IoT Gateway Permission Confirmation for Display-Less Appliances
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for managing log information from electrical devices lack a practical method to confirm user permission for data collection, especially for devices without displays or with limited display capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced that involves receiving a device ID and an attribute ID indicating ownership or group affiliation, determining if the device is newly connected, and providing notification information to an associated information display apparatus to confirm user permission for log information collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If log information collection is implemented in existing systems, then data collection capability is improved, but user permission confirmation cannot be obtained for devices without displays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an information display apparatus as an intermediary between the electrical device and the user. When an electrical device without a display connects to the system, the server apparatus identifies this condition and sends notification information to an associated information display apparatus (such as a smartphone or tablet), which then presents the permission confirmation interface to the user. This mediator approach allows permission confirmation for devices that cannot directly display information.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring the electrical device itself to have display capabilities for permission confirmation, the system inverts the approach by using a separate information display apparatus to handle the confirmation process. The server apparatus detects which devices lack displays and redirects the notification to appropriate external devices, effectively solving the problem by doing the opposite of what would be traditionally expected.
2Reliability
If permission confirmation is required for each device, then user consent is ensured, but the setup process becomes complex for devices without displays
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by automatically detecting which electrical devices lack display capabilities and autonomously determining the appropriate information display apparatus to send notifications to. The server apparatus uses stored association information to automatically route permission requests without requiring manual user configuration, making the process transparent and simple for users while still ensuring their consent.
3Measurement precision
If the system tracks device connection status, then new device detection is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The server apparatus performs multiple functions using the same connection detection mechanism: it not only detects new device connections but also identifies whether those devices have display capabilities by checking device information. This multi-functional approach allows the system to use a single detection process to achieve both device registration and capability assessment, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining precise detection.
Data Source
AI summary
A server apparatus receives a device ID indicating one electrical home appliance among one or more electrical home appliances and a gateway ID indicating that the one electrical home appliance belongs to a same owner, a same group, or a same home as the one or more electrical home appliances, determines whether or not the one electrical home appliance is a newly connected electrical home appliance, using a management database that manages device IDs indicating the one or more electrical home appliances and the gateway ID, and when it is determined made that the one electrical home appliance is a newly connected electrical home appliance, provides an information device, which is associated with the gateway ID and which differs from the one electrical home appliance, with notification information for confirming whether or not it is to be permitted to collect the log information from the one electrical home appliance.