M2M Device Bearer Selection via Configuration Server
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Machine-to-machine (M2M) devices often struggle to autonomously select the most efficient and cost-effective communications bearers for connectivity, leading to potential high costs, insufficient speed, and poor quality of service due to inappropriate bearer choices.
Innovation Solution
A configuration server provides preferred communications bearer data to M2M devices via the OMA Lightweight Machine-to-Machine (LWM2M) protocol, indicating the most suitable bearers based on reliability, cost, speed, and latency, and including signal strength thresholds to guide the selection process, ensuring improved quality of service and reduced operational costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the device autonomously selects communications bearers without external guidance, then device autonomy and operational independence are improved, but the quality of service and cost-effectiveness deteriorate due to inability to intelligently evaluate bearer options
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration server performs preliminary actions by pre-evaluating available communications bearers and identifying the most suitable ones before the device needs to select a bearer. The server outputs configuration data indicating the most suitable communications bearers based on its broader perspective and available information, allowing the device to autonomously select from pre-vetted options without sacrificing service quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration server acts as an intermediary between the network operator's knowledge and the device's selection process. Rather than requiring the device to independently evaluate all bearer options or constantly communicate with the network for guidance, the server provides configuration data that mediates between available bearers and device needs, enabling autonomous selection with informed guidance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the device chooses from all available communications bearers without guidance, then the adaptability and flexibility of connection options are improved, but the operational costs and resource consumption worsen due to selecting expensive or inefficient bearers
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration server changes the parameter of bearer selection by providing configuration data that indicates the most suitable communications bearers. This transforms the device's selection process from evaluating all possible bearers based on limited local information to selecting from a curated set of recommended bearers, reducing operational costs while maintaining flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The device continues to perform self-service in bearer selection by autonomously choosing from the configuration data provided by the server. The configuration data enables the device to serve itself with informed guidance, selecting appropriate bearers without continuous external control while avoiding expensive or inefficient options.
3Ease of operation
If the device selects communications bearers based on immediate availability without considering future needs, then the ease of connection establishment is improved, but the durability and reliability of sustained connectivity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration server performs preliminary evaluation of bearer suitability including future availability and durability considerations before the device establishes connections. By providing configuration data that indicates the most suitable bearers based on comprehensive criteria including expected durability, the server enables the device to quickly select bearers that are not only immediately available but also likely to maintain connectivity over time.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
There are disclosed methods and apparatuses for providing configuration data 120 to a device 110. The configuration data may be provided to the device 110 by a configuration server 120 that is configured to output configuration data for sending to the device 110, wherein the configuration data comprises preferred communications bearer data indicating at least one preferred communications bearer for a device communications interface.