IMS Application Server Control for Connected Objects Behind NAT

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing control and monitoring systems for connected objects face challenges in real-time monitoring without constant polling, reaching objects behind NAT gateways or proxy servers, and bypassing firewall rules, especially when using private IP addresses, and are not applicable to large fleets of objects.

Innovation Solution

A method and system using an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network that includes an application server to receive messages, retrieve SIP numbers, send control messages to connected objects, and receive updates, allowing real-time control and monitoring without polling or broadcasting, even through private IP addresses or firewalls.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If periodic polling is used to monitor connected objects, then real-time monitoring capability is achieved, but network resource consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-time monitoring capabilityVSAvoidnetwork resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of the server actively polling connected objects for status updates, the system inverts the approach by having connected objects push their status information to the server when changes occur. This is achieved through the messaging server receiving messages from instant messaging clients associated with connected objects, thereby eliminating the need for continuous polling while maintaining real-time monitoring capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

Connected objects autonomously initiate status updates by sending messages through their associated instant messaging clients when sensor values change or resources are activated. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external polling, reducing network resource consumption while ensuring timely information delivery to the supervision server.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If connected objects use private IP addresses behind NAT gateways or proxy servers, then network security and address management are improved, but the ability to reach these objects for control and monitoring deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork security and address managementVSAvoidobject reachability for control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary messaging server that facilitates communication between the supervision server and connected objects behind NAT gateways. Control messages are sent through instant messaging clients associated with each connected object, allowing the supervision server to reach objects with private IP addresses without requiring direct network access or modifying firewall rules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Speed

If dedicated network channels are allocated for real-time telemetry broadcast from each connected object, then real-time communication capability is achieved, but system complexity and network resource requirements increase for large fleets

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-time communication capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity for large fleets

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a universal messaging infrastructure that serves multiple purposes: it enables real-time telemetry transmission, control message delivery, and status updates for all connected objects through a single shared messaging server. This eliminates the need for dedicated network channels per object, reducing system complexity while maintaining real-time communication capabilities across large fleets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10419518B2Control and supervision of connected objects

Publication Date: 2019.09.17 ALCATEL LUCENT SA

AI summary

For a supervision and control of connected objects registered in an IMS network, an application server performs the following: receiving a first message containing an identifier of a connected object (CO) from a supervision server (SS), retrieving a SIP number of the CO associated with the identifier, sending a second message containing the identifier to a messaging server (MS) of the IMS network the second message further containing instructions interpreted by the MS to send a control message to an instant messaging client of the CO using the SIP number, the second message and the control message containing a command that is executed by the CO to trigger a monitoring of a sensor of the CO or the activation of a resource of the CO, receiving an update message from the CO, the update message containing a value of a sensor of the CO or an acknowledgment of said activation.