Mobile Device DMX-512 Protocol Conversion Without Dedicated Hardware
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless systems for controlling DMX-512 lighting fixtures using mobile computing devices require additional hardware like dedicated WI-FI routers and DMX-512 signal converters, necessitate initial setup, and lack the ability to field-update firmware, leading to inefficiencies and limitations in miniaturization due to embedded user interfaces.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that enable direct communication and control between incompatible devices using a computing device's physical interface without additional hardware, allowing for protocol conversion and firmware updates through a controller application, eliminating the need for dedicated routers and converters, and enabling miniaturization by removing the need for user interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated WI-FI router and DMX-512 signal converter are used for wireless control, then communication reliability and signal throughput are improved, but device complexity and hardware requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the protocol conversion function from separate dedicated hardware devices (WI-FI router and DMX-512 signal converter) and integrates it directly into the mobile computing device. The mobile device's processor and communication interfaces are configured to perform both WI-FI communication and DMX-512 protocol conversion natively, eliminating the need for external conversion hardware while maintaining communication reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile computing device is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as both a standard WI-FI communication device and a DMX-512 protocol converter simultaneously. The device's processor can handle both wireless data transmission and real-time protocol conversion, making a single device serve multiple purposes that previously required separate specialized hardware.
2Adaptability or versatility
If initial setup and configuration of dedicated hardware is performed, then communication compatibility is improved, but setup time and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile computing device automatically performs protocol conversion and communication establishment without requiring manual configuration or setup. The device's operating system and communication software handle the adaptation to DMX-512 protocol automatically when a DMX-512 device is detected, eliminating the need for users to perform initial setup procedures with dedicated hardware.
3Productivity
If dedicated hardware components are used, then signal throughput is improved, but miniaturization capability deteriorates due to embedded user interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the embedded user interface (display and buttons) from the DMX-512 device and relocates all user interaction functions to the mobile computing device. The DMX-512 device becomes a pure signal processing unit without physical interface components, enabling significant size reduction while the mobile device's screen and keyboard serve as the external interface.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a system and a method for communication and control between incompatible devices that operate in accordance with different protocols without hardware modification and without requirement of a dedicated hardware.