US-20260129096-A1 - METHOD FOR MANAGING SMART INTERNET OF THINGS HUB AND NODE INTERACTIONS

Abstract

A method for managing communication between Internet-of-Things (IoT) nodes in an IoT environment having an IoT hub includes using a service-requesting, high power initiator node to identify a candidate smart device among the nodes. The smart device is flexibly operable as a low power or high power device, as a hybrid device, based on a parameter of the initiator node. The method may include selectively assigning the smart device as a trusted designated node within the IoT environment. The method also includes determining, based on the parameter, an optimal periodicity of communication of status messages from the trusted designated node to an IoT hub. Thereafter, the method includes transmitting the status messages to the hub with the optimal periodicity, via the trusted designated node, such that the trusted designated node acts as a proxy for the initiator node when reporting the status messages to the hub.

Inventors

• Venkata Naga Siva Vikas Vemuri
• Azin Neishaboori
• LAKSHMI V. THANAYANKIZIL
• John Sergakis
• Scott T. Droste
• Ahmed F Al Alawy

Assignees

• GM Global Technology Operations LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20241106

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A method for managing communication between Internet-of-Things (IoT) nodes in a networked IoT environment having the IoT nodes and an IoT hub, the method comprising: identifying, in response to a parameter of a service-requesting initiator node, a candidate smart device from among the IoT nodes; selectively introducing the candidate smart device into the IoT environment, including assigning the candidate smart device as a trusted designated node within the IoT environment using the initiator node or the IoT hub; determining, based on the parameter of the initiator node, an optimal periodicity of communication of status messages from the trusted designated node to the IoT hub; and transmitting the status messages to the IoT hub with the optimal periodicity, via the trusted designated node, such that the trusted designated node acts as a proxy for the initiator node when reporting the status messages to the IoT hub.
2. 2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the initiator node includes a battery, and wherein the parameter includes a capacity level or state of charge of the battery.
3. 3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the initiator node is part of a vehicle having the battery, and wherein determining the optimal periodicity of communication of the status messages is based on the capacity level or state of charge of the battery.
4. 4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein selectively introducing the candidate smart device into the IoT environment includes selectively introducing an electric vehicle charger into the IoT environment as the trusted designated node, and wherein the electric vehicle charger includes the candidate smart device.
5. 5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selectively introducing the candidate smart device into the IoT environment occurs during commissioning of the candidate smart device.
6. 6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the optimal periodicity of communication of status messages from the trusted designated node to the IoT hub includes accessing a lookup table that is indexed or referenced by the optimal periodicity and the parameter.
7. 7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selectively introducing the candidate smart device into the IoT environment includes dynamically assigning the candidate smart device type as the trusted designated node during operation of the IoT environment.
8. 8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the IoT environment is part of a manufacturing plant, and wherein dynamically assigning the candidate smart device as the trusted designated node includes dynamically assigning an automation robot or a controller of the manufacturing plant as the trusted designated node during operation of the manufacturing plant.
9. 9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein dynamically assigning the candidate smart device as the trusted designated node is performed by the initiator node in accordance with a device-acquired model, further comprising: selecting the trusted designated node via the initiator node from among neighboring/in-range nodes of the IoT nodes using the device-acquired model.
10. 10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein dynamically assigning the candidate smart device as the trusted designated node is performed by the IoT hub in accordance with a hub-assisted model.
11. 11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: consolidating a status message of the initiator node with a status message of the trusted designated node to form a consolidated report; and periodically sending the consolidated report to the IoT hub via the trusted designated node to thereby reduce power consumption of the IoT environment.
12. 12 . A networked Internet-of-Things (IoT) environment, comprising: an IoT hub; and a plurality of IoT devices including a service-requesting device (“initiator node”), wherein the IoT hub and/or the initiator node is operable for: identifying, in response to a parameter of the initiator node, a candidate smart device from among the plurality of IoT devices; and selectively introducing the candidate smart device into the IoT environment, including assigning the candidate smart device as a trusted designated node within the IoT environment, via the initiator node and/or the IoT hub, and wherein the trusted designated node is operable for: determining, based on the parameter of the initiator node, an optimal periodicity of communication of status messages from the trusted designated node to the IoT hub; and transmitting the status messages to the IoT hub with the optimal periodicity such that the trusted designated node acts as a proxy for the initiator node when reporting the status messages to the IoT hub.
13. 13 . The IoT environment of claim 12 , wherein the initiator node includes a battery, and wherein the parameter includes a capacity level or state of charge of the battery.
14. 14 . The IoT environment of claim 13 , wherein the initiator node is part of a high power device having the battery, and wherein the designated node is operable for determining the optimal periodicity of communication of the status messages based on the capacity level or the state of charge of the battery.
15. 15 . The IoT environment of claim 14 , wherein the high power device is a battery charger for the battery, and wherein the IoT hub and/or the initiator node is operable for selectively introducing the candidate smart device into the IoT environment by selectively introducing the battery charger into the IoT environment as the trusted designated node.
16. 16 . The IoT environment of claim 12 , wherein the trusted designated node is operable for determining the optimal periodicity of communication of status messages from the trusted designated node to the IoT hub by accessing a lookup table that is indexed or referenced by the optimal periodicity and the parameter.
17. 17 . The IoT environment of claim 12 , wherein the IoT hub and/or the initiator node is operable for selectively introducing the candidate smart device into the IoT environment by dynamically assigning the candidate smart device as the trusted designated node during operation of the IoT environment.
18. 18 . The IoT environment of claim 17 , wherein the initiator node is operable for dynamically assigning the candidate smart device as the trusted designated node within the IoT environment in accordance with a device-acquired model.
19. 19 . The IoT environment of claim 17 , wherein the IoT hub is operable for dynamically assigning the candidate smart device as the trusted designated node within the IoT environment in accordance with a hub-assisted model.
20. 20 . An Internet-of-Things (IoT) environment, comprising: an IoT hub; a vehicle having a vehicle body, one or more road wheels connected to the vehicle body; and a battery connected to the vehicle body, the battery having a capacity level or state of charge, wherein when the vehicle acts as a service-requesting device (“initiator node”) within the IoT environment; and a vehicular infrastructure device, wherein the vehicle is operable for: identifying, in response to the capacity level or state of charge, a candidate smart device from among a plurality of IoT devices of the IoT environment; selectively introducing the candidate smart device into the IoT environment by assigning the candidate smart device as a trusted designated node within the IoT environment, wherein the vehicular infrastructure device is operable for: determining, based on the capacity level or state of charge, an optimal periodicity of communication of status messages from the vehicular infrastructure device to the IoT hub; and transmitting the status messages to the IoT hub with the optimal periodicity such that the vehicular infrastructure device acts as a proxy for the vehicle when reporting the status messages to the IoT hub.

Description

INTRODUCTION Advancements in global automation technology have led to the adoption of Internet of Things (IoT)-based solutions and associated management of the myriad of networked device types used to implement an IoT environment. Devices and communication nodes thereof in a networked IoT environment are used to collect and exchange messages, thereby enabling automation and optimizing device-performed processes. For example, home charging operations of a battery electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle may be scheduled and managed using “smart garage” IoT network connectivity. Such a network may utilize smartphone-based monitoring and opening/closing operation of garage doors or other access points, control of climate settings such as temperature, humidity, and air quality, and monitoring/control of other networked systems. IoT networks may be used in other operating environments, including but not limited to a user's home or office. Modern industrial and manufacturing environments likewise may use a networked IoT ecosystem to facilitate placement of orders, track assembly progress, or otherwise communicate between different networked devices. Communication between nodes of a networked IoT environment rely on proximity ranging and the reliable exchange of other information via a coordinated exchange of electronic signals or messages. The networked devices/nodes may rely on one or more connectivity technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), cellular, Zigbee, or other technologies to transmit such ranging data and information. Coordinated operation of the potentially disparate technologies across a networked IoT environment are currently facilitated by the open-source Matter standard, and therefore networked IoT ecosystems are often referred to as Matter networks. Regardless of the construction or subnetworks used in a networked IoT ecosystem, constituent nodes of the ecosystem are required to periodically communicate with an IoT hub to maintain status within and control of the ecosystem. SUMMARY The present disclosure pertains to methods and systems for managing and controlling a networked Internet-of-Things (IoT) ecosystem having one or more IoT hubs and a plurality of networked smart devices. Each smart device includes/functions as one or more communication nodes within the IoT ecosystem. As used herein, the IoT hub is a centralized hardware and software device that connects and manages the ongoing exchange of data/messages between connected IoT devices. The IoT hub, which may be either local or global/cloud-based in different implementations, thus acts as a centralized communication node during the exchange of messages between the connected devices. Several examples of such messages include activation or deactivation commands, telemetry data, performance metrics, software/firmware updates, error conditions, status, security credentials, time stamps, state of health reports, and other relevant information or data. In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a trusted designated node is dynamically or statically assigned by a service-requesting device (“initiator node”) or an IoT hub in different embodiments. Assignment occurs based on a parameter of the initiator node, for instance its current power level or state of charge. The designated node is thereafter used as a “trusted node” as part the IoT ecosystem, specifically for the purpose of providing status messages to the IoT hub on behalf of the initiator node. As disclosed herein, the term “hybrid device” refers to a high power smart device such as an electric vehicle (EV) or a controller having multiple processors/other computational nodes. At times, the high power device may experience a depleted battery or reduced energy budget, and thus begin to act more like a low power device. Thus, using a parameter in the form of, e.g., a reduced capacity level or state of charge of a propulsion battery of an electric vehicle (EV) when the initiator node/smart device is the EV, the designated node negotiates optimal engagement periodicity with the IoT hub. In the non-limiting case of the example EV and its resident propulsion battery, periodic message transmission between the EV and the IoT hub during an ignition-off mode of the EV could rapidly discharge and further deplete the propulsion battery or another onboard energy storage system used for this purpose. To address this problem, the method set forth herein includes selectively introducing the trusted designated node into the IoT environment as a trusted node and messaging proxy. The task of selecting the trusted designated node is performed as needed by either the service-requesting initiator node/device or by the IoT hub in different embodiments. The introduced trusted designated node thereafter acts as a proxy for status reporting and other message exchanges with the IoT hub, and negotiates optimal periodicity of such reporting. A method for managing communication