IoT Gateway Protocol Translation for Unified Device Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current IoT devices lack common standards for communication protocols, APIs, and user interfaces, leading to complexity for users who need to install multiple apps to control devices from different vendors, making it cumbersome to manage and interact with multiple IoT devices.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a control device and a gateway device that communicates across different protocols, allowing a single mobile app to control multiple IoT devices by selecting the appropriate API and protocol for each device, converting commands as needed, and providing a unified user interface for user input and feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a user installs multiple mobile applications to control different IoT devices from various vendors, then each device can be controlled with its native interface and protocol, but the system complexity and user burden increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal mobile application that can control multiple types of IoT devices from different vendors through a single interface. The gateway device serves as a multi-functional intermediary that handles protocol translation and device management, allowing one application to perform the functions previously requiring multiple separate applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway device acts as an intermediary between the mobile application and diverse IoT devices. It receives commands from the mobile app, translates them into device-specific protocols, and manages communication with authenticated IoT devices, thereby eliminating the need for users to install vendor-specific applications.
2Reliability
If each IoT device uses its own proprietary communication protocol and API, then device-specific functionality is optimized, but the ease of operation deteriorates as users must learn and manage multiple different interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device serves as a protocol translation intermediary that maintains reliable device-specific communication while presenting a unified interface to users. It translates between the mobile application's standard commands and each IoT device's proprietary protocols, preserving protocol reliability while simplifying user interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the complexity by separating protocol translation functionality into the gateway device, distinct from the mobile application. This allows the mobile app to maintain a simple, unified interface while the gateway handles the complex protocol-specific translations for each device type.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple mobile applications are used to control different IoT devices, then each application can provide specialized control features, but the time required to manage and switch between applications increases
Solution Approach 1:
The unified mobile application provides multi-functional control capabilities for diverse IoT devices within a single interface. Users can discover, authenticate, and control multiple device types without switching between applications, significantly reducing the time required to manage IoT devices while maintaining specialized control features through the gateway's protocol translation.
Data Source
AI summary
Certain aspects direct to systems and methods for controlling heterogeneous internet of things (IoT) devices. The system includes a gateway device, which is communicatively connected to a control device under a first protocol and to multiple authenticated IoT devices under corresponding protocols. In operation, the gateway device receives a command from the control device, which is directed to a selected IoT device. Based on the command, the gateway device may select a corresponding API, and determine the corresponding network and the corresponding protocol specific for the selected IoT device. To send the command to the selected IoT device, the gateway device first determines whether the corresponding protocol for the selected IoT device is different from the first protocol. If so, the gateway device converts the command to a second command transmittable under the corresponding protocol for the selected IoT device, and sends the converted command to the selected IoT device.