Unified UI for Grouped External Device Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices struggle to identify the mutual relationship between multiple external devices connected through independent communication links, leading to difficulties in providing a unified user interface for integrated or individual control.
Innovation Solution
The electronic device includes a processor that establishes independent communication links with multiple external devices, identifies them as a set, and provides a user interface displaying coupled-device information and control options based on device attributes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If independent communication links are established with multiple external devices, then communication reliability is improved, but device relationship identification becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a set identifier as an intermediary element that mediates the relationship between multiple external devices and the electronic device. Each external device in a set is assigned a common set identifier, which serves as a mediator to indicate their mutual relationship. This allows the electronic device to identify that multiple devices belong to the same set without needing to understand the complex pairwise relationships between them, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining independent communication links and identifying device relationships.
2Measurement precision
If multiple external devices are managed individually, then control precision is improved, but user interface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the management of multiple external devices by introducing a set concept. When devices share a common set identifier, they are grouped together and can be managed as a unified entity through a single user interface. This allows users to control multiple devices (e.g., left and right earphones) together while still maintaining the ability to control them individually when needed, thus reducing user interface complexity while preserving control precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The user interface dynamically adapts its behavior based on the set identifier relationships. When devices are identified as belonging to the same set, the interface automatically provides integrated control options; when devices are independent, individual control options are shown. This dynamic adaptation allows the interface to maintain simplicity while providing precise control when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device is provided. The electronic device may include a display, a communication circuit, and a processor configured to control the communication circuit to connect with a plurality of external electronic devices through independent communication links to each of the plurality of external electronic devices and, based on identifying that the plurality of external electronic devices belongs to a set of devices, control the display to display a first user interface including information indicating that the plurality of external electronic devices belongs to the set of devices, based on coupled-device information of at least one external electronic device among the plurality of external electronic devices.