Home Network Master Device Automatic Slave State Restoration

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional home network systems require users to manually reset network information for slaves after an instantaneous power failure or abnormal operation, leading to inconvenience and increased time as the number of slaves grows.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method that includes a master device with non-volatile memory to store and restore network information for slaves, utilizing power-line communication modems and periodic state checks to automatically reestablish operation states after resets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual reset of network information is performed after power failure, then system reliability is maintained, but user convenience deteriorates and time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The master device automatically detects when a slave device has been reset and autonomously restores the slave's network information without requiring user intervention. The master monitors slave status, detects reset conditions, retrieves stored network information, and reconfigures the slave automatically, making the system self-servicing regarding network information restoration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The master device stores network information of slave devices in advance before power failures or resets occur. By maintaining a repository of slave network information including identifiers and configuration data, the system prepares restoration data beforehand, enabling rapid automatic recovery when slaves are reset.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If manual reset of network information is performed for each slave, then complete restoration is achieved, but time consumption increases with the number of slaves

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverestoration completenessVSAvoidreset time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The master device automatically detects when a slave device has been reset and autonomously restores the slave's network information without requiring user intervention. The master monitors slave status, detects reset conditions, retrieves stored network information, and reconfigures the slave automatically, making the system self-servicing regarding network information restoration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The master device stores network information of slave devices in advance before power failures or resets occur. By maintaining a repository of slave network information including identifiers and configuration data, the system prepares restoration data beforehand, enabling rapid automatic recovery when slaves are reset.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If network information is stored in volatile memory, then device complexity is reduced, but information retention after power failure is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvememory system complexityVSAvoidnetwork information retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The master device acts as an intermediary that stores network information centrally in its non-volatile memory. Instead of each slave needing complex non-volatile storage, the master serves as the information repository, simplifying slave device design while ensuring information persistence through the master's power failure recovery capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUSRE43677E1Apparatus for restoring network information for home network system and method thereof

Publication Date: 2012.09.18 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

An apparatus for restoring network information for a home network system and a method thereof are disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one slave having means for communicating with an external appliances; a master having means for communicating with the slave, checking a state of the slave, storing state information of the slave, and providing the state information to the slave when the slave is reset; and a home network unit connecting the communication means of the master and the slave to form a network of the master and the slave.