Dynamic Controller Selection for Local Area Network Accessory Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
In home network environments, accessory devices may be outside the range of short-range communication protocols from the resident device that received a control request, leading to failed or delayed transmissions, poor user experience, and increased processing and communication resource needs for retransmissions.
Innovation Solution
The system dynamically selects the best-suited resident device for controlling an accessory device based on connectivity metric values, such as RSSI and operational characteristics, by broadcasting requests and receiving responses from other resident devices in the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the resident device that received the control request directly transmits the instruction to the accessory device, then the transmission process is simple, but the transmission may fail or be delayed when the accessory device is outside the short-range communication protocol range
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by determining connectivity metric values for multiple resident devices before the control request is executed. This advance assessment of connectivity metrics (such as RSSI values) allows the system to identify the most suitable resident device for transmission, ensuring reliability without adding complex real-time decision-making processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary mechanism by selecting an optimal resident device to act as a relay or direct controller based on connectivity metrics. This intermediary selection process ensures that the control instruction is transmitted through the most reliable path, improving transmission reliability while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated metric-based selection.
2Productivity
If the system broadcasts requests to multiple resident devices to determine connectivity metric values, then the best-suited resident device can be selected, but the processing and communication resource needs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes connectivity metric parameters (such as RSSI values) to dynamically evaluate and select the optimal resident device. By changing the selection criterion from a fixed or arbitrary choice to a parameter-based evaluation, the system improves transmission efficiency while the resource overhead is justified by the significant reduction in retransmissions and failed deliveries.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a balanced approach by broadcasting requests to multiple resident devices but only fully processing responses from a limited number of devices (e.g., top N devices with highest connectivity metrics). This partial processing approach ensures high transmission efficiency by selecting the best candidate while avoiding the excessive resource consumption of processing all possible responses.
3Reliability
If connectivity metric values are determined for multiple resident devices, then the optimal controller can be selected, but the latency increases due to broadcasting requests and receiving responses
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs connectivity metric determination as a preliminary action that can be triggered by the control request. By establishing this selection process upfront based on current connectivity metrics, the system ensures accurate controller selection while minimizing the time spent on the actual control operation, as the selection logic is already in place or can be quickly evaluated.
Data Source
AI summary
A device implementing dynamic controller selection may include a processor configured to generate a connectivity graph based on a scan for accessory devices, the connectivity graph including a connectivity metric value for a discovered accessory device. The processor may be configured to broadcast the connectivity graph and receive another connectivity graph broadcasted by another electronic device that includes another connectivity metric value for the accessory device. The processor may be configured to receive a request to provide an instruction to the accessory device and determine which of the electronic devices will provide the instruction based on the connectivity metric values. The processor may be further configured to, when the electronic device is determined, provide the instruction for transmission to the accessory device, and when the other electronic device is determined, provide, for transmission to the other electronic device, the instruction to be provided to the accessory device.