M2M Device Grouping via Class Identifiers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current machine-to-machine (M2M) communication in wireless networks faces challenges with high registration overhead and address management as the number of M2M devices proliferates, consuming existing address spaces and increasing signaling complexity.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where M2M devices use a generic class identifier for group management and a unique identity for specific device communication, with shared secret keys for secure communication, allowing for efficient routing and reduced signaling overhead by using M2M class identifiers and identities to manage and control device operations within the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If each M2M device uses a unique identity in the existing address space for network communication, then the device can be individually addressed by the network, but the address space is quickly consumed as the number of M2M devices proliferates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the addressing function into two parts: a common group identifier (M2M class identifier) that identifies a class of devices, and a unique device identifier that identifies individual devices within that class. This segmentation allows the network to address devices at multiple levels - broadly addressing entire device classes or specifically addressing individual devices - thereby reducing consumption of the global address space while maintaining individual device addressability.
2Reliability
If M2M devices maintain current registration with the wireless network for data transmission, then the devices can be accepted by the network and have signaling transmitted to the data consumer, but maintaining registration requires a high amount of overhead compared to the actual quantity of data transferred
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple devices into a single group identified by a common M2M class identifier. Instead of each device maintaining separate registrations with the network, the group registration allows multiple devices to be addressed collectively. This merging reduces the frequency and amount of registration maintenance signaling required, thereby reducing energy consumption and overhead while preserving reliable network access and signaling transmission capabilities.
3Loss of energy
If M2M devices use generic class identifiers for group management, then signaling overhead is minimized and power consumption is reduced, but unique device identification and specific device communication become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer in the communication architecture that handles the complexity of unique device identification. The M2M gateway or network infrastructure acts as this intermediary, maintaining the mapping between group identifiers and individual device identifiers. This allows devices to use simple generic class identifiers for communication while the intermediary handles the complex task of routing to specific devices, thereby reducing device complexity without sacrificing unique device identification capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
In one embodiment, the method includes encrypting (S410), at a device (10), data with a first key, and forming (S420) a message that includes a device identifier and the encrypted data. The device identifier identifies the device. A signaling message is formed (S430) that includes a class identifier, the message and an action code. The class identifier identifies a group of devices to which one or more devices belong. The action code indicates the type of data, and may be part of the message. The signaling message is sent (S440) to a network (20), for example, a wireless network. The wireless network identifies (S610) and routes (S620) the message portion of the signaling message based on the class identifier. And, using the class identifier and perhaps a device identifier, the wireless network may signal the device to change an operating parameter.