Cross-Device Hardware Call Interface via Metadata Abstraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

In multi-device network environments, users face cumbersome operations when attempting to access and utilize hardware resources from other devices, requiring establishment of remote connections and device-specific interoperability.

Innovation Solution

A method for calling hardware across devices, involving a calling device that acquires hardware metadata through a hardware coordination service interface, generates a hardware call instruction, and sends it to the target hardware, enabling execution and data stream acquisition through a data stream transmission interface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If users establish remote connections and perform hardware cross-device call operations based on device types and systems, then hardware resources can be accessed across devices, but the operation process becomes cumbersome and complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehardware resource accessibilityVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a unified hardware call interface as an intermediary layer between the user and diverse hardware resources. This interface abstracts away device-specific protocols and system differences, allowing users to access hardware resources through a single standardized entry point without needing to understand or configure device-specific connection parameters, thereby resolving the contradiction between hardware accessibility and operational simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal hardware call interface that can handle multiple types of hardware resources (cameras, microphones, sensors, etc.) across different device types (mobile phones, tablets, PCs, servers) through a single unified interface. This multi-functional interface eliminates the need for separate operation procedures for each device type, making the cross-device hardware access process simple while maintaining broad adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If a unified hardware call interface is introduced to simplify operations, then ease of operation improves, but the system structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehardware call simplicityVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the hardware access system into distinct functional layers: a simplified user-facing hardware call interface, a hardware coordination service interface for resource management, and device-specific hardware abstraction layers. This segmentation allows the complexity to be confined to specific modules while maintaining simplicity at the user interface level, resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If device-specific protocols are used for hardware access, then hardware compatibility is maintained, but adaptability across different device types decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehardware compatibilityVSAvoidcross-device accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The unified hardware call interface acts as a mediator that translates user requests into device-specific protocols while maintaining a consistent interface. The hardware coordination service interface further mediates between the unified interface and diverse hardware resources, ensuring that device-specific compatibility requirements are met while providing universal access capabilities across different device types

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4560474A1Method for calling hardware across devices, electronic device, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2025.05.28 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD
  • EP4560474A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4560474A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4560474A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method for calling hardware across devices includes: in response to a trigger operation by a user for a virtual hardware service corresponding to target hardware, acquiring, through a hardware coordination service interface, hardware metadata of the target hardware; sending, through a hardware cross-device call interface, a hardware call instruction to the target hardware based on the hardware metadata; sending, through a data stream transmission interface, a data stream acquisition request for the target hardware to the called device; and receiving data stream information returned by the called device in response to the data stream acquisition request, where the data stream information is generated in response to the target hardware executing the hardware call instruction.