IoT Gateway Cloud Abstraction Layer Protocol Translation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing IoT architectures face challenges in integrating devices with different communication technologies and protocols, requiring changes at the sensor hardware/firmware level, which can hinder integration and is costly for anticipating future communication technologies.
Innovation Solution
A cloud-based IoT architecture with a gateway, dongles, and a network abstraction layer that differentiates between communication technologies, allowing coded messages to be decoded and processed, enabling integration without firmware updates and supporting multiple protocols through a generic gateway.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If integration changes are made at the sensor hardware/firmware level to enable interoperability, then device compatibility with specific protocols is improved, but device complexity and integration difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cloud-based network abstraction layer that acts as an intermediary between diverse IoT devices and the central system. This layer contains protocol-specific modules that handle communication protocol translation and adaptation, allowing devices to maintain their original firmware while achieving interoperability through the mediating abstraction layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the protocol adaptation logic from the device hardware/firmware dimension to the cloud software dimension. By implementing protocol modules in the cloud-based network abstraction layer rather than in device firmware, the system achieves protocol compatibility without modifying device hardware or firmware.
2Reliability
If sensor hardware/firmware is modified to support specific communication protocols, then protocol-specific functionality is improved, but adaptability to future protocols deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic architecture where protocol modules can be added, removed, or updated in the cloud-based network abstraction layer without modifying device firmware. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to new communication protocols by simply adding new protocol modules in the cloud, maintaining reliable support for current protocols while remaining adaptable to future protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The cloud-based network abstraction layer serves as a universal interface that can handle multiple communication protocols simultaneously. The layer contains multiple protocol modules that can work with different protocols, allowing a single device architecture to support multiple protocols through the universal cloud-based abstraction layer rather than requiring protocol-specific hardware modifications.
3Reliability
If protocol-specific modules are integrated into each device, then communication reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cloud-based network abstraction layer as an intermediary that houses protocol-specific modules. Instead of embedding protocol modules in each device, the cloud layer acts as a shared intermediary that provides protocol translation services to all devices, maintaining communication reliability while eliminating the need to manufacture protocol-specific hardware in each device.
Solution Approach 2:
The cloud-based network abstraction layer serves as a universal platform that provides protocol-specific functionality to all devices. A single cloud-based infrastructure can support multiple protocols through shared protocol modules, eliminating the need for each device to contain duplicate protocol-specific components, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining communication reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
An Internet of Things architecture includes a gateway, a first dongle, a first wireless device, and a cloud platform. The gateway includes a first serial port. The first dongle is received by the first serial port, and is configured to communicate using a first communication technology. The first wireless device is configured to communicate a first coded message to the first dongle using the first communication technology. The cloud platform includes a network abstraction layer that includes a first communication technology module configured to receive the first coded message associated with the first communication technology and output a first decoded message.