Adaptive Interface Device Reprogramming Without Specialized Software
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adaptive interface devices require specialized software and bi-directional communication with computing devices for configuration, limiting user flexibility and convenience in programming.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive interface device with a microcontroller and programmable input pins that allows reconfiguration without external software, using a one-way communication protocol to simulate keyboard and mouse inputs, enabling users to remap pin assignments directly through user inputs and a graphical user interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If specialized software and bi-directional communication are used for configuration, then data can be overwritten on the adaptive interface device, but user flexibility and convenience are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptive interface device performs self-configuration through unidirectional communication. The device receives programming data from the computing device and autonomously overwrites its own data memory without requiring continuous bi-directional communication or specialized software on the computing device side. This eliminates the need for complex software installations and maintains ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of the computing device sending commands to configure the interface device through bi-directional communication, the system inverts the approach by allowing the interface device to receive programming data unidirectionally and perform the configuration autonomously. This reverses the traditional control flow and reduces the complexity requirements on the computing device side.
2Device complexity
If unidirectional communication is used for programming, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to overwrite data on the adaptive interface device is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptive interface device autonomously processes programming data received through unidirectional communication. The microcontroller receives configuration commands and automatically executes them by overwriting data in its memory, enabling full reconfiguration capability without requiring complex bi-directional communication protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the data overwriting capability from the communication protocol itself and places it within the device's autonomous processing function. The unidirectional communication carries programming data, and the device's microcontroller independently executes the overwriting operation, separating communication simplicity from configuration capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
An adaptive interface device that is programmable and a system and method of programming an adaptive interface device. To program the adaptive interface device, a user navigates navigable data structure stored on the adaptive interface device through certain combinations of user inputs using the programmable inputs. The adaptive interface device outputs navigation codes indicative of the user's navigation of the navigable data structure. A connected computer receives and interprets the navigation codes and provides visual feedback to a user to assist in programming. More particularly, a web browser of the connected computer receives the navigation codes and provides the user with a graphical representation of the navigable data structure and the user's navigation thereof.