IoT Device Control Group Pairing and Data Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing IoT systems face limitations in dynamic control-group pairing and data synchronization across devices, particularly in the absence of a central hub, leading to inflexible device interactions and potential data loss during connectivity failures.
Innovation Solution
Devices are programmed to dynamically change control group pairings based on time and location, and they share and synchronize operational data among themselves, enabling flexible inter-device relationships and quick data restoration after failures without a central controller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If devices use fixed inter-device connections, then device pairing is stable and reliable, but device adaptability and flexibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control-group pairing where devices can change their group assignments based on time and location context. Devices transition between different control groups dynamically, allowing the system to adapt to changing environmental conditions while maintaining stable connections within each group context.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes pairing parameters (control-group assignments) based on contextual parameters (time and location). When contextual parameters change, devices reconfigure their group memberships accordingly, enabling flexible adaptation without compromising connection reliability within each contextual state.
2Reliability
If a central hub coordinates device operation, then data synchronization is centralized and simple, but system complexity and single point of failure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized coordination function into distributed components across multiple devices. Each device maintains its own control logic and can independently manage its control-group memberships, eliminating the single point of failure while distributing the coordination complexity across capable devices.
Solution Approach 2:
Devices autonomously manage their own control-group pairings based on their contextual state (time and location). Each device independently determines when to join or leave control groups without requiring central hub intervention, reducing system complexity while improving resilience.
3Loss of information
If operational data is stored centrally, then data consistency is easy to maintain, but data loss during connectivity failures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local data storage at each device rather than centralized storage. Each device maintains its own operational data locally, ensuring data availability even during connectivity failures. The data synchronization complexity is managed through controlled-group-based data exchange protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
Devices maintain local copies of operational data as a buffer against connectivity failures. This beforehand cushioning ensures that even if connection is lost, devices retain their data and can continue operating independently until connectivity is restored.
4Adaptability or versatility
If devices dynamically change control group pairings, then system flexibility and adaptability improve, but data synchronization complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts control-group pairings based on contextual changes in time and location. Devices automatically transition between groups as context changes, maintaining flexibility while using standardized protocols to manage the synchronization complexity of data exchange between groups.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for distributed maintenance of operational data among a plurality of devices including a first group of functionally interrelated devices that are provisioned with a same set of control-group data as each other, the control-group data (i) identifying the devices of the first group, (ii) defining one or more functional interrelationships between the devices of the first group, (iii) indicating an operational state of at least one device of the first group, and (iv) being usable by the devices of the first group as a basis to control operation of the devices of the first group. A given device of the first group detects a change to the control-group data provisioned at the given device, and responsive to the detecting, the change gets propagated from the given device to each other device of the first group, to synchronize the control-group data among the devices of the first group.