Opportunistic IoT Connectivity via Hotspot Behavior Modification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for connecting IoT devices to communication networks often result in unsatisfactory connectivity, particularly in geographic areas lacking dedicated IoT infrastructure, leading to 'blind' zones where devices cannot communicate with managing entities or other devices.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves leveraging existing telecommunication provider assets, such as home network devices and user equipment, to create an opportunistic network by analyzing and modifying the behavior of available hotspots to provide connectivity to IoT devices, potentially using low-power wireless technologies like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC, without relying on mobile cellular networks, thereby reducing energy consumption and design complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated communication network infrastructure is deployed for smart devices, then connectivity reliability is improved, but deployment cost and resource consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the communication network infrastructure with existing cellular network infrastructure. Instead of deploying separate dedicated communication apparatuses for smart devices, the system utilizes existing cellular base stations and networks to provide connectivity to IoT devices, thereby reducing deployment complexity while maintaining connectivity reliability through the established cellular network infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes existing cellular network infrastructure serve dual purposes: traditional mobile communication and IoT device connectivity. The cellular network is adapted to provide universal service to both conventional mobile devices and smart IoT devices, eliminating the need for separate dedicated infrastructure and reducing overall deployment complexity.
2Device complexity
If existing communication networks are exploited for connecting smart devices, then deployment cost is reduced, but connectivity coverage creates 'blind' zones
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the connectivity solution into multiple components: existing cellular network for broad coverage, local access points for area-specific enhancement, and device-to-device communication for localized connectivity. This segmentation allows the system to maintain low deployment complexity while improving connectivity coverage by adding only localized infrastructure where needed rather than requiring universal dedicated infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic connectivity where smart devices can switch between different communication modes and networks based on availability. Devices can opportunistically connect to cellular networks, Wi-Fi access points, or establish direct peer-to-peer connections, creating a flexible system that improves coverage in blind zones without requiring permanent dedicated infrastructure in all areas.
3Reliability
If mobile cellular networks are used for IoT connectivity, then coverage is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the communication parameters by utilizing low-power wireless communication technologies for IoT devices instead of standard mobile cellular protocols. The system employs optimized transmission power levels, duty cycling, and sleep modes that significantly reduce energy consumption while maintaining connectivity coverage through the use of existing cellular infrastructure for data transmission when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary access points and gateways that act as mediators between IoT devices and the cellular network. These intermediaries handle complex communication protocols and data transmission, allowing IoT devices to operate in low-power mode while the intermediaries manage connectivity to the cellular network, thus reducing energy consumption for battery-powered smart devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for providing a wireless communication network for a smart device are provided, the device including wireless communication circuitry, the method including: analyzing information regarding a plurality of hotspots in a geographic area in which the device is deployed, each hotspot being configured to establish a wireless communication within a predetermined range; estimating, based on the analyzing, an extent of coverage provided by the plurality; checking, based on the estimating, whether at least one hotspot is able to provide the communication to the device, and if so, configuring the hotspot to provide the communication, otherwise modifying an operating behavior of a selected hotspot in order to provide the communication, the modifying including selecting the hotspot from the plurality, sending a request for modifying an operating behavior of the selected hotspot to provide the communication, and verifying that the operating behavior has been modified.