IoT Bluetooth DTLS Channel for Secure Remote Device Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing deployment of IoT devices with limited resources and capabilities leads to high operations and maintenance costs, and using serial port methods poses safety risks for personnel, especially for off-ground devices.
Innovation Solution
Establish a Bluetooth connection and a DTLS protocol-based encrypted data channel between IoT devices and terminal devices to facilitate secure communication of configuration data, using a pre-shared key negotiation to ensure trust and security, and optimize data transmission through fragmentation and encryption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If serial port operations and maintenance method is used, then device compatibility is improved, but personnel safety deteriorates and maintenance cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical serial port connection system with a wireless Bluetooth communication system. The serial port method requires physical cable connections between maintenance personnel and IoT devices, creating safety risks especially for off-ground devices. The Bluetooth-based wireless communication eliminates the need for physical connections, thereby improving personnel safety while maintaining device compatibility through standard Bluetooth protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a terminal device (smartphone or tablet) as an intermediary between the maintenance personnel and the IoT device. Instead of directly connecting to the IoT device through serial ports, the terminal device establishes a Bluetooth connection with the IoT device and displays the serial port interface. This intermediary approach allows maintenance personnel to interact with the device remotely through a user-friendly interface while eliminating direct physical contact with the IoT device, thereby improving safety.
2Loss of information
If serial port operations and maintenance method is used, then data transmission is achieved, but maintenance cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the IoT device to provide self-service maintenance capabilities through the Bluetooth connection. The terminal device can automatically establish connections, display serial port interfaces, and facilitate data transmission without requiring manual intervention for physical cable connections. The system automatically handles connection establishment, device identification, and data communication, thereby reducing maintenance costs and improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the terminal device multi-functional by enabling it to serve as both a display interface and a communication intermediary. The terminal device can display the serial port interface, establish Bluetooth connections, transmit data, and provide user interaction capabilities. This multi-functionality consolidates multiple maintenance operations into a single device, reducing the need for separate tools and procedures, thereby lowering maintenance costs.
3Reliability
If Bluetooth connection with DTLS encryption is established, then personnel safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions to establish trust and security before actual data transmission. The terminal device and IoT device first establish a Bluetooth connection, then negotiate DTLS parameters, exchange certificates, and establish encryption keys in advance. This preliminary setup ensures that when data transmission occurs, the communication is already secured, thereby improving personnel safety without adding complexity to the actual data transmission process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the communication parameters from unencrypted serial port communication to encrypted DTLS communication. By modifying the protocol parameters to include encryption, authentication, and secure key exchange, the system achieves improved personnel safety. The parameter changes are implemented through standard DTLS handshakes that automatically configure security settings, thereby enhancing safety without requiring manual configuration or adding significant complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
This application discloses an internet of things (IoT) communication method and a device. The method may be applied to a main control central processing unit (CPU) in an IoT device. The main control CPU may be connected to a Bluetooth chip, establish a Bluetooth connection with a terminal device by using the Bluetooth chip, establish a datagram transport layer security (DTLS) protocol-based encrypted data channel with the terminal device based on the Bluetooth connection, and then communicate user data over the encrypted data channel. In this way, even if the Bluetooth chip fails to establish an encrypted Bluetooth connection with the terminal device, transmitting the user data over the encrypted data channel ensures security of the user data.