Wireless Sensor Integration via Master-Slave Edge Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial sensors require specific communication technologies, leading to increased integration efforts and often make integration impossible due to heterogeneity, exacerbated by continuous changes in ICT infrastructure.
Innovation Solution
A sensor system comprising master sensors, slave sensors, and servers that utilize wireless communication to acquire and transmit environmental and industrial process data, with edge gateways and cloud instances for data processing and storage, enabling flexible communication and scalability across various technologies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If specific communication technologies are used for each sensor type, then sensor functionality is maintained, but integration effort increases and integration becomes impossible due to heterogeneity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal communication protocol that enables different sensor types (temperature, humidity, pressure, etc.) to communicate through a common interface. This allows the system to maintain specific sensor functionalities while integrating them through a unified communication standard, reducing the need for multiple product-specific communication gateways
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a communication protocol layer that acts as an intermediary between heterogeneous sensors and the central system. This protocol layer translates various sensor communication methods into a unified format, facilitating integration without requiring direct customization for each sensor type
2Adaptability or versatility
If product-specific communication gateways are used for each sensor type, then sensor integration is achieved, but system complexity and integration cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a single universal communication protocol that can handle multiple sensor types and communication methods (wireless, wired, different protocols) through one standardized interface, eliminating the need for multiple product-specific gateways and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges various communication technologies and protocols into a unified communication framework. By combining different communication methods (Bluetooth, WiFi, wired connections, different data formats) into a single protocol layer, the system achieves versatile sensor integration without proportionally increasing complexity
3Reliability
If traditional wired sensor networks are used, then data transmission reliability is maintained, but installation complexity and flexibility decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical wired connections with wireless communication technologies. This substitution maintains data transmission reliability through protocol-level error handling and confirmation mechanisms while eliminating the mechanical constraints of cable installation, thereby improving installation flexibility and ease of deployment
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor system includes: one or more master sensors; a plurality of slave sensors; and one or more servers. The one or more master sensors wirelessly send data to the plurality of slave sensors. The plurality of slave sensors acquire environmental and/or industrial process data based on associated configurations of the plurality of slave sensors. The plurality of slave sensors wirelessly send the environmental and/or industrial process data to the one or more master sensors. The one or more master sensors send the environmental and/or industrial process data to at least one of the one or more servers over a wireless network.