Machine Management System Network Connectivity Bypass

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing number of devices seeking network connectivity, particularly in wireless networks, leads to higher operational costs and complexity due to the limited bandwidth and architectural requirements, as not all devices require 'always on' connectivity or mobility features.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a Machine Management System that establishes specialized communications paths for machine devices, allowing them to communicate through a network tunnel that bypasses unnecessary network elements, using Machine Device Management Entities (MDMEs) and Machine Gateways (MGWs) to manage and route traffic efficiently, avoiding the need for constant connectivity and mobility management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional network access methods are used for all devices, then network connectivity is provided, but network operational costs and complexity increase due to limited bandwidth and architectural requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork connectivity provisionVSAvoidnetwork architecture complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network architecture is segmented into traditional network paths and alternative communication paths. Machine devices are routed through alternative paths (direct peer-to-peer or local gateway) that bypass complex network elements, while traditional devices continue using standard network paths. This segmentation allows the network to handle different device types with appropriate complexity levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A machine device management entity acts as an intermediary that receives connectivity requests from machine devices, determines appropriate communication paths, and establishes connections without requiring full network element involvement. This intermediary simplifies the architecture by handling machine device-specific routing logic centrally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If wireless access network elements are added to support increasing devices, then device connectivity is enabled, but operational costs increase due to limited effective bandwidth

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice connectivityVSAvoidnetwork operational cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Machine device traffic is extracted from the main wireless access network path and routed through alternative communication channels. This extraction reduces the bandwidth burden on expensive wireless network elements, allowing them to focus on traditional devices that require full network services, thereby reducing overall operational costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Machine devices receive only the partial connectivity they need (direct peer-to-peer or local gateway access) without full network element involvement. This partial action approach provides sufficient connectivity for machine devices while avoiding the excessive resource allocation that would occur if full network paths were established for each device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If full network functionality is provided to all devices, then connectivity requirements are met, but network management complexity increases due to unnecessary mobility management

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnectivity provisionVSAvoidnetwork management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Different quality levels of network service are provided to different device types. Machine devices receive localized, simplified connectivity (direct or local gateway) without mobility management, while traditional devices receive full network functionality including mobility management. This local quality differentiation reduces overall management complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of providing full network functionality to all devices and then filtering out unnecessary features, the system inverts the approach by providing only the essential connectivity features that machine devices need, establishing connections that bypass complex network elements entirely, thereby eliminating unnecessary management overhead from the start.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS9686810B2Establishing network connectivity for transmitting network traffic to or from machine devices

Publication Date: 2017.06.20 VERIZON PATENT & LICENSING INC

AI summary

A machine management system provides a system and method for communicating user data with a device connected to a network. The device may register for service by the network, causing the machine management system to establish a special communications path through the network when it is determined that the device is a machine device. Thereafter, user data transmitted by the machine device (or transmitted to the machine device) may be communicated using the special communications path. In certain embodiments, the special communications path may be established such that existing network elements are not involved in the transmission of communications with the machine devices, thereby minimizing the impact on implementing the system and method on existing network elements, alleviating the burden of serving these machine devices using existing network elements and permitting the implementation of device-specific services for machine devices.