Remote Server Mediates Device Onboarding via Browser

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current data storage devices like NAS lack user-friendly interfaces for initial setup, and existing device discovery technologies such as Bonjour and DLNA are unreliable, especially in sandboxed environments like web browsers, making it difficult to detect and access new devices on a local network.

Innovation Solution

A remote coordinating server is used to collect information from devices and prepopulate onboarding fields, allowing web browsers to automatically detect and register devices by sending identity information over a network, bypassing the need for broadcast technologies like Bonjour or DLNA.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If broadcast technologies like Bonjour or DLNA are used for device discovery, then device detection capability is improved, but reliability deteriorates because these technologies can be disabled using router configurations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice detection capabilityVSAvoiddevice discovery reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a remote coordinating server as an intermediary between the electronic device and the user's computing device. The server receives identity information from the electronic device via a public network and facilitates device discovery without relying on unreliable broadcast technologies. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by providing a reliable alternative discovery path that doesn't depend on router broadcast settings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of having the user's computing device actively search for electronic devices using broadcast technologies, the patent inverts the approach by having the electronic device proactively send its identity information to a remote server. This reverse discovery mechanism improves reliability by eliminating dependence on broadcast technology configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Productivity

If a dedicated application stored on the NAS is used for data migration, then data transfer function is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates because users are in an unfamiliar environment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer functionVSAvoiduser interface familiarity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a remote coordinating server and web browser as an intermediary interface between the user and the NAS device. Instead of requiring users to run a dedicated NAS application, the server mediates the interaction through a familiar web browser interface, maintaining ease of operation while enabling data transfer functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of running a dedicated local application with a web-based interface accessed through a browser. This substitution maintains data transfer capabilities while improving ease of operation by using a familiar interface that users already have access to and understand.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If a web browser is used for device setup, then ease of operation is improved because users are comfortable with web browsers, but device detection capability deteriorates due to sandboxed environment restrictions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interface familiarityVSAvoiddevice discovery capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional discovery approach by having the electronic device send its identity information to a remote server rather than the browser searching for devices. This reversal allows the sandboxed browser environment to function effectively while maintaining device discovery capability through the server-mediated process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The remote coordinating server acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the sandboxed browser environment and device discovery requirements. The server handles the complex detection and registration processes, allowing the browser to remain simple and user-friendly while maintaining full device discovery functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10567518B2Automatic discovery and onboarding of electronic devices

Publication Date: 2020.02.18 WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES INC

AI summary

A computing device configured to facilitate on-boarding of an electronic device may comprise a processor and memory. The memory may store instructions that cause the processor to receive, over a public network, a first communication from the electronic device on a private network, comprising an address of the electronic device on the private network. A first identifier associated with the address of the electronic device on the public network and the received address of the electronic device on the private network may be stored in a persistent store. The computing device may then receive a first request from a browser and, based upon a second identifier associated therewith, retrieve the stored address of the electronic device on the private network. The retrieved address of the electronic device on the private network may then be sent, over the public network, in response to the received first request from the browser.