Software-Defined Signal Processing for Secure Low-Power IoT
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing signal processing architectures in IoT devices are inflexible, prone to attacks, and limited by tight power requirements, making them unsuitable for rapid innovation and efficient data processing.
Innovation Solution
Implementing software-defined signal device systems that offload most processing to an edge processing platform, using a standalone or embedded processing unit to perform non-domain-specific and domain-specific processing, reducing the reliance on embedded processors and enhancing security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If signal processing is performed using embedded processors in IoT devices, then processing can be done locally, but the system becomes vulnerable to attacks and power requirements become tight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the signal processing functionality from embedded processors in IoT devices and relocates it to a separate signal processing device. This separation removes the processing burden and security vulnerabilities from the IoT device while maintaining local processing capabilities through the external device, thereby improving security and reducing power requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dedicated signal processing device as an intermediary between the IoT device and the final processing target. This intermediary handles the computationally intensive signal processing tasks, allowing the IoT device to operate with minimal power consumption and reduced security exposure, while still achieving the required processing functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If embedded processors are used for signal processing in IoT devices, then processing can be performed locally, but the architecture becomes inflexible and limits rapid innovation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the signal processing architecture into distinct functional components: the IoT device for data collection and the separate signal processing device for computational tasks. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, enabling flexible updates and innovations in the signal processing domain without complicating the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal signal processing device that can handle multiple types of signal processing tasks across different IoT applications. This multi-functional approach increases adaptability and versatility, allowing the same processing infrastructure to support various innovations without requiring complex application-specific customizations.
3Speed
If more processing power is embedded in IoT devices, then real-time processing can be achieved, but security vulnerability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the processing power from the IoT device and places it in a secure, dedicated signal processing device. This extraction maintains real-time processing speed by keeping the processing capability close to the data source while removing the security vulnerability associated with embedding powerful processors in resource-constrained IoT devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a secure signal processing device as an intermediary that handles all computationally intensive operations. This intermediary architecture enables real-time processing speed while protecting the IoT device from attacks, as the vulnerable processing functions are isolated in a separate, hardened environment.
Data Source
AI summary
Minimum processing performed at a signal device level is enabled, such that the majority of the non-domain-specific processing can be offloaded to a processing device. For example, the processing device can receive signal data from a signal device, preprocess the signal data to obtain preprocessed signal data having a data format for domain-specific processing by software executed by at least one processing unit of a processing platform, and provide the preprocessed signal data for domain-specific processing by the software executed by the at least one processing unit.