Management Unit for Cross-Application Function Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for remotely controlling external apparatus, such as digital cameras, from communication devices like smartphones often require separate add-in software purchases for additional functions, limiting their usability across different applications.
Innovation Solution
A communication apparatus and external apparatus system that manages additional function information, allowing purchased additional functions to be shared and usable across different application software, through a communication unit, control unit, and management unit, enabling seamless operation and notification of usable states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If add-in software is purchased for additional functions in one application, then the additional function becomes usable in that application, but it cannot be used in different applications or by other developers' applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the software architecture into distinct functional modules: a first application with its own control unit, a second application with its own control unit, and a shared management unit that stores and manages additional function information. This segmentation allows each application to operate independently while sharing access to purchased additional functions through the common management unit, thereby enabling cross-application usability without creating a monolithic complex system.
Solution Approach 2:
The management unit acts as an intermediary between multiple applications and the external apparatus. It stores additional function information and receives requests from different applications to determine whether purchased additional functions can be utilized. This intermediary structure enables seamless sharing of additional functions across applications without requiring direct integration between applications or modifications to the external apparatus.
2Ease of operation
If separate add-in software is purchased for each application, then each application can access additional functions, but users need to make multiple purchases for the same function
Solution Approach 1:
The management unit is designed with universal functionality to serve multiple applications simultaneously. It stores additional function information in a centralized manner and provides access to any application that requests it, regardless of which application originally purchased the additional function. This universal access mechanism eliminates the need for users to purchase the same additional function separately for each application, as the purchased function becomes universally accessible across all applications through the shared management unit.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional function information is managed separately for each application, then application-specific control is maintained, but additional functions cannot be shared across different applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the additional function information management into a single centralized management unit that is accessible by multiple applications. Instead of maintaining separate additional function information for each application, the management unit consolidates all additional function information in one location. This consolidation ensures that when one application purchases an additional function, the information is stored centrally and can be retrieved and utilized by other applications, thereby preventing information loss and enabling cross-application access.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication apparatus which controls an external apparatus, comprises a communication unit configured to control communication with the external apparatus, a control unit configured to control the external apparatus by causing the communication unit to transmit, to the external apparatus, operation information for causing the external apparatus to execute a predetermined function, and a management unit configured to, when a function controllable on the external apparatus is added, manage additional function information that renders the added function usable also by second application software that is different from first application software, the first application software causing the control unit to function so as to control the external apparatus.