CEC Controller Polling Logic for Network Device Discovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices struggle to efficiently manage network connections and device discovery, leading to unnecessary traffic and delayed updates of connected device lists, especially when devices are switched on or off, and when the communication functionality is enabled or disabled.

Innovation Solution

A main electronic device with a controller that sends polling messages via a network interface to logical addresses to request information from other devices, optimizing the order and timing of these messages to reduce redundant traffic and ensure timely updates of connected device lists, using the Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) standard for communication within the network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If polling messages are sent continuously to all logical addresses, then device discovery completeness is improved, but network traffic increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice discovery completenessVSAvoidnetwork traffic

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by sending enable messages to activate CEC functionality in connected devices before sending polling messages. This ensures devices are ready to respond, improving discovery completeness while avoiding redundant polling of inactive devices, thus reducing unnecessary network traffic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The controller sends polling messages at predefined time intervals rather than continuously. This periodic approach maintains device discovery effectiveness while significantly reducing network traffic compared to continuous polling, resolving the contradiction between completeness and traffic volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Speed

If polling messages are sent immediately after switching on, then device discovery speed is improved, but network traffic increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice discovery speedVSAvoidnetwork traffic

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The controller sends enable messages immediately after switching on or enabling CEC functionality to activate communication in connected devices. This preliminary activation ensures devices are ready to respond to subsequent polling messages, achieving fast device discovery while avoiding traffic from polling inactive devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Polling messages are sent at predefined time intervals after the initial enable messages, providing timely device discovery updates without continuous traffic generation, thus balancing speed and traffic reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Loss of information

If polling messages are sent to all logical addresses, then device information completeness is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice information completenessVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Enable messages are sent to all logical addresses first to activate CEC functionality in potential devices. This preliminary step ensures that only addresses with active devices receive subsequent polling messages, reducing the number of polling operations needed while maintaining information completeness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Polling messages are sent periodically at predefined intervals to all logical addresses. This approach ensures comprehensive device information is gathered over time without requiring all polling operations to complete simultaneously, reducing overall processing time while maintaining information completeness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

4Reliability

If CEC functionality is enabled for all devices, then communication reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The controller sends enable messages to activate CEC functionality in connected devices before initiating polling. This ensures communication reliability by guaranteeing devices are active and ready to communicate, while avoiding the energy waste of polling devices that would not respond anyway.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Devices automatically respond to polling messages when their CEC functionality is enabled, eliminating the need for continuous active monitoring or repeated enable messages. This self-service mechanism maintains communication reliability while reducing overall energy consumption in the network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10797982B2Main electronic device for communicating within a network and method for operating a main electronic device for communicating within the network

Publication Date: 2020.10.06 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

The present invention relates to a main electronic device for communicating within a network comprising an interface for enabling communication within the network and a controller for sending polling messages via the network to logical addresses via said interface in order to request information from at least one further electronic device.The present invention further relates to a method for operating a main electronic device for communicating within a network.