Appliance Attribute Self-Learning for Remote Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of Uniform Device Descriptor (UDD) files in networked appliance systems is cumbersome, requiring manual configuration and being limited to predefined schemes, which becomes inefficient when new devices are introduced, as it necessitates reconfiguration of all equipment.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism where each user appliance is configured with a list of attributes and their possible values, and other equipment, such as proxies and monitoring devices, learn these attributes and values through a self-learning procedure, allowing for flexible definition and adaptation without the need for manual reconfiguration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If UDD files are used for appliance configuration, then appliances can be identified and controlled, but manual configuration becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service configuration where appliances automatically provide their own descriptors and capabilities to the control system without manual intervention. The appliance autonomously registers its attributes and values, eliminating the need for operators to manually configure each appliance detail.
Solution Approach 2:
Appliances perform preliminary action by pre-configuring their own descriptors, attributes, and acceptable values before being added to the control system. This preliminary self-configuration occurs during appliance initialization or registration, so that when the appliance joins the system, all necessary configuration information is already in place.
2Adaptability or versatility
If predefined schemes are used for appliance attributes, then standardization is achieved, but flexibility to define custom attributes is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static predefined attribute schemes to dynamic attribute definition where appliances can specify their own custom attributes and acceptable values. The control system adapts its configuration based on the specific appliance type and capabilities, allowing flexible attribute definitions while maintaining standardization through the common communication framework.
3Productivity
If all equipment must be reconfigured when a new device is introduced, then system consistency is maintained, but productivity decreases due to time-consuming reconfiguration
Solution Approach 1:
The control system implements feedback mechanisms where new appliances automatically broadcast their descriptors and capabilities upon registration. Existing control equipment receives this feedback information and automatically adapts its configuration without manual reconfiguration, maintaining system consistency while enabling rapid deployment of new devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The new appliance performs preliminary action by pre-defining its own attributes, acceptable values, and operational parameters before joining the system. This preliminary configuration is communicated to other system components, allowing them to automatically adjust their settings in advance rather than requiring post-implementation reconfiguration.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating a server of a communication system includes at least one user appliance and a monitoring device adapted to perform a remote monitoring of the at least one user appliance through the intermediation of the server, the at least one user appliance being associated with a list of attributes that can take predetermined values. The method includes: 1) receiving the list of attributes associated with the at least one user appliance, and the values that can be taken by each of said attributes; 2) storing at the server the list of attributes with the related values received in 1); and 3) sending said list of attributes with the related values to the monitoring device.