Remote Control Extender Timeout for Reliable Command Duration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote control systems with network extenders, particularly those using connection-based protocols like TCP, face challenges in ensuring timely delivery of commands with variable durations over wireless networks, leading to errors in repeat command execution, such as prolonged volume adjustments or incorrect DVD player actions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where the remote control periodically transmits messages to the extender, which limits command duration by timing out if messages are not received, using a connectionless protocol like UDP for robustness, and incorporating start, alive, and stop messages to manage repeat commands efficiently, ensuring accurate command execution even in network interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a connection-based protocol like TCP is used to communicate commands between the remote control and the extender, then reliable data delivery is achieved through acknowledgements and retransmissions, but timely data delivery cannot be guaranteed due to protocol overhead and network behavior dependencies
Solution Approach 1:
The command transmission is segmented into periodic individual messages (start message, alive messages, stop message) rather than a single continuous transmission. This segmentation allows the system to monitor network conditions at intervals and terminate commands promptly when network issues are detected, balancing reliability with time constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The remote control transmits periodic alive messages during command execution instead of continuous transmission. This periodic action allows the system to detect network failures at regular intervals and terminate the command within a bounded time frame, resolving the contradiction between reliable delivery and timely delivery.
2Reliability
If TCP retransmission mechanism is used to ensure guaranteed command delivery, then command reliability is improved, but command duration errors occur when retransmission delays exceed the intended command duration
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-defines a maximum duration for command transmission and incorporates timeout logic before execution begins. This preliminary action ensures that even if retransmissions occur, the command will be terminated within the predetermined time frame, maintaining duration accuracy while allowing for necessary retransmissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the extender acknowledges receipt of commands and the remote control monitors for these acknowledgements. This feedback loop allows the system to detect transmission status in real-time and make decisions about continuation or termination, ensuring both reliability and duration precision.
3Reliability
If the remote control waits for network message delivery confirmation before terminating the command, then command reliability is improved, but command duration extends beyond the intended time especially during network perturbations
Solution Approach 1:
The command transmission duration is made dynamic rather than fixed, allowing the system to adapt to network conditions. The command continues as long as periodic messages are successfully delivered, but can be terminated early if network perturbations are detected, optimizing the balance between reliability and duration based on real-time conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transmits more messages than strictly necessary (periodic alive messages beyond the minimum single transmission) to increase the probability of successful delivery. This excessive action approach ensures reliability while the predefined timeout prevents excessive duration extension, resolving the contradiction between completeness and duration.
Data Source
AI summary
A remote control extension system for controlling appliances (60,70,80). A remote control (20) is connected by means of a network (30) to an extender device (40). The remote control (20) transmits messages (110,120) to the extender (40) during the period, that a command (14) is to be transmitted from the extender to an appliance. The command is for example a command having a variable duration, such as Volume UP. The extender (40) receives the messages. It transmits the command as long as it receives the messages from the remote control. It finishes the transmission of the command, if an expected message has not been received at a predetermined time. In this way, the duration of a command is limited in case of network disturbances.