Inoperable Touchscreen Substitute Interface Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Portable devices such as smartphones and laptops are vulnerable to damage, which can render their user interfaces inoperable, preventing both display of information and user input.
Innovation Solution
A method where a computing device with an inoperable user interface broadcasts a request to another computing device to act as a substitute user interface, allowing the first device to respond to user instructions received from the second device, even enabling administrative-level control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the user interface is integrated with the display device in a touchscreen, then the device achieves compactness and ease of operation, but the device becomes vulnerable to damage that can render both display and input functions inoperable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the user interface functions into two independent components: the display device and the computing device. When the display device becomes inoperable due to damage, the computing device can still function and communicate with alternative display devices, thus isolating the failure to one component while preserving overall system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a communication interface that enables the computing device to interact with alternative display devices when the original display device is damaged. This intermediary communication mechanism allows the system to bypass the damaged component and maintain operational capability through substitute devices.
2Device complexity
If the touchscreen combines display and input functions, then the device structure is simplified, but damage to the touchscreen prevents both displaying information and receiving user inputs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by enabling the computing device to work with multiple types of display devices. The system can switch from the original damaged touchscreen to alternative display devices, making the computing device adaptable to various display configurations and maintaining functionality despite damage to the original display interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic adaptability where the system can change its configuration in response to damage. The computing device dynamically switches from using the original display device to using alternative display devices, allowing the system to adapt its behavior and configuration based on the operational status of components.
3Reliability
If a substitute user interface is implemented on another computing device, then the inoperable device can continue to function, but additional authentication and communication protocols are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by establishing authentication mechanisms and communication protocols in advance. Before the display device becomes inoperable, the system is pre-configured with security measures and communication interfaces that enable seamless transition to alternative display devices, reducing the complexity burden during actual failure scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for controlling a computing device with an inoperable user interface may include broadcasting, by the computing device, a request for another computing device to operate as a substitute user interface for the computing device in response to determining that a user interface of the computing device is inoperable to control an operation of the computing device, receiving from another computing device a message indicating that the other computing device can operate as the substitute user interface for the computing device, and enabling the computing device to respond to user instructions received from the other computing device.