NFC Proximity Channel Establishment for Voice Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Devices without screens or buttons face challenges in easily and intuitively managing communication channels, especially in asynchronous communication systems using IP-based wireless protocols like 802.11 WiFi and cellular networks.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a communications server to manage voice communications and channels between devices, utilizing NFC for proximity-based channel establishment and translation between languages, with processors and software components handling user inputs and RF transceivers for connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If devices utilize IP communication links for voice exchange, then communication flexibility and network compatibility are improved, but channel management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a communication server as an intermediary that mediates channel management between devices. The server handles channel setup, maintenance, and teardown operations, freeing devices from complex management tasks while maintaining flexible IP-based communication. The server receives channel requests from devices, manages the communication channels, and coordinates with multiple devices to establish and maintain voice communication paths.
2Device complexity
If devices lack screens and buttons, then device simplicity and portability are improved, but ease of channel management deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service mechanisms where devices automatically perform channel management tasks without user intervention. The device's processor automatically initiates channel setup when communication is needed, manages channel state transitions, and handles channel teardown when communication ends. This automation allows screenless devices to maintain simple designs while achieving ease of channel management through programmatic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication server acts as an intermediary that simplifies channel management for screenless devices. The server receives high-level communication requests from devices and handles the complex channel setup, modification, and teardown operations. This allows devices without physical interfaces to easily manage channels through simplified software commands while the server manages the complexity in the background.
3Productivity
If multiple devices communicate asynchronously, then communication efficiency is improved, but coordination difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication server serves as a central coordinator that manages asynchronous communication between multiple devices. The server receives communication requests from any device, coordinates channel establishment with all participating devices, and manages the asynchronous data flow. This centralized coordination enables efficient asynchronous communication while reducing individual device complexity, as each device only needs to communicate with the server rather than directly coordinating with multiple other devices.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for managing communication channels in a communication system that includes communication devices and a communication server. In one embodiment, first and second near field communication (NFC) equipped communication devices are put into a designated temporary channel and placed into close enough proximity to cause an NFC transaction. The NFC transaction may generate a transaction identifier that may be included in a channel establishment message sent from the first and second communication devices to the communication server. The communication server receives the transaction identifiers from the first and second NFC equipped communication devices and when they match, the communication server creates a temporary communication channel accessible to the first and second NFC equipped communication devices.