Automated Guardian Device Pairing via Short-Range Identifier Exchange

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Solution Overview

Problem

The current process of managing approved contacts lists for guardian-managed wearable devices is cumbersome, time-consuming, and error-prone, particularly for devices with minimal user interface capabilities, requiring manual entry and coordination between guardians.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system where a first user device automatically connects with a second user device through short-range wireless communication, sending device identifiers to an approval system for guardian approval, thereby reducing the need for manual entry and conserving resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual entry and coordination is used for managing approved contacts lists, then guardians can control device connections, but the process becomes time-consuming and cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveguardian controlVSAvoidtime-consuming process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically exchanging device identifiers through short-range wireless communication and pre-submitting connection requests to the approval system before guardian review, eliminating the need for manual entry during the actual connection process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by allowing devices to automatically discover each other, exchange connection information, and submit approval requests without requiring guardian intervention for the technical aspects of connection establishment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If manual entry is required for device identifiers, then guardians can approve connections, but errors increase and complexity rises

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection approvalVSAvoidprocess complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses copying by automatically generating and exchanging digital copies of device identifiers through short-range wireless communication, replacing manual typing and reducing errors associated with manual entry

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The approval system acts as an intermediary that automatically receives, processes, and manages connection requests between devices and guardians, simplifying the overall process by centralizing the coordination logic

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If guardians coordinate manually to add device details, then contact lists can be updated, but computing and networking resources are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact list managementVSAvoidcomputing resources

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts the resource-intensive coordination and communication tasks from the guardian devices and wearable devices, relocating them to the approval system server where resources are more abundant and efficient

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11778052B1Systems and methods for automatically connecting managed devices

Publication Date: 2023.10.03 VERIZON PATENT & LICENSING INC

AI summary

A first user device associated with a first dependent user may receive a request to add a second dependent user associated with a second user device to a contacts list of the first user device, and may provide a first device identifier, identifying the first user device, to the second user device via a short-range communication. The first user device may receive, from the second user device, a second device identifier, identifying the second user device, via a short-range communication, and may provide the second device identifier to an approval system. The first user device may receive, from the approval system, an indication of approval to add the second dependent user to the contacts list, and may add the second dependent user to the contacts list based on the indication. The first user device may communicate with the second user device, via a telecommunications network, based on the contacts list.