IoT Gateway Authentication Database for Autonomous Data Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current IoT systems lack a secure and ad-hoc networking solution for connecting low power IoT devices directly to servers without the need for intermediate devices like smartphones, limiting their ability to exchange data autonomously and efficiently.

Innovation Solution

A data exchange system and gateway module that utilize a device detecting unit, authentication database, and data sending unit to establish a secure connection between IoT devices and servers, using device identifiers to map data types to corresponding destinations and apply data rules, with the option of a blockchain-based authentication database for enhanced security and transparency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If IoT devices connect through intermediate gateway devices like smartphones, then device connectivity and data exchange are enabled, but system complexity increases and autonomous data exchange is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautonomous data exchange capabilityVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the authentication and data routing logic from the smartphone gateway into a dedicated authentication database. This allows IoT devices to exchange data autonomously without requiring the smartphone to interpret and forward data, reducing system complexity while maintaining connectivity capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an authentication database as an intermediary component that stores device identifiers, data types, and destination mappings. This mediator enables direct peer-to-peer data exchange between IoT devices and servers, eliminating the need for smartphone-mediated communication and enhancing autonomous operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If traditional pairing and installation processes are required for IoT device connections, then secure authentication can be established, but user operation time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidpairing and installation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-storing device identifiers, data types, and destination server mappings in the authentication database during device provisioning. This allows the system to perform rapid authentication and data routing decisions without requiring time-consuming pairing processes when devices need to communicate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The authentication database enables self-service authentication where devices can autonomously query their credentials and routing information without user intervention. The system automatically matches device identifiers with stored data types and destinations, eliminating manual pairing steps while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If all data from IoT devices is sent to a single destination, then data collection is simplified, but data processing efficiency and relevance decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata collection simplicityVSAvoiddata processing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing data routing into multiple destination paths based on data type. The authentication database stores mappings that direct different types of data (e.g., sensor readings, device status, logs) to different destination servers, allowing parallel processing and reducing bottlenecks while maintaining simple collection at the source.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by assigning specific data types to specific destination servers based on their processing capabilities and relevance. Each data type receives customized routing to the most appropriate server, optimizing processing efficiency while keeping the overall collection mechanism simple through centralized authentication database management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3410647B1Data exchange system, method and gateway module
Publication Date: 2020.01.15 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY
  • EP3410647B1 patent drawingFigure 1
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  • EP3410647B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Data exchange system for exchanging data between a data containing device and a server, the system comprising: a device detecting unit to detect the device and obtain from the device a device identifier; an authentication database to store therein a mapping between the device identifier and at a data type, and to store a corresponding data destination, wherein the data type is representative of the type of data that is stored on the device and the data destination is representative of a destination server to which the corresponding data type is to be sent; an authentication obtaining unit to obtain from the authentication database the data type and data destination based on the device identifier; a data obtaining unit to obtain the data from the device based on the data type; and a data sending unit to direct the data to the corresponding destination server based on the data destination.