Daisy-Chain Peripheral Management via Virtual Device Identifiers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face difficulty in determining which peripheral devices are currently in use when multiple devices are connected to a host, leading to inconvenience in management and potential misplacement.

Innovation Solution

An electronic system with a daisy-chain configuration uses a control module to obtain universal unique identifiers for devices and generate serial numbers based on their order of connection, allowing the host to communicate with them effectively and enabling users to select and manage devices easily.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple peripheral devices are connected to the host, then the functionality and versatility of the system are improved, but the user cannot determine which peripheral device is currently being used, leading to management difficulty

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoiddevice identification
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent assigns virtual device identifiers (VDI) that are copied from or associated with the physical device identifiers (PDI). Each peripheral device receives a VDI that represents it in the virtual device space, allowing users to interact with and identify devices through these virtual identifiers without confusion. The VDI acts as a manageable copy or representation of the physical device identity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit serves as an intermediary between the host and multiple peripheral devices. It manages the assignment and distribution of virtual device identifiers, mediating the communication between the host system and the connected devices. This intermediary layer provides a standardized interface for device identification and management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If devices are connected in a daisy-chain configuration, then the system complexity is reduced and ease of connection is improved, but device identification and management become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection easeVSAvoidmanagement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit pre-assigns virtual device identifiers to each peripheral device in the daisy-chain configuration before the host needs to communicate with them. This preliminary assignment of identifiers simplifies subsequent device management, as the host can reference these pre-established virtual identifiers without needing to dynamically discover or identify devices during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If universal unique identifiers are obtained for all devices, then device identification capability is improved, but the system requires additional processing and communication overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentification accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential identification function from the full universal unique identifier system. Instead of using complete UUIDs for all communication purposes, the system extracts and assigns simplified virtual device identifiers that retain the unique identification capability while reducing the data size and processing requirements for device identification and management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2587386B1Electronic systems and management methods
Publication Date: 2015.04.22 ACER INC
  • EP2587386B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2587386B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2587386B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A management method is provided, suitable for an electronic system having electronic devices connected in a daisy-chain configuration. The management method comprises the steps of: the electronic devices are sequentially connected with a host, thereby obtaining universal unique identifiers corresponding to the electronic devices; serial numbers corresponding to the electronic devices are generated according to a first order of obtainment of the universal unique identifiers of the electronic devices; and the host communicates with the electronic devices according to the serial numbers..