Virtual Protocol Gateway for IoT Cross-Protocol Interoperability
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Solution Overview
Problem
IoT devices with different communication protocols are unable to communicate with each other, limiting the application and functionality of IoT systems.
Innovation Solution
A virtual communication protocol is built into the physical communication protocol at the application layer of the OSI model, allowing IoT devices to use dynamic addresses and translate communication packets between different physical protocols, enabling communication between devices with disparate protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If each IoT device uses its own physical communication protocol, then device-specific communication requirements are met, but communication between devices with different protocols becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway device as an intermediary that translates between different physical communication protocols. The gateway receives data from IoT devices using various physical protocols (Bluetooth, Zigbee, Wi-Fi, etc.), converts it to a unified internal protocol, and routes it to the appropriate target device. This mediator approach enables protocol compatibility without requiring changes to the original IoT devices, resolving the contradiction between maintaining device-specific protocols and achieving cross-protocol communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication system is segmented into three distinct layers: the physical communication protocol layer (device-specific protocols), the unified internal protocol layer (gateway's internal communication standard), and the application layer. This segmentation allows each layer to operate independently with its own optimization, enabling IoT devices to maintain their native protocols while the gateway handles protocol translation through its unified internal structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a unified communication protocol is implemented across all IoT devices, then communication compatibility is achieved, but device redesign and standardization costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway serves as an intermediary that provides unified communication compatibility without requiring IoT devices to be redesigned. Existing IoT devices continue to use their original protocols and hardware designs, while the gateway handles all protocol translation and standardization functions, thereby avoiding manufacturing and standardization costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway creates virtual copies of communication interfaces for different protocols within its internal system. Instead of requiring physical hardware changes in IoT devices, the gateway implements software-based protocol stacks that replicate the functionality of different physical protocols, enabling compatibility through virtualization rather than physical standardization.
3Adaptability or versatility
If protocol translation is implemented through a gateway, then communication between different IoT devices is enabled, but system structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple protocol translation functions are merged into a single gateway device. The gateway consolidates protocol conversion, routing, addressing, and data management capabilities in one centralized unit, reducing the need for multiple separate translation devices and simplifying the overall system architecture compared to distributed translation approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway is designed as a universal device that can handle multiple different physical communication protocols simultaneously. It implements a multi-functional architecture with configurable protocol stacks that can adapt to various IoT protocols (Bluetooth, Zigbee, Wi-Fi, LoRa, etc.), reducing system complexity by replacing what would otherwise require multiple specialized translation devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A virtual communication protocol built in a physical communication protocol for solving the problem of conventional IoT devices of different physical communication protocols that fail to communicate with each other by building a virtual communication protocol in present existing physical communication protocols and at a position equivalent to the seventh layer (application layer) of the OSI model. With this virtual communication protocol, any one of the IoT devices is capable of transmitting an IoT command to an IoT console, and then the IoT console transfers the IoT command to a target IoT device, so that the two IoT devices of different physical communication protocols can communicate with each other and achieve the effect of transmitting control commands with each other.