Peripheral Device Control via Social Networking Platform

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face challenges in controlling and sharing information across various peripheral devices due to the lack of unified standards, complex user interfaces, and proprietary communication protocols, making it difficult to manage and interact with different devices seamlessly.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that enable access and control of peripheral devices through a social networking platform, allowing users to register, discover, and communicate with devices using standardized protocols, presenting a unified interface and natural language control, thereby simplifying interactions and information sharing across devices from different manufacturers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If proprietary software and user interfaces are used for each peripheral device, then device functionality is achieved, but user interface complexity and learning curve increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of controlling peripheral devicesVSAvoidcomplexity of user interfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by enabling the social networking client application to control multiple types of peripheral devices through a single unified interface. The application can discover, register, and communicate with various devices (cameras, microphones, speakers, etc.) without requiring separate proprietary software for each device type, thus reducing interface complexity while maintaining broad device compatibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The social networking client application serves as an intermediary between the user and peripheral devices. It provides a standardized communication interface that translates user actions into device-specific commands, eliminating the need for users to learn multiple device-specific interfaces while still enabling full device functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple proprietary communication protocols are used by different manufacturers, then device-specific functionality is optimized, but interoperability and information sharing between devices are hindered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to share information across devicesVSAvoidcomplexity of communication protocols

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal communication protocol within the social networking platform that enables different peripheral devices from various manufacturers to interoperate seamlessly. The standardized protocol allows devices to discover each other, establish connections, and share information without requiring device-specific protocol implementations, thus enhancing interoperability while reducing protocol complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The social networking platform acts as an intermediary communication layer between peripheral devices. It provides standardized message formats and communication routines that translate between different device protocols, enabling information sharing across diverse devices without requiring each device to implement multiple proprietary protocols

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If device-specific applications are installed on user devices, then full device control is achieved, but development costs and maintenance burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevelopment cost of control softwareVSAvoidsupport for different peripheral devices

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces development costs by making the social networking client application universal across different device types. Instead of requiring separate proprietary applications for each peripheral device, a single application can discover, register, and control multiple device types through standardized routines, significantly reducing development and maintenance burdens while maintaining broad device support

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The social networking platform serves as an intermediary that abstracts away device-specific complexities from the client application. It provides standardized communication interfaces and device management routines that work across different device types, reducing the development effort required to support multiple devices while maintaining full functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11025680B2Method and device for controlling peripheral devices via a social networking platform

Publication Date: 2021.06.01 TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO LTD

AI summary

A method and device for controlling peripheral devices via a social networking platform includes a method and device for registering a peripheral device on a social networking platform, which includes: at a user device having one or more processors and memory: executing a social networking client application of the social networking platform on the user device; through the social networking client application, receiving an input identifying a peripheral device; and in response to receiving the input identifying the peripheral device: sending a request to establish a social networking identity for the peripheral device; and upon successful establishment of the social networking identity for the peripheral device, presenting the peripheral device as a social network contact of the user account in a user interface of the social networking client application.