Assistant Device Offloading Driver Updates and Network Tasks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Personal computing devices, such as smartphones, face performance issues and poor user experience due to the strain of frequent software updates and limited resources, which can also lead to errors and security risks from malicious content.

Innovation Solution

The use of an assistant device to assist client devices in updating programs and establishing network connections, offloading tasks such as downloading and executing driver programs, thereby reducing the burden on the client device's resources and enhancing security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the client device performs software updates itself, then it maintains control over the update process, but it experiences resource strain and performance degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupdate controlVSAvoiddevice performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an assistant device as an intermediary between the client device and the update service. The assistant device downloads and executes driver programs on behalf of the client device, reducing the resource burden on the client device while maintaining update control through coordinated interaction between the two devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the client device frequently updates software to keep pace with changing applications and services, then it maintains functionality and security, but it overtaxes limited resources leading to poor user experience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware currencyVSAvoiduser experience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The assistant device serves as a mediator that handles the resource-intensive update operations, allowing the client device to maintain current software without degrading user experience. The assistant device executes driver programs in isolation, protecting the client device from potential issues while keeping software up-to-date.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the client device executes driver programs directly, then it achieves full functionality, but it exposes itself to security risks from malicious content

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver functionalityVSAvoidsecurity risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The assistant device acts as a security intermediary by executing driver programs in an isolated environment away from the client device. This mediation allows the client device to benefit from driver functionality while the assistant device absorbs the security risks, protecting the client from malicious content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the execution environment into two separate devices: the client device that needs driver functionality and the assistant device that executes potentially risky driver programs. This spatial segmentation isolates security threats to the assistant device while maintaining functional connectivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Adaptability or versatility

If the client device establishes network connections directly, then it maintains network autonomy, but it increases its resource burden and security exposure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork connectivityVSAvoidresource burden

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The assistant device serves as a network intermediary that establishes and manages network connections on behalf of the client device. This mediation reduces the resource burden on the client device for network management while maintaining network connectivity through the assistant device's intermediary role.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10228930B2Offloading network connectivity and execution tasks to an assistant device

Publication Date: 2019.03.12 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Functionality is described herein for performing at least one network connectivity task on a client device with the aid of one or more assistant devices. In some implementations, a client device (such as a smartphone, desktop personal computing device, etc.) relies on an assistant device to assist it in updating its programs, including its driver programs. In other implementations, a client device relies on an assistant device in establishing a network connection with a network-accessible entity. Functionality is also described herein for performing at least one program execution task on a client device with the aid of one or more assistant devices. For instance, the client device may rely on the assistant device to assist it in executing a driver program. The driver program, in turn, enables the client device to interact with a peripheral device or some other component.