Remote Tool Video Bandwidth Control for Low-Latency Collaboration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Remote collaboration between manufacturing facilities and equipment suppliers is hindered by network delays and security risks, particularly due to bandwidth limitations and the need to protect confidential information.
Innovation Solution
A method that adjusts the bandwidth of data frames transmitted from manufacturing tools to remote client devices based on user interactions, while ensuring security by authorizing access through a server-based decision process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If video compression is used to reduce bandwidth requirements, then network bandwidth consumption is reduced, but image quality and collaboration effectiveness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts video quality parameters (resolution, frame rate, compression level) based on real-time network conditions and user interactions. When user interaction is detected, the system temporarily reduces quality to prioritize responsiveness; when idle, it increases quality for better visualization, thus resolving the contradiction between bandwidth consumption and image quality adaptively
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes multiple video parameters (resolution, frame rate, bitrate) based on network conditions and interaction states. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system optimizes the balance between bandwidth usage and image quality, preventing either from being consistently suboptimal
2Manufacturing precision
If high bandwidth is allocated for video transmission, then image quality is improved, but network delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic adjustment of video parameters synchronized with interaction detection. During interaction periods, lower quality settings reduce delay; during idle periods, higher quality settings improve image quality. This periodic switching resolves the contradiction by accepting temporary quality reductions when responsiveness is most critical
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between quality modes based on interaction state. The dynamic adjustment ensures that bandwidth allocation matches actual needs, reducing unnecessary data transmission during interactions and thereby minimizing delay while maintaining quality when it matters less
3Productivity
If remote collaboration is implemented to avoid travel, then operational efficiency is improved, but security risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces multiple intermediary security layers including authentication servers, encrypted communication channels, and controlled data transmission mechanisms. These intermediaries enable secure remote access without requiring physical presence, thus maintaining operational efficiency while mitigating security risks through technical controls
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements preliminary security measures (authentication, authorization, encryption) before any data transmission occurs. By establishing security protocols in advance, the system prevents potential security breaches before they can occur, enabling safe remote collaboration that maintains both productivity and security
4Loss of time
If bandwidth is reduced to improve responsiveness, then network delay is reduced, but data transmission completeness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system transmits only the necessary portion of video data at any given time based on interaction context. During interactions, it prioritizes transmitting keyframes and essential updates rather than complete high-quality streams, reducing delay while maintaining sufficient information for effective collaboration
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the balance between transmission speed and completeness based on interaction state. During active interaction, it favors speed with selective data transmission; during idle periods, it ensures complete data transmission. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction by making completeness flexible rather than fixed
Data Source
AI summary
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores one or more programs for execution by one or more processors of a computer system communicatively coupled with a manufacturing tool through one or more networks. The one or more programs include instructions for sending a series of frames showing data for the manufacturing tool to a client device for display. The client device is remote from a manufacturing facility in which the manufacturing tool is to be disposed. The one or more programs also include instructions for adjusting a bandwidth for one or more frames of the series of frames in response to receiving, from the client device, an indication of a user interaction with the client device. The instructions for sending the series of frames include instructions for transmitting, after receiving the indication, the one or more frames with the adjusted bandwidth to the client device for display.