Wireless Device Provisioning via Portable Medium

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In environments where communication with a management apparatus is limited to only wireless network communication, such as in plants or remote areas with limited internet access, it is challenging to set up wireless devices to enter a wireless network managed by the management apparatus, as traditional provisioning methods require internet connectivity for uploading or downloading setting information.

Innovation Solution

A portable medium is used to record setting information generated by the management apparatus, allowing a setting apparatus to acquire and set this information in wireless devices, enabling them to enter the wireless network even without internet connectivity, and reducing the storage needs of the management apparatus by using common or individual setting information based on device identification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional provisioning methods are used to set up wireless devices, then setting information can be uploaded/downloaded via internet connectivity, but communication is impossible in areas with limited or no internet access

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to communication environmentsVSAvoidreliability of provisioning in remote areas

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A portable medium (USB flash drive, SD card, etc.) is introduced as an intermediary carrier to transfer setting information between the management apparatus and wireless devices. The setting information is first written to the portable medium by the management apparatus, then transferred to the wireless device via a setting apparatus, eliminating the requirement for internet connectivity during provisioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The setting information is prepared and stored on the portable medium in advance before being needed for device provisioning. This preliminary preparation allows the setting information to be available offline when needed in remote areas without internet access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If setting information is stored for each individual wireless device, then security is enhanced through individual device settings, but storage requirements at the management apparatus increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity of wireless networkVSAvoidstorage capacity required

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The setting information is segmented into common settings applicable to all devices and individual settings for specific devices. Common settings are stored once and reused, while only necessary individual variations are stored separately, reducing overall storage requirements while maintaining security through device-specific authentication credentials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3490284B1Setting system, setting apparatus, setting method, program and recording medium

Publication Date: 2022.07.27 YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORP

Figure 1
Figure 2~3B
Figure 4~5

AI summary

A setting system including a portable medium having recorded therein setting information generated by a management apparatus that manages a wireless network, and necessary for a wireless device to enter the wireless network and a setting apparatus that acquires the setting information from the portable medium and sets the acquired setting information in the wireless device.