IoT Virtual Data Paths via Gateway Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current IoT solutions face challenges in efficient communication between connected devices and destination servers, requiring knowledge of destination server addresses for data transmission, leading to complexities in managing simultaneous communication channels and handling changes in device ownership.

Innovation Solution

A system that establishes application Virtual Data Paths (VDPs) between IoT devices and destination application servers without requiring the devices to know or be pre-configured with the server addresses, using a network of interconnect end-points and application server gateways to manage and route data, allowing for transparent ownership changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If point-to-point communication channels are opened to each destination server, then data transmission is enabled, but device complexity and management overhead increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmissionVSAvoidcommunication channel management
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a gateway as an intermediary component that centralizes communication channel management. Instead of each device managing multiple channels to different servers, the gateway consolidates these channels, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable data transmission. The gateway handles channel establishment, maintenance, and termination centrally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple destination server addresses into a single gateway address from the perspective of IoT devices. Devices communicate with the gateway using a unified address, and the gateway internally routes data to appropriate servers. This combining approach simplifies device architecture and reduces management overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If devices are pre-configured with destination server addresses, then data routing is straightforward, but adaptability to ownership changes is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata routingVSAvoidownership change handling
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic address resolution where destination server addresses are not statically pre-configured in devices but are dynamically determined through gateway-based resolution. When device ownership changes, the gateway can dynamically update the mapping between device identifiers and destination servers without requiring device reconfiguration, thus maintaining ease of operation while improving adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The gateway performs preliminary address resolution and mapping setup before data transmission occurs. By pre-establishing the mapping between device identifiers and destination servers at the gateway level (rather than in devices), the system enables straightforward routing while maintaining adaptability to ownership changes through centralized update mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If multiple simultaneous communication channels are maintained, then data transmission to multiple servers is enabled, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission capabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple communication channels into a single channel between IoT devices and the gateway. Devices send data to the gateway through one unified communication interface, and the gateway internally manages separate channels to different servers. This approach maintains full data transmission capability while significantly reducing energy consumption by eliminating the need for devices to maintain multiple simultaneous wireless connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3178205B1Data transfer in a system of connected things
Publication Date: 2020.04.29 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3178205B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3178205B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3178205B1 patent drawingFigure 3a

AI summary

The invention relates to a method, a system and apparatuses for establishing application virtual data paths (VDP) over a device gateway, a network of interconnect end-points and an application server gateway for the purpose of forwarding application data from an Internet of Things (IoT) device to its destination application server based on the unique IoT device identity, while the IoT device, the device gateway and the network of end-points are unaware of the destination application server.