Context-Aware IoT Permissioning via Hierarchical Collections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing access control for IoT devices is inefficient due to static permissions and the dynamic nature of IoT environments, leading to high overhead in managing large numbers of devices deployed in unattended locations with frequently changing environments.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic, context-aware model is used to create device collections based on context attributes, allowing for scalable and flexible permissioning by varying context parameters, with hierarchical categories such as location, device type, and OS version, enabling configuration of permission models based on context parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If static permissions are used for IoT device access control, then system simplicity is maintained, but management efficiency deteriorates due to inability to adapt to dynamic environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic permissioning where access rights are not fixed but change based on real-time context attributes such as device location, operational state, and environmental conditions. The permission model transitions from static to dynamic by continuously evaluating context parameters and automatically adjusting access privileges without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes permission parameters based on varying context attributes. Instead of fixed permission levels, the system adjusts access rights by modifying parameters such as location-based access, device state-dependent permissions, and context-driven authorization levels, allowing flexible adaptation to different scenarios.
2Adaptability or versatility
If hierarchical device collections are implemented, then scalability is improved, but system complexity increases due to multiple hierarchical levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the IoT device network into hierarchical collections organized by context attributes such as location, device type, and operational state. This segmentation allows large numbers of devices to be divided into manageable groups at different hierarchical levels, making the system scalable while maintaining organized structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The hierarchical collection structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it organizes devices for scalability, enables context-aware permissioning, and provides a framework for both static and dynamic access control. The same hierarchical framework supports various permissioning strategies without requiring separate structures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If context-aware dynamic permissioning is implemented, then adaptability to changing environments is improved, but computational overhead increases due to continuous context monitoring
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-defining permission rules and context thresholds before runtime. Context attributes and permission criteria are established in advance, allowing the system to quickly evaluate whether conditions are met without performing complex computations in real-time, thus reducing computational overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The implementation uses feedback mechanisms where context changes trigger permission re-evaluations only when thresholds are crossed. Instead of continuous monitoring and computation, the system receives feedback from context sensors and adjusts permissions only when significant changes occur, minimizing unnecessary computational overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
Metadata associated with IoT devices is stored. The metadata may include categories associated with the IoT devices. At least a first category may be hierarchical such that the first category includes at least two hierarchical levels, with each hierarchical level including at least two categories, and such that each category in a hierarchical level that is below another hierarchical level is a subset of one of the categories in the hierarchical levels above that hierarchical level. User information associated with users is stored. A request associated with one of the users and further associated with access to at least one of the IoT devices is received. Responsive to the request, the access is selectively granted to the at least one of the IoT devices based upon the stored user information and the stored metadata.