Local Coordinator for IoT Workflow Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for managing and configuring IoT devices in coordinated device networks often require external communication networks, leading to privacy risks and increased latency, and require detailed knowledge and experience for implementing workflows.
Innovation Solution
A coordinator within the local environment that enables remote management of IoT devices, allowing for rapid execution of portable code segments and communication between devices using various protocols, and a coordinated network service that facilitates the design and implementation of workflows by defining modules, inputs, outputs, and communication protocols, reducing the need for external communication and enhancing security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external communication networks are used for managing IoT devices, then device management functionality is provided, but privacy risks and latency increase
Solution Approach 1:
A coordinator device is introduced as an intermediary between user devices and IoT devices. The coordinator receives workflow definitions from user devices, processes them locally, and executes tasks on coordinated devices without requiring external network communication. This mediator architecture enables device management functionality while maintaining local processing to reduce latency and privacy risks associated with external network connections.
2Manufacturing precision
If detailed knowledge and experience are required for implementing workflows, then workflow implementation precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The coordinator device automatically discovers available coordinated devices, identifies their capabilities, and performs workflow validation without requiring user intervention. The system self-configures by receiving device capability information, matching workflow requirements with available devices, and executing tasks automatically. This eliminates the need for users to have detailed technical knowledge while maintaining precise workflow implementation through automated validation and device matching.
Solution Approach 2:
Workflow definitions are validated and processed in advance by the coordinator before execution. The system pre-configures task assignments, validates workflow syntax and logic, and prepares device mappings beforehand. This preliminary processing ensures implementation precision is maintained while users only need to provide high-level workflow definitions without worrying about technical details.
Data Source
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AI summary
A coordinated network service that facilitates the design and implementation of a coordinated device network of IoT devices. The coordinated network service defines modules for individual IoT devices or coordinated devices that specify the necessary inputs to the device, the outputs from the device and communication protocols. Via an interface, user devices can select a set of IoT devices and specify how they are connected and the decision making logic associated with communication flow. The coordinated network service can then automatically generate mapping information that implements the decision making logic and provides necessary transformations for communications between the specified devices. The selected modules and mappings form a workflow for the coordinated device network. The coordinated network service can then generate executable code to implement the formed workflow in a coordinated device network.