Thing Modeler Service for IoT Digital Twin Creation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The Internet of Things (IoT) requires an efficient method to create integrated models of various machines, systems, and devices, which is currently a time-consuming process due to the vastness and complexity of representing real-world entities in a digital context.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a client-server architecture with a cross-platform thing modeler service that allows users to define and create models of 'things' through a user interface, utilizing a data structure that can be stored and modified, enabling the creation of digital twins of real-world entities, facilitating their representation across different devices and technologies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual definition of each machine, system, and device is performed in IoT, then complete representation of real-world entities is achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of entity representationVSAvoidtime for model creation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses digital twins as copies of real-world entities, allowing virtual representations to be created and manipulated without physically interacting with the actual machines, systems, or devices. This copying approach maintains complete entity representation while significantly reducing the time required for modeling and testing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-defining thing models with common properties and structures that can be reused across multiple entities. This preliminary modeling framework allows new entities to be rapidly instantiated without starting from scratch, reducing creation time while maintaining representation completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If comprehensive models of all things are created, then accurate digital representation is achieved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of digital representationVSAvoidcomplexity of modeling system
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the modeling system into distinct components: thing models for common properties, thing instances for specific entities, and digital twins for virtual representations. This segmentation allows comprehensive representation while managing complexity through modular, hierarchical organization of model elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs universal thing models that can represent multiple different real-world entities through common properties and structures. This multi-functionality allows a single modeling framework to handle diverse entities (machines, systems, devices) without requiring separate complex modeling approaches for each type.

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

Data Source

PatentUS10289286B2Thing modeler for internet of things
Publication Date: 2019.05.14 SAP SE
  • US10289286B2 patent drawing
  • US10289286B2 patent drawing
  • US10289286B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A system, method, and computer-readable medium, to define and create a thing type and a thing regarding an internet of things environment, the thing type being a data structure of a category of a thing representing a real world entity and the thing being a data structure defining an instance of a thing type.