Interface Device Configuration via General Purpose Engine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current interface devices require specialized knowledge and software to configure, making it difficult for users to change properties and functionalities of interface screens, especially when accessing underlying software components.
Innovation Solution
A general-purpose engine on the interface device enumerates properties of device elements in a design-time environment, allowing users to configure and alter them without prior knowledge of the elements' nature, function, or interrelationships, using a browser or similar viewer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If specialized configuration software is used to access and change underlying software components, then the ability to configure interface devices is improved, but the complexity of the configuration process and the need for specialized knowledge increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a configuration server as an intermediary between the user and the interface device's software components. This server provides a simplified configuration interface that automatically translates user-friendly configuration commands into the appropriate software component modifications, eliminating the need for users to directly access complex underlying code structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual representation or model of the interface device's software components that can be configured independently of the actual runtime software. This configuration model allows users to work with simplified representations while the system handles the translation to actual component modifications, reducing the complexity barrier.
2Manufacturing precision
If specialized configuration software is developed for specific interface devices, then the precision of configuration control is improved, but the ease of operation and accessibility for general users deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal configuration server that can serve multiple types of interface devices through a standardized interface. This server provides consistent configuration capabilities across different devices while maintaining the ability to precisely control device-specific software components, making the configuration process accessible to general users regardless of the specific interface device type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the configuration functionality into distinct layers: a user-facing configuration interface that remains simple and consistent, and a backend configuration server that handles device-specific complexities. This segmentation allows the precision of device-specific control to be maintained in the backend while the frontend remains universally accessible.
3Adaptability or versatility
If direct access to underlying software components is provided, then the flexibility of configuration is improved, but the risk of errors and the need for specialized knowledge increases
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration server acts as a protective intermediary that validates and manages all access to underlying software components. It translates high-level configuration requests into safe, validated operations on the actual components, preventing erroneous direct manipulation while maintaining configuration flexibility through the standardized interface.
Data Source
AI summary
A technique is provided for configuring an interface device. Individual device elements are stored on the interface device and each element includes a functionality and a visual representation. A general purpose engine resident on the interface device enumerates properties of the device elements in response to a query in a design-time environment. Design-time environment may be served to a general purpose computer working as a configuration station. The general purpose engine is independent of the device elements enumerated. A user viewable screen is then generated for viewing in the design-time environment, with the potential for altering properties of the enumerated device elements. The viewable screen and design-time environment may be displayed in a general purpose viewer or browser by collecting the visual representations associated with the device elements.