Off-load Processor Centralizes Networking Tasks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile computing devices face efficiency issues due to high energy consumption and management complexities, particularly in securing multiple devices and managing various wireless services, leading to cumbersome user experiences and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

A computing system with an off-load processor centralizes networking tasks, including security and communication management, allowing handheld devices to operate with lower performance hardware and reducing the burden on IT personnel and costs by acting as a centralized communications hub, managing connections and encryption/decryption processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If security functions (firewall and encryption/decryption) are embedded into each mobile device, then security is improved, but device cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts security functions (firewall, encryption/decryption) from individual mobile devices and consolidates them into a centralized security server. This allows each device to operate with simpler hardware while the centralized server handles sophisticated security tasks, resolving the contradiction between improved security and reduced device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple security functions across numerous devices into a single centralized security server. By combining firewall and encryption/decryption capabilities into one location, the system achieves enhanced security without requiring each device to be complex, thus resolving the contradiction between security improvement and complexity reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If security functions are embedded into each device, then security is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts energy-intensive security processing from mobile devices and relocates it to a centralized security server with adequate power supply. This allows mobile devices to maintain security capabilities while consuming minimal energy, as the actual cryptographic operations are performed remotely on the server.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines security processing resources from multiple devices into a centralized server, eliminating redundant security operations on each device. This consolidation maintains security while significantly reducing total energy consumption across the mobile device fleet.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If multiple devices are equipped with security software, then security coverage is improved, but IT maintenance burden increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity coverageVSAvoidmanagement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts security management responsibilities from IT personnel and relocates them to an automated centralized security server. The server automatically handles security policies, updates, and enforcement across all devices, maintaining comprehensive security coverage while eliminating manual maintenance burdens.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The centralized security server provides universal security management capabilities that serve multiple devices simultaneously. A single server instance can enforce security policies across the entire device fleet, replacing the need for individual device management and significantly reducing IT maintenance complexity.

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

4Reliability

If high performance hardware is used in each device to support security functions, then security capability is improved, but battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity capabilityVSAvoidbattery life
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts high-performance computing requirements for security operations from mobile devices and places them in the centralized security server. Mobile devices only need to communicate with the server, requiring minimal processing power and thus preserving battery life while maintaining strong security capabilities through the server's high-performance hardware.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS7877099B2Computing system with off-load processing for networking related tasks
Publication Date: 2011.01.25 INTEL CORP
  • US7877099B2 patent drawing
  • US7877099B2 patent drawing
  • US7877099B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method is described that comprises executing a service selection method on an off load processor of a computing system to select an available network service for handling traffic sent to/from a handheld device. The execution of the service selection method is performed while a main CPU of said computing system is in a low power state.