IoT SuperAgent Gateway Presence-Based Remote Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing use of IoT devices in home and other networks poses security risks due to vulnerabilities in remote access and notification systems, as unauthorized users can exploit remote communication to attack these networks when users are away.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an IoT SuperAgent/Gateway that detects the presence or absence of a user within a designated network and enables or disables remote communication based on predefined criteria, thereby controlling remote access and notifications to minimize exposure to security threats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If remote access and notifications are enabled for IoT devices, then user convenience and device control capability are improved, but security vulnerability and risk of unauthorized access increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic remote access control by continuously monitoring user presence status and automatically adjusting remote access availability. When a user is detected as present in the premises, remote access is automatically disabled; when absent, remote access is enabled. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the system adaptive to changing security requirements based on real-time user location.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms through presence detection technologies (GPS, geofencing, mobile device sensors) that continuously report user location status to the remote access control system. This feedback loop enables the system to automatically respond to changes in user presence, ensuring remote access permissions are consistently aligned with current security needs, thus resolving the security vulnerability issue while maintaining convenience.
2Loss of information
If remote notifications are enabled for IoT devices, then user awareness of device status and events is improved, but risk of unauthorized access to notifications and data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic control to notification delivery by adjusting notification routing based on real-time user presence detection. When users are present, notifications are routed locally or suppressed; when absent, notifications are delivered remotely through secure channels. This dynamic approach ensures information reaches users reliably while minimizing exposure to unauthorized access during vulnerable periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary presence detection mechanism that mediates between IoT devices and notification delivery channels. This intermediary layer evaluates user presence status and determines appropriate notification routing, adding a security buffer that prevents direct exposure of notification data to potential unauthorized access while ensuring reliable delivery to authorized users.
3Reliability
If continuous remote access control monitoring is implemented, then security protection is improved, but system complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service automation where the system autonomously monitors user presence, evaluates security requirements, and adjusts remote access permissions without human intervention. Automated presence detection using mobile device sensors, GPS, and geofencing technologies performs continuous monitoring while the system automatically makes access control decisions, reducing the need for complex manual security management while maintaining high security protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages multi-functional mobile devices as presence detection sensors, utilizing existing GPS, accelerometer, and network capabilities for security monitoring purposes. By repurposing existing device functionalities rather than adding dedicated complex monitoring hardware, the system achieves reliable continuous security protection while minimizing additional system complexity and computational requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed systems and methods include an Internet of Things (IoT) SuperAgent/Gateway for controlling remote communication with an IoT proximal network comprising one or more IoT devices. The presence of an IoT user device in the IoT proximal network is detected. The remote communication is disabled if the IoT user device is present in the IoT proximal network and if the remote communication criteria for disabling the remote communication are met. The remote communication is enabled if the IoT user device is not present in the IoT proximal network and if the remote communication criteria for enabling the remote communication are met. The remote communication includes remote access of the one or more of the IoT devices by the IoT user device, as well as, remoting notifications from the one or more the IoT devices to the IoT user device.