M2M Service Layer API Profiles for Transport Network Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current M2M communication techniques face challenges in vertical integration of different protocol stack layers, limiting the realization of full benefits due to lack of interoperability and seamless integration between M2M devices and transport networks.

Innovation Solution

Defining standardized Application Programming Interface (API) profiles that facilitate communication between M2M devices, enabling discovery of device status and querying specific variables, and developing an M2M Services stack with a framework for integrating Transport Network and Service Layer components, allowing for transport-network-independent operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If standardized API profiles are defined to enable seamless integration and interoperability of M2M devices across different transport networks, then adaptability and ease of operation are improved, but device complexity and development costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveinteroperabilityVSAvoiddevelopment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent defines standardized API profiles that enable M2M devices to operate across multiple transport networks (HTTP, CoAP, MQTT, AMQP) through a universal interface. The service layer architecture provides transport-network-independent operations, allowing the same API profile to work across different network types without requiring device-specific adaptations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The service layer acts as an intermediary between the application layer and transport network layer. It provides abstraction through standardized API profiles that hide the complexity of different transport protocols, allowing applications to communicate with M2M devices without needing to understand the underlying network protocol differences.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If standardized API profiles are defined to enable seamless integration and interoperability of M2M devices across different transport networks, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity and development costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of integrationVSAvoiddevelopment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The standardized API profiles provide a universal interface for integrating M2M devices across different transport networks. The service layer architecture enables the same integration approach to work across HTTP, CoAP, MQTT, and AMQP networks, simplifying the integration process while maintaining support for multiple protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The service layer serves as an intermediary that simplifies integration operations by abstracting away transport network complexities. Standardized API profiles provide a consistent interface for device discovery, status querying, and variable access regardless of the underlying transport protocol being used.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a service layer framework is developed to integrate transport network and service layer components, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport network independenceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the M2M system into distinct layers: application layer, service layer, and transport network layer. The service layer is further divided into service enablement and data management sub-layers. This segmentation allows each layer to be developed and maintained independently, with standardized interfaces between layers that reduce overall system complexity despite the added adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The service layer framework acts as an intermediary between the application layer and transport network layer, providing transport-network-independent operations. It includes service enablement functions for message routing and data management functions for device and application modeling, creating a standardized interface that simplifies integration while supporting multiple transport protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2949136B1Communication between machine-to-machine service layers and transport network
Publication Date: 2021.09.15 ZTE (USA) INC
  • EP2949136B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2949136B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2949136B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Techniques for facilitating Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications include providing an M2M system that implements one or more pre-defined M2M Application Programming Interface (API) profiles, providing a network interface for the M2M system, receiving a profile query over the network interface, and responding with information about the implemented one or more-pre-defined M2M API profiles.