Multi-Protocol Gateway for Heterogeneous IoT Device Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The proliferation of incompatible low-power, short-range communication devices in a geographical area leads to increased costs, interference, and regulatory issues due to the need for multiple communication gateways, which are often manufacturer-specific, and results in reduced data collection quality due to frequency band overload and disturbances.
Innovation Solution
A communication gateway with multiple internal communication modules capable of operating on different frequency bands and protocols, along with a spectral analysis module to characterize disturbances and improve data collection quality, allowing for the connection of heterogeneous devices to a centralized processing system via a wide area network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple manufacturer-specific communication gateways are deployed to collect data from incompatible devices, then device compatibility is improved, but the number of gateways and antennas increases leading to higher costs and interference
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway incorporates multiple communication modules supporting different protocols (LoRa, LoRaWAN, NB-IoT, GSM, GPRS, LTE) within a single device, enabling it to communicate with diverse measuring devices from different manufacturers. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for multiple specialized gateways while maintaining broad device compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple communication capabilities and protocols into a single unified gateway platform. By merging LoRa, LoRaWAN, cellular, and other communication technologies into one device, the system reduces the total number of gateways needed while improving spectral efficiency and reducing interference in the geographical area.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple communication gateways are used to cover different protocols, then protocol support is improved, but frequency band overload and interference increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway integrates multiple communication modules that support different protocols and frequency bands within a single coordinated system. This universal platform can selectively activate appropriate modules based on the measuring devices present, avoiding the frequency band overload that would result from deploying multiple separate gateways simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway includes a spectral analysis module that detects and characterizes disturbances in frequency bands. By identifying interference sources and patterns, the system can adaptively adjust communication parameters, select alternative frequency bands, or modify transmission strategies to mitigate the harmful effects of interference while maintaining protocol support.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a single gateway is used to reduce interference, then interference is reduced, but the ability to support multiple protocols decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway employs a composite architecture integrating multiple communication technologies (LoRa, LoRaWAN, NB-IoT, GSM, GPRS, LTE) within a unified platform. This composite design allows the single gateway to support diverse protocols while maintaining coordinated operation that reduces interference, unlike multiple separate gateways would cause.
Solution Approach 2:
The single gateway achieves universal protocol support through integrated communication modules that can be selectively activated. The gateway dynamically adapts its protocol support based on the measuring devices detected in the area, maintaining versatility while avoiding the interference problems of multiple gateways through coordinated resource management.
4Adaptability or versatility
If manufacturer-specific complete solutions are deployed, then device compatibility is ensured, but competition is prevented and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway provides a universal, multi-protocol platform that can work with measuring devices from different manufacturers, breaking the manufacturer-specific ecosystem lock-in. This universal approach enables customers to choose individual components rather than being forced to purchase complete proprietary solutions, reducing costs while maintaining device compatibility.
Data Source
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AI summary
The subject matter of the invention is a communication gateway (10), intended to connect different communicating measuring devices with one or a plurality of information processing systems in order to collect remote information, the communication gateway (10) comprising means (26) for connection to a wide area network in order to communicate with each processing system (14), the gateway (10) being characterised in that it comprises communication means (34) dedicated to communication with different measuring devices on different short-range networks, said communication means (34) comprising transmission/reception means (36) and a plurality of different internal communication modules (38-1, 38-2, etc.), each internal communication module (38-1, 38-2, etc.) being capable of communicating independently on a specific short-range network different from that of another internal communication module (38-1, 38-2, etc.). The invention also covers a method for collecting remote information implementing this communication gateway (10).