Partitioned NFSM Rule Engine for Explainable IoT Mesh Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional IoT automation systems lack the ability to provide users with clear explanations for device states and are prone to conflicts between user actions and environmental triggers, leading to safety concerns and confusion.
Innovation Solution
Implement a control mesh node that generates non-deterministic finite-state machine (NFSM) models for IoT devices, providing context on how states are reached and allowing for dynamic rule definition, and uses a partitioned state machine rule engine to manage multiple mesh networks, ensuring redundancy and resilience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a distributed state machine system is implemented across multiple mesh nodes, then decision-making capabilities and context understanding are improved, but system complexity and coordination overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the state machine system into multiple independent NFSM instances distributed across different mesh nodes. Each node maintains its own state machine instance with local decision-making capabilities, eliminating the need for a centralized control unit. This segmentation allows each node to independently process sensor data and generate control signals while maintaining overall system coherence through standardized communication protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates universal NFSM models that can be instantiated across multiple nodes with identical functionality. Each mesh node runs the same state machine logic and can perform the same control functions, making the system highly adaptable and easier to deploy. The universal model approach allows any node to take over control functions if needed, providing redundancy and flexibility.
2Reliability
If NFSM models are distributed across multiple gateway devices, then service availability and reliability are improved, but synchronization and coordination difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where each gateway device continuously monitors the state of NFSM models and exchanges status information with other gateways. This feedback loop ensures that all distributed instances remain synchronized and can detect and respond to failures in other nodes, maintaining system reliability without requiring complex centralized synchronization protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-configures multiple gateway devices with identical NFSM models and establishes backup relationships before failures occur. When a primary gateway fails, a pre-designated backup gateway can immediately take over using its cached state information, providing fault tolerance without requiring complex real-time synchronization or recovery protocols.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a single NFSM model is used across multiple mesh nodes, then service consistency is improved, but adaptability to node-specific capabilities deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent allows each mesh node to instantiate the universal NFSM model with node-specific parameters and capabilities. While the core state machine logic remains consistent across all nodes, each instance can be configured to leverage local sensors, actuators, and environmental characteristics. This enables the system to maintain service consistency through standardized protocols while adapting to local conditions and node-specific capabilities.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method of a distributed and partitioned state machine for mesh devices. The method includes obtaining a first capability dataset indicating capabilities of a first mesh node of a first mesh network system to provide a first service for a first object. The method includes obtaining a second capability dataset indicating capabilities of a second mesh node of a second mesh network system to provide a second service to a second object. The method includes generating a set of NFSM models for the first object and the second object, each NFSM model to provide the first service for the first object or the second object. The method includes providing the set of NFSM models and a partition dataset to cause a first gateway device and a second gateway device to use a single NFSM model to provide the first service to the second object.