Remote Control Device Automatic Pairing via Discovery Signal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Control devices, such as remote controls, face challenges when switching between different electronic devices without proper acknowledgement, leading to inefficiency as they cannot determine which device to pair with after losing connection with the first device.

Innovation Solution

The control device broadcasts a discovery message to nearby electronic devices, receives responses, and configures itself to control a new device based on proximity signals and configuration information, updating its pairing status and table of control entries as needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the control device transmits commands to an electronic device without receiving acknowledgements, then the control device cannot determine whether the device is still connected, but continuously transmitting commands wastes energy and time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection status detectionVSAvoidenergy waste from continuous command transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The control device transmits a discovery message and waits for a response from the electronic device. This feedback mechanism allows the control device to reliably detect whether the electronic device is still connected and responsive, without continuously transmitting commands and wasting energy. The discovery message acts as a probe that elicits a response only if the target device is active and reachable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Before attempting to control an electronic device, the control device first transmits a discovery message to verify the device's availability and connection status. This preliminary action prevents wasting energy on command transmission to devices that are not connected or not responding, as the discovery message serves as a preliminary check before actual control operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the control device switches to control a different electronic device, then the control device can control the new device, but the control device may mistakenly continue to control the old device leading to operational errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice switching capabilityVSAvoidcontrol accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

When switching between electronic devices, the control device uses the second electronic device as an intermediary to notify the first electronic device of the switch. The control device transmits a first signal to the second device, which then sends a notification to the first device. This intermediary approach ensures that the first device is properly notified and stops responding to control commands, preventing the control device from mistakenly continuing to control the old device while maintaining the ability to switch between devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of the control device directly notifying the first electronic device of the switch, the invention inverts the notification path by having the second electronic device send the notification to the first device. This inversion ensures that the first device is properly informed of the control switch through a reliable notification mechanism, enhancing control accuracy while maintaining device switching capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the control device broadcasts a discovery message to all electronic devices, then the control device can find available devices to control, but this increases the complexity of device management

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice discovery capabilityVSAvoidcontrol configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device automatically broadcasts discovery messages and processes responses from electronic devices without requiring manual configuration or complex setup procedures. The device self-identifies available electronic devices, automatically manages the discovery process, and handles the complexity of device management internally, thereby providing adaptability and versatility while keeping the user interface simple and intuitive.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2761883B1Assisting use of control devices with different electronic devices

Publication Date: 2018.05.02 ECHOSTAR TECH LLC

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AI summary

A remote determines an acknowledgement is not received for a command transmitted to a first device, broadcasts a discovery message, receives a response from a second device that received the discovery message and a proximity signal from the remote, and configures itself to control the second device. The remote may also transmit an acknowledgement to the second device. The second device may notify the first device. In various implementations, configuration information in the response may include pairing information and the remote may unpair itself from the first device and pair with the second device. In some implementations, the remote may include a table for controlling devices and the remote may utilize an entry in the table for the second device instead of the first device. In various implementations, the remote may receive responses to the discovery message from multiple devices and may select one to configure itself to control.