Image Recognition Guidance for Network Device Configuration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Configuring and maintaining network devices and computers, especially in field environments, can be challenging due to the lack of real-time guidance, leading to potential service interruptions and inefficiencies for technicians.

Innovation Solution

An audiovisual content server system that provides real-time audio and visual guidance through image recognition, allowing users to capture images of objects and receive relevant instructional content, such as videos or augmented reality overlays, based on geolocation and object identification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If technicians work without real-time guidance systems, then device configuration and maintenance can be performed, but service interruptions are extended and technician efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetechnician efficiencyVSAvoidservice interruption duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables technicians to independently access context-specific guidance by capturing images of devices or error messages, eliminating the need for remote expert intervention and reducing service interruptions while maintaining high productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile device acts as an intermediary between the technician and the guidance content server, providing real-time access to relevant technical documentation, configuration instructions, and troubleshooting steps through image recognition and geolocation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If general guidance documentation is provided on websites, then configuration information is available, but real-time context-specific guidance is not provided and guidance may not be available for current devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveavailability of context-specific guidanceVSAvoidease of accessing relevant guidance
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual searching and navigation through documentation with automated image recognition and content delivery, where the mobile device automatically identifies the device or error and retrieves relevant guidance without technician effort

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses image recognition and geolocation data as feedback to dynamically retrieve and present context-specific guidance content, ensuring technicians receive accurate information tailored to their specific situation and device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If technicians manually diagnose and rectify device failures without automated assistance, then problems can be resolved, but significant time is spent on diagnosis and service interruptions are extended

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproblem resolution capabilityVSAvoiddiagnosis time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system captures images of devices or error messages as preliminary diagnostic data, which is then automatically processed to retrieve relevant troubleshooting steps and configuration instructions before the technician begins manual intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a visual copy of the device or error message through image capture, which is then matched against known devices or error patterns in the database to quickly identify the problem and retrieve appropriate solutions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables technicians to receive immediate guidance for device configuration and maintenance, reducing downtime and improving efficiency by providing on-demand, location-specific information for network devices and other objects of interest.

Implementation Method 1

identifying one or more images associated with second information that is within a range of the first information, where the second information for an image includes data corresponding to a location at which the image was captured and a time at which the image was captured

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImage recognition: Image Processing

Data Source

PatentEP3070625B1Image-recognition-based guidance for network device configuration and other enviroments
Publication Date: 2019.06.12 ACCENTURE GLOBAL SERVICES LTD
  • EP3070625B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3070625B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3070625B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

According to an example, a first signal may be received from a user device. The first signal may include a captured image of an object and geofencing information of the user device that captured the image of the object. The captured image of the object may be analyzed and compared to of images of objects stored in a database. The object is identified by matching the captured image of the object to one of the plurality of images of objects stored in the database. To further verify the identity of the object, a location of the user device is determined from received geofencing information. The location of the user device may be matched to a location associated with the matching one of the plurality of images of the objects. Thus, if the object is identified and the object's location is verified, a second signal including audio and/or visual guidance information is transmitted to the user device for playback.