Network Configuration Front End for Mobile Device Setup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Configuring network-connected devices like mobile phones is challenging due to dependency on external services and memory limitations, leading to incomplete configuration options at the time of sale, and existing methods require users to navigate complex wizards and lack network operator oversight.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a configuration front end on the device supported by a powerful configuration back end server, where user-selected options are bundled into a profile, sent to a configuration computer, and data is transmitted to configure the device, allowing for dynamic download of necessary components and services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If configuration options are provided locally on the mobile phone, then users can configure basic settings, but the device cannot offer all conceivable configuration options due to memory limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring the mobile phone with essential configuration capabilities and a framework that can access external configuration resources. The configuration computer prepares and stores multiple configuration profiles and parameters in advance, which are then transmitted to the mobile phone as needed, eliminating the need to store all configuration options locally.
Solution Approach 2:
A configuration computer acts as an intermediary between the mobile phone and the network configuration resources. The configuration computer receives configuration requests from the mobile phone, retrieves appropriate configuration data from network resources, and transmits the necessary configuration parameters to the mobile phone, thereby extending the device's configuration capabilities without consuming its limited memory.
2Ease of operation
If users configure devices themselves using configuration wizards, then customization is possible, but the process becomes complex and requires frequent network connections
Solution Approach 1:
The complex configuration logic and extensive configuration data are extracted from the mobile phone and relocated to the configuration computer. The mobile phone is left with a simplified configuration interface that presents only essential options to the user, while the configuration computer handles the complex processing, data retrieval, and coordination of configuration parameters in the background.
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration system operates autonomously by detecting user actions during normal phone operation and automatically generating appropriate configuration profiles. The configuration computer monitors user behavior patterns and configures the device based on detected usage patterns without requiring active user participation in the configuration process, thereby simplifying user interaction.
3Ease of operation
If configuration is performed locally without network coordination, then device autonomy is maintained, but network operator cannot oversee or control the configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration computer continuously receives feedback from the mobile phone in the form of user action detections and configuration status information. This feedback mechanism allows the network operator to monitor the configuration process in real-time, ensure proper device setup, and maintain control over network resources while the device operates autonomously under the guidance of pre-established configuration profiles.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for configuring a network-connected data processing device is described, in which the user-selected configurations are sent as a configuration profile to a configuration computer on the network. This computer determines or creates the necessary data from the configuration profile and transmits this data over the network to the data processing device, which is then configured with the data. The invention also includes a corresponding network-connected data processing device, particularly for carrying out the method.