Power management and security for wireless modules in “machine-to-machine” communications
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10523432-B2
Publication Date
2019-12-31
Expiration Date
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for power management and security for wireless modules in “Machine-to-Machine” communications. A wireless module operating in a wireless network and with access to the Internet can efficiently and securely communicate with a server. The wireless network can be a public land mobile network (PLMN) that supports wireless wide area network technology including 3rd generation (3G) and 4th generation (4G) networks, and future generations as well. The wireless module can (i) utilize sleep and active states to monitor a monitored unit with a sensor and (ii) communicate with wireless network by utilizing a radio. The wireless module can include power control steps to reduce the energy consumed after sending sensor data by minimizing a tail period of a radio resource control (RRC) connected state. Messages between the wireless module and server can be transmitted according to the UDP or UDP Lite protocol with channel coding in the datagram body for efficiency while providing robustness to bit errors. The wireless module and server can utilize public key infrastructure (PKI) such as public keys to encrypt messages. The wireless module and server can use private keys to generate digital signatures for datagrams sent and decrypt messages received. The communication system between the wireless module and the server can conserve battery life in the wireless module while providing a system that is secure, scalable, and robust.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to saving power during machine to machine communication of sensor information over a wireless network. A wireless module stores identity information and transmits it to identify the module to a communication network server and establish a connection. The module places its processor in sleep mode and its radio in off mode between sensor reports. When a predetermined sleep mode time expires, the module returns to active mode to record sensor information.
The wireless module encrypts the recorded sensor information using a derived key based on at least a module private key and transmits the encrypted information. The module receives and decrypts encrypted confirmation information to confirm receipt by an application server, subsequently returning the processor to sleep mode and the radio to off mode. Communication utilizes signed messages as an alternative to digest authentication, with UDP or UDP Lite and channel coding to reduce overhead.
Claims Coverage
The claim coverage includes three inventive features directed to saving power during machine to machine communication of sensor information over a wireless network.
Wireless module power-state control
The wireless module stores and transmits identity information to identify the module to a communication network server and establish a connection, changes its processor to a sleep mode and its radio to an off mode, determines whether a predetermined sleep mode time has expired, and changes the processor to an active mode and the radio to an on state.
Encrypted sensor-information transmission
The wireless module records sensor information, encrypts it using a derived key based on at least a module private key, and transmits the encrypted sensor information via the wireless network.
Encrypted confirmation of receipt
The wireless module receives and decrypts encrypted confirmation information, confirms that the encrypted sensor information was received by an application server based at least on the decrypted confirmation information, and returns the processor to a sleep mode and the radio to an off mode in response.
The claim covers a computer system coordinating wireless module power states with encrypted sensor-information transmission and confirmation of receipt by an application server.
Stated Advantages
A single message/response round trip can reduce radio activity by about 250 ms and an exemplary 0.5 J compared with digest authentication.
The server can ignore unsigned messages, and the communication supports encrypted data and receipt confirmation.
The method saves power during machine-to-machine sensor communication by reducing the wireless-network connected-state tail time.
Documented Applications
Machine-to-machine communication of sensor information from a wireless module over a wireless network to a communication network server or an application server, including power-saving transmission with encrypted data and receipt confirmation.
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