IoT Broker Architecture for Publish-Subscribe Data Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cellular IoT networks lack support for a publish-subscribe model, which is necessary for flexible and efficient data distribution among multiple devices, as they are based on point-to-point bearer type communications.

Innovation Solution

A broker device is introduced to facilitate a publish-subscribe model in IoT networks, enabling flexible data distribution by managing publisher and subscriber registrations and distributing data based on category-specific identifiers, supporting various wireless technologies and protocols.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If point-to-point bearer type communications are used in cellular IoT networks, then device compatibility and network support are ensured, but data distribution flexibility and efficiency among multiple devices are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata distribution flexibilityVSAvoidcommunication architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a broker device as an intermediary component that mediates between publisher devices and subscriber devices. The broker receives published data from publishers, processes it according to subscription criteria, and distributes it to appropriate subscribers. This intermediary architecture enables flexible many-to-many data distribution while maintaining compatibility with existing cellular network infrastructure, resolving the contradiction between distribution flexibility and architectural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If publisher-subscribe model is implemented without a broker device, then direct communication between devices is simplified, but data routing and distribution management become inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission efficiencyVSAvoiddata distribution management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The broker device serves as a centralized management entity that handles data routing, filtering, and distribution. Publishers send data to the broker without needing to know about subscribers, and subscribers receive data from the broker without needing to know about publishers. This decoupling mechanism significantly improves data transmission efficiency while the broker manages the complexity of data distribution centrally, resolving the contradiction between productivity and management complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional cellular IoT architecture is used, then network coverage and reliability are maintained, but support for publish-subscribe model and flexible data distribution is lacking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepublish-subscribe model supportVSAvoidcommunication reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The broker device is designed to work within existing cellular network architectures while implementing publish-subscribe functionality. It can handle multiple communication protocols and data types, supporting various IoT applications. The broker maintains reliable communication by using existing cellular network infrastructure for data transmission, thus achieving multi-functionality that supports publish-subscribe models without sacrificing the reliability provided by conventional cellular networks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4260545B1Broker device, publisher device, publisher-subscriber system
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP4260545B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4260545B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4260545B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A broker device for an internet-of-things network, the broker device including circuitry having a communication interface, the circuitry being configured to communicate with one or more publisher devices and with a plurality of subscriber devices via the communication interface, wherein the circuitry is further configured to: receive published data from a publisher device of the one or more publisher devices that is registered as a publisher for a data category at the broker device, wherein the published data includes data payload and a data identifier indicating the data category of the data payload; and transmit at least the data payload of the received published data to at least one subscriber device of the plurality of subscriber devices that is registered as a subscriber for the data category at the broker device.