Location-Aware Peripheral Device Self-Configuration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing computing systems face challenges in efficiently configuring multi-function peripheral devices, leading to asymmetrical system designs and increased administrative complexity due to the need for manual selection of device functions and mechanical controls, which limits scalability and predictability.

Innovation Solution

Implementing location-aware, self-configuring peripheral devices that can automatically adapt their functionality based on their attachment location within the system, eliminating the need for manual configuration and enabling symmetric system provisioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual configuration and mechanical controls are used to select device functions, then device functionality can be controlled, but system administrative complexity increases and scalability is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice functionality selectionVSAvoidsystem administrative complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The peripheral device automatically determines its own configuration based on its attachment location within the computing system. The device monitors system configuration cycles, identifies its location through requester identifiers, and selects its personality without requiring manual administrator intervention, thereby reducing administrative complexity while maintaining adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple personalities are pre-configured within the peripheral device before deployment. Each personality represents a predetermined configuration optimized for specific attachment locations. The device simply selects the appropriate pre-configured personality based on its detected location, eliminating the need for complex real-time configuration decisions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual configuration is required for peripheral devices, then device functionality can be customized, but time consumption and administrative overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice functionality customizationVSAvoidconfiguration time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The peripheral device autonomously performs the configuration selection process by monitoring system configuration cycles and determining its attachment location. This self-service mechanism eliminates the time-consuming manual configuration process while preserving the ability to customize device functionality based on location-specific requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The device continuously monitors configuration cycles from the system and uses the requester identifier information as feedback to determine its attachment location. This feedback loop enables automatic, real-time configuration selection without administrator intervention, significantly reducing configuration time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If multi-function peripheral devices are used to provide multiple services, then system component count is reduced, but configuration complexity and prediction difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-function capabilityVSAvoidconfiguration predictability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

Different personalities are assigned to different attachment locations within the system. Each location has a predetermined optimal configuration stored in the device. When the device attaches to a specific location, it automatically activates the personality tailored for that location, making the configuration outcome predictable based on the attachment position rather than leaving it ambiguous

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Productivity

If symmetric system provisioning is implemented with location-aware devices, then scalability is improved, but device location detection capability is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem scalabilityVSAvoidlocation detection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device automatically detects its own attachment location by analyzing the requester identifier in the configuration cycles received from the system. This self-detection mechanism enables symmetric provisioning and scalability without requiring complex external location management infrastructure, as each device independently determines its position in the system hierarchy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9984021B1Location-aware self-configuration of a peripheral device

Publication Date: 2018.05.29 AMAZON TECH INC

AI summary

Provided are systems and methods for a location-aware, self-configuring peripheral device. In some implementations, the peripheral device may include two or more personalities. In these implementations, a personality enables the peripheral device to provide a service. In some implementations, the peripheral device may be configured to receive a configuration cycle. In some implementations, the peripheral device may further select a personality from among two or more personalities. The peripheral device may use information derived from the configuration cycle to make this selection. Selecting a personality may further include configuring the peripheral device according to the selected personality.