Radio Module Remote Sensor URI Mapping

Solution Overview

Problem

Current M2M telemetry devices require complex and costly components like CPUs, NVRAM, and operating systems for remote monitoring and control, leading to high development costs and time, and cumbersome URI formats for network communication.

Innovation Solution

A radio module with enhanced I/O capabilities that allows network control and monitoring of remote devices without the need for CPUs, NVRAM, or firmware development, using a URI mapping mechanism for simplified communication and reduced hardware costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If CPUs, NVRAM, and operating systems are used for remote monitoring and control, then device functionality and control capability are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the CPU, NVRAM, and operating system from the radio module, relocating these components to an external host system. The radio module retains only the essential I/O ports and communication interface, significantly reducing its complexity while maintaining remote monitoring and control functionality through network-connected hosts that perform the computationally intensive tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the host system universal by enabling it to control multiple different radio modules and sensor types through a standardized interface. The host system serves multiple functions including data collection, processing, storage, and control command generation, replacing the need for dedicated intelligence in each radio module.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If CPUs, NVRAM, and operating systems are included in radio modules, then control capability is improved, but build cost and development time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By extracting expensive components like CPUs and NVRAM from the radio module and relocating them to shared host systems, the patent significantly reduces the bill of materials cost for each radio module. This extraction approach allows manufacturers to produce simpler, cheaper radio modules while maintaining control capability through the external host infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses software-based virtualization to create multiple virtual control instances on a single physical host system. This allows one physical host to control multiple radio modules simultaneously, effectively copying the control functionality across multiple devices without requiring duplicate hardware for each module, thereby reducing overall system cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Ease of operation

If traditional URI formats are used for network communication, then device identification is achieved, but communication complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter structure of the URI format from a complex hierarchical structure to a simplified flat structure. Instead of nested paths representing device hierarchies, the new format uses straightforward parameters that can be directly mapped to I/O ports and sensor identifiers, reducing the cognitive and computational complexity of network communication while maintaining unique device identification capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10484450B2Radio module as web-controllable remote sensor
Publication Date: 2019.11.19
  • US10484450B2 patent drawing
  • US10484450B2 patent drawing
  • US10484450B2 patent drawing

AI summary

The present invention provides for network control of a radio module having a plurality of input/output (I/O) ports capable of communication with one or more sensing devices across a network, where the radio module may be controlled remotely to obtain information from one or more networked remote sensing devices.