Remote Control Battery Status Notification System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of electronic devices often face difficulties in identifying the source of technical issues, leading to frustrating support experiences due to unfamiliarity with the devices and potential battery depletion in remote controls, which can be misinterpreted as device problems.

Innovation Solution

A technical support network system that requests and receives status messages from electronic devices, including remote controls, to identify battery depletion and notify users, allowing for immediate action to replace or recharge batteries, thereby resolving common issues without lengthy support interactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a user contacts technical support when experiencing device issues, then the user can potentially resolve technical problems, but the user may experience frustration and time loss due to inability to accurately describe the problem

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetechnical support effectivenessVSAvoidsupport interaction time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary diagnostics by automatically collecting device status information, component states, and error logs before the user contacts support. This preliminary action provides the support team with accurate problem details in advance, eliminating the need for lengthy troubleshooting conversations and enabling immediate targeted assistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements automated feedback loops where device status, component health metrics, and operational data are continuously monitored and transmitted to both the user and support system. This real-time feedback enables the support team to understand the exact problem state without requiring the user to describe symptoms, significantly reducing support interaction time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the system monitors remote control battery status, then battery depletion can be identified early, but additional monitoring components and processing are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote control functionalityVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery monitoring function is merged with the existing device status reporting system. The remote control's battery status is collected along with other device telemetry data through the same communication channel and processing pipeline, eliminating the need for separate monitoring hardware and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable battery status tracking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2876886B1Methods and systems to notify user of a problem with a remote control
Publication Date: 2018.08.15 ECHOSTAR TECH LLC
  • EP2876886B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2876886B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2876886B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for providing technical support to a user of an electronic device includes requesting that the electronic device transmit a status message to a technical support network. The status message indicates that a component of the electronic device needs attention. The status message is automatically sent to the user to quickly resolve the technical support issue.