Intermediate device, IoT terminal and method of IoT terminal accessing IoT platform

The present application is a U.S. National Stage Application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2019/079504, filed on Mar. 25, 2019, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201810384046.6, filed on Apr. 26, 2018, the disclosures of both of which is hereby incorporated by reference in entirety.

The present disclosure relates to an intermediate device, an Internet of things (IoT) terminal and a method of the IoT terminal accessing an IoT platform.

IoT as a new generation of information technology is the Internet of things connected. With the development of IoT technology, the IoT terminal has been applied in various industries, such as parking management, water quality monitoring, vehicle operation or the like. More and more IoT terminals have accessed the IoT platform.

The IoT terminal can be connected to the IoT platform through a long-distance communication technology such as GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), NB-IOT (Narrow Band Internet of Things) or the like. Alternatively, the IoT terminal can be connected to the intermediate device (such as a gateway or a mobile phone) through a short-range wireless communication technology such as NFC (near field communication), Bluetooth or the like, and then connected to the IoT platform through the intermediate device.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide an intermediate device, an IoT terminal and a method of the IoT terminal accessing the IoT platform, thereby improving the reliability of the IoT terminal accessing the IoT platform.

Based on the above object, the present disclosure provides a method of an IoT terminal accessing an IoT platform, comprising:

acquiring feature information of the IoT at least one of terminal or the intermediate device;

determining whether the acquired feature information satisfies a preset condition; and

deciding, according to the determination, whether the IoT terminal accesses the IoT platform through the intermediate device.

The feature information comprises at least one of:

power amount information, traffic information, signal strength information, location information, storage space information, processing capability information, signal transmission rate information, or signal transmission stability information.

Acquiring the feature information of at least one of the IoT terminal or the intermediate device and determining whether the acquired feature information satisfies the preset condition may comprise:

acquiring, by the IoT terminal, the feature information of the intermediate device;

determining, by the IoT terminal, whether the feature information of the intermediate device satisfies the preset condition related to the intermediate device.

Alternatively, acquiring the feature information of at least one of the IoT terminal or the intermediate device and determining whether the acquired feature information satisfies the preset condition may comprise:

acquiring, by the IoT terminal, the feature information of the IoT terminal and the feature information of the intermediate device;

determining, by the IoT terminal, whether the feature information of the intermediate device satisfies the preset condition related to the intermediate device, and whether the feature information of the IoT terminal satisfies the preset condition related to the IoT terminal.

Acquiring the feature information of at least one of the IoT terminal or the intermediate device and determining whether the acquired feature information satisfies the preset condition may comprise:

acquiring, by the intermediate device, the feature information of the intermediate device;

determining, by the intermediate device, whether the feature information of the intermediate device satisfies the preset condition related to the intermediate device.

Alternatively, acquiring the feature information of at least one of the IoT terminal or the intermediate device and determining whether the acquired feature information satisfies the preset condition may comprise:

acquiring, by the intermediate device, the feature information of the intermediate device and the feature information of the IoT terminal;

determining, by the intermediate device, whether the feature information of the intermediate device satisfies the preset condition related to the intermediate device, and whether the feature information of the IoT terminal satisfies the preset condition related to the IoT terminal.

The present disclosure further provides an IoT terminal, comprising:

a feature information acquisition circuit configured to acquire feature information of an intermediate device;

a condition determination circuit configured to determine whether the feature information of the intermediate device satisfies a preset condition related to the intermediate device; and

an access circuit configured to decide, according to the determination by the condition determination circuit, whether to access an IoT platform through the intermediate device.

The present disclosure further provides an intermediate device, comprising:

a feature information acquisition circuit configured to acquire feature information of the intermediate device after receiving a connection establishment request sent by an IoT terminal;

a condition determination circuit configured to determine whether the feature information of the intermediate device satisfies a preset condition related to the intermediate device; and

a connection request response circuit configured to determine, according to the determination by the condition determination circuit, whether to respond to the connection establishment request.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an IoT terminal accessing an IoT platform through an intermediate device in the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method of an IoT terminal accessing an IoT platform according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the internal structure of an IoT terminal according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method of an IoT terminal accessing an IoT platform according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the internal structure of an IoT terminal according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method of an IoT terminal accessing an IoT platform according to Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the internal structure of an IoT terminal according to Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method of an IoT terminal accessing an IoT platform according to Embodiment 4 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the internal structure of an intermediate device according to Embodiment 4 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a method of an IoT terminal accessing an IoT platform according to Embodiment 5 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the internal structure of an intermediate device according to Embodiment 5 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a method of an IoT terminal accessing an IoT platform according to Embodiment 6 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the internal structure of an intermediate device according to Embodiment 6 of the present disclosure.

For a clear understanding of the object of the present disclosure, its technical solution and advantages, the present disclosure will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

A detailed description of embodiments of the present disclosure will be given below. Illustrative embodiments are shown in the drawings, in which the similar reference signs are used throughout to represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described with reference to the drawings are illustrative, which are merely intend to interpret the present disclosure, but cannot be understood as limitation to the present disclosure.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the singular forms “a”, “an”, “said”, and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The term “and/or” includes any or all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It should be noted that all expressions using “first” and “second” in the embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to distinguish between two different entities with the same name or different parameters. It can be seen that “first” and “second” are only for convenience of expression and should not be understood as limiting the embodiments of the present disclosure, which will not be explained in detail in subsequent embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the IoT terminal supports GPRS+Bluetooth, and the intermediate device supports 4G+Bluetooth. When Bluetooth is activated on the intermediate device, the IoT device will preferentially connect to the intermediate device through Bluetooth and connect to the IoT platform through the intermediate device, so as to save traffic or power consumption of the IoT terminal.

However, the inventor of the present disclosure has found that a problem of unreliable connection of the IoT system often occurs in the existing method of an IoT terminal accessing an IoT platform through an intermediary device.

In the technical solution of the present disclosure, by acquiring the feature information of at least one of the IoT terminal or the intermediate device, it is determined whether the acquired feature information satisfies a preset condition, so as to decide, according to the determination, whether the IoT terminal accesses the IoT platform through the intermediate device. In this way, according to the determination, the IoT platform can be accessed selectively through the intermediate device to avoid a communication problem caused by accessing the intermediate device having insufficient power amount, insufficient traffic, weak signal strength, a long distance, insufficient storage space, insufficient processing capability, slow signal transmission, or unstable signal transmission, or to avoid a problem of increased power consumption and an affected communication caused by the IoT terminal accessing the IoT platform through the intermediate device in the case that the IoT terminal has insufficient power amount, or to avoid a problem in communication between the IoT terminal having a weak signal strength and the intermediate device, thereby improving the reliability of the IoT terminal accessing the IoT platform.

By analyzing the existing method of the IoT terminal accessing the IoT platform through the intermediate device, the inventor of the present disclosure has found that the reason for the loss of the IoT terminal is in that, when the IoT platform is accessed by the IoT terminal through the intermediate device, the intermediate device itself may have insufficient power amount, insufficient traffic, weak signal strength, long distance, insufficient storage space, insufficient processing capability, slow signal transmission, or unstable signal transmission or the like, resulting in communication interruption between the IoT terminal and the IoT platform and thus the loss of the IoT terminal.

In view of this, in the technical solution of the present disclosure, by acquiring the feature information of at least one of the IoT terminal or the intermediate device, for example, acquiring the feature information such as power amount, traffic, location, storage space, processing capability, signal transmission rate or signal transmission stability of at least one of the IoT terminal or the intermediate device, it is determined whether the acquired feature information satisfies a preset condition, so as to decide, according to the determination, whether the IoT terminal can access the IoT platform through the intermediate device. In this way, according to the determination, the IoT platform can be accessed selectively through the intermediate device to avoid the communication problem caused by accessing the IoT platform through the intermediate device having insufficient power amount, insufficient traffic, weak signal strength, a long distance, insufficient storage space, insufficient processing capability, slow signal transmission, or unstable signal transmission, thereby improving the reliability of the IoT terminal accessing the IoT platform.

The technical solution of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The technical solution of the present disclosure provides six embodiments. In the technical solutions of Embodiments 1, 2 and 3, the IoT terminal acquires the feature information and determines whether to access the IoT platform through the intermediate device. In the technical solutions of Embodiments 4, 5 and 6, the intermediate device acquires the feature information and determines whether to access the IoT platform through the intermediate device.

Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure provides an exemplary flow of a method of an IoT terminal accessing an IoT platform. As shown in FIG. 2 , the method may comprise the following steps.

The feature information can comprise at least one of power amount information, traffic information, signal strength information, location information, storage space information, processing capability information, signal transmission rate information, or signal transmission stability information.

Step S 102 : the IoT terminal determines whether the acquired feature information satisfies a preset condition; if so, the IoT terminal decides to access the IoT platform through the intermediate device, and the following step S 103 is performed; if not, the IoT terminal directly accesses the IoT platform without utilizing the intermediate device.

In step S 102 , the IoT terminal determines whether the acquired feature information of the intermediate device satisfies the preset condition related to the intermediate device. For example, it is determined whether the power amount of the intermediate device is greater than a preset power amount threshold, whether the traffic is greater than the preset traffic threshold, whether the signal strength is greater than a preset signal strength threshold, whether a distance between the location of the intermediate device and the location of the IoT terminal is less than a preset distance value, whether the storage space is greater than a preset storage space threshold, whether the processing capability is greater than a preset processing capability threshold, whether the signal transmission rate is greater than a preset signal transmission rate threshold, or whether the signal transmission stability is greater than a preset signal transmission stability threshold. Those skilled in the art can specify the preset condition according to actual situations and requirements, and no further examples will be given herein.

Step S 103 : the IoT terminal sends a connection establishment request to the intermediate device.

For example, in the step S 105 , the IoT terminal can determine the period of data transmission according to the acquired feature information. For example, if the power amount of the intermediate device is low, the IoT terminal can determine that data is sent to the IoT platform through the intermediate device over a longer period or at a lower frequency, so as to save power.

Step S 106 : the IoT terminal accesses the IoT platform through the intermediate device.

The step S 106 may comprise the following sub-steps:

Sub-step S 1061 : the IoT terminal sends a data request to the intermediate device;

Sub-step S 1062 : the intermediate device forwards the data request to the IoT platform;

Sub-step S 1063 : the IoT platform sends a data response to the intermediate device;

Sub-step S 1064 : the intermediate device forwards the data response to the IoT terminal.

Based on the method of an IoT terminal accessing an IoT platform provided in Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure, an IoT terminal is provided in Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure, the internal structure of which is shown in FIG. 3 and may comprise a feature information acquisition circuit 201 , a condition determination circuit 202 and an access circuit 203 .

The feature information acquisition circuit 201 is configured to acquire feature information of an intermediate device.

The condition determination circuit 202 is configured to determine whether the feature information of the intermediate device satisfies a preset condition related to the intermediate device.

The access circuit 203 is configured to decide, according to the determination by the condition determination circuit 202 , whether to access an IoT platform through the intermediate device; send a connection establishment request to the intermediate device after deciding to access the IoT platform through the intermediate device; determine a period of data transmission according to the acquired feature information after receiving a connection establishment response returned from the intermediate device; and then access the IoT platform through the intermediate device.

In the technical solution of Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure, before accessing the IoT platform through the intermediate device, the IoT terminal firstly acquires the feature information of the intermediate device, such as the power amount information or the traffic information of the intermediate device, and then determines whether the acquired feature information satisfies a preset condition, so as to decide, according to the determination, whether the IoT terminal accesses the IoT platform through the intermediate device. In this way, according to the determination, the IoT platform can be accessed selectively through the intermediate device to avoid a communication problem caused by accessing the IoT platform through an intermediate device having insufficient power amount, insufficient traffic, weak signal strength, a long distance, insufficient storage space, insufficient processing capability, slow signal transmission, or unstable signal transmission, thereby improving the reliability of the IoT terminal accessing the IoT platform.

Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure provides an exemplary flow of a method of an IoT terminal accessing an IoT platform. As shown in FIG. 4 , the method may comprise the following steps.

Step S 301 : the IoT terminal acquires the feature information of the IoT terminal and the feature information of an intermediate device.

The feature information can comprise at least one of power amount information, traffic information, signal strength information, location information, storage space information, processing capability information, signal transmission rate information, or signal transmission stability information.

Step S 302 : the IoT terminal determines whether the acquired feature information satisfies a preset condition; if so, the IoT terminal decides to access the IoT platform through the intermediate device, and the following step S 303 is performed; if not, the IoT terminal directly accesses the IoT platform without utilizing the intermediate device.

In the step S 302 , the IoT terminal determines whether the acquired feature information of the intermediate device satisfies the preset condition related to the intermediate device, and whether the feature information of the IoT terminal satisfies the preset condition related to the IoT terminal. For example, determining whether the feature information of the intermediate device satisfies the preset condition related to the intermediate device may comprise: whether the power amount of the intermediate device is greater than a preset power amount threshold, whether the remaining traffic is greater than the preset traffic threshold, whether the signal strength is greater than a preset signal strength threshold, whether a distance between the location of the intermediate device and the location of the IoT terminal is less than a preset distance value. For example, determining whether the feature information of the IoT terminal satisfies the preset condition related to the IoT terminal may comprise: whether the power amount of the IoT terminal is greater than a preset power amount threshold, whether the signal strength is greater than a preset signal strength threshold. Those skilled in the art can specify the preset conditions related to the intermediate device and the IoT terminal according to actual situations and requirements, and no further examples will be given herein.

In the case where the IoT terminal determines that the feature information of the intermediate device satisfies the preset condition related to the intermediate device, and the feature information of the IoT terminal satisfies the preset condition related to the IoT terminal, the IoT terminal decides to access the IoT platform through the intermediate device, and the following step S 303 is performed; otherwise, the IoT terminal directly accesses the IoT platform without utilizing the intermediate device.

In the step S 302 , in addition to determining whether the feature information of the intermediate device satisfies the preset condition related to the intermediate device, the IoT terminal also determines whether the feature information of the IoT terminal satisfies the preset condition related to the IoT terminal. In this way, in addition to avoiding a communication problem caused by accessing an intermediate device having insufficient power amount, insufficient traffic, weak signal strength, a long distance, insufficient storage space, insufficient processing capability, slow signal transmission, or unstable signal transmission, it is also possible to avoid a problem of increased power consumption and an affected communication caused by the IoT terminal accessing the IoT platform through the intermediate device in the case that the IoT terminal has insufficient power amount, or to avoid a problem in communication between the IoT terminal having a weak signal strength and the intermediate device, thereby improving the reliability of the IoT terminal accessing the IoT platform.

Step S 303 : the IoT terminal sends a connection establishment request to the intermediate device.

For example, in the step S 305 , the IoT terminal can determine the period of data transmission according to the acquired feature information. For example, if the power amount of the intermediate device or the IoT terminal is low, the IoT terminal can determine that data is sent to the IoT platform through the intermediate device over a longer period or at a lower frequency, so as to save power.

Step S 306 : the IoT terminal accesses the IoT platform through the intermediate device.

The step S 306 may comprise the following sub-steps:

Sub-step S 3061 : the IoT terminal sends a data request to the intermediate device;

Sub-step S 3062 : the intermediate device forwards the data request to the IoT platform;

Sub-step S 3063 : the IoT platform sends a data response to the intermediate device;

Sub-step S 3064 : the intermediate device forwards the data response to the IoT terminal.

Based on the method of an IoT terminal accessing an IoT platform provided in Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure, an IoT terminal is provided in Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure, the internal structure of which is shown in FIG. 5 and may comprise a feature information acquisition circuit 401 , a condition determination circuit 402 and an access circuit 403 .

The feature information acquisition circuit 401 is configured to acquire feature information of the IoT terminal and feature information of an intermediate device.

The condition determination circuit 402 is configured to determine whether the feature information of the intermediate device satisfies a preset condition related to the intermediate device, and whether the feature information of the IoT terminal satisfies a preset condition related to the IoT terminal.

The access circuit 403 is configured to decide, according to the determination by the condition determination circuit 402 , whether to access an IoT platform through the intermediate device; send a connection establishment request to the intermediate device after deciding to access the IoT platform through the intermediate device; determine a period of data transmission according to the acquired feature information after receiving a connection establishment response returned from the intermediate device; and then access the IoT platform through the intermediate device.

In the technical solution of Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure, before accessing the IoT platform through the intermediate device, the IoT terminal firstly acquires the feature information of the intermediate device and the feature information of the IoT terminal, and then determines whether the feature information of the intermediate device satisfies the preset condition related to the intermediate device and whether the feature information of the IoT terminal satisfies the preset condition related to the IoT terminal, so as to decide, according to the determination, whether the IoT terminal accesses the IoT platform through the intermediate device. In this way, according to the determination, the IoT platform can be accessed selectively through the intermediate device to avoid a communication problem caused by accessing an intermediate device having insufficient power amount, insufficient traffic, weak signal strength, a long distance, insufficient storage space, insufficient processing capability, slow signal transmission, or unstable signal transmission. Moreover, it is also possible to avoid a problem of increased power consumption and an affected communication caused by the IoT terminal accessing the IoT platform through the intermediate device in the case that the IoT terminal has insufficient power amount, or to avoid a problem in communication between the IoT terminal having a weak signal strength and the intermediate device, thereby improving the reliability of the IoT terminal accessing the IoT platform.

Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure provides an exemplary flow of a method of an IoT terminal accessing an IoT platform. As shown in FIG. 6 , the method may comprise the following steps.

The feature information may comprise at least one of power amount information, traffic information, or signal strength information.

Step S 502 : the IoT terminal determines whether the acquired feature information satisfies a preset condition; if so, the IoT terminal decides to access the IoT platform through the intermediate device, and the following step S 503 is performed; if not, the IoT terminal directly accesses the IoT platform without utilizing the intermediate device.

In the step S 502 , the IoT terminal determines whether the feature information of the IoT terminal satisfies a preset condition related to the IoT terminal. For example, determining whether the feature information of the IoT terminal satisfies the preset condition related to the IoT terminal may comprise: whether the power amount of the IoT terminal is greater than a preset power amount threshold, whether the signal strength is greater than a preset signal strength threshold. Those skilled in the art can specify the preset condition related to the IoT terminal according to actual situations and requirements, and no further examples will be given herein.

In the case where the IoT terminal determines that the feature information of the IoT terminal satisfies the preset condition related to the IoT terminal, the IoT terminal decides to access the IoT platform through the intermediate device, and the following step S 503 is performed; if not, the IoT terminal directly accesses the IoT platform without utilizing the intermediate device. In this way, it is possible to avoid a problem of increased power consumption and an affected communication caused by the IoT terminal accessing the IoT platform through the intermediate device in the case that the IoT terminal has insufficient power amount, or to avoid a problem in communication between the IoT terminal having a weak signal strength and the intermediate device, thereby improving the reliability of the IoT terminal accessing the IoT platform.

Step S 503 : the IoT terminal sends a connection establishment request to the intermediate device.

For example, in the step S 505 , the IoT terminal can determine the period of data transmission according to the acquired feature information. For example, if the power amount of the IoT terminal is low, the IoT terminal can determine that data is sent to the IoT platform through the intermediate device over a longer period or at a lower frequency, so as to save power.

Step S 506 : the IoT terminal accesses the IoT platform through the intermediate device.

This step S 506 may comprise the following sub-steps:

Sub-step S 5061 : the IoT terminal sends a data request to the intermediate device;

Sub-step S 5062 : the intermediate device forwards the data request to the IoT platform;

Sub-step S 5063 : the IoT platform sends a data response to the intermediate device;

Sub-step S 5064 : the intermediate device forwards the data response to the IoT terminal.

Based on the method of an IoT terminal accessing an IoT platform provided in Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure, an IoT terminal is provided in Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure, the internal structure of which is shown in FIG. 7 and may comprise a feature information acquisition circuit 601 , a condition determination circuit 602 , and an access circuit 603 .

The feature information acquisition circuit 601 is configured to acquire feature information of the IoT terminal.

The condition determination circuit 602 is configured to determine whether the feature information of the IoT terminal satisfies a preset condition related to the IoT terminal.

The access circuit 603 is configured to decide, according to the determination by the condition determination circuit 602 , whether to access an IoT platform through the intermediate device; send a connection establishment request to the intermediate device after deciding to access the IoT platform through the intermediate device; determine a period of data transmission according to the acquired feature information after receiving a connection establishment response returned from the intermediate device; and then access the IoT platform through the intermediate device.

In the technical solution of Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure, before accessing the IoT platform through the intermediate device, the IoT terminal firstly acquires the feature information of the IoT terminal, and then determines whether the feature information of the IoT terminal satisfies the preset condition related to the IoT terminal, so as to decide, according to the determination, whether the IoT terminal accesses the IoT platform through the intermediate device. In this way, according to the determination, the IoT platform can be accessed selectively through the intermediate device to avoid a problem of increased power consumption and an affected communication caused by the IoT terminal accessing the IoT platform through the intermediate device in the case that the IoT terminal has insufficient power amount, or to avoid a problem in communication between the IoT terminal having a weak signal strength and the intermediate device, thereby improving the reliability of the IoT terminal accessing the IoT platform.

Embodiment 4 of the present disclosure provides an exemplary flow of a method of an IoT terminal accessing an IoT platform. As shown in FIG. 8 , the method may comprise the following steps.

Step S 701 : the IoT terminal sends a connection establishment request to an intermediate device.

The feature information may comprise at least one of power amount information, traffic information, signal strength information, location information, storage space information, processing capability information, signal transmission rate information, or signal transmission stability information.

Step S 703 : the intermediate device determines whether the acquired feature information satisfies a preset condition; if so, it is determined that the IoT terminal can access the IoT platform through the intermediate device, and the following step S 704 is performed; if not, the intermediate device sends a connection failure response to the IoT terminal.

In the step S 703 , the intermediate device determines whether the feature information of the intermediate device satisfies the preset condition related to the intermediate device. For example, it is determined whether the power amount of the intermediate device is greater than a preset power amount threshold, whether the remaining traffic is greater than the preset traffic threshold, whether the signal strength is greater than a preset signal strength threshold. Those skilled in the art can specify the preset condition according to actual situations and requirements, and no further examples will be given herein.

For example, in the step S 705 , the intermediate device can determine the period of data transmission according to the acquired feature information. For example, if the power amount of the intermediate device is low, the intermediate device may determine that data is sent to the IoT platform by the IoT terminal over a longer period or at a lower frequency, so as to save power.

Step S 706 : the IoT terminal accesses the IoT platform through the intermediate device.

The step S 706 may comprise the following sub-steps:

Sub-step S 7061 : the IoT terminal sends a data request to the intermediate device;

Sub-step S 7062 : the intermediate device forwards the data request to the IoT platform;

Sub-step S 7063 : the IoT platform sends a data response to the intermediate device;

Sub-step S 7064 : the intermediate device forwards the data response to the IoT terminal.

In the above step S 703 , after the intermediate device determines that the acquired feature information does not satisfy the preset condition and sends the connection failure response to the IoT terminal, the IoT terminal can directly access the IoT platform and can cache data, or can also continue to determine whether another intermediate device satisfies the preset condition and can access the IoT platform through the other intermediate device that satisfies the preset condition.

Based on the method of an IoT terminal accessing an IoT platform provided in Embodiment 4 of the present disclosure, an intermediate device is provided in Embodiment 4 of the present disclosure, the internal structure of which is shown in FIG. 9 and may comprise a feature information acquisition circuit 801 , a condition determination circuit 802 , and a connection request response circuit 803 .

The feature information acquisition circuit 801 is configured to acquire feature information of the intermediate device after receiving a connection establishment request sent by an IoT terminal.

The condition determination circuit 802 is configured to determine whether the feature information of the intermediate device satisfies a preset condition related to the intermediate device.

The connection request response circuit 803 is configured to decide, according to the determination by the condition determination circuit 802 , whether to respond to the connection establishment request; after deciding to return a connection establishment response, the connection request response circuit 803 may further determine a period of data transmission according to the acquired feature information, and then enable the IoT terminal to access the IoT platform through the intermediate device.

In the technical solution of Embodiment 4 of the present disclosure, after receiving a connection establishment request from the IoT terminal, the intermediate device firstly acquires the feature information of the intermediate device, such as the power amount information or the traffic information of the intermediate device, and then determines whether the acquired feature information satisfies a preset condition, so as to decide, according to the determination, whether the IoT terminal accesses the IoT platform through the intermediate device. In this way, according to the determination, the IoT platform can be accessed selectively through the intermediate device to avoid a communication problem caused by accessing the IoT platform through an intermediate device having insufficient power amount, insufficient traffic, or weak signal strength, thereby improving the reliability of the IoT terminal accessing the IoT platform.

Embodiment 5 of the present disclosure provides an exemplary flow of a method of an IoT terminal accessing an IoT platform. As shown in FIG. 10 , the method may comprise the following steps.

Step S 901 : the IoT terminal sends a connection establishment request to an intermediate device.

Step S 902 : the intermediate device acquires feature information of the intermediate device and feature information of the IoT terminal.

The feature information may comprise at least one of power amount information, traffic information, signal strength information, location information, storage space information, processing capability information, signal transmission rate information, or signal transmission stability information.

Step S 903 : the intermediate device determines whether the acquired feature information satisfies a preset condition; if so, it is determined that the IoT terminal accesses the IoT platform through the intermediate device, and the following step S 904 is performed; if not, the intermediate device sends a connection failure response to the IoT terminal.

In the step S 903 , the intermediate device determines whether the feature information of the intermediate device satisfies a preset condition related to the intermediate device, and whether the feature information of the IoT terminal satisfies a preset condition related to the IoT terminal. For example, it is determined whether the power amount of the intermediate device is greater than a preset power amount threshold, whether the remaining traffic is greater than the preset traffic threshold, whether the signal strength is greater than a preset signal strength threshold, whether a distance between the location of the intermediate device and the location of the IoT terminal is less than a preset distance value. For example, determining whether the feature information of the IoT terminal satisfies the preset condition related to the IoT terminal may comprise: determining whether the power amount of the IoT terminal is greater than a preset power amount threshold, whether the signal strength is greater than a preset signal strength threshold. Those skilled in the art can specify the preset conditions related to the intermediate device and the IoT terminal according to actual situations and requirements, and no further examples will be given herein.

In the case where the intermediate device determines that the feature information of the intermediate device satisfies the preset condition related to the intermediate device, and the feature information of the IoT terminal satisfies the preset condition related to the IoT terminal, the intermediate device decides that the IoT platform is accessed by the IoT terminal through the intermediate device, and the following step S 904 is performed; otherwise, the intermediate device sends a connection failure response to the IoT terminal.

In the step S 903 , in addition to determining whether the feature information of the intermediate device satisfies the preset condition related to the intermediate device, the intermediate device further determines whether the feature information of the IoT terminal satisfies the preset condition related to the IoT terminal. In this way, in addition to avoiding a communication problem caused by accessing an intermediate device having insufficient power amount, insufficient traffic, weak signal strength, a long distance, insufficient storage space, insufficient processing capability, slow signal transmission, or unstable signal transmission, it is also possible to avoid a problem of increased power consumption and an affected communication caused by the IoT terminal accessing the IoT platform through the intermediate device in the case that the IoT terminal has insufficient power amount, or to avoid a problem in communication between the IoT terminal having a weak signal strength and the intermediate device, thereby improving the reliability of the IoT terminal accessing the IoT platform.

For example, in the step S 905 , the intermediate device can determine the period of data transmission according to the acquired feature information. For example, if the power amount of the intermediate device or the IoT terminal is low, the intermediate device may determine that data is sent to the IoT platform by the IoT terminal over a longer period or at a lower frequency, so as to save power.

Step S 906 : the IoT terminal accesses the IoT platform through the intermediate device.

The step S 906 may comprise the following sub-steps:

Sub-step S 9061 : the IoT terminal sends a data request to the intermediate device;

Sub-step S 9062 : the intermediate device forwards the data request to the IoT platform;

Sub-step S 9063 : the IoT platform sends a data response to the intermediate device;

Sub-step S 9064 : the intermediate device forwards the data response to the IoT terminal.

In the above step S 903 , after the intermediate device determines that the acquired feature information does not satisfy the preset condition and sends the connection failure response to the IoT terminal, the IoT terminal can directly access the IoT platform and can cache data, or can also continue to determine whether another intermediate device satisfies the preset condition and can access the IoT platform through the other intermediate device that satisfies the preset condition.

Based on the method of an IoT terminal accessing an IoT platform provided in Embodiment 5 of the present disclosure, an intermediate device is provided in Embodiment 5 of the present disclosure, the internal structure of which is shown in FIG. 11 and may comprise a feature information acquisition circuit 1001 , a condition determination circuit 1002 , and a connection request response circuit 1003 .

The feature information acquisition circuit 1001 is configured to acquire feature information of the intermediate device and feature information of the IoT terminal after receiving a connection establishment request sent by the IoT terminal.

The condition determination circuit 1002 is configured to determine whether the feature information of the intermediate device satisfies a preset condition related to the intermediate device; and whether the feature information of the IoT terminal satisfies a preset condition related to the IoT terminal.

The connection request response circuit 1003 is configured to decide, according to the determination by the condition determination circuit 1002 , whether to respond to the connection establishment request; after deciding to return a connection establishment response, the connection request response circuit 1003 may further determine a period of data transmission according to the acquired feature information, and then enable the IoT terminal to access the IoT platform through the intermediate device.

In the technical solution of Embodiment 5 of the present disclosure, after receiving the connection establishment request from the IoT terminal, the intermediate device firstly acquires the feature information of the intermediate device and the feature information of the IoT terminal, and then determines whether the feature information of the intermediate device satisfies the preset condition related to the intermediate device and whether the feature information of the IoT terminal satisfies the preset condition related to the IoT terminal, so as to decide, according to the determination, whether the IoT terminal accesses the IoT platform through the intermediate device. In this way, according to the determination, the IoT platform can be accessed selectively through the intermediate device to avoid a communication problem caused by accessing an intermediate device having insufficient power amount, insufficient traffic, weak signal strength, a long distance, insufficient storage space, insufficient processing capability, slow signal transmission, or unstable signal transmission. Moreover, it is also possible to avoid a problem of increased power consumption and an affected communication caused by the IoT terminal accessing the IoT platform through the intermediate device in the case that the IoT terminal has insufficient power amount, or to avoid a problem in communication between the IoT terminal having a weak signal strength and the intermediate device, thereby improving the reliability of the IoT terminal accessing the IoT platform.

Embodiment 6 of the present disclosure provides an exemplary flow of a method of an IoT terminal accessing an IoT platform. As shown in FIG. 12 , the method may comprise the following steps.

Step S 1101 : the IoT terminal sends a connection establishment request to an intermediate device.

Step S 1102 : the intermediate device acquires the feature information of the IoT terminal.

The feature information may comprise at least one of power amount information, traffic information, signal strength information, location information, storage space information, processing capability information, signal transmission rate information, or signal transmission stability information.

Step S 1103 : the intermediate device determines whether the acquired feature information satisfies a preset condition; if so, it is decided that the IoT terminal can access the IoT platform through the intermediate device, and the following step S 1104 is performed; otherwise, the intermediate device sends a connection failure response to the IoT terminal.

In the step S 1103 , the intermediate device determines whether the feature information of the IoT terminal satisfies a preset condition related to the IoT terminal. For example, determining whether the feature information of the IoT terminal satisfies the preset condition related to the IoT terminal may comprise: determining whether the power amount of the IoT terminal is greater than a preset power amount threshold, whether the signal strength is greater than a preset signal strength threshold, whether a distance between the location of the intermediate device and the location of the IoT terminal is less than a preset distance value. Those skilled in the art can specify the preset condition related to the IoT terminal according to actual situations and requirements, and no further examples will be given herein.

In the case where the intermediate device determines that the feature information of the IoT terminal satisfies a preset condition related to the IoT terminal, the intermediate device decides that the IoT terminal can access the IoT platform through the intermediate device, and the following step S 1104 is performed; otherwise, the intermediate device sends a connection failure response to the IoT terminal.

In the step S 1103 , it is determined whether the feature information of the IoT terminal satisfies the preset condition related to the IoT terminal, so that it is possible to avoid a problem of increased power consumption and an affected communication caused by the IoT terminal accessing the IoT platform through the intermediate device in the case that the IoT terminal has insufficient power amount, or to avoid a problem in communication between the IoT terminal having a weak signal strength and the intermediate device, thereby improving the reliability of the IoT terminal accessing the IoT platform.

For example, in the step S 1105 , the intermediate device can determine the period of data transmission according to the acquired feature information. For example, if the power amount of the intermediate device or the IoT terminal is low, the intermediate device may determine that data is sent to the IoT platform by the IoT terminal over a longer period or at a lower frequency, so as to save power.

Step S 1106 : the IoT terminal accesses the IoT platform through the intermediate device.

The step S 1106 may comprise the following sub-steps:

Sub-step S 11061 : the IoT terminal sends a data request to the intermediate device;

Sub-step S 11062 : the intermediate device forwards the data request to the IoT platform;

Sub-step S 11063 : the IoT platform sends a data response to the intermediate device;

Sub-step S 11064 : the intermediate device forwards the data response to the IoT terminal.

In the above step S 1103 , after the intermediate device determines that the acquired feature information does not satisfy the preset condition and sends the connection failure response to the IoT terminal, the IoT terminal can directly access the IoT platform and can cache data, or can also continue to determine whether another intermediate device satisfies the preset condition and can access the IoT platform through the other intermediate device that satisfies the preset condition.

Based on the method of an IoT terminal accessing an IoT platform provided in Embodiment 6 of the present disclosure, an intermediate device is provided in Embodiment 6 of the present disclosure, the internal structure of which is shown in FIG. 13 and may comprise a feature information acquisition circuit 1201 , a condition determination circuit 1202 , and a connection request response circuit 1203 .

The feature information acquisition circuit 1201 is configured to acquire feature information of the IoT terminal after receiving a connection establishment request sent by the IoT terminal.

The condition determination circuit 1202 is configured to determine whether the feature information of the IoT terminal satisfies a preset condition related to the IoT terminal.

The connection request response circuit 1203 is configured to decide, according to the determination by the condition determination circuit 1202 , whether to respond to the connection establishment request; after deciding to return a connection establishment response, the connection request response circuit 1203 may further determine a period of data transmission according to the acquired feature information, and then enable the IoT terminal to access the IoT platform through the intermediate device.

In the technical solution of Embodiment 6 of the present disclosure, after receiving the connection establishment request from the IoT terminal, the intermediate device firstly acquires the feature information of the IoT terminal, and then determines whether the feature information of the IoT terminal satisfies the preset condition related to the IoT terminal, so as to decide, according to the determination, whether the IoT terminal accesses the IoT platform through the intermediate device. In this way, according to the determination, the IoT platform can be accessed selectively through the intermediate device to avoid a problem of increased power consumption and an affected communication caused by the IoT terminal accessing the IoT platform through the intermediate device in the case that the IoT terminal has insufficient power amount, or to avoid a problem in communication between the IoT terminal having a weak signal strength and the intermediate device, thereby improving the reliability of the IoT terminal accessing the IoT platform.

In the technical solution of the present disclosure, by acquiring the feature information of at least one of the IoT terminal or the intermediate device, it is determined whether the acquired feature information satisfies a preset condition, so as to decide, according to the determination, whether the IoT terminal accesses the IoT platform through the intermediate device. In this way, according to the determination, the IoT platform can be accessed selectively through the intermediate device to avoid a communication problem caused by accessing an intermediate device having insufficient power amount, insufficient traffic, weak signal strength, a long distance, insufficient storage space, insufficient processing capability, slow signal transmission, or unstable signal transmission, or to avoid a problem of increased power consumption and an affected communication caused by the IoT terminal accessing the IoT platform through the intermediate device in the case that the IoT terminal has insufficient power amount, or to avoid a problem in communication between the IoT terminal having a weak signal strength and the intermediate device, thereby improving the reliability of the IoT terminal accessing the IoT platform.

Those skilled in the art can understand that the steps, measures, solutions in the various operations, methods, and flowcharts discussed in the present disclosure may be alternated, modified, combined, or deleted. Furthermore, other steps, measures, solutions in the various operations, methods, and flowcharts discussed in the present disclosure may be alternated, modified, combined, or decomposed, combined, or deleted. Furthermore, other steps, measures, solutions in the various operations, methods, and flowcharts in the prior art and discussed in the present disclosure may be alternated, modified, combined, or decomposed, combined, or deleted.

It should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the discussion of any of the above embodiments is merely exemplary and is not intended to suggest that the scope of the disclosure (including the claims) is limited to these examples. Under the concept of the present disclosure, the technical features in each of the above embodiments can be combined or the technical features of different embodiments can also be combined, the steps can be carried out in any order, and there are many other variations of the various aspects of the present disclosure as described above, which are not provided in detail for the sake of brevity. Within spirit and principles of the present disclosure, any omissions, modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements or the like shall be contained in the protection scope of this disclosure.