Dynamic Control Pairing Reconfiguration for Smart Home Device Failures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing smart home systems struggle with dynamic reconfiguration when a controlled device experiences an operational failure, leading to ineffective control and potential loss of functionality.

Innovation Solution

A processor detects operational failures in controlled devices and dynamically reconfigures the system to have a controlling device control a secondary device instead, ensuring continuous functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a controlling device is statically paired with a controlled device, then the control relationship is simple and stable, but the system cannot adapt when the controlled device experiences operational failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem functionalityVSAvoidcontrol reconfiguration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-establishes a backup controlled device in the control group before the primary device fails. When failure occurs, the controlling device can immediately switch to the backup device without needing to search for or configure a new control relationship, thus maintaining functionality while avoiding complex real-time reconfiguration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The processor acts as an intermediary that detects the operational failure and automatically manages the switch from the primary controlled device to the backup controlled device. This intermediary coordination enables reliable failover without requiring direct complex interaction between the controlling device and potential backup devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system dynamically reconfigures control pairing upon device failure, then system adaptability improves, but the complexity of detecting and managing the reconfiguration increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol group reconfigurationVSAvoidoperational failure detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The processor continuously monitors the operational status of controlled devices within the control group and uses this feedback to detect failures. When a controlled device fails, the processor receives feedback about its operational state and automatically triggers the switch to the backup device, enabling adaptive reconfiguration through systematic monitoring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-diagnosis and self-repair by automatically detecting operational failures and reconfiguring control pairings without external intervention. The controlling device and processor work together to identify the failed device and establish new control relationships, eliminating the need for manual user involvement in the reconfiguration process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20250184222A1Dynamic Reconfiguration of Control-Group Pairing in Response to Operational Failure

Publication Date: 2025.06.05 ROKU INC

AI summary

A method and system for dynamically reconfiguring control pairing in a system comprising a controlling device, a first controlled device, and a second controlled device. An example method includes, when the controlling device is set to control state of the first controlled device, a processor determining that the first controlled device has experienced an operational failure. Further, the example method includes, responsive to the determining, the processor engaging in dynamic reconfiguration of the system, the dynamic reconfiguration causing the controlling device to control state of a second device instead of or in addition to the controlling device controlling state of the first controlled device.