Universal Configurable Device Gateway for Protocol-Neutral Interoperability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current device management technologies are limited to specific manufacturers' products and industries, lacking a flexible, standards-based, and cost-effective remote management solution, making it difficult for devices to communicate and share data across disparate systems.
Innovation Solution
A device application gateway provides a configurable, object-oriented, protocol-neutral interface between physical devices and servers, enabling generic communication through a protocol gateway module and object adapter module, allowing devices to be exposed as network devices and facilitating data access and management across various industrial applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If proprietary protocols and manufacturer-specific technologies are used for device management, then device control and monitoring functions can be achieved, but the system becomes limited to specific manufacturers' products and industries, reducing adaptability and increasing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal device gateway that can communicate with multiple types of devices from different manufacturers through a single platform. The gateway supports various communication protocols (Modbus, BACnet, LonWorks, etc.) and can adapt to different device types (HVAC, lighting, security, etc.), making the system universally applicable across industries and manufacturers while maintaining reliable device control and monitoring capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The device gateway acts as an intermediary between proprietary device protocols and standard network protocols. It translates and adapts communications between devices using manufacturer-specific protocols and the broader network infrastructure, enabling interoperability without requiring changes to the original devices or complete proprietary system implementations
2Adaptability or versatility
If standardized protocol gateways are implemented to enable generic communication, then adaptability and versatility improve, but device complexity and configuration requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device gateway implements automatic device discovery and self-configuration capabilities. When a device is connected, the gateway automatically detects its protocol type, configures appropriate communication parameters, and integrates it into the network without requiring manual configuration. This reduces complexity while maintaining protocol neutrality and broad device compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway uses dynamic configuration where communication parameters and protocol settings are adjusted automatically based on the detected device type and requirements. Rather than requiring static pre-configuration for each device type, the system adapts its behavior dynamically during runtime based on actual device characteristics
Data Source
AI summary
A method and an apparatus for providing a configurable, object-oriented, protocol-neutral interface between a physical device and a server. The method includes coupling an application gateway with the physical device, where the application gateway includes a protocol gateway module configured for physical communication with the physical device, and an object adapter module configured for virtual communication between the physical device and a client application running on a server. The method further includes configuring a service starter to launch and bind the object adapter module with the protocol gateway module, configuring the protocol gateway module to define the physical interface between the physical device and the protocol gateway, and establishing communication between the protocol gateway module and the physical device, such that the physical device is exposed as a network device on the server.