IoT Device Relay via Mobile Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Many Internet of Things (IoT) devices are limited to close-range wireless communication and lack direct connectivity to mobile radio networks, making it difficult and inefficient to provide them with data updates, firmware updates, and access rights without proximity to an Internet access point.
Innovation Solution
An IoT device transmits upload data messages via a close-range communication circuit to a mobile communication device, which forwards them to a remote computer system through a mobile radio network, allowing for secure data exchange, including unique identifiers, cryptographic keys, and executable code, enabling remote management and updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If IoT devices use close-range communication circuits (RFID, Bluetooth, BLE) for data transmission, then communication reliability within short distance is improved, but communication range is limited to a few meters and cannot reach remote computer systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mobile communication device as an intermediary between the IoT device and the remote computer system. The IoT device communicates with the mobile device via close-range communication circuit, and the mobile device forwards data to the remote computer system via mobile radio network, thus extending the communication range while maintaining reliability of the close-range link.
2Productivity
If IoT devices are installed within connectivity proximity of an access point to the Internet, then data updates and firmware updates can be provided efficiently, but the devices cannot be remotely managed when located outside access point range
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile communication device serves as a portable intermediary that brings Internet connectivity to IoT devices anywhere within its mobile radio network coverage area. This allows remote management and data updates to be provided efficiently regardless of the IoT device's location relative to fixed access points.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static access point-based connectivity to dynamic mobile-based connectivity. The mobile communication device can move freely and maintain communication with multiple IoT devices, adapting to changing locations and providing continuous remote management capability.
3Length of moving object
If a mobile communication device is used as a relay to forward data between IoT devices and remote computer systems, then communication range is extended, but system complexity increases due to the additional communication hop
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile communication device performs multiple functions: it acts as a close-range communication endpoint for the IoT device, a mobile radio network terminal for long-range communication, and a data forwarding relay. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by consolidating multiple roles into a single commonly-available device.
Data Source
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AI summary
For communicating between an loT device (1) and a remote computer system (3), the loT device (1) transmits (S51) an upload data message via a close range communication circuit to a mobile communication device (2), for forwarding (S52) to the remote computer system (3). The remote computer system (3) receives the upload data message via a mobile radio communication network and stores (S53) an address of the mobile communication device (2), as a communication relay address for the loT device (1). The remote computer system (3) transmits (S42) a download data message via the mobile radio communication network to the communication relay address, for forwarding to the loT device (1). The loT device (1) receives the download data message from the remote computer system (3), as forwarded (S44) by the mobile communication device (2) via the close range communication circuit.