Home Gateway Voice Malfunction Notification via Error Codes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for reducing after-sales service costs for home gateways are restrictive and ineffective in providing precise information to users and service agents about malfunctions, especially when the Internet connection is down or users lack suitable terminals.
Innovation Solution
A method for voice notification of home gateway malfunctions, which detects issues, generates error codes, and provides vocal guidance to users on their connected telephone terminals, allowing them to report precise information to after-sales services without prior software installation, and includes features for automatic restart and connection to test servers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If embedded software is integrated in home gateway to communicate with remote server, then service information can be sent regularly, but it cannot be used when Internet connection fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a local voice recording medium (memory card, hard disk, or voice message box) as an intermediary to store and play error messages locally, eliminating the need for continuous Internet connection to access service information
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-records error messages and diagnostic information on local storage media before connection failures occur, so that users can access troubleshooting information immediately when errors happen, without needing to connect to remote servers
2Loss of information
If support software is installed on user terminal to display indicators, then malfunction information can be viewed, but users generally do not install it
Solution Approach 1:
The home gateway automatically detects malfunctions and plays error messages through the connected telephone terminal without requiring any user action for software installation or configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the computer-based software interface with a voice-based telephone interface, leveraging the existing telephone terminal that users already possess and are familiar with, eliminating the need to install additional software
3Reliability
If password and login are required to access local web page, then security is improved, but user convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the web-based interface requiring authentication with a voice-based telephone interface that automatically identifies the user and provides error messages without requiring password entry or login procedures
4Loss of information
If indicators are provided by software to alert user on malfunctions, then user awareness is improved, but information precision for after-sales service remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the error information into specific error codes corresponding to different malfunctions (e.g., error code 1 for DSL connection failure, error code 2 for authentication failure), allowing after-sales service to precisely identify and diagnose specific problems
Solution Approach 2:
The voice message system acts as an intermediary that translates complex diagnostic data into user-friendly error codes and descriptions, maintaining information precision while improving user comprehension
5Reliability
If home gateway indicates Internet connection is in service based on DHCP IP address assignment, then connection status monitoring is enabled, but immediate detection of connection problems is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous feedback loops where the home gateway actively tests connectivity to external servers and network equipment, providing real-time status updates that immediately detect connection problems regardless of DHCP lease status
Data Source
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AI summary
The method involves detecting operation failure at level of an automation system e.g. network time protocol management automation system, of a home gateway. An error code related to the operation failure is obtained. A voice film is obtained using the error code. A message is sent to a telephone terminal, where the message is designed to ring the telephone terminal. The voice film is read at the telephone terminal, where the telephone terminal is connected to the home gateway. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a home gateway comprising an obtaining unit for obtaining an error code related to operation failure (2) a computer program comprising a set of instructions for implementing a method for voice-notification of an operation failure of a service delivered by a home gateway.