Companion Device Automating User Settings Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Configuring modern electronic devices such as smartphones and smart TVs is a time-consuming process due to the infinite number of possible settings and applications, making it inefficient for users to manually set up devices as desired.

Innovation Solution

A companion electronic device that can automatically configure another device with user preferences, settings, and applications by establishing a communication interface and authenticating the user, allowing seamless and instant setup of devices such as smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs using a fingerprint sensor, encrypted memory, and processors to deliver user-preferred settings and applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual configuration is used to set up electronic devices with desired settings and applications, then device customization is achieved, but time consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice customizationVSAvoidconfiguration time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs configuration actions in advance by storing user preferences, settings, and application data in a database before the actual device setup. When a device is connected, the pre-prepared configuration data is automatically transferred and applied, eliminating the need for real-time manual configuration and significantly reducing setup time while maintaining full customization capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If automatic configuration is implemented to reduce setup time, then configuration speed improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration speedVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces a companion device and database as intermediaries between the user and the target electronic device. The companion device manages the configuration process by storing user preferences, authenticating users, and automatically transferring settings to the target device. This intermediary layer handles the complexity of automatic configuration, keeping the user interface simple while enabling fast, automated device setup

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service configuration where the electronic device automatically receives and applies configuration data without requiring manual user input for each setting. The device autonomously configures itself using pre-prepared data from the database, reducing the need for complex user-device interaction while maintaining configuration accuracy and speed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11620366B2Device enabling user preferred functions, preferences, and settings in another electronic device and corresponding methods

Publication Date: 2023.04.04 MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC

AI summary

A companion electronic device includes a communication interface, one or more processors operable with the communication interface, and an authentication device operable with the one or more processors. The one or more processors can be actuated by power received from the communication interface upon the communication interface establishing electronic communication with another electronic device. The one or more processors can delivering signals to the communication interface enabling one or more functions of the other electronic device upon confirming authentication data received by the authentication device after the one or more processors are actuated belongs to an authorized user of the companion electronic device.