Device-Hosted Mobile App Provision for Firmware-Compatible Diagnostics
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Solution Overview
Problem
In industrial automation, users face challenges in configuring, maintaining, and diagnosing data processing devices with mobile applications, as existing methods require loading device-specific apps from app stores, ensuring compatibility with firmware versions, and managing multiple apps, which can be confusing and require internet connections and app store registration.
Innovation Solution
A method where the mobile application is hosted on the data processing device, allowing direct loading without app store connection or internet access, using a Progressive Web Application (PWA) that generates and updates application data based on current device data, ensuring compatibility and simplifying the user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mobile applications are loaded from app stores, then users can access device-specific applications, but users must be registered and have authorization, requiring internet connection and app store registration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the mobile application from the app store environment and hosts it directly on the data processing device. The application is made available through the device's web server, eliminating the need for app store registration, authorization, and internet connection to external stores. Users can load the application directly from the device itself.
2Reliability
If device-specific mobile applications are loaded from app stores, then users can configure and maintain data processing devices, but there is no guarantee that the loaded version matches the current firmware version
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the mobile application with the data processing device by hosting it on the device's web server. The application is generated based on current device data, including firmware version information. This ensures that the application and firmware are always compatible since they are co-located and the application is generated from the actual device state.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple device-specific mobile applications are installed on the mobile device, then users can operate various data processing devices, but the user interface becomes confusing with multiple icons and applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal mobile application that can operate with multiple different data processing devices. Instead of requiring separate applications for each device type, a single application generated from the host device can communicate with various devices in the network. This eliminates the need for multiple application icons and simplifies the user interface while maintaining versatility.
4Quantity of substance
If mobile applications are provided through app stores, then applications can be distributed widely, but users require internet connection and registration to download applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the data processing device itself as an intermediary to provide the mobile application. Instead of using an external app store, the device's web server hosts the application and makes it available to mobile devices on the local network. This eliminates the need for external internet connection and app store registration, while still providing wide availability within the network environment.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for generating and providing a mobile application for loading onto a mobile device, wherein the mobile application, executable on the mobile device, is designed for configuring, maintaining, and/or diagnosing data and/or functions of a data processing device, such as a programmable controller, drive, actuator, or sensor, which can be connected to the mobile device via a communication link. For easy installation and handling of mobile applications for operating a multitude of data processing devices, the mobile application is hosted in the data processing devices and, after establishing the communication link, can be loaded from any of the data processing devices into the mobile device.