Portable Appliance Control With Protocol-Independent Timer Functions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing home network control systems, such as those using ECHONET Lite, face difficulties in controlling advanced functions like timers across different device models due to varying operating procedures, which complicates design and memory usage.
Innovation Solution
A communication terminal with a display, communication interface, memory storing basic and timer operation applications, and a controller that executes processing based on these applications to control devices over a network, allowing for timer functions to be executed without using specific ECHONET Lite commands by designating times for basic function execution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If commands prescribed by ECHONET Lite are used to control device functions, then basic functions can be controlled easily, but functions other than basic functions (such as timer function) become difficult to control due to varying operating procedures by model
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control application into a basic operation application that handles standard ECHONET Lite commands for basic functions, and a timer operation application that handles advanced functions like timers. This segmentation allows each application to specialize in specific function types, resolving the contradiction by maintaining ease of operation for basic functions while gaining adaptability for advanced functions through the dedicated timer application.
Solution Approach 2:
The timer operation application is designed to universally handle timer functions across different device models by implementing a standardized timer control mechanism that works regardless of the specific device model. This multi-functionality approach allows the same application to adapt to various models, resolving the versatility issue while maintaining ease of operation through a unified interface.
2Adaptability or versatility
If operating procedures for timer function are acquired and stored for all models, then timer function can be controlled across different models, but design becomes complicated and memory area of CPU is filled up
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the timer operation logic from the basic operation application into a separate timer operation application. This extraction removes the complexity of handling model-specific timer procedures from the basic control flow, reducing design complexity. The timer application can be implemented as a modular component that doesn't require storing extensive model-specific procedures in CPU memory, thus resolving the memory constraint issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The timer operation application acts as an intermediary layer between the user interface and the device-specific implementations. It provides a standardized interface for timer control while handling the complexity of model-specific variations internally, thereby reducing both design complexity and memory requirements compared to storing all model-specific procedures directly.
3Ease of operation
If a unified control method is implemented for all device functions, then ease of operation is improved, but the ability to handle model-specific advanced functions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the basic operation application and timer operation application into a unified control system where both applications work together. The basic operation application provides the unified simple interface for basic functions, while the timer operation application is integrated to handle advanced timer functions. This merging allows the system to maintain ease of operation through the basic application while gaining adaptability for model-specific functions through the integrated timer application.
Data Source
AI summary
For a device that supports a predetermined communication protocol, a function equivalent to a timer function can be executed without using a command prescribed by the predetermined communication protocol. A communication terminal controls, over a network, a device controlled by a signal communicated using the predetermined communication protocol and includes a memory, storing a basic operation application and a timer operation application, and a controller that executes processing based on the basic operation application and the timer operation application. The basic operation application causes a device to execute a basic function with a signal communicated using the predetermined communication protocol, and at a time designated by a timer setting, the timer operation application instructs the basic operation application to cause the device to execute a basic function with a signal communicated using the predetermined communication protocol.