Virtualized Network Function for Sensor Data Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional supply chain systems fail to provide continuous data collection and validation of sensor data from tangible assets during shipment, leading to potential damage due to delayed data collection and the risk of lost or misrepresented data from compromised storage devices.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a virtualized network function within a mobile communication network to receive and validate sensor data in real-time, using a contract management application that compares data to compliance thresholds and updates contracts accordingly, ensuring accurate and secure data validation before external systems receive it.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If data is collected at intervals between checkpoints, then storage and processing resources are reduced, but data accuracy and response time deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical periodic data collection system with a continuous streaming data transmission system using mobile communication networks. Sensors continuously transmit data through the network to the validation system, eliminating the need for periodic checkpoint collection and enabling real-time monitoring without increasing local storage requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile communication network acts as an intermediary between sensors and the validation system. This intermediary enables continuous data transmission from distributed sensors directly to the central validation system, replacing the traditional checkpoint-based collection method and enabling real-time data availability.
2Reliability
If local storage devices are used at checkpoints, then data can be stored and transmitted periodically, but data loss and misrepresentation risks increase due to device compromise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data storage function from local checkpoint devices and relocates it to a centralized secure repository in the cloud. By removing local storage devices from the data path, the system eliminates the security vulnerabilities and compromise risks associated with physical devices at checkpoints, while maintaining continuous data availability through network transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile communication network serves as a secure intermediary for data transmission, replacing vulnerable local storage devices. Data is transmitted continuously through the network to a secure central repository, eliminating the need for physical storage devices at checkpoints and reducing the attack surface for data compromise.
3Productivity
If unvalidated sensor data is provided to external systems, then processing speed is maintained, but data quality and compliance reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary validation of sensor data against contract specifications before the data is provided to external systems. The validation system continuously compares incoming sensor data with contractual requirements and only provides validated, compliant data to external systems, ensuring data quality without significantly delaying the overall processing timeline.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback validation where sensor data is automatically compared against contract specifications in real-time. This feedback mechanism ensures that only compliant data is transmitted to external systems, maintaining both processing speed and data quality through automated validation loops.
Data Source
AI summary
A virtualized network function included in a mobile communication network may be capable of performing validation of sensor data. The sensor data may be generated by one or more sensors monitoring a tangible asset that is being transported between geographical locations. The sensor data may be received by the virtualized network function from an Internet-enabled device in communication with the mobile communication network. In some cases, a contract management application included in the virtualized network function may validate the sensor data based on one or more compliance thresholds describing a shipment condition of the tangible asset. Based on determining whether the sensor data indicates a compliant shipment condition for the tangible asset, the contract management application may modify a contract associated with the tangible asset.