Environment Model Coordination for Secure Accessory Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems lack an efficient and unified method for managing and controlling a variety of electronically controllable devices across different environments, such as homes and offices, without compromising security and user access permissions.
Innovation Solution
An accessory management system utilizing an environment model that centralizes communication through a coordinator device, enabling secure pairing and permission management across multiple controllers and accessories, allowing for coordinated control of devices using a uniform accessory protocol and environment models.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a unified accessory management system is implemented to control multiple devices, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a coordinator device as an intermediary between controllers and accessories. The coordinator receives accessory information from multiple accessories, creates a unified environment model, and distributes it to authorized controllers. This mediator architecture simplifies the interaction for users while managing the underlying complexity of coordinating multiple devices across different networks and protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The environment model serves as a universal data structure that can represent multiple types of accessories (lights, thermostats, locks, etc.) and multiple controllers (mobile devices, tablets, computers) in a unified format. This multi-functional model allows the same system to manage diverse devices through a common interface, improving ease of operation without requiring separate management mechanisms for each device type.
2Reliability
If secure pairing and permission management is implemented across multiple controllers, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coordinator acts as a trusted intermediary that manages secure pairing between controllers and accessories. It authenticates controllers, manages permission levels, and controls which controllers can access which accessories. This centralized security management improves reliability by ensuring authorized access while preventing unauthorized control, without requiring complex security implementations in each individual controller or accessory.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary security actions by establishing secure pairings and assigning permissions before actual accessory control operations. The coordinator pre-authenticates controllers and pre-configures access rights in the environment model, so that when controllers interact with accessories, the security framework is already in place. This preliminary security setup improves reliability while keeping the operational complexity low.
3Productivity
If an environment model is created to manage accessory information, then productivity is improved, but loss of information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coordinator implements feedback mechanisms to verify that accessory information is correctly received, stored in the environment model, and distributed to controllers. The system monitors the synchronization between the actual accessory states and the environment model representation, ensuring data integrity. This feedback loop improves productivity by enabling efficient device management while preventing information loss through verification and correction processes.
Data Source
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AI summary
Controllers can be used to control the operation of various accessories. A group of accessories can be organized into an accessory network that can facilitate coordinated control of multiple accessories. The accessory network can be organized according to an environment model that can include a hierarchical representation of a physical environment where accessories are present. The environment model can be synchronized across different controllers that have access to the accessories.