Power management and security for wireless modules in “machine-to-machine” communications

摘要

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) or a wireless local area network (LAN). The wireless module may include a sensor and may be installed next to a monitored unit. The wireless module may utilize active states for collecting and sending data, and sleep states at other times to conserve a battery and/or energy usage. The wireless module minimize the time spent in a radio resource control (RRC) connected state. Messages between the wireless module and server can be transmitted according to a user datagram protocol (UDP). The wireless module and server can utilize public key infrastructure (PKI) for encryption and digital signatures.

主权项

1. A system for supporting machine-to-machine communications, the system comprising:
a wireless module for changing a processor between a sleep state and an active state, for changing a radio between a radio off state and a connected state, for recording a private key and a wireless module identity in a memory, and for sending a message comprising an Internet Protocol (IP) packet and receiving a response, wherein the message includes (i) a module digital signature processed using the private key, (ii) a sensor measurement, and (iii) the wireless module identity, wherein the wireless module, in sequence, (a) changes the processor from the sleep state to the active state, (b) changes the radio from the radio off state to the connected state, (c) sends the message and receives the response, wherein, after the wireless module receives the response, the wireless module (d) sends a detach message before receiving a radio bearer reconfiguration message and a radio resource control connection release, and then (e) changes the radio to the radio off state and the processor to the sleep state, and wherein the wireless module sends the detach message (x) while the wireless module comprises a 4G radio resource control connected (RRC_CONNECTED) state and (y) before the wireless module utilizes a discontinuous reception (DRX) state.