Peripheral Auto-Connect Agent Iterative Protocol Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for coupling peripheral devices to information handling systems require manual setup and selection of wireless protocols, which can be cumbersome and prone to errors, leading to improper or incomplete connections.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize an out-of-box auto-connection discovery agent in the peripheral device, which iteratively initiates wireless beacons for multiple wireless protocols, allowing automatic coupling to an information handling system without user intervention, and providing user-selection options for preferred protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual setup and selection of wireless protocols is required, then user control over connection method is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates and setup time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral device automatically performs protocol detection and connection establishment without requiring user intervention. The device self-services by iterating through multiple wireless protocols (RF, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) and autonomously selecting the appropriate connection method, eliminating the need for manual setup while reducing setup time to near-zero.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-configures multiple wireless protocol capabilities within the peripheral device before deployment. By having all protocol stacks (RF, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) pre-installed and ready, the device can immediately attempt connections without requiring users to manually configure or select protocols, thus reducing setup time while maintaining operational ease.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual protocol selection is required, then adaptability to different connection methods is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral device integrates multiple wireless protocol capabilities (RF, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) into a single universal connection interface. This multi-functionality allows the device to adapt to different connection methods while presenting a simplified user experience, as the system automatically manages the complexity of multiple protocols behind a unified automatic connection mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
An automatic connection manager acts as an intermediary layer between the user and multiple wireless protocols. This mediator handles the complexity of protocol selection and switching, allowing the device to support multiple connection methods (RF, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) without exposing the underlying complexity to the user, thus maintaining adaptability while reducing perceived device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If automatic connection is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability may worsen due to potential connection errors
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic connection system implements feedback mechanisms by monitoring connection status across multiple protocols. When a connection attempt fails or encounters errors, the system receives feedback and automatically retries with alternative protocols or adjusts connection parameters, thereby maintaining high reliability while preserving ease of operation through automatic error recovery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares multiple fallback connection options (RF, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) in advance as cushioning against potential connection failures. By having pre-configured alternative protocols ready, the system can quickly switch to a working connection method if the primary attempt fails, ensuring reliable connection establishment without requiring user intervention to troubleshoot errors.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless peripheral device includes a microcontroller, a memory device, and a peripheral device power management unit to provide power to the hardware processor and memory device. The microcontroller executes code instructions of an out-of-box auto-connection discovery agent to automatically select and couple the wireless peripheral device to an information handling system upon initially powering up by iteratively initiating a first wireless connection request beacon via a first wireless protocol and initiating a second wireless connection request beacon via a second wireless protocol different from the first wireless protocol when the peripheral device is not wirelessly coupled to the information handling system using the first wireless protocol, wherein the microcontroller sets an auto-connection timer to time out the iterative switching back and forth between the first wireless protocol and second wireless protocol when no wireless connection is established between the wireless peripheral device and the information handling system.