IoT Device Hierarchy Using Parent-Child Resource Models
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing and accessing IoT devices in a scalable and efficient manner is challenging due to their widespread distribution and the need to control multiple devices simultaneously, as existing systems lack a hierarchical organization and unified access method.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an IoT device hierarchy with a tree-like structure that uses parent and child associations between resources, enabling a hierarchical access interface to manage and control multiple devices through a single command, and extending the resource model to include parent and child URI properties for unified access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If IoT devices are distributed across many locations throughout a building, then device coverage and ubiquity are improved, but device identification and access difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the building space into hierarchical zones (building → floor → room → device) that correspond to the IoT device hierarchy. This segmentation allows devices to be organized by location without requiring users to search the entire building, as they can navigate through progressively smaller segments to locate specific devices or groups of devices in particular areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to device organization, transforming the flat, scattered device distribution into a multi-level structure. By adding this organizational dimension, devices located in different physical areas can be systematically accessed through hierarchical paths, making location-based device management tractable despite widespread distribution.
2Productivity
If multiple IoT devices of the same type are deployed, then system functionality and coverage are improved, but device management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables merging of multiple devices into hierarchical groups where parent resources can represent collections of child resources. This allows users to manage multiple devices of the same type by operating on a single parent resource or group identifier, rather than individually accessing each device, thereby reducing management complexity while maintaining full system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates universal access mechanisms that work across devices of different types and locations through a common hierarchical interface. The same access methods and control commands can be applied to individual devices, groups of devices, or entire hierarchical branches, providing multi-functional capability that simplifies management regardless of the number or type of devices deployed.
3Productivity
If a hierarchical structure is implemented for IoT devices, then device access efficiency is improved, but system structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hierarchical structure segments the device management system into logical layers (building, floor, room, device) that reflect physical spatial segmentation. This segmentation improves access efficiency by allowing users to navigate to devices through progressively refined location information, while the modular nature of the segments keeps each layer's complexity manageable and independent.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested hierarchical structure where smaller units (devices) are contained within progressively larger containers (rooms, floors, buildings). This nesting improves access efficiency by providing contextual information at each level and enabling bulk operations on nested groups, while the recursive nature of the nesting allows the same structural pattern to be applied at each level, reducing overall system complexity through repetition of a proven template.
Data Source
AI summary
In embodiments, Internet of Things (IoT) devices may be organized according to an IoT device hierarchy, which may include parent and/or child associations between resources associated with IoT devices and/or with groupings of IoT devices. IoT devices wishing to support an IoT device hierarchy may utilize an extended IoT device resource model which provides for IoT device hierarchy information and interfaces to be provided by supporting IoT devices. A supporting resource may have one or more parent properties and/or child properties which may identify, respectively, parent or child resources which are associated with the resource. In various embodiments, these parent properties and/or child properties may include uniform resource identifiers (URI). A supporting resource may also identify an interface type for a hierarchical access interface, through which one or more descendant resources may be accessed through a single command. Other embodiments may be descried and/or claimed.