Household Appliance Commissioning via Peer Credential Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing domestic appliances require multiple complex processes and repetitive user input to connect to a secure wireless network and associate with a user account, leading to user frustration and inefficiency, especially when commissioning multiple devices.
Innovation Solution
A method where an existing household appliance scans for a new appliance, establishes a direct connection, obtains a provisioning token from a remote database, and transmits network credentials and the token to the new appliance, allowing it to connect securely to the user's account without manual password entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual password entry is required for each appliance connection, then network security is maintained, but user convenience and commissioning efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
An existing commissioned appliance acts as an intermediary device to transfer credentials to new appliances. Instead of requiring users to manually enter passwords for each appliance, the system uses a trusted intermediary appliance that has already been commissioned to automatically share network credentials and account information with new appliances through direct peer-to-peer communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary commissioning of a first appliance that establishes trusted credentials in advance. This pre-configured appliance then serves as a credential source for subsequent appliances, eliminating the need for repeated manual password entry. The preliminary action of commissioning one appliance creates a foundation for automated commissioning of multiple appliances.
2Reliability
If manual password entry is required for each appliance, then network security is maintained, but commissioning time and productivity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The existing commissioned appliance serves as a mediator that automatically transfers credentials to new appliances. This eliminates the repetitive manual password entry process for each appliance commissioning, significantly improving commissioning speed and productivity while maintaining security through the intermediary's pre-established trusted connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a continuous credential sharing mechanism where the first commissioned appliance continuously provides authentication information to subsequent appliances. This continuous useful action eliminates the need to repeatedly perform the same manual password entry process, thereby improving commissioning productivity while maintaining network security.
3Reliability
If multiple commissioning processes are used for each appliance, then secure connection is established, but device complexity and user frustration increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple commissioning processes into a single streamlined operation. Instead of requiring separate manual password entry and account association steps for each appliance, the intermediary appliance combines these functions into one automated process where credentials and account information are transferred together through direct peer-to-peer communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The first commissioned appliance serves multiple functions: it acts as a network gateway, a credential repository, and an account association service. This multi-functional intermediary eliminates the need for multiple separate commissioning processes, reducing complexity while maintaining secure connections through its versatile capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of commissioning a domestic appliance may include receiving, from a user interface of an existing household appliance, a request to add a new household appliance to the user account. The method may further include scanning for the new household appliance with the existing household appliance and establishing a direct connection from the existing household appliance to the new household appliance. The method may still further include obtaining a provisioning token from a remote database with the existing household appliance and transmitting the provisioning token from the existing household appliance to the new household appliance via the direct connection.