Mobile Robot Firewall Bypass via Intermediary Connection Manager
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile robot systems face challenges in establishing direct connections due to firewalls and network address translation (NAT) systems, which prevent remote terminals from initiating connections with mobile robots located behind firewalls, leading to difficulties in telecommunication and remote observation.
Innovation Solution
A mobile robot system that includes a privacy controller and a wireless network interface, allowing the robot to operate in privacy mode by blocking the camera's field of view and preventing data transmission, along with a remote control unit that can wirelessly control the robot and engage privacy mode, enabling secure operation and communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mobile robot is placed behind a firewall for security, then privacy and security are improved, but remote terminals cannot initiate direct connections to the robot
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a connection manager as an intermediary component that runs on the mobile robot and communicates with remote terminals through the firewall. The connection manager receives connection requests from remote terminals and establishes communication channels through the firewall, allowing remote access while maintaining firewall security. This mediator enables the robot to be accessible remotely without requiring the firewall to be breached or disabled.
2Reliability
If the robot operates in privacy mode to block camera view, then privacy protection is improved, but remote observation capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic privacy mode that can be toggled between active and inactive states. When privacy mode is active, the camera view is blocked locally on the robot's display. When inactive, the camera view is transmitted to remote terminals for observation. This dynamic switching allows the system to adapt between privacy protection and remote observation needs based on user requirements at different times.
Data Source
AI summary
A system including a mobile telepresence robot, a to telepresence computing device in wireless communication with the robot, and a host computing device in wireless communication with the robot and the telepresence computing device. The host computing device relays User Datagram Protocol traffic between the robot and the telepresence computing device through a firewall.