Remote Content State Access via Bidirectional Protocol

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Solution Overview

Problem

Accessing the state of software applications or electronic content on remote devices is challenging due to hardware and software constraints, particularly for devices like mobile phones and tablets, which often require physical connection or altered security settings for debugging and monitoring.

Innovation Solution

Utilizing a bidirectional communication protocol, such as WebSocket, to establish a connection between an administrator device and a user device, allowing remote access to the content state without altering the user device's configuration or security settings, enabling remote debugging and monitoring across various devices and configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a separate computing device is used to access the state of a browser application, then debugging capability is improved, but the requirement for direct communication link (USB cable or other direct connection) increases device complexity and limits accessibility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedebugging accessibilityVSAvoidconnection requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a communication bridge as an intermediary component that enables the administrator computing device to access the browser application state on the user computing device without requiring direct physical connections. The communication bridge establishes indirect network-based connections, replacing the need for USB cables or direct links, thereby simplifying the connection requirements while maintaining debugging capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If security settings or configuration settings of the user computing device are altered to allow remote access, then remote debugging capability is improved, but device security and configuration stability are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote access capabilityVSAvoidsecurity settings stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The communication bridge is implemented as a standalone service that runs independently on both the user computing device and the administrator computing device. This self-service architecture allows remote debugging access to be established without altering the security or configuration settings of either device. The bridge handles the complexity of secure communication internally, leaving the original device configurations intact and stable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If physical access to the computing device is required to execute debugging tools, then debugging precision is improved, but ease of operation and remote accessibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestate access accuracyVSAvoidremote access convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical requirement of physical access (plugging in USB cables, direct physical connections) with a network-based communication system. The communication bridge establishes virtual connections over standard network protocols, allowing debugging tools to be executed remotely on the administrator computing device while maintaining accurate access to the browser application state on the user computing device. This substitution preserves state access accuracy while dramatically improving remote accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP2959402B1Architecture for remote access to content state
Publication Date: 2019.06.12 AUDIBLE INC
  • EP2959402B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2959402B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2959402B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Features are disclosed for facilitating remote access to the state of an application or content item currently executing or rendered on a user computing device. A connection between the user computing device and another computing device (or connections between the user computing device and an intermediary system, and between another computing device and the same intermediary system) may be established according to a bidirectional communication protocol. The user computing device may receive and act on communications from the other computing device, including requests for data regarding the current state of an application or content page on the user computing device, instructions to execute some function in the application or content page, etc. In addition, user computing devices may be grouped such that an application or content may be monitored/tested/debugged among a variety of user computing devices.