Cloud Server Mediator for Automatic Device Pairing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current device pairing methods are cumbersome for users, often requiring multiple steps and access to shared network connections, and can fail due to mismatched communication capabilities between devices.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing a cloud server to facilitate device pairing by sending initial signals, determining common communication capabilities, and initiating pairing based on these capabilities, allowing devices to connect automatically without user intervention and independent network usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If devices exchange communication capabilities directly using first communication technology, then pairing can be established, but user effort and complexity increase due to multiple steps and manual intervention required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepairing processVSAvoidpairing process
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A cloud server acts as an intermediary between the first and second devices during the pairing process. The server receives communication capability information from both devices, determines common capabilities, and facilitates the pairing without requiring direct complex interactions between the devices themselves, thereby simplifying the user experience while maintaining compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The cloud server performs preliminary determination of common communication capabilities between devices before the actual pairing is initiated. By pre-processing the capability matching and providing guidance information to devices, the system eliminates the need for users to manually navigate through multiple pairing steps, reducing both user effort and perceived complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If devices require access to shared network connections for pairing, then connection can be established, but reliability decreases when network access is unavailable or restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepairing connectionVSAvoidnetwork access requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cloud server serves as a mediator that enables capability exchange and pairing coordination without requiring the devices to share a common network connection. Each device can independently communicate with the server over the internet, allowing pairing to proceed reliably even when devices cannot directly access each other's networks or when network access is restricted.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If devices attempt to pair using mismatched communication capabilities, then pairing may fail, but the process becomes more complex requiring capability matching logic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepairing successVSAvoidcapability matching
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cloud server acts as an intermediary that receives communication capability information from both devices, determines the common communication capabilities, and provides guidance to both devices on which capability to use for pairing. This centralizes the complex capability matching logic on the server side, ensuring reliable pairing while keeping device implementation simpler.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by having devices send their capability information to the cloud server, receiving guidance on common capabilities, and then using that information to successfully pair. This feedback loop ensures that devices with mismatched capabilities can still pair reliably by following the server's coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3090495B1Device pairing via a cloud server
Publication Date: 2018.08.29 GOOGLE LLC
  • EP3090495B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3090495B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3090495B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods for device pairing via a cloud server are provided. In one aspect, a method includes sending an initial signal from a first device to a second device. The method includes sending a notification from the first device of a set of communication capabilities of the first device. The method also includes receiving an indication of a common communication capability between the first and second devices. The method includes initiating pairing of the first device and the second device using the common communication capability in response to the received indication. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.