Dynamic Rule Selection for Resource Access Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional components managing concurrent media consumption in electronic devices face complexity and difficulty in covering all use cases and incorporating changes, as they rely on simple priority-based decisions that are insufficient for resolving unpredictable multimedia scenarios.

Innovation Solution

A method and resource control arrangement that dynamically select and apply sets of rules based on event types, client states, and system states to manage access to shared resources, allowing for the separation of rules into logical groups and easy addition or modification of new rules, thereby simplifying the evaluation process and addressing complex multimedia use cases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If simple priority-based decisions are used to manage resource access, then the system is easy to implement, but it cannot resolve complex multimedia use cases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of implementationVSAvoidability to resolve complex use cases
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the resource access control into multiple independent rule sets, each handling specific scenarios (e.g., audio output, video processing, telephony). Instead of a single monolithic priority system, the controller selects and applies relevant rule sets based on the current event type and system state, enabling complex multimedia use cases to be resolved through modular rule combinations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a large number of rule sets are created to cover all use cases, then all scenarios can be handled, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage of all use casesVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic rule set selection where the controller adapts which rule sets to apply based on the current event type, client state, and system state. This dynamic approach allows the system to handle diverse use cases by activating only the relevant rule sets for each scenario, rather than maintaining all rules simultaneously active, thus managing complexity through conditional activation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Different rule sets are designed with specialized properties for specific resource types and scenarios (e.g., audio-specific rules, video-specific rules). Each rule set contains locally optimized logic for its domain, allowing comprehensive coverage of all use cases while keeping individual rule sets manageable in size and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If rules are hard-coded or require software code changes to accommodate new features, then the system is stable, but incorporating changes becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem stabilityVSAvoidease of incorporating changes
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The rule sets are structured as separate, independently modifiable units that can be added, removed, or modified without affecting the core system code. New features can be accommodated by creating new rule sets or modifying existing ones through configuration rather than requiring changes to the underlying software code, maintaining system stability while enabling easy adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If priority values are provided by clients, then clients can express their needs, but the values lack sufficient information to resolve complex use cases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclient ability to express needsVSAvoidinsufficient information for decision making
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The controller acts as an intermediary that receives simple priority values from clients and enriches them with additional information about the current system state, event type, and client state. This intermediary layer transforms insufficient client-provided priority information into comprehensive decision-making data by selecting and applying appropriate rule sets that incorporate contextual information unavailable to the clients themselves.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP1958064B1Resource control
Publication Date: 2020.01.22 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP1958064B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1958064B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1958064B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a method for controlling an access to at least one resource by a plurality of clients, at least one set of rules is selected from a plurality of available sets of rules upon occurrence of an event relating to an access to the at least one resource by at least one of the clients. The selection depends at least on one of the type of the event, a state of at least one of the clients and a system state. The selected at least one set of rules is applied, resulting in a decision. The access to the at least one resource is then controlled according to this decision.