IoT Device Identification via Emission Pattern Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
In environments where multiple IoT devices are closely located, such as in a factory setting, it is difficult to distinguish between similar devices using wireless communication technologies due to unreliable MAC address changes and proximity issues with RSSI, making it hard to identify specific devices during maintenance.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a visual or audio emission pattern into IoT devices that can be transmitted and displayed via wireless communication, allowing handheld devices to recognize and match the pattern with the device's identifier, using technologies like Bluetooth Low Energy, to facilitate easy identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless communication technologies are used to identify IoT devices, then device identification can be performed remotely, but MAC address changes and proximity issues make it unreliable for distinguishing similar devices
Solution Approach 1:
The identification system segments the identification process into multiple components: a visual component (emission pattern displayed on the device), an audio component (emission pattern through speaker), and a wireless communication component (transmitted identifier). This segmentation allows the system to overcome the limitations of relying solely on wireless MAC address identification by providing multiple independent identification channels that can be used individually or in combination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs visual emission patterns (analogous to color changes) where the IoT device displays distinctive visual patterns through LEDs or display elements. These patterns serve as reliable visual identifiers that do not change like MAC addresses and can be distinguished even when devices are in close proximity, directly addressing the reliability issue with traditional wireless identification.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple IoT devices are located in close proximity, then wireless communication coverage is improved, but device distinction becomes difficult due to signal interference and proximity issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds spatial and temporal dimensions to device identification. Instead of relying solely on wireless signal properties (which become indistinguishable in close proximity), the system introduces visual patterns displayed on each device and corresponding audio patterns. These additional dimensions allow users to distinguish between devices in close proximity by observing their unique visual and audio emissions, effectively adding new degrees of freedom to the identification process.
Solution Approach 2:
The emission patterns are implemented as periodic visual and audio signals that can be observed and heard by users. The periodic nature of these patterns makes them easily detectable and distinguishable even in environments with multiple devices, allowing users to identify specific devices by their unique temporal patterns rather than relying on potentially interfering wireless signals.
3Ease of operation
If traditional MAC address identification is used, then device identification is simple, but it becomes unreliable when MAC addresses change or devices are in close proximity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary visual and audio emission pattern system that mediates between the device's internal identifier and the user's perception. Instead of directly displaying MAC addresses (which are simple but unreliable), the system uses stable visual and audio patterns as intermediaries that reliably represent device identity. The wireless transmitted identifier serves as another intermediary layer that connects the device to the user device for automated identification.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, and computer program can recognize an IoT device. The apparatus, for example, may comprise at least one processor, and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to receive an indication of an identifier of another apparatus via wireless communication, retrieve an emission pattern, and display a representation of the emission pattern according to a time-synchronization signal, wherein the retrieved emission pattern and the received indication are associated with each other. Similar and related example apparatus and example computer programs are also provided.