IoT Device Access Management via Distributed Ledgers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accessing and managing information from IoT devices owned by disparate entities is challenging, particularly in incidents where public safety officers need additional information, such as video footage, due to difficulties in determining relevant devices, managing access, and authenticating these devices.
Innovation Solution
A communication system utilizing a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system connected to an IoT Gateway and distributed ledgers (Incident Ledger and IoT Ledger) for data management, where IoT devices are registered and affiliated with incidents based on geofence coordinates and device attributes, enabling secure and decentralized access to relevant data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If IoT devices are owned and managed by various disparate entities, then device diversity and coverage are improved, but access management and authentication become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centralized access management system that acts as an intermediary between public safety officers and IoT devices owned by disparate entities. This system handles authentication, authorization, and device discovery, allowing officers to access relevant devices without directly managing the complexity of multiple ownership entities. The intermediary abstracts the heterogeneity of device owners while maintaining unified access control.
2Ease of operation
If a centralized system is used to manage IoT device access, then access control is simplified, but single points of failure and security risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the access management system into multiple distributed components, including local device servers, regional hubs, and cloud-based services. This segmentation allows the system to maintain centralized coordination while distributing critical functions across multiple nodes, eliminating single points of failure. If one component fails, others can continue to provide access management services.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements redundant authentication mechanisms and backup access paths in advance. Multiple authentication methods (cryptographic keys, certificates, token-based systems) are prepared beforehand, along with fallback procedures. This cushioning ensures that if one authentication mechanism fails or is compromised, alternative methods are already in place to maintain security and access continuity.
3Device complexity
If all IoT devices are authenticated through a single entity, then authentication process is simplified, but security vulnerabilities increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by allowing different authentication methods and security policies for different device types, owners, and contexts. Rather than applying a uniform authentication approach to all devices, the system tailors authentication mechanisms to specific device characteristics and ownership structures. This enables simplified authentication for some devices while maintaining enhanced security for others, optimizing both ease of operation and security on a per-device basis.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for registering an Internet of Things (IoT) device to an incident IoT ledger system is provided. An IoT device is installed at a location. At least one feature of the IoT device is prevented from functioning the IoT device is registered with an incident IoT ledger system. Upon registering incident-relevant attributes associated with the IoT device and the location of the IoT device with an incident IoT ledger system, full functioning of the IoT device is enabled after successful registration with the incident IoT ledger system.