Unified Mobile Interface for Home Network Application Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional home network systems face challenges in integratedly managing applications across multiple home network devices (HNDs) due to lack of a common user interface, inefficient application update methods, and difficulty in updating applications on devices without display units, leading to reduced user convenience and management efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a mobile hand-held device (MHD) to obtain application information from HNDs supporting middleware, generate a user interface for managing applications, determine required updates, and download and update applications from an application server, leveraging the Open Service Gateway initiative (OSGi) and Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) standards for interoperability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If each HND provides its own user interface for application management, then each HND can be controlled independently, but the user convenience deteriorates due to vendor distinction and lack of common interface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a universal user interface that can manage applications across multiple HNDs from different vendors. This common interface consolidates the fragmented vendor-specific interfaces into a single unified system, allowing users to interact with all HNDs through one standardized portal without needing to learn multiple vendor-specific interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a gateway as an intermediary component that bridges the user interface and multiple HNDs. This gateway collects application information from various HNDs and presents it through a common user interface, while also coordinating update operations across all devices. The gateway acts as a mediator that translates user commands into device-specific operations without exposing the complexity of individual HND interfaces to the user.
2Productivity
If automatic update method is used, then update efficiency is improved, but user control deteriorates as user intention is not reflected in update content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system first checks for available updates and presents this information to the user through the common interface. The user can then review the update content and provide feedback by selecting whether to proceed with the update or cancel it. This feedback loop ensures that automatic update processes respect user intentions while maintaining high update efficiency through automated checking and installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically checking for updates in advance and preparing the update information for presentation to the user. This preliminary check occurs before the user makes a decision, allowing the system to be ready for immediate installation once the user confirms, thus maintaining efficiency while giving the user control over the actual update execution.
3Productivity
If HND without display unit is updated through Web page control, then application update is possible, but operation complexity increases due to location information determination and multiple connection requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The common user interface serves multiple functions: it can control HNDs with display units directly, control HNDs without display units through the gateway, and manage updates across all types of HNDs uniformly. This universal interface eliminates the need for different control methods based on device type, reducing operational complexity while maintaining full update capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway acts as an intermediary that handles the complexity of controlling HNDs without display units. Instead of requiring users to manually determine location information and establish multiple connections, the gateway manages these connection details automatically when the user interacts with the common interface, simplifying the operation while enabling updates on devices without display units.
4Productivity
If separate control of each HND is implemented, then device independence is maintained, but management efficiency deteriorates due to inability to integratedly manage applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control and management functions for multiple HNDs into a single unified interface and system. Instead of managing each device separately, the common user interface consolidates all HNDs into one manageable entity, allowing users to perform operations across all devices simultaneously. This merging approach improves management efficiency by reducing the number of separate control operations needed while maintaining the independence of individual HNDs through standardized protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a system and a method for managing applications installed in home network devices (HNDs) providing services on an Open Service Gateway initiative (OSGi®) framework. In the system, a mobile hand-held device (MHD) including a display unit is defined as the subject of application management between a plurality of HNDs and an application server for storing applications of the HNDs. Service frameworks existing in a plurality of HNDs including vehicle devices are based on OSGi®, and interoperation between the MHD and the HNDs depends on a Digital Living Network Alliance® (DLNA®) standard.