IoT Device Configuration via Temporary Network Credentials
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Solution Overview
Problem
IoT devices with limited or no user interfaces face challenges in initial network configuration, requiring additional hardware and increasing costs, and existing solutions like NFC add expense and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a temporary network configuration file pre-loaded on IoT devices, allowing users to create a temporary network using common or customized SSID and password, which can be secured through a remote configuration service, enabling efficient and secure configuration without additional user interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If IoT devices include dedicated user interfaces (displays and input mechanisms) for initial network configuration, then configuration capability is improved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-loads a temporary network configuration file onto the IoT device during manufacturing, containing default credentials for a temporary network. This preliminary configuration enables the device to automatically join a temporary network without requiring user interface interaction, thereby maintaining configuration capability while eliminating the need for expensive dedicated displays and input mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporary network as an intermediary configuration stage between device manufacturing and final deployment. This temporary network serves as a bridge, allowing the device to be configured remotely through a configuration application on a separate computing device, thus eliminating the need for built-in user interfaces while maintaining configurability.
2Ease of operation
If IoT devices use existing solutions like NFC for initial configuration, then configuration capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the user interface functionality from the IoT device itself and relocates it to an external computing device. The temporary network configuration file contains all necessary credentials, allowing the device to join the temporary network automatically without requiring NFC or other specialized hardware. The configuration application running on the external device provides the user interface, thereby reducing the IoT device's hardware complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If IoT devices use limited input capabilities and displays for configuration, then device cost is reduced, but configuration speed and ease of use deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the IoT device to perform self-service configuration by automatically reading the pre-loaded temporary network configuration file and using the credentials to join the temporary network without user intervention. This eliminates the need for slow on-screen keyboards or other limited input mechanisms, significantly improving configuration speed while maintaining low device cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The temporary network acts as an intermediary that enables fast, automated configuration. The device can quickly join this pre-configured network using the embedded credentials, and then the configuration application on the external device can remotely configure the device over this fast connection, eliminating the need for slow local user interface interactions.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed in some examples are methods, systems, and machine readable mediums that provide for the configuration and provisioning of computing devices. In particular, computing devices with limited user interfaces, such as some IoT devices. The functionality of the IoT devices is thus improved to allow for more efficient, more secure, and faster configuration.