Service Mesh Data Routing for Multi-Tenant IoT Platforms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cloud-based industrial solutions face challenges such as data accessibility across data centers, security issues, and data sharing limitations due to architectural limitations of existing cloud platform architectures.

Innovation Solution

A multi-tenant, cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) manufacturing platform with a service mesh system that includes a service communicator component and data packaging component to manage data communication and routing between edge gateway devices and internal services, determining data sharing permissions based on tenant map data and routing data across data centers without replication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If data is replicated across multiple data centers to improve accessibility, then data access speed improves, but data integrity issues and security risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata access speedVSAvoiddata integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments data access by creating separate read and write paths. Read operations can access data from multiple data centers for improved speed, while write operations maintain a single source of truth to ensure data integrity. This segmentation allows different parts of the system to have different access patterns appropriate to their needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer (cloud platform architecture) that mediates between data requests and data centers. This intermediary manages data routing, access permissions, and consistency protocols, allowing fast access while maintaining integrity through centralized control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If data sharing permissions are expanded to improve collaboration, then data accessibility improves, but security risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata sharing capabilityVSAvoidsecurity risks
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by applying different security policies to different data and different users. Access permissions are customized at the data level and user level, allowing selective sharing where needed while maintaining strict security where required. This enables fine-grained control over data sharing without compromising overall security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes security parameters dynamically based on user roles, data sensitivity, and access context. Permission levels, encryption requirements, and monitoring intensity are adjusted as parameters based on the specific access scenario, enabling flexible data sharing with adaptive security measures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If cloud platform architecture is simplified to reduce complexity, then ease of operation improves, but data routing and access control capabilities are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecloud platform architecture complexityVSAvoiddata routing capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements multi-functionality in the cloud platform architecture where a single routing component handles multiple functions: data routing, access control, permission verification, and security policy enforcement. This universal approach reduces overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive data management capabilities.

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

Data Source

PatentUS20240394808A1Industrial IoT data ingestion, redaction, and smoothing
Publication Date: 2024.11.28 ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECH INC
  • US20240394808A1 patent drawing
  • US20240394808A1 patent drawing
  • US20240394808A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A multi-tenant, cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) manufacturing platform offers a variety of industrial applications to end customers-including but not limited to MES, ERP, quality management, supply chain management, and customer relationship management (CRM)—and implements associated architectural features that address a number of issues relating to data sharing, security, scalability, and other concerns.