Coordinator-Governed Environment Model Updates for Shared Automation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In shared automated environments, coordinating modifications among multiple users and devices to maintain a consistent environment model is challenging due to the need for synchronized updates across various controller devices, while allowing for concurrent modifications and ensuring data integrity.

Innovation Solution

Designating a coordinator device to manage updates to the environment model, allowing other devices to make modifications locally while ensuring they do not propagate until accepted by the coordinator, and enabling devices to roll back changes if rejected, thus maintaining consistency across all users.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple users are allowed to modify the environment model concurrently, then user productivity and system adaptability are improved, but data consistency and model integrity deteriorate due to potential conflicts between simultaneous modifications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconcurrent modification capabilityVSAvoiddata consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a coordinator device as an intermediary between multiple user devices and the environment model. The coordinator receives modification requests from multiple users, processes them sequentially, and manages the updates to maintain consistency. This mediator architecture allows concurrent user interactions while ensuring only one modification is applied at a time, preventing data conflicts and maintaining model integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a coordinator device is introduced to manage updates, then data consistency is improved, but system complexity increases due to the additional coordination layer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemodel consistencyVSAvoidsystem architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the coordinator functionality with existing controller devices in the environment. Rather than introducing a completely separate coordination system, the coordinator role is integrated into devices that are already part of the automated environment, such as central controllers or gateway devices. This merging approach reduces overall system complexity while still providing the necessary coordination functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Speed

If local modifications are allowed before coordinator approval, then user operation speed is improved, but data integrity risks increase until coordination is complete

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemodification response timeVSAvoiddata integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a two-phase modification process: first, user devices can prepare and submit modification requests to the coordinator without immediately applying changes; second, the coordinator reviews and approves requests before they are committed to the environment model. This preliminary action phase allows users to initiate changes quickly while maintaining data integrity until the coordinator's approval is obtained.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the coordinator communicates with user devices throughout the modification process. The coordinator provides status updates, approval notifications, and conflict resolution information back to the initiating device. This feedback loop ensures that users are informed of the coordination status while maintaining data consistency through controlled update propagation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12259697B2Coordinating modifications by multiple users to a shared automated environment by initiating a pair setup process with an accessory

Publication Date: 2025.03.25 APPLE INC

AI summary

Modifications made by multiple controller devices to an environment model describing a shared automated environment can be coordinated. One of the controller devices can be designated as a coordinator, and any controller device other than the coordinator can send an update request to the coordinator. The coordinator can determine whether to accept or reject the requested modification and can report its determination to the requesting controller device. If the coordinator accepts the request, the coordinator can instigate operations to update the environment model across all controller devices of all users. If the coordinator rejects the request, the environment model is not updated. The controller device that made the request can update its local copy of the environment model and roll back the update if the request is rejected.