Distributed IoT Messaging via AMQ Filters

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing IoT device communication systems rely on centralized brokers, which limit scalability, introduce communication latency, and create a single point of failure, making them inefficient for large-scale IoT networks.

Innovation Solution

A distributed publish-subscribe messaging system that forms a multiply connected mesh network without a centralized broker, using Approximate Member Query (AMQ) filters like Bloom filters for routing and forwarding decisions, allowing for efficient hop-by-hop routing and improved privacy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a centralized broker is used for IoT device communication, then message routing and forwarding is simplified, but scalability is limited and communication latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage routing simplicityVSAvoidsystem scalability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the centralized broker functionality into distributed components across multiple IoT devices. Each device maintains local subscription information and routing tables, eliminating the single point of failure while maintaining publish-subscribe functionality. This segmentation allows the system to scale horizontally across the mesh network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a two-dimensional centralized architecture (all messages through one broker) to a three-dimensional distributed mesh architecture where messages can route through multiple paths across multiple hops. This adds spatial dimensionality to message routing, improving both scalability and fault tolerance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If a centralized broker is used for IoT device communication, then message routing is simplified, but communication latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage routing simplicityVSAvoidcommunication latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the message routing process into local forwarding decisions at each mesh node, eliminating the need for messages to travel to and from a centralized broker. This reduces hop count and communication latency while maintaining routing simplicity through pre-computed routing tables.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary routing table computation and subscription information distribution before actual message publication. Each node pre-processes subscription data and builds forwarding tables, enabling immediate local routing decisions without real-time broker intervention, thus reducing communication latency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If a centralized broker is used for IoT device communication, then system architecture is simplified, but it creates a single point of failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem architecture complexityVSAvoidsystem fault tolerance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the broker functionality across multiple distributed nodes in the mesh network. Each node maintains local subscription state and routing information, eliminating the single point of failure. The segmented architecture provides inherent fault tolerance as message routing can dynamically adapt to node failures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the system parameter from centralized to distributed architecture. By modifying the organizational parameter of the publish-subscribe system from single-point to multi-point distribution, the patent achieves both improved reliability through redundancy and maintained operational simplicity through standardized node behavior.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of manufacture

If traditional routing methods are used in IoT networks, then implementation is straightforward, but privacy is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting implementation easeVSAvoidprivacy exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces encrypted topic filters and coded message payloads as intermediaries between publishers and subscribers. These cryptographic intermediaries enable private message routing without exposing subscription information or message content to intermediate mesh nodes, maintaining both implementation feasibility and privacy protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10742760B2Neworking internet of things (IoT) devices

Publication Date: 2020.08.11 INTEL CORP

AI summary

Techniques for implementing a publish-subscribe messaging system are disclosed. An example device generates a topic string comprising a string of characters that represent a subscription to a requested publication. A subscription filter is computed based on the topic string. The device is configured to receive a publication, which includes a data payload and a publication filter. The device performs a bitwise comparison of the subscription filter and the publication filter to determine whether the publication is a destination match for the subscription. If the publication is a destination match for the subscription, the device consumes the data payload of the publication.