Modular Backplate Backbone for Self-Configuring Swappable Products
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 'smart' products requiring physical connections to building systems for installation and configuration pose barriers to user adoption, limiting feature utilization, willingness to upgrade, and leading to system stagnation due to complex installation and configuration processes.
Innovation Solution
A modular device backbone system featuring backplates that can be installed throughout a user space, allowing swappable devices to connect easily and self-configure without requiring extensive user input, enabling rapid upgrading, replacing, or reconfiguring of devices without demolition or refinishing work.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical connections to building systems (mains electrical network, communication network) are required for installation, then reliable power and communication are provided, but installation complexity and user burden increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into a permanent backplate component (installed once with building system connections) and a swappable device component (easily replaced by users). The backplate contains the complex electrical and communication connections, while the device simply plugs into the backplate, segmenting the complexity away from the user-facing component.
Solution Approach 2:
The backplate is pre-installed with all necessary electrical and communication connections during building construction or initial setup. Configuration information is pre-stored on the backplate. When a device is swapped, it automatically receives this pre-configured information, eliminating the need for users to perform complex installation or configuration steps.
2Reliability
If extensive configuration steps are required for product integration and networking, then proper system integration is achieved, but user willingness to upgrade or modify products decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs self-configuration automatically upon being plugged into the backplate. The device reads configuration information (including network credentials and controller addresses) directly from the backplate's storage, and automatically joins the communication network without user intervention. This eliminates manual configuration steps while ensuring proper system integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The backplate acts as an intermediary between the building systems and the swappable devices. It stores configuration information and mediates the connection between devices and the communication network, allowing devices to be swapped without direct user interaction with complex configuration parameters.
3Stability of the object's composition
If products are permanently installed with fixed configurations, then system stability is maintained, but system stagnation and decreased user value occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static, permanently installed configuration to a dynamic, easily changeable configuration. Devices can be swapped, added, or removed at any time by simply plugging or unplugging from the backplate, allowing the system to adapt to changing user needs while maintaining stability through the permanent backplate infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The backplate serves multiple functions: providing electrical power, establishing communication network connections, storing configuration information, and enabling device swapping. This universal platform supports various different device types (lighting, thermostats, sensors) while maintaining system stability through the common backplate interface.
Data Source
AI summary
A modular device backbone may include a controller and two or more backplates configured to be distributed throughout a user space and further configured to couple with swappable devices. Any of the two or more backplates may include a configuration storage device to store backplate-based configuration information including a backplate identifier and a controller address for communicating with the controller, and a communication unit to transmit the backplate-based configuration information. Upon coupling of a particular swappable device to a particular backplate, the particular swappable device may receive the backplate-based configuration information from the particular backplate and further communicate with the controller using the controller address to receive controller-based configuration information from the controller, which may include information for communicating with additional swappable devices.