Plug-n-play Provisioned Networking for Outdoor Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern outdoor lighting systems face challenges in simplifying the installation and management of networked devices, particularly in integrating Internet of Things (IoT) applications, while ensuring energy efficiency and safety, due to complex network provisioning processes.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of Plug-n-play Provisioned Networking (PPN) systems, which utilize head-end servers, gateways, and nodes to enable simpler installation and control of devices through discovery mechanisms, blacklist management, and network ID locking, allowing for scalable control and monitoring of nodes and reducing network disruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex network provisioning processes are used for outdoor lighting systems, then network security and device management control are improved, but installation complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action through pre-provisioning devices with unique identifiers and cryptographic credentials before deployment. The head-end server pre-generates security credentials, device identifiers, and cryptographic keys for each lighting device, storing them securely in device memory before the devices are physically installed. This eliminates the need for complex real-time provisioning during installation, as devices are automatically recognized and integrated into the network upon connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies self-service through automatic device discovery and provisioning mechanisms. When a lighting device connects to the network, it automatically transmits its pre-provisioned identifier to the head-end server, which then automatically authenticates the device, assigns network parameters, and integrates it into the lighting control system without requiring manual configuration or complex provisioning procedures by installers.
2Reliability
If manual network provisioning is used for each device, then network security is improved, but installation time and labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Security credentials, device identifiers, and cryptographic keys are pre-generated and stored in device memory during manufacturing or before deployment. This preliminary provisioning ensures that each device has unique security credentials ready for automatic authentication, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual security configuration during installation while maintaining strong network security through device-specific credentials.
Solution Approach 2:
Devices automatically perform their own provisioning by transmitting pre-stored identifiers to the head-end server upon network connection. The head-end server automatically authenticates each device using its unique identifier, assigns network parameters, and integrates it into the system without requiring installer intervention. This self-service mechanism dramatically reduces installation time while maintaining security through automatic authentication of each device's unique credentials.
3Ease of operation
If automatic device discovery is implemented, then installation simplicity is improved, but network security control may be weakened
Solution Approach 1:
Devices are pre-provisioned with unique identifiers and cryptographic credentials before deployment. This preliminary action enables automatic device discovery through secure identifier transmission, where the head-end server recognizes devices based on their pre-stored identifiers. This maintains security control by ensuring only authorized, pre-registered devices can join the network, while simultaneously enabling installation simplicity through automatic discovery without manual configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through automatic authentication and verification mechanisms. When a device transmits its pre-provisioned identifier during automatic discovery, the head-end server verifies the identifier against its database, provides feedback on authentication status, and either grants or denies network access accordingly. This feedback loop maintains network security control by verifying device authenticity while enabling automatic, simple installation through the discovery process.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for network provisioning are described. In some embodiments, an apparatus comprises a processor to execute instructions stored in memory; a communication interface coupled to the processor to communicate with an external device; and memory to store instructions which when executed by the processor to provide provisioning capabilities for the apparatus, wherein the memory to further store a node information structure including identifiers for each node coupled to the apparatus, an indication of if each node was automatically added by the apparatus, and a timer to indicate how long to maintain a connection to each node.