Communication Control Method for Seamless Session Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Communication devices are unable to establish simultaneous communication with external devices using different communication methods, leading to interrupted sessions and loss of input data when switching between methods, causing inconvenience to users.

Innovation Solution

A method to determine if an ongoing communication session exists in one communication method before switching to another, allowing for seamless switching from telephone-network communication to in-area communication or vice versa, maintaining sessions when necessary, and ensuring uninterrupted data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the communication settings are switched from a first communication method to a second communication method, then the communication device can communicate with external devices using different communication methods, but the preceding communication session is interrupted and may not be resumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication method flexibilityVSAvoidcommunication session continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by checking whether an ongoing communication session exists in the second communication method before switching to the first communication method. This preliminary check allows the system to prepare for potential session interruption and decide in advance whether to maintain or switch communication methods, preventing unintended termination of important sessions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by determining the communication method based on the detection of ongoing communication sessions. The system continuously monitors the communication state and uses this feedback information to automatically decide whether to switch communication methods or maintain the current one, ensuring reliable session continuity while still allowing flexibility when appropriate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If the communication settings are switched manually by the user, then the communication device can adapt to different communication needs, but user convenience is reduced due to manual intervention requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication method adaptabilityVSAvoiduser operation convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by enabling the communication device to automatically determine and switch communication methods based on the detection of ongoing communication sessions. The system serves itself by monitoring its own communication state and making intelligent decisions about method switching without requiring manual user intervention, thus maintaining adaptability while significantly improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If the communication device communicates with only one external device at a time, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity is limited when multiple communication tasks need to be handled simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication management simplicityVSAvoidcommunication task throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the communication method selection dynamic rather than static. The system automatically adjusts the communication method based on real-time detection of ongoing sessions, allowing the device to adapt its communication behavior dynamically. This dynamic approach enables the device to handle multiple communication tasks efficiently by switching methods as needed, improving productivity without significantly increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8638463B2Communication controlling method, computer readable medium, and communication device

Publication Date: 2014.01.28 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A method to control a communication device to communicate with a first external device in a first communication method and with a second external device in a second communication method is provided. The method includes steps of determining prior to communicating in the first communication method whether the communication device is under an ongoing communication session in the second communication method, executing one of switching the communication methods in the communication device from the second communication method to the first communication method when the communication device is not under any ongoing communication session in the second communication method and maintaining the second communication method set in the communication device when the communication device is under an ongoing communication session, and communicating with the first external device in the first communication method after switching the communication methods from the second communication method to the first communication method.