease of operation achieved through automated deployment does not compromise measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs universal template definitions that can be applied across multiple virtual sensor instances. These templates encapsulate best practices for measurement precision, allowing automated deployment while maintaining accuracy through standardized, pre-validated configuration parameters that ensure measurement quality without manual intervention.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution eliminates the need for manual sensor reconfiguration, provides comprehensive monitoring of optical fiber parameters, and supports IoT infrastructure by enabling real-time data processing and proactive detection of issues like fiber damage or third-party intrusion, enhancing network integrity and performance.
Implementation Method 1
The optical fibers may transmit light from a source to a destination
Implementation Method 2
The transmitted light may be backscattered and reflected
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, fiber optic virtual sensing may include generating, by a virtual sensor generator that is operatively connected to a device under test (DUT), at least one virtual sensor along the DUT. A DUT interrogator may be operatively connected to the DUT to transmit a stimulus optical signal into the DUT. The DUT interrogator may analyze reflected light resulting from the transmitted stimulus optical signal. The DUT interrogator may determine, based on the analysis of the reflected light, an attribute of the DUT sensed by the at least one virtual sensor.