XMPP Message Broker for Mobile Device Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile telecommunication device management systems using Server/Client agents are limited by scalability and cost, particularly for bottom-of-the-pyramid solutions, as they require persistent connections and heavy client components, restricting the number of clients that can be managed effectively.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a general-purpose messaging protocol like XMPP (Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol) for bi-directional, non-blocking asynchronous communication between server and client agents, using a message broker to facilitate seamless asynchronous messaging, allowing for a large number of clients to be managed without persistent connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If Server/Client agents are used for device management, then device control and monitoring capability is provided, but scalability is limited and system cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice management capabilityVSAvoidscalability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an XMPP message broker as an intermediary component that mediates communication between management servers and mobile devices. The broker receives management commands from servers, routes them to appropriate devices, and delivers device responses back to servers, enabling scalable many-to-many communication without persistent connections between servers and devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional HTTP request-response model with XMPP publish-subscribe messaging. Instead of blocking server sockets waiting for client actions or requiring clients to run lightweight servers, the system uses asynchronous XMPP stanzas that enable fire-and-forget command delivery and push-based device status reporting

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If persistent connections are maintained for device management, then real-time control is enabled, but the number of manageable clients is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereal-time controlVSAvoidnumber of clients
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic presence broadcasting by devices to the XMPP broker, which announces device availability and status at regular intervals. Management servers subscribe to presence updates and receive notifications when devices come online or go offline, enabling real-time awareness without maintaining persistent bidirectional connections

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The XMPP message broker acts as a centralized intermediary that maintains connection state with all devices and manages message routing. Devices connect to the broker rather than directly to management servers, allowing the broker to efficiently manage many concurrent connections and route messages only to relevant recipients

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Use of energy by moving object

If lightweight client components are deployed on mobile devices, then device resource consumption is reduced, but server-initiated communication becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice resource consumptionVSAvoidcommunication architecture
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables devices to autonomously publish their status information to the XMPP broker without server requests. Devices automatically generate and send presence stanzas and status updates, eliminating the need for servers to initiate communication or for devices to implement complex server-like functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the traditional client-server communication model by enabling devices to push information to servers through XMPP presence publishing, rather than servers polling devices. This reversal simplifies device software while maintaining real-time visibility of device status

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP2785019B1Managing mobile telecommunication devices with a general purpose messaging transport protocol in digital cellular telecommunication networks
Publication Date: 2015.05.27 SAP SE
  • EP2785019B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2785019B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP2785019B1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

A system uses a general purpose messaging transport protocol to manage, control, and monitor a mobile communication device and/or a plurality of mobile communication devices.