Gesture-Based Wireless Node Commissioning Without Keypads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional out-of-band commissioning schemes for small wireless node devices, such as wireless sensor nodes, require bulky input devices like displays or keyboards, limiting their physical size and strategic placement.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for out-of-band commissioning using gesture inputs, where a user performs a sequence of gestures on a wireless sensor node device to establish connectivity and unique identification, utilizing a gesture interface and a server device to verify the gesture sequence for secure pairing and commissioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional out-of-band commissioning schemes use displays, keyboards, or keypads for input, then secure commissioning and device identification can be achieved, but the physical size of the wireless node device increases and strategic placement options are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the input interface requirements from the wireless node device itself and relocates them to an external commissioning device. The node device only needs to emit light patterns, while the commissioning device (smartphone, tablet, or computer with camera) performs the gesture recognition and input functions. This extraction eliminates the need for bulky input devices like keyboards or keypads on the node device, resolving the contradiction between secure commissioning and compact size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces light patterns as an intermediary communication medium between the wireless node device and the commissioning device. Instead of requiring direct physical input interfaces, the node device communicates commissioning information through emitted light patterns that the commissioning device's camera captures and interprets. This intermediary approach enables secure commissioning without requiring physical input devices on the node device.
2Ease of operation
If displays or keyboards are integrated into wireless sensor node devices for commissioning input, then commissioning functionality is enabled, but the device form factor becomes bulky and placement flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the display and keyboard functions from the wireless node device and relocates them to an external commissioning device. The node device only needs to emit light patterns, while the commissioning device (smartphone, tablet, or computer with camera) performs the gesture recognition and input functions. This extraction eliminates the need for bulky input devices on the node device, resolving the contradiction between commissioning functionality and compact form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the commissioning device universal by allowing it to serve multiple purposes: it can commission multiple different node devices, store commissioning information, and perform gesture recognition. This multi-functionality approach enables the commissioning device to replace specialized input interfaces on each node device, achieving ease of operation without compromising the node device's form factor.
3Reliability
If bulky input devices are used for out-of-band commissioning, then secure key establishment is possible, but strategic placement of sensors is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the input interface requirements from the wireless node device and relocates them to an external commissioning device. The node device only needs to emit light patterns, while the commissioning device (smartphone, tablet, or computer with camera) performs the gesture recognition and input functions. This extraction eliminates the need for bulky input devices on the node device, enabling placement in locations where even small devices cannot be positioned.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical input devices (keyboards, keypads, physical buttons) with an optical system. The node device uses light-emitting components to communicate commissioning information, and the commissioning device uses a camera to capture and interpret light patterns. This substitution of mechanical systems with optical systems eliminates the need for bulky physical interfaces while maintaining secure commissioning capabilities, thereby improving placement flexibility.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of performing out-of-band commissioning is provided. The method may include enabling a pairing mode on a commissioning device, generating a gesture code on the commissioning device, receiving a gesture input on a node device, verifying an agreement between the gesture code and the gesture input, and commissioning the node device based on the agreement or pairing the node device with the commissioning device based on the agreement.