LPWA Device Management via Base Station Intermediary

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Solution Overview

Problem

Third generation household appliances often fail to connect to the IoT appliance control cloud due to lack of Wi-Fi access points at home and user difficulty in configuring Wi-Fi settings, resulting in limited network connection rates and reduced functionality.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a device management system that utilizes LPWA technology to enable devices to connect to a cloud without requiring a Wi-Fi gateway, allowing them to transmit state information and maintain network connectivity even when powered off, using an LPWA communication module and a communications battery to ensure continuous communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If Wi-Fi-based cloud connection is used for household appliances, then remote monitoring and control functionality is improved, but network connection rate deteriorates due to lack of Wi-Fi access points and user configuration difficulty

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote monitoring and control functionalityVSAvoidnetwork connection rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a base station as an intermediary device that bridges the appliance and the cloud server. The base station handles Wi-Fi connectivity and cloud communication, allowing appliances without Wi-Fi capability or in locations without Wi-Fi access points to connect to the cloud through the base station's network connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the network connection function into separate components: the appliance connects to the base station via a first communication interface, and the base station connects to the cloud server via a second communication interface. This segmentation allows the appliance to remain simple while gaining cloud connectivity through the base station's network capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If device transmits state information continuously to server, then device management efficiency is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice management efficiencyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic transmission of state information from the appliance to the server through the base station, rather than continuous transmission. The appliance transmits state information at predetermined intervals, which maintains effective device management while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3771221B1Device management system, device, and device management method
Publication Date: 2024.07.03 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP3771221B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3771221B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3771221B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A device management system includes: a server (20) communicatively connected to a network; a base station (30) for long-distance wireless communication that is communicatively connected to the network; and a device (10) that is communicatively connected to the base station (30) and transmits, to the server (20) via the base station (30), state information indicating a state of the device (10). The server (20) receives the state information from the device (10), generates notification information in accordance with the received state information, and transmits the generated notification information to the device (10).