Wireless Sensor Gateway Pairing for Secure Low-Power Provisioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless sensor networks face challenges in efficient sensor provisioning, particularly in battery-powered devices, where power consumption and manual intervention are high, and secure communication links need to be established between sensors and gateways.
Innovation Solution
The method involves identifying associated sensors and gateways, using power saving modes synchronized with the network, and embedding security information like public keys or certificates during manufacturing to enable secure communication links, allowing sensors to send data efficiently and securely through any gateway, even in isolated conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sensors and gateways use battery power for wireless communication, then mobility and deployment flexibility are improved, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Security information (public keys or certificates) is embedded in sensors and gateways during the manufacturing process rather than requiring post-deployment configuration. This preliminary action eliminates the need for manual provisioning and reduces the energy required for sensor gateway pairing during deployment
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors automatically discover and pair with available gateways using pre-configured security information without requiring manual intervention. The gateway automatically identifies associated sensors and establishes secure communication links, reducing the operational burden and energy consumption associated with manual provisioning procedures
2Reliability
If manual provisioning procedures are used to establish secure communication links, then security can be ensured, but operational complexity and manual intervention increase
Solution Approach 1:
Security information including public keys or certificates is embedded in sensors and gateways during manufacturing. This pre-configuration enables automatic authentication and secure link establishment without requiring manual provisioning procedures, thereby maintaining security while simplifying operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs automatic discovery, identification, and pairing of sensors with gateways using pre-configured security information. The gateway automatically establishes secure communication links without manual intervention, reducing operational complexity while ensuring reliable secure communication
3Reliability
If sensors and gateways communicate continuously to maintain connection, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Sensors and gateways can implement periodic wake-up cycles where devices transition to low-power sleep modes between communication intervals. The gateway and sensors synchronize wake-up times to maintain reliable communication while minimizing power consumption during idle periods
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for sensor provisioning in a wireless sensor network includes determining, at a gateway, that no neighboring gateway is present; in response to no neighboring gateway present, measuring signal strengths from a plurality of sensors; based on the measured signal strengths, identifying a sensor from the plurality of sensors to be paired with the gateway; and in response to identifying the sensor, pairing the gateway and the sensor to enable a secured connection between the gateway and the sensor.