Protocol Manager Virtual Port Tunneling for Mobile Accessories
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication protocols between mobile computing devices and accessories lack efficient methods for identifying and utilizing compatible application protocols, leading to limitations in data exchange and functionality between devices.
Innovation Solution
A mobile computing device with a communication interface and control logic that uses a protocol manager to associate application communication protocols with ports, allowing for routing of messages through the interface using tunneling commands, enabling seamless communication between applications and accessories.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a universal communication interface is used for all accessories, then device complexity is reduced, but communication efficiency and protocol compatibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The communication interface is segmented into multiple virtual ports, each dedicated to specific accessory types or protocols. This allows the system to maintain a single physical interface while creating logical divisions that optimize communication for different accessory categories, thereby improving data exchange efficiency without adding physical complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A protocol manager acts as an intermediary layer between the universal communication interface and applications. This mediator translates between the generic interface protocol and accessory-specific protocols, enabling efficient communication without requiring applications to directly handle protocol complexity.
2Productivity
If accessory-specific protocols are implemented for each accessory type, then communication efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protocol manager provides universal functionality by handling multiple accessory-specific protocols through a single unified management interface. This allows the system to support diverse protocols without requiring separate handling mechanisms for each, thereby improving communication efficiency while containing protocol management complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects accessory types and selects appropriate protocols without requiring manual configuration. The protocol manager self-manages protocol selection and switching based on accessory identification, reducing the burden on users and simplifying protocol management while maintaining high communication efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If protocol association and routing management is added, then protocol compatibility improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system adds a logical dimension through virtual ports and protocol layers without increasing physical hardware complexity. By organizing protocols and accessories in a multi-dimensional logical space with port mappings and protocol associations, the system achieves broad protocol compatibility while maintaining simple physical architecture.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide various communication techniques for communication between a mobile computing device and an accessory. An accessory protocol that is generic to the mobile computing device can be used for some communication. An application executing at the mobile computing device can communicate with the accessory using an application communication protocol. In some embodiments, the application communication protocol can be different from the accessory communication protocol. In other embodiments the application protocol may only be recognized by the application and the accessory. In some embodiments, messages conforming to an application protocol can be communicated between the application and the accessory by packaging the messages inside a message conforming to the accessory communication protocol.