IoT Sensor RF Energy Deactivation at Classified Zone Boundaries
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Solution Overview
Problem
IoT devices are restricted from broadcasting network signals in secure/restricted areas, limiting their use in classified zones and non-secure areas where signals are permissible, posing a challenge for IoT oversight and data collection.
Innovation Solution
A mesh barrier infrastructure with a barrier gateway device and energy bridge devices that monitor and deactivate IoT sensors near secure/restricted areas, allowing them to reactivate outside these zones, ensuring compliance with regulations while enabling data broadcasting in unrestricted areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If IoT sensors are equipped to broadcast data signals continuously, then data collection capability is improved, but regulatory compliance in secure areas deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The IoT sensor's broadcasting state is made dynamic rather than static. The sensor automatically transitions between active and inactive states based on its location - active in unrestricted areas for data collection, inactive in secure areas for compliance. This is achieved through continuous location monitoring and automatic state adjustment based on geofence detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through continuous location monitoring and automatic state adjustment. The sensor's location is constantly tracked, and when it detects entry into or exit from secure areas, it automatically adjusts its broadcasting state accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures both data collection optimization and regulatory compliance.
2Reliability
If IoT sensors are deactivated in secure areas, then regulatory compliance is improved, but data collection capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The IoT sensor exhibits different operational qualities in different locations. In unrestricted areas, the sensor is active with full broadcasting capability for data collection. In secure areas, the sensor becomes inactive to comply with regulations. This spatial variation in operational state is automatically managed through location-based detection and state adjustment.
3Productivity
If IoT sensors remain active while moving through secure areas, then data collection is improved, but security risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system takes preliminary action by deactivating the IoT sensor before it actually enters the secure area. When the sensor approaches the boundary of a secure area (detected through location monitoring), it is automatically deactivated in advance. This prevents any potential security issues from arising while still allowing data collection in unrestricted areas.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system optimizes data collection by ensuring IoT sensors remain inactive in secure/restricted areas while broadcasting data in unrestricted areas, maintaining regulatory compliance and enhancing IoT oversight.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor is configured to harvest ambient or other RF energy
Implementation Method 2
the combination of a depleting energy bridge device and the barrier gateway device are operative as a virtual wall to prevent the IoT sensors from passing through the classified zones
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for enabling a sensor attached to a moveable item to wirelessly broadcast data signals in an unrestricted area or zone while simultaneously ensuring that the sensor attached to the moveable item stops wirelessly broadcasting the data signals in a classified area or zone, where the sensor is configured to harvest ambient or other RF energy. The system and method include a barrier infrastructure for positioning in the unrestricted area or zone. The barrier infrastructure can include a first device configured to monitor the moveable item via the sensor, as it moves about in the unrestricted area or zone, and cause the sensor to deplete or dump all the ambient or other RF energy that the sensor has harvested if the moveable item is nearing or entering the classified area or zone, so that the sensor deactivates and therefore does not wirelessly broadcast data signals in the classified area or zone. The barrier infrastructure can further include a second device configured to monitor the data signals broadcasted from the sensor attached to the moveable item as the moveable item approaches the classified area or zone, prior to the deactivation of the sensor with the first device, and parse out relevant sensor identifying information contained in the data signals.