Instant Messaging Network for Remote Device Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions for remote device monitoring rely on centralized server systems, which face scalability issues and require complex, expensive setups, and users must learn customized applications, creating a significant learning curve and performance impact.

Innovation Solution

A system and method utilizing an instant messaging network for direct peer-to-peer connections between devices and user computing systems, eliminating the need for centralized servers and allowing users to manage and diagnose devices through a familiar interface, enabling direct communication and self-diagnostic routines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a centralized server system is used for remote device monitoring, then device management capability is provided, but system complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice management capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the centralized server component from the system architecture and replaces it with peer-to-peer direct connections between devices and user computing systems. This eliminates the need for complex centralized infrastructure while maintaining device management capabilities through distributed communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The instant messaging network serves multiple functions: it provides device discovery, communication channel establishment, data transmission, and diagnostic execution all through a single unified interface. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized systems, thereby reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a centralized server system with data tunneling is used, then existing diagnostic applications can be accessed, but performance and scalability are negatively impacted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic application accessVSAvoidsystem performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the centralized data processing function into distributed peer-to-peer connections. Each device communicates directly with user computing systems without routing through a central server, dividing the data flow into multiple parallel paths that improve performance and scalability while maintaining access to diagnostic applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The instant messaging network acts as an intermediary that enables direct peer-to-peer communication without requiring a centralized server. This intermediary facilitates connection establishment and data exchange while eliminating the performance bottleneck of centralized data tunneling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If customized monitoring applications are provided for each OEM, then specific device monitoring is enabled, but user learning curve and training requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice monitoring capabilityVSAvoiduser learning curve

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal instant messaging interface that works across different device types and OEMs. The same user-friendly interface provides access to diverse devices without requiring users to learn different application paradigms, thereby maintaining monitoring reliability while reducing the learning curve through standardization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses the well-known instant messaging interface as a template or copy that users are already familiar with. By replicating this familiar interaction model across different device types, the system maintains functionality while eliminating the need for users to learn new interfaces, thus reducing training requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Reliability

If switching servers are clustered to improve availability, then system reliability improves, but system complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem availabilityVSAvoidserver clustering complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the switching server component entirely from the architecture by implementing direct peer-to-peer connections. This extraction of the centralized switching function eliminates the need for server clustering while maintaining system reliability through distributed communication paths between devices and users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS7583189B2Methods for managing remote devices over an instant messaging network and systems thereof

Publication Date: 2009.09.01 PTC INC

AI summary

A method and system for managing one or more devices includes identifying at least one condition related to one of one or more devices to initiate an instant message communication between one of the one or more devices and one of one or more computing systems. An instant message service is invoked based on the identified condition and an instant message is generated based on the identified condition. The generated instant message is provided at the one of the computing systems in which the instant message communication has been initiated.