Connected Device State Switching via Heartbeat Hub Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing law enforcement devices operate independently, lacking a unified management system to coordinate their operational states effectively, leading to inefficiencies and potential gaps in data transmission and device functionality.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where connected devices exchange heartbeat signals to manage operational states, allowing devices to determine a hub device for network connection, switch between states based on battery levels, and receive commands from a backend service to optimize functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If devices operate independently without unified management, then device autonomy and simplicity are maintained, but coordination efficiency and data transmission reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a backend service as an intermediary that receives heartbeat signals from multiple devices, determines hub device availability, and sends operational state commands. This mediator coordinates device operations without requiring direct device-to-device communication, improving coordination efficiency while maintaining relative device simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The backend service performs multiple functions: receiving heartbeat signals, determining hub availability, managing operational states, and coordinating device communications. By consolidating these functions in a universal service, the system achieves efficient coordination without increasing individual device complexity.
2Productivity
If devices continuously operate at full functionality, then task completion capability is maximized, but battery consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic operational states where devices adjust their functionality based on battery levels and task requirements. Devices can transition between full functionality, reduced functionality, and sleep states, allowing the system to optimize between task completion capability and battery consumption in real-time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (functionality level, communication frequency, processing intensity) based on battery status and task priorities. When battery levels are sufficient, devices operate at full capability; when battery levels are low, the backend service reduces operational parameters to conserve energy while maintaining essential functions.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If devices switch to energy-saving states at low battery levels, then battery life is conserved, but critical function reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The backend service receives continuous feedback about device battery levels through heartbeat signals and makes intelligent decisions about operational state adjustments. This feedback mechanism ensures that energy-saving states are implemented only when appropriate, maintaining critical function reliability while extending battery life by avoiding premature shutdown of essential operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary assessments of task requirements and battery status before transitioning devices to energy-saving states. By evaluating whether critical functions are currently active or can be deferred, the system ensures that energy-saving transitions do not compromise reliability of time-sensitive or critical operations.
4Productivity
If multiple devices communicate directly with the backend service, then data transmission capability is maximized, but network connection reliability deteriorates when hub devices are unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces hub devices as intermediaries between other devices and the backend service. When hub devices are available, they relay communications to improve network reliability. When hub devices are unavailable, the backend service directly communicates with devices, maintaining data transmission capability while adapting to network conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a hierarchical communication structure where hub devices provide enhanced reliability when available, but the system does not rely exclusively on hubs. Devices can communicate directly with the backend service when needed, ensuring that data transmission capability is maintained even when hub devices are unavailable, though with slightly reduced redundancy.
Data Source
AI summary
Operational states of multiple user devices may be managed based on information that is exchanged by the multiple user devices via heartbeat signals. A user device may receive heartbeat signals from multiple connected devices. A determination is made based at least on the heartbeat signals whether a higher-level hub device with an active network connection to a backend service is connected to the particular user device. Thus, in response to determining that no higher-level hub device with an active network connection to the backend service is connected to the user device, a network connection may be established via a communication channel between the particular user device and the backend service.