Refrigeration Asset Management Using Serial-Number IoT Data Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current remote asset management systems for refrigeration appliances focus on modem device IDs, leading to data segmentation issues and complexity in fleet management and appliance improvement, as they prioritize gateway devices over refrigeration appliances, making it difficult to leverage big data techniques for trend analysis and proactive maintenance.
Innovation Solution
An asset management system that prioritizes refrigeration appliances by using unique serial numbers as identifiers for addressing and organizing data, allowing direct interfacing with native sensors and controls, and employing edge computing for real-time data processing and alarm notifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If modem device IDs are used as primary identifiers for data management, then gateway device connectivity is maintained, but data segmentation issues arise and fleet management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an asset manager as an intermediary component that sits between the IOT devices and the remote server. This asset manager handles the complexity of device identification and data routing, using appliance serial numbers as the primary identifier while maintaining compatibility with modem device IDs for gateway communication. The asset manager translates and manages the mapping between different identification systems, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining gateway connectivity and reducing fleet management complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using the gateway device's modem device ID as the primary identifier (traditional approach), the patent inverts the approach by using the refrigeration appliance's serial number as the primary identifier. This inversion shifts the focus from gateway-centric to appliance-centric data management, reducing complexity in fleet management while maintaining gateway connectivity through the asset manager's translation layer.
2Ease of operation
If gateway devices are prioritized in the system architecture, then IOT device connectivity is established, but direct appliance data access and trend analysis capability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the appliance identification and data access functionality from the gateway device and places it directly in the asset manager. By using the appliance serial number as the primary key in the database, the system directly accesses appliance data without requiring gateway device ID as an intermediate step. This extraction maintains IOT device connectivity through the asset manager while enabling direct appliance data access for comprehensive trend analysis.
3Adaptability or versatility
If tech industry IOT protocols are used, then standardization is achieved, but refrigeration appliance-specific data management requirements are not met
Solution Approach 1:
The asset manager serves multiple functions: it acts as an IOT device that receives data via standard protocols, as a translation layer that maps modem device IDs to appliance serial numbers, and as a database management system that stores and retrieves appliance-specific data. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain protocol standardization for IOT device connectivity while simultaneously meeting refrigeration appliance-specific data management requirements through its appliance-centric database structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An asset management system includes an asset management network that connects various types of refrigeration appliances to an asset manager. At the device layer, IOT devices are connected to the refrigeration appliances and have edge compute capability, including a backup power management function, and a modem for network communication. IOT device ports directly integrate with sensors, switches, and/or serial data controllers of refrigeration appliances. Push notification alarms are initiated on the edge of the network by IOT devices. The network tags operating data by appliance serial, and the asset manager stores the data using serial numbers as primary keys. The asset manager streams data from numerous appliances and uses event driven processing to promptly respond to edge alarms. The operating data keyed by serial number is enriched with proprietary data organized by appliance type and is used to develop new predictive models by appliance type.