Peripheral Device Wireless Reconnection via Sideband Credentials

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Solution Overview

Problem

Peripheral devices, such as printers, often lose network connectivity when the wireless network they are connected to changes or is reconfigured, leading to user inconvenience in reconnecting them to a new network, especially since they lack physical keyboards and display unclear disconnection indicators.

Innovation Solution

Communicating network credentials for a second accessible wireless network from a host computing device to the peripheral device over a wireless sideband communication channel, allowing the device to reconnect seamlessly without requiring a full setup process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If peripheral devices use wireless network connections, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates when network changes occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewireless connection setupVSAvoidnetwork connectivity stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting network disconnection and automatically obtaining new network credentials before the user needs to manually reconnect. The peripheral device monitors network status and proactively seeks alternative network connections, eliminating the need for user intervention when network changes occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The peripheral device serves itself by automatically detecting when it loses network connectivity and independently obtaining new network credentials through sideband communication with a computing device. The device self-manages the reconnection process without requiring user input, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If peripheral devices automatically reconnect to new networks, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereconnection speedVSAvoidautomatic reconnection mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses sideband communication as an intermediary channel between the peripheral device and the computing device. This separate communication path allows the peripheral device to receive network credentials without requiring complex built-in network scanning and authentication capabilities, thus improving productivity while managing device complexity through the mediator computing device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If peripheral devices lack physical keyboards and displays, then ease of manufacture is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates during network reconnection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice simplicityVSAvoidnetwork reconnection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the mechanical interaction model (physical keyboards and displays for user input) with a wireless communication model. Network credentials are transmitted electronically through sideband communication, eliminating the need for physical input interfaces while maintaining ease of operation during reconnection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11425776B1Electronic device wireless network connection using network credentials received over wireless sideband communication channel

Publication Date: 2022.08.23 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP

AI summary

An electronic device is detected as no longer being connected to a first wireless network via which the electronic device had network connectivity. Over a wireless sideband communication channel, a host computing device subsequently communicates to the electronic device network credentials for a second wireless network that is accessible by the electronic device and for which the host computing device has the network credentials. The electronic device responsively connects to the second wireless network using the network credentials communicated from the host computing device. The electronic device then has the network connectivity via the second wireless network.