Cross-terminal Input via Server Mediation for Compact Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices with limited input capabilities, such as mobile phones without full keyboards, face challenges in efficient data input, as they often lack essential input devices like touch screens or keyboards.
Innovation Solution
A cross-terminal input method and system that enables input operations by establishing a transmission channel between devices via a server, allowing data to be sent and received across terminals, facilitating input operations through external devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If electronic devices are designed with limited size or portability, then device compactness and portability are improved, but input device completeness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables a single electronic device to perform multiple input functions by accepting input from various types of external devices (keyboards, touch screens, microphones, cameras) through a unified cross-terminal input framework. The server mediates between different input device types and the target application, allowing one device to adapt to diverse input sources without requiring built-in hardware for each input type.
Solution Approach 2:
The server acts as an intermediary between external input devices and the target electronic device. It receives input data from various external sources, processes and standardizes the data format, then transmits it to the target device. This mediator approach allows devices with limited input capabilities to access full input functionality through the server's coordination.
2Device complexity
If electronic devices are designed with limited input capabilities, then device simplicity and cost are improved, but input efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The server serves as an intermediary that bridges simple devices with external input sources. It manages the complexity of coordinating multiple input devices, data formatting, and transmission protocols, while the target device itself remains simple. This separates input complexity from device complexity, allowing simple devices to achieve high input efficiency through the server's mediation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows external input devices to serve the target device directly through the server connection. The target device doesn't need built-in complex input hardware; instead, it leverages external devices that already possess the required input capabilities. The server facilitates this self-service arrangement where external resources compensate for the target device's input limitations.
3Loss of information
If data is repeatedly acquired from server storage space, then data availability and real-time input capability are improved, but network bandwidth consumption and server load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The server pre-processes and stores input data in dedicated storage spaces before the target device requests it. By preparing data in advance in the server's storage space, the system ensures immediate data availability when the target device needs it, reducing waiting time and improving real-time input capability. The preliminary storage action separates data preparation from data retrieval, optimizing the timing of network operations.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates cross-terminal input method, apparatus and system. In certain embodiments, the method includes sending a request by a first terminal device to a server to acquire a transmission channel, when a triggering event is detected at the first terminal device; receiving interface information of the transmission channel from the server; repeatedly acquiring data transmitted from the server according to the interface information of the transmission channel; and updating output according to the acquired data. The cross-terminal input system includes first and second terminal devices. The first terminal device sends a request to a server to acquire a transmission channel, and receives interface information of the transmission channel. The second terminal device acquires the interface information, and uploads user input data to the transmission channel accordingly. Then, the first terminal device receives the user input data, and updates output with the received data.