Appliance Software Architecture for Interoperable Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of household appliance components and diverse implementation choices make it difficult to design, develop, test, diagnose, control, and debug appliances, limiting the creation of interoperable and reusable componentry.
Innovation Solution
A software architecture system that includes a network control system with a software operating layer responsive to function calls, a physical user interface generating these calls, and a virtual user interface capable of invoking them, facilitating communication and control between appliance components over an internal network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If diverse components and implementation choices are used in household appliances, then functionality and adaptability are improved, but design complexity and difficulty of maintenance increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into distinct segments: physical user interface components (keypad, display), virtual user interface (software layer), and appliance control components. Each segment can be independently designed, modified, and maintained, reducing overall system complexity while preserving functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual user interface layer acts as a universal intermediary that can support multiple input methods (physical keypad, remote control, mobile device, voice commands) and communicate with various appliance components through standardized protocols, enabling adaptability without increasing core system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If diverse components and implementation choices are used in household appliances, then functionality and adaptability are improved, but ease of manufacture and reusability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual user interface implements universal communication protocols and standardized data structures that enable different appliance components and implementations to interoperate. This allows components to be manufactured independently and reused across different appliance models and configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual user interface layer serves as an intermediary between diverse physical interfaces and appliance control logic, translating various input formats into standardized commands. This mediator enables components to be manufactured and reused independently while maintaining interoperability through the standardized interface layer.
3Reliability
If traditional internal communication networks are used in appliances, then component connectivity is achieved, but seamless interaction and control between components are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual user interface acts as an intermediary layer between the physical user interface and appliance control components, enabling seamless interaction by translating user inputs into appropriate control commands and presenting appliance status in a unified manner, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining reliable component connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a software-based virtual interface dimension atop the existing physical communication network infrastructure. This additional layer enables rich, seamless user interaction without requiring changes to the underlying reliable communication hardware, thereby improving ease of operation while preserving connectivity reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A network control system for an appliance has a software operating layer that is responsive to a plurality of appliance function calls. A physical user interface on the appliance is capable of generating directly some of the appliance function calls. A virtual user interface connected remotely over the network is also configured to invoke some of the appliance function calls. But the virtual user interface can further invoke one or more of the function calls that the physical user interface cannot generate directly.