Remote Operation Right Management for Mobile Apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems lack effective management of remote operations for multiple users controlling a remotely-operable mobile apparatus, such as telepresence robots, leading to potential conflicts and inefficiencies in controlling the apparatus during shared remote tours or operations.

Innovation Solution

A communication terminal system that receives and transmits operation information to remotely operate a mobile apparatus, with exclusive operation rights granted to specific users, allowing them to control the apparatus's movement and functions, while preventing unauthorized access through an operation right management system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple users are allowed to remotely operate the mobile apparatus simultaneously, then the versatility and collaborative capability are improved, but control conflicts and operational reliability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollaborative capabilityVSAvoidcontrol reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The operation right is made dynamic by automatically transferring control from the current operator to the next user in the queue when the current operator releases the apparatus. This dynamic allocation mechanism allows multiple users to access the mobile apparatus sequentially without control conflicts, resolving the contradiction between collaborative capability and control reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If exclusive operation rights are implemented for single user control, then control reliability and conflict prevention are improved, but the ability to share and collaborate deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol reliabilityVSAvoidsharing capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic transfer of operation rights among multiple users in a predetermined sequence. Each user obtains exclusive control rights for a period, ensuring reliable single-user operation, then automatically yields control to the next user. This periodic allocation maintains control reliability while enabling multi-user sharing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Ease of operation

If automatic operation right transfer is implemented, then ease of operation and user accessibility are improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser accessibilityVSAvoidmanagement system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The operation right transfer mechanism operates automatically based on predetermined rules and user release actions, without requiring complex manual intervention or centralized arbitration. When a user releases the mobile apparatus, the system self-manages the transfer of control rights to the next user in the queue, improving accessibility while keeping the management logic relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20230308705A1Communication terminal, communication management system, remote operation method, processing method, and communication management method

Publication Date: 2023.09.28 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

A communication terminal for remotely operating a mobile apparatus, includes circuitry that receives a remote operation to be performed on an operation target of the mobile apparatus, and transmits operation information indicating the remote operation to be performed on the operation target to remotely operate the operation target, the operation target being a target to which an operation right that is exclusive is to be applied.