Home Automation Central Control Configuration Backup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing home automation systems face the challenge of time-consuming reconfiguration when the central control device fails, as users often neglect to perform data backups, leading to incomplete system recovery.

Innovation Solution

Automating the transmission of configuration parameters from the central control device to a client device without user intervention, ensuring regular backups and version management for seamless system restoration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the central control device stores configuration parameters locally, then the system can operate with a simple local structure, but the system loses reliability when the central control device fails

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem recovery capabilityVSAvoidbackup system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements automatic backup of configuration parameters from the central control device to a cloud server before failures occur. This preliminary action ensures that configuration data is preserved and can be used for system recovery, directly improving reliability without requiring complex manual backup procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a cloud server as an intermediary between the central control device and the user's client device. This intermediary stores configuration parameters centrally and enables automatic restoration, improving system reliability while keeping the local device structure relatively simple

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If manual backup procedures are implemented, then users can control the backup process, but the backup rate remains very low due to user negligence

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration backup reliabilityVSAvoidbackup operation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service backup functionality where the central control device automatically performs backups of configuration parameters to the cloud server without requiring user intervention. This eliminates the reliance on user action while maintaining ease of operation, as the system handles the backup process autonomously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms that notify users when backups are completed or when restoration is needed. This feedback loop ensures users are informed of backup status without requiring them to manually initiate backup processes, improving both reliability and ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If complete reconfiguration is performed after central control device failure, then the system can be fully restored, but the recovery time becomes very long

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem restoration completenessVSAvoidreconfiguration time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary backup of complete configuration parameter sets to a cloud server before failures occur. When failure happens, the system can immediately restore from these pre-prepared backups, reducing recovery time while ensuring complete system restoration without requiring time-consuming manual reconfiguration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates copies of the configuration parameter sets and stores them on a cloud server. These copies enable rapid restoration of the central control device by simply copying the stored configuration data back, significantly reducing recovery time while maintaining complete system restoration capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP2882142B1Method for operating a home automation system
Publication Date: 2019.03.13 ARCA BETEILIGUNGEN GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2882142B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating a home automation system with a central control unit (1) and peripheral devices (2) which are communicably connectable to and controllable by the central control unit (1), wherein a configuration parameter set for controlling the peripheral devices (2) is stored in the central control unit (1), and wherein the configuration parameter set is transmitted from the central control unit (1) to a client device (8), which is configured to operate the central control unit (1), via a communicative connection. The method is characterized in that the transmission of the configuration parameter set to the client device (8) is triggered independently of any user input. The invention further relates to a corresponding home automation system.