Passive IoT Detection Sessions With Role Inheritance and Timer Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies face challenges in efficiently discovering passive IoT devices due to their lack of a power source, limited mobility, and the need for close proximity activation, leading to unpredictable energy consumption and time-consuming discovery processes that can fail due to blockages.

Innovation Solution

A device detection method where a reader monitors response signals from passive IoT devices during a detection session, allowing for role changes and timer/counter-based inheritance schemes among network elements to optimize the discovery process, reducing energy consumption and improving efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a reader transmits activation signals to passive IoT devices, then device detection capability is improved, but energy consumption and time consumption increase unpredictably

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice detection capabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic role assignment where network elements can switch between activator and reader roles based on real-time detection needs. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize energy consumption by having multiple elements share the activation signal transmission burden, rather than one element continuously consuming energy for detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes detection sessions in advance with pre-configured timer and counter parameters. By setting up the detection framework beforehand with inheritance schemes, the system avoids unpredictable energy consumption during actual detection, as the operational parameters are predetermined and optimized.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If activation signals are transmitted frequently to ensure device discovery, then detection reliability is improved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection reliabilityVSAvoiddiscovery time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic detection sessions with timer-based control, where activation signals are transmitted at optimized intervals rather than continuously or frequently. This periodic approach maintains detection reliability while reducing overall time consumption by eliminating redundant transmissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses counter-based inheritance schemes that provide feedback on detection progress. When detection successes or failures are recorded, this feedback informs subsequent activation signal transmissions, optimizing the frequency and timing to achieve reliable discovery with minimal time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If multiple network elements participate in detection sessions, then detection coverage is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection coverageVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the detection function into distinct activator and reader roles that can be independently assigned to different network elements. This segmentation allows multiple elements to participate in detection coverage without proportionally increasing system complexity, as each element has a clearly defined, simplified role within the collaborative framework.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Network elements are designed with multi-functionality, capable of operating as either activators or readers depending on session requirements. This universality reduces system complexity by using standardized components for multiple roles, rather than requiring specialized elements for each function, while still achieving broad detection coverage.

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

4Loss of energy

If timer and counter parameters are configured for role inheritance, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The timer and counter parameters enable automatic role inheritance without requiring complex external control mechanisms. Network elements can autonomously determine role transitions based on these simple parameters, achieving energy efficiency through self-service operation while minimizing the complexity of control infrastructure needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4376453B1Enhancement on device detection session
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP4376453B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4376453B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4376453B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to device detection session. An apparatus acting as a reader of a device detection session monitors a response signal from a device during the device detection session. The device is operable to be activated by an activation signal transmitted from a first device of the device detection session. The apparatus then causes a change in the device detection session based on the monitoring.