Output Router Mediates Hosts and Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for routing output information to output devices in materials handling facilities lack efficiency and flexibility, particularly in managing large numbers of devices and ensuring seamless operation even when devices or hosts become unavailable.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that separates the output host from the output device, where the output host generates and provides output information along with location information to an output router, which then routes the information to the appropriate output device, allowing for easy reconfiguration and minimal disruption in case of device or host unavailability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If output hosts are directly connected to output devices, then routing is simple, but system flexibility and ease of reconfiguration are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
An output router is introduced as an intermediary component between output hosts and output devices. The router receives output information from hosts, determines the appropriate destination device based on location information, and routes the information accordingly. This mediator enables flexible reconfiguration and device replacement without requiring changes to the host architecture, thus improving adaptability while managing complexity through a centralized routing logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into distinct functional components: output hosts that generate information, an output router that manages routing logic, and output devices that display information. This segmentation allows each component to be independently configured, replaced, or maintained, improving system flexibility and adaptability without requiring complete system reconfiguration.
2Reliability
If output devices are connected to the network, then communication is enabled, but security risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The output router acts as a network intermediary that handles all communication between the networked hosts and the output devices. The devices themselves remain disconnected from the network, eliminating direct security vulnerabilities, while the router maintains communication capabilities by receiving information from hosts and delivering it to devices through isolated communication channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The network connection capability is extracted from the output devices and concentrated in the output router. This extraction removes the security risk from the devices while preserving communication functionality in the trusted router, which can authenticate and filter traffic before delivering information to devices.
3Ease of repair
If output hosts are directly connected to output devices, then system architecture is simple, but ease of replacement and reconfiguration is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The output router serves as a mediator that abstracts the connection between hosts and devices. When a device needs replacement or reconfiguration, only the device and its immediate connection to the router need to be changed, not the entire host-device mapping architecture. The router's routing logic handles the reconfiguration automatically based on updated location information.
Solution Approach 2:
The output router provides universal routing functionality that can accommodate multiple different output devices and hosts. This multi-functional component allows any device to be replaced with another device of the same or different type without requiring changes to the host architecture, as the router adapts its routing based on the current device inventory and location mappings.
Data Source
AI summary
Described is a system and method for routing output information to one or more of a plurality of output devices. In one implementation, output information that includes information to be presented and a location information identifying where the output information is to be presented may be generated by an output host. The output information is received by an output router that determines, based on the location information, an output device and routes the output information to the output device for presentation.