WO2018083710A2

WO2018083710A2 - An improved management and internetworking of devices to collect and exchange data without requiring interaction

Info

Publication number: WO2018083710A2
Application number: PCT/IN2017/050024
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anush Gopalan; Satyabrata MOHANTY
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-11-07
Filing date: 2017-01-16
Publication date: 2018-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 2019-05-07
Also published as: WO2018083710A3

Abstract

The present invention comprises an improved management and internetworking of devices to collect and exchange data without requiring interaction that facilitates the continuous monitoring, control and management of remote smart objects. The present invention comprises a smart object containing an intelligent modular hardware along with configurable/portable embedded hardware framework and software programming to interface with the cloud server and end-user connected over Internet. The present invention aims at achieving quick system prototyping, development, assembly and deployment. The same base product after certain modification in modular configuration and with some modular advancements can be wrapped around the existing service to create any new specific solution or service oriented modules.

Description

TITLE

AN IMPROVED MANAGEMENT AND INTERNETWORKING OF DEVICES TO COLLECT AND EXCHANGE DATA WITHOUT REQUIRING INTERACTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of wireless management systems. More particularly the present invention relates to an improved management and internetworking of devices to collect and exchange data without requiring interaction that has capability of managing one or many diverse/heterogeneous smart objects simultaneously while connecting all smart objects to cloud server and end-users.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A smart object could be living or non-living & mobile or static object which is aware of location & environmental happenings (contexts). A smart object has independent or autonomous existence plus unique identity and also has capability

of (self or aided) discovery sensing-measuring-accumulating-collecting data or processed information, computing-calculating-comparing-compilation- consolidation-acquisition, classification-acceleration-publication for decision- executing-actuating-controlling, communicating/conversing/sharing/exchanging information, memorizing past decisions while evolving itself to handle future situations in a better way.

The relevant prior art methods, which will deal with remote asset management systems, are as follows:

Indian Patent App: No. 306/KOLNP/2004 claims a general method of updating the delivery/stock status of mailboxes, shelves, sorter bins, and a plurality of bins located at Post Offices, Companies or shelf space at supermarkets, department stores, and reporting to the respective owners, recipients and/or vendors of these

boxes via email, pager, PDA, cellular phone message system, website mailboxes and voice mail at a call center.

Indian Patent App: No. 781/KOLNP/2005 describes web based management and control of electronic equipments.

Indian Patent App: No. 4051 /CHE/2012 claims a remote asset management system through skilled/semiskilled personnel located at different locations in the world to manage a plurality of the remote assets whether stationary or mobile by providing security and restricting unauthorized access and misuse of the remote assets in real time specified operations.

Indian Patent App: No. 1967/MU MNP/2012 discloses the steps of utilizing a remote server to manage security alerts utilizing the remote server to administer security system updates and utilizing the remote server to configure the security system.

Indian Patent App: No. 1758/DELNP/2003 describes a system and method for the management of remote devices which are connected to a telecommunications network, or the like, by one or more links with limited and/or expensive bandwidth, such as the management of customer premise equipment (CPE) in a wireless local loop system or the like.

However, the purpose and methodology of all the inventions that are part of the above prior art do not envisage the unique embodiment of a remote heterogeneous smart object management system that has the capability of managing one or many diverse/heterogeneous smart objects simultaneously while connecting all smart objects to cloud server and end-users. The present invention envisages a remote heterogeneous smart object management system that facilitates the continuous monitoring and management of remote smart objects. The present invention thus overcomes these and other problems in the prior art by providing a smart object containing an intelligent modular hardware along with

configurable/portable embedded hardware framework and software programming to interface with the cloud server and end-user, all over Internet. The present invention aims at achieving quick system prototyping, development, assembly and deployment of industrial loT products.

Various changes may be made in and without departing from the concept of the invention. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing and modifying other methods and structures for carrying out the same purpose of the present invention. Further, features of some stages disclosed in this application may be employed with features of other stages. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the terminology of the following claims and the legal equivalents thereof.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION This invention may be summarized, at least in part, with reference to its objects.

The foremost objective of this invention is to provide a remote heterogeneous smart object management system that facilitates the continuous monitoring and management of remote smart objects.

Another objective of this invention is to provide a remote heterogeneous smart object management system that facilitates real-time event management through the stages of Query, Interactive, Conversational (Full duplex communication ) and bidirectional data (including voice and video) Streaming

Another objective of this invention is to provide a remote heterogeneous smart object management system that can manage assets (fleet, fuel, services log, people, energy towers, control devices, etc)

Another objective of this invention is to provide a remote heterogeneous smart object management system which enables smooth data stream processing.

Another objective of this invention is to provide a remote heterogeneous smart object management system with enhanced capability of analytics, profiling by searching patterns or setting trends in live data.

Another objective of this invention is to provide a remote heterogeneous smart object management system that provides quick service delivery which can give direct insight into manufacturing/service sector

Another objective of this invention is to provide a remote heterogeneous smart object management system that can use predictive intelligence to control and manage smart objects.

A further objective of this invention is to provide a remote heterogeneous smart object management system that manages information flow across a heterogeneous connected network. These and other objects and advantages and novel features of the present invention will be more readily apparent when considered in reference to the following description, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention may be summarized, at least in part, with reference to its objects.

The invention described herein provides a smart object remote management platform that has capability of managing one or many diverse/heterogeneous smart objects simultaneously while connecting all smart objects to cloud server and end-users.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will be more readily apparent by persons skilled in the art when considered in reference to the following description and when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings listed below.

Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating the working of the present invention including the connectors.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional diagram of the present invention device.

Figure 3 is a second cross sectional diagram of the present invention device.

Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating the working of the present invention smart framework application with business intelligence. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided in the context of particular applications of the invention and their requirements. The present invention can be configured as follows.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the present invention device consists of a Microprocessor or Microcontroller Unit (1 ), an Analog Input and Output unit (2), a Digital Input and Output unit (3), a Wireless Network Interface (4), which may be LoRa, GPRS/3G, GPS/GLONASS, PAN, WiFi, ZigBee, Bluetooth Low Energy (Smart) and embedded serial communication components for on-bard control data transfer which includes UART, CAN, I2C, SD, Video input-output or bidirectional 10 (over CMOS/CCD camera, HDMI/LVDS display), RS232, RS485, Ethernet, SPI, I2S - Audio 10 and Touch based Graphics LCD. As provided in Figure 3, the present invention device can be configured into various hardware blocks, Block 1 containing an in the Carrier Card comprising of

an RTC Battery and connection, a 24V DC Power Circuit, an LCD connector, an I/O connector and an LED, Block 2 containing a ARM Cortex microcontroller or microprocessor unit , DRAM, Flash, SD, USB, JTAG, I2C, I2S, SPI and UART, Block 3 containing an Ethernet 10/ 00, Block 4 containing a RS232, RS485, CAN, and MODBUS, Block 5 containing a Digital Input, On/Off Capacitive Touch, digital isolation or Optolsolation, Block 6 containing a Digital Output, 24V @ 100mA, Block 7 containing an Analog Input, , Isolation, Block 8 containing a Digital Input, Expander for I/O Expansion, 1 KHz Sampling, I2C Host Interface, 8 Inputs, Block 9 containing a Digital Input, Expander for I/O Expansion, 1 KHz Sampling, I2C Host Interface, 8 Outputs, Block 10 containing Analog Output, 2 Out, Block 1 1 containing Wifi, Block 12 containing GPRS, EDGE, 3G, Block 13 containing Zigbee, Bluetooth Low Energy (Smart) Block 14 containing external DC Energy metering circuitry interface through CAN or RS485 or RS232, Block 15 containing external AC Energy meter interface through CAN or RS 485, or RS232, Block 16 containing Keypad or Touchpad and Block 17 containing LED, LCD or Touch Graphics Display.

Accordingly the present invention as illustrated in Figure 1 , executes Sensor Agnostic Data Acquisition during which it acquires data independent of appliance (fixed or mobile), analyzes with contextual data feed and accelerates mediation. There is then multiple network (multiradio / wired) agnostic transfer of this data. The present invention thus senses, locates, communicates, interacts, pervasively (becoming a polytopol system) computes and controls all happens over Internet.

Accordingly the present invention has capability of behaving a local server itself even though it is always connected to Internet and being part of Wide Area Network (WAN). When it behaves as local server, then many smart objects report to cloud servers via a Gateway or Aggregator. Gateway or Aggregator inherits all the features of smart object defined above and fully loaded with multiple hardware cum software interfaces to speak to smart objects. Many network protocols are implemented keeping islands of long range and short range communication (both as LAN, WAN, PAN, etc) in view. Gateway or Aggregator collects unstructured &

unrelated data from heterogeneous field sensors devices & acts as a coordinator/facilitator between them making a local system working fine. Gateway or Aggregator works as broker or moderator or mediator for message processing, interaction, communication, sensing & relaying between connected objects.

The Gateway or Aggregator also has capability of data processing, storing and forwarding, in addition to local control and the decision making even in the absence of reliable Internet connectivity . Being intelligent - both gateway and the smart object can manage themselves locally and still able to report Internet cloud server. The processing load on smart object/gateway and server is dynamically balanced and distributed because of mutual exchange of information based on resource availability.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 4, real- time event management is facilitated through data filtration & alert notification via semantic analysis. This real-time data acquisition and field data analytics can give direct insight into manufacturing/service sector. Real-time dash board is provided for device management through alerts and visualization. Structured representation of field data is fairly understood because of intuitive interface. Realtime sensor state look-up and action invocation on change of state is possible as per prescribed or pre-defined or self-defined or self learned intelligent logic. Rate of change of state is high and the present invention is capable of handling frequent state change to meet hard real-time constraints.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, data stream processing that contains huge bi-directional transactions between Gateway or Aggregator & server is enabled. Normally performance metric or quality of service (QoS) might be poor because of natural bottlenecks like bandwidth and latency are addressed. Latency or jitter in data delivery could be high because of propagation delay (function of distance and signal speed), transmission delay (function of packet length, link data rate), processing delay (function of header size, bit error rate, destination address processing), queuing delay (function of preprocessing time at intermediate/end

router) and environmental factors (power cuts, etc). When the data arrives and is aggregated from different sources, the trigger may not come to the end but may go to anybody, and may be bidirectional. The Server of the present invention is capable of sending/pushing processed data content to users/gateway without getting polling requests from browser or embedded device. In a normal scenario, the client sends a request to the server for any updates and the server sends a response back. The present invention approach is not conventional client initiated communication anticipated by prior art. Rather the present invention facilitates server initiated communication. The present invention device can thus wait forever to listen to the server. Any new happenings are automatically sent to the remote embedded device or clients even without receiving the client request. Thus the present invention has server sent event (SSE) protocol implemented by default on embedded devices. In addition to SSE, of course the client can reach the present invention server with a specific request and server has to attend to the request by sending response back as

usual following RESTful architecture. Using this method, any authenticated user of the present invention can easily reach the secured field device remotely and also control the same. The present invention thus has the capability to listen to the server all the time for any new event happening, with a lightweight and adaptable messaging structure that is implemented on embedded devices which have constraints on computing, connectivity and naturally less power to burn. Reaching small computing nodes from the server imparts smartness to these nodes since the server intelligence can be quickly transferred to field devices, paralleling the request, even as the devices ask for it. Thus global intelligence is transferred to enhance the intelligence of edge/local devices, thus helping them to evolve into smarter objects with time

The server of the present invention is thus fully capable for running data analytics, machine learning and studying real-time data plus historical pattern matching,

therefore it can sometimes anticipate and inform the client much before the client at the field device end actually requires that important piece of information.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is capable of searching patterns or setting trends in live data with on-line comparison with already stored historical data. The present invention can read raw sensor data from field and provide cyberphysical services through web based application thus connecting local intelligence to global intelligence. According to an embodiment of the present invention, sensing node of the present invention (that includes sensing element, relevant signal processing, etc.) is tightly coupled with wired/wireless transmission systems that helps in instant reporting of field events. Constraint like power consumption is addressed by renewable/rechargeable batteries or using some novel energy harvesting scheme. The present invention can tolerate intermittent power conditions and restore setting if required. In such a situation, the final last good working configuration

stored is retrieved. The present invention also has the ability to reboot to factory default configuration. Thus it can tolerate intermittent and dynamic connectivity situations. The present invention can facilitate on-demand or event driven publish-subscribe system for making data available to users/user groups through secured social media access control mechanisms.

The present invention has an embedded low footprint network browser on gateway connected to peer network and Internet as well. The present invention is thus sustainable, eco - friendly, easy to handle, outage resistant and uses a system whereby the hardware/software can be updated remotely over available wired or wireless interface. The present invention can be configured for use in fixed objects (e.g. appliances), mobile objects (e.g. OBD on a vehicle), fixed remote objects (e.g. cell towers), and

outdoor event experience and interactive events (e.g. sporting event offering custom experience). As an illustration, the present invention can be used as but not limited to:

- Cell Tower Uptime Management

- Fleet Management - Radio Taxi Dispatch and Customer Booking, AVL, navigation and positioning, Route planning, Location Based Services, Car security / Driver Security. Drivers Logbook

- Route verification

- Asset Monitoring

- VIP monitoring

- Personal Safety and Tracking tool

- Emergency and recovery applications

- Territory management

- Personal navigation systems

- Field staff monitoring

- Lone workers protection

- Kid phone

- Home Management - tether all residential nodes, connect over short range radios, and converge digital cable/broadband

- Mobile Data Management - deliver services over the Android ecosystem to mobile consumer for seamless services availability,

- Event Management - enable localized event management and interactive consumer experiences in closed environments like sport events, entertainment, and outdoor situations.

As an illustrative example, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is installed onto Tower assets or Fleets or provided to Service / Field Engineers. The present invention transmits location / sensor and associated alarm information over a cellular network to the servers. Information is then processed on the servers or the present invention Managed Services Platform. User can locate towers / personnel online and have access to real-time data and reports as per defined performance parameters. The present invention has various tower/ asset / fleet performance-parameters input measures

available for sensor configuration. The present invention also has options to configure control outputs for predictive management.

The present invention can transport data from the smart objects across distance using cellular (2.5G/3G/4G) and short range wireless technologies like (IEEE 802.15.4, Zigbee, UWB, Bluetooth, WiBro, proprietary radio etc.) The acquired data is then combined with location intelligence tagging and navigational aid using GPS/Glonass/Cell Tower technologies, and with demographic specific GIS technologies. The present invention can thus acquire data over any wireless network, and eliminates the complexity of configuring new service parameters by managing and analyzing the data in the cloud.

While there has been shown and described what is considered to be preferred embodiments of the invention, it will, of course, be understood that various modifications and changes in form or detail could readily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be not limited to the exact forms described and illustrated, but should be constructed to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the objects of this invention have been achieved by providing the above invention. However various changes may be made in the structure of the invention without departing from the concept of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the terminology of the following claims and the legal equivalents thereof.

Claims

We claim:

1 , An improved management and internetworking of devices to collect and exchange data hardware comprising of blocks:

Block 1 containing a Carrier Card with an RTC Battery and connection, a 24V

DC Power Circuit, an LCD connector, an I/O connector and an LED;

Block 2 containing a microcontroller or microprocessor , DRAM, Flash, SD,

USB, JTAG, I2C, I2S, SPI and UART;

Block 3 containing an Ethernet 10/100/1000;

Block 4 containing a RS232, RS485, CAN, and MODBUS;

Block 5 containing a Digital Input, On/Off, Capacitive Touch, digital isolation or

Optolsolation protected circuitry with threshold voltage comparison circutry;

Block 6 containing a Digital Output, Out, Opto Isolation, 24V @ 100mA;

Block 7 containing an Analog Input, Isolation;

Block 8 containing a Digital Input, Expander for I/O Expansion, 1 KHz Sampling, I2C, SPI or CAN Host Interface, ; Block 9 containing a Digital Input, Expander for I/O Expansion, 1 KHz Sampling, I2C or SPI or CAN Host Interface, 8 Outputs;

Block 10 containing an Analog Output, 2 Out;

Block 1 1 containing WiFi

Block 12 containing GSM, GPRS, EDGE, 3G;

Block 13 containing Zigbee, LoRa, GPRS/3G, GPS/GLONASS, WPAN;

Block 14 containing an external DC Energy meter interface circuitry through

CAN or RS 485;

Block 15 containing an external AC Energy meter interface through CAN or RS 485;

Block 16 containing a Keypad or a Touchpad; and

Block 17 containing a Display; characterized in that the audio and visual components in the Display include UART, CAN, I2C, SD, Video IO, RS232, RS485, Ethernet, SPI, I2S - Audio IO and Touch Graphics LCD.

2. An improved management and internetworking of devices hardware as claimed in Claim 1 and working thereof wherein data is acquired, contextual data feed is analyzed, mediation is accelerated through sensor agnostic data acquisition, data is agnostically transferred through multiple network.

3. An improved management and internetworking of devices hardware as claimed in Claim 1 and working thereof wherein when the system hardware behaves as local server, the smart objects report to cloud servers via a gateway or aggregator which collects unstructured & unrelated data from heterogeneous field smart objects, speaks to the smart objects through various network protocols & acts as a coordinator/facilitator between them for message processing, interaction, communication, sensing & relaying between connected smart objects.

4. An improved management and internetworking of devices hardware as claimed in Claim 1 and working thereof wherein the gateway or aggregator processes,

stores and forwards data, executes local control, implements decision making in the presence or absence of internet connectivity, manages itself locally and reports to the Internet cloud server.

An improved management and internetworking of devices hardware as claimed in Claim 1 and working thereof wherein the smart objects manage themselves locally and report to the Internet cloud server.

An improved management and internetworking of devices hardware as claimed in Claim 1 and working thereof wherein real-time event management is facilitated through data filtration & alert notification via semantic analysis.

An improved management and internetworking of devices hardware as claimed in Claim 1 and working thereof wherein the gateway or aggregator facilitates server initiated communication and pushes processed data content to users/gateway without getting polling requests from the browser or device.

8. An improved management and internetworking of devices hardware as claimed in Claim 1 and working thereof wherein the system hardware can listen to the server all the time for any new event happening, runs data analytics, machine learning and studies real-time data, matches historical pattern, anticipates and informs about information, much before the smart object end requires the information.

9. An improved management and internetworking of devices hardware as claimed in Claim 1 and working thereof wherein the server intelligence can be transferred to the smart objects, paralleling the request by the smart objects, reaching small computing nodes from the server thereby imparting smartness to these nodes.

10. An improved management and internetworking of devices hardware as claimed in Claim 1 and working thereof wherein the wired/wireless transmission systems facilitates instant reporting of field events, the final last good working configuration stored being capable of being retrieved and the system hardware being rebooted to factory default configuration in case of intermittent and dynamic connectivity situations.