Communication system and method for machine data routing

An edge computing entity of a secure data communication system, the edge computing entity comprises:

• an interface;
• a local memory;
• and a processor acting as a processing module operably coupled to the interface and the local memory, wherein the processing module functions to:
• receive, via the interface during a first time window, a first plurality of data streams from a plurality of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors;
• temporarily store, in the local memory during the first time window, the first plurality of data streams;
• determine whether a first set of data streams of the first plurality of data streams has been requested by a second edge computing entity of the secure data communication system;
• when the first set of data streams is requested and the request is valid, send, via the interface, the first set of data streams to the second edge computing entity prior to expiration of the first time window;
• receive, via the interface during a second time window, a second plurality of data streams from the plurality of IoT sensors, wherein the second time window is subsequent in time to the first time window;
• and overwrite, in the local memory, the temporary storage of the first plurality of data streams with the second plurality of data streams during the second time window.

A computer readable memory comprises:

• a first memory element that stores operational instructions that, when executed by a processing module of an edge computing entity of a secure data communication system, causes the processing module to:
• receive, during a first time window, a first plurality of data streams from a plurality of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors;
• and
• temporarily store, during the first time window, the first plurality of data streams;
• a second memory element that stores operational instructions that, when executed by the processing module, causes the processing module to:
• determine whether a first set of data streams of the first plurality of data streams has been requested by a second edge computing entity of the secure data communication system;
• and
• when the first set of data streams is requested and the request is valid, send the first set of data streams to the second edge computing entity prior to expiration of the first time window;
• and
• a third memory element that stores operational instructions that, when executed by the processing module, causes the processing module to:
• receive, during a second time window, a second plurality of data streams from the plurality of IoT sensors, wherein the second time window is subsequent in time to the first time window;
• and
• overwriting the temporary storage of the first plurality of data streams with the second plurality of data streams during the second time window.