Wireless Automation Network Location Stamps for Private Packet Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing industrial automation systems lack a standardized method for integrating location information into wireless communication protocols without violating layer-based design principles and address privacy concerns.

Innovation Solution

A wireless automation network (WAN) system with source and destination devices that generate and verify location stamps within communication packets using a wireless localization engine and authorization mechanisms to ensure privacy and compliance with layer-based design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If location information is integrated into WAN communication packets, then location accuracy and security are improved, but device complexity increases due to additional authorization mechanisms and location stamps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The location information is segmented into two separate stamps: source location stamp generated by the wireless localization engine, and destination location stamp generated by the destination location generator. This segmentation allows each component to handle specific location verification tasks independently, improving location accuracy while distributing complexity across modular components rather than concentrating it in a single complex module

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wireless localization engine and destination location generator perform preliminary location stamp generation and validity flag setting before packet transmission. By pre-computing location stamps and validity flags, the system avoids complex real-time location calculations during packet processing, thereby improving location measurement precision while reducing operational complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If location information is transmitted in WAN packets, then security and spoofing detection are improved, but information privacy is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidinformation privacy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts only the essential location verification elements (location stamps and validity flags) from complete location information and transmits them in WAN packets. This extraction approach provides sufficient security for spoofing detection while minimizing the exposure of detailed location data, thus improving security while preserving information privacy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Location stamps act as intermediaries that carry location verification information without exposing raw location data. The stamps serve as mediators between the wireless localization engine and application layers, enabling security verification while maintaining privacy by not transmitting actual location coordinates in clear form

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If cross-layer interface is added for location access, then location information accessibility is improved, but design complexity and standard compliance worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation information accessibilityVSAvoiddesign complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless localization engine and destination location generator are designed as universal components that serve multiple functions: generating location stamps for security verification, setting validity flags for authorization control, and providing location information to multiple application layers simultaneously. This multi-functionality improves location accessibility while avoiding the need for separate cross-layer interfaces for different applications

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

4Reliability

If authorization mechanisms are implemented for location access, then information privacy protection is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprivacy protectionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Authorization is implemented with local quality by assigning different validity flag values to different location stamps based on specific authorization requirements. The source location stamp and destination location stamp can have independent validity flags, allowing fine-grained privacy control for different location information types without requiring a complex centralized authorization system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4089973B1Wireless automation network source and destination device
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG
  • EP4089973B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4089973B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4089973B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a wireless automation network, WAN, source device (110), wherein the WAN source device is configured to generate a WAN data packet containing a payload with automation data according to a WAN communication protocol, and to transmit the data packet to a WAN destination device (150); wherein the WAN source device (110) comprises a wireless localization engine (134) configured to generate a source location stamp and at least one packet wrapper (118, 130) configured to insert the source location stamp in the data packet.