Companion Device GUI for Miniaturized Network Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity and miniaturization of network devices have made configuration and debugging challenging due to the lack of user interfaces, especially in large networks, where devices often lack displays and input devices, necessitating a solution to facilitate setup and debugging without requiring knowledge of the network device's operation.
Innovation Solution
A system and method allowing a companion device to serve as a user interface for network devices by transmitting graphical descriptors and commands, using standard graphical items like buttons, sliders, input boxes, and gauges, enabling the companion device to create a user interface without needing prior knowledge of the network device's functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If network devices are miniaturized to reduce size, then device compactness is improved, but user interface capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a companion device as an intermediary between the user and the miniaturized network device. The companion device receives graphical descriptors from the network device and renders them as standard graphical items on its own display, enabling full user interaction without requiring the network device itself to have display or input hardware.
2Adaptability or versatility
If network devices become more complex to add functionality, then device functionality is improved, but configuration difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal interface system where the companion device handles all configuration and interaction tasks for any network device. By using standard graphical items (buttons, sliders, input boxes, gauges) that are rendered based on graphical descriptors, the same companion device can configure diverse network devices without needing device-specific knowledge or custom interface development.
Solution Approach 2:
The network device sends graphical descriptors that describe the interface elements needed for configuration. The companion device copies these descriptors into standard graphical item representations that the user can interact with, translating complex device-specific parameters into familiar interface elements without requiring the user to understand the underlying device complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If network devices lack user interface components to reduce cost, then manufacturing cost is improved, but debugging capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The companion device serves as a debugging intermediary, receiving graphical descriptors and operational data from the network device. This allows technicians to monitor device status, retrieve error information, and perform diagnostic operations through the companion device's display and input capabilities, eliminating the need for physical debug interfaces on the network device itself.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for allowing a companion device to serve as a user interface for another network device is disclosed. The companion device includes a display element, an input device and a software program that enables the companion device to create standard graphical items on that display. The network device transmits a list of graphical descriptors to the companion device, which the companion device uses to create the user interface. Additionally, the network device also transmits to the companion device, the commands that the companion device is to transmit based on user input. In this way, the companion device does not require any knowledge of the operation or functionality of the network device in order to serve as its user interface.